COLORADO
GOLDEN
Things to do in Golden
Family day trips from Denver: Things to do in Golden, Colorado
Read the story on 9News: Explore the town of Golden, Colorado for your next weekend getaway
Howdy Folks! Welcome to Golden!
As the iconic sign says, “Howdy Folks! Welcome to Golden!”
Golden has a kind of laid back mountain town vibe without having to get on I-70. Home to the School of Miles Engineering College and outdoor enthusiasts, Golden is much more than a former gold rush city. It’s located in the foothills between North and South Table Mountain and Lookout Mountain to the West.
Fun fact, did you know Golden aka “Golden City” was once the capital of Colorado before Colorado became a state.
There’s so much to do in Golden, you’ll have to come back again and again!
Clear Creek Trail
As the Fall colors begin to hit the lower elevations, make sure Golden is on your radar. Walk along Clear Creek Trail for a leisurely stroll along the river in the downtown area. 🍃🍁🍂.
There are a lot of free things to see and do along the way—like spy on itty bitty art, visit the new exhibit on modern and contemporary Native fashions at the Golden History Museum, and step back in time exploring the outdoor History Park.
As you head toward the mountains, the path connects to the Peak to the Plains trail which is a nice escape.
Lookout Mountain + Buffalo Bill Museum
Lookout Mountain is a short drive, and suddenly, you’re in the mountains! 👀 Beyond admiring beautiful views of Golden from above, you can learn all about a local legend at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. 🦬 There are interesting artifacts and artwork, and an informative 20-minute film. I also enjoyed visiting Pashka Teepee gift shop which is full of character.
The Lookout Mountain Nature Preserve is an easy stop with some nice trails in the woods and plenty of wildlife sightings in their indoor display. 🥾 .
One of my favorite things? Driving down the windy Lookout Mountain Road. It’s a badge of honor for bikers to pedal up 🚴🏻♀️, but I’m a fan of going down. You’ve seen this road looking towards the mountains from town, that famous “M” mountain monogram on Mt. Zion is for the Colorado School of Mines. In the Fall, the freshmen hike up to the M with a 10 pound rock, and when they graduate they go back up to take a piece of golden home with them. 😉
Coors Brewery Tour
One of the most popular attractions in Golden is the Coors Brewery Tour—it’s the world’s largest single site brewery. You’ll learn about the company history, quality ingredients, production process, and more. Whether you are a beer drinker or not, it’s cool to see how things work at this massive factory! I really enjoyed sampling the super cold Coors Light in the tasting room—they serve it at a temperature below freezing, I don’t know how they do it but it’s certainly refreshing!
Please note, as of 2021, the brewery tours are not free and reservations are required. Generally, you can book a tour 25 days in advance. 🍻
The Colorado Railroad Museum
The Colorado Railroad Museum has 100+ locomotives and engines and caboose and even a little miniature tiny town garden.
Tickets for the popular Polar Express holiday experience are now on sale, grab them while they last! You can observe workers restoring old trains in the roundhouse, and visit a tiny town in the garden. They currently have train rides on Saturdays this time of year, where you can travel in vintage passenger cars behind a steam or diesel locomotive.. 🚂
Dinosaur Ridge
Dinosaur Ridge is a National Natural Landmark here in the foothills. You can spy on Dino tracks and evidence of stegosaurus (our state fossil), apatosaurus, allosaurus, camarsaurus, iguanodon and more. I recommend taking the guided one hour bus tour which makes three stops as you drive up and over the hill, and offers great insight into what you’re seeing. There is also a self-guided tour if you are so inclined, and hiking trails to explore as well. Plus, you can enjoy nice views of Red Rocks at the top of the mountain and fun photo ops with Dinos at the visitor center parking lot. 🦖
The Golden Mill food hall is a hotspot. There are nice outdoor patios as well as self-pour drinks on tap. I’m a fan of the New Zealand style ice cream at Happy Cones where they mix in real fruit into the ice cream.
The new Babe’s Tea Room is a tasty stop for a girls trip, and The Eddy Hotel has good food and drinks and a fun patio where you can play a giant game of chess.
