Looks like I may end up there as part of a family trip. I have a sister in CO Springs, but otherwise no familiarity with Golden or the west Denver area.

Any recommendations for the area, other than getting a Coors? We'll be there 4-5 days, hopefully in a rental home for the 6-7 of us, will have car(s). Looks like late September / early October, so cooling but hopefully not early snow.

I’d check out this place, maybe slightly weather dependent. It gets great reviews, not far, easy to get to, and FREE.


https://www.fws.gov/refuge/rocky-mountain-arsenal

Haven’t made it here - but seems like an interesting visit.

THE SPYDERCO FACTORY
OUTLET STORE

820 Spyderco Way
Golden, CO 80403
Phone: 303-279-8383 x 1
Toll Free: 800-525-7770 x1

Mon - Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm Mountain
Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm Mountain
Sunday: Closed

I lived there over 30 years ago when attending the Colorado School of Mines (an engineering school). The place has grown tremendously since then. When I was there, the town was about 10,000 people, now it is easily over 20,000.

As has been mentioned, the Coors brewery is there, and does tours. Also may look in to Coors Ceramics, they may also do tours, and is why the whole town smells like grape nuts cereal.

Also mentioned is the Spyderco factory, just a short trip north of Golden proper. Plan on spending a couple hours there just looking around. They'll also sharpen your Spyderco knives for free if you have any.

In Golden, is Woodys Wood Fired Pizza, an excellent place for pizza, and awesome beer cheese soup. Also, another place to visit is the USGS office, it is there on campus of CSM. They used to do tours, and you could browse all their USGS maps, and even purchase some.

If you are feeling adventurous, can take a trip up Hwy.6 to Central City/Blackhawk, and do some gambling. Idaho Springs (another town I lived in, also has experienced tremendous growth) is up I70 about 20 miles or so from Golden. A neat old mining town, I suggest Tommyknockers brewery for some great beers and food.

Feel free to email me if there is anything else specific I might be able to answer. Again, it's been a long time since I've been up that way. Hope you have a great trip!

Check out Red Rocks Amphitheater. It's not very far at all.

I'm about 20 minutes away in Conifer. Feel free to email me, email is in my bio.

In addition to what others have said:
* If you like baseball, Coors field is worth a game. The Rockies will probably be eliminated from the playoffs by early Aug, so tickets should be cheap.
* If you have kids in your group Elitch Gardens is actually quite nice (formerly 6 flags). It's on the edge of downtown. When my kids were younger we had season passes for several years. *Once school starts up Elitch Gardens is usually only open on the weekends as they are staffed with high school kids who are back in school.
* Rocky Mountain National park & Estes park are less than an hour away. Elk might still be bugling, depending on when you arrive.
* Downtown Evergreen is a few miles away and has a nice "old town" feel. If you go to Red Rocks, Evergreen is just up hwy 74 about 15 minutes.
* If you have a car there are many driving routes to spend a day doing. I've listed some in the past, I'll see if I can dig them up. You can also use the search feature, there are actually a few threads on the scenic drive topic.
* I'm sure you'll get some folks saying how downtown Denver is a shit hole and avoid it. I live here and I have no problem going downtown, even un-armed. I was actually on a Federal Jury 2 years ago and had to go downtown every day for 4 weeks. In the early 2000's it was very clean and nice. Around Covid there were many homeless tent areas, but that has all been cleaned up. Downtown Denver has a nice "mid sized" downtown feel. There's a free shuttle that runs the length of the 16th street mall. Well, they re-named the "16th street mall" last year to simply "16th street", but it's the same thing.
* Denver has a mint downtown that offers tours. I've never actually been inside on a tour, but that might be interesting.
* The Denver zoo is actually quite nice if you're into that sort of thing. We had season passes there when my kids were young.


ETA: Wow, there are a LOT of topics on Colorado and day trip suggestions here. I know I had posted a drive in one of them, but I couldn't find it after reading 5 or 6 threads. Definitely use the Search for "Colorado" in Title in The Lounge for a bunch of ideas!

How about the Buffalo Bill Museum in Golden, CO? Visited one time and enjoyed it very much.
Also ate at the Buckhorn Exchange in nearby Denver; you might want to look it up!

quote:

Originally posted by Sacramento Johnson:
How about the Buffalo Bill Museum in Golden, CO? Visited one time and enjoyed it very much.

The drive up there, Lookout Mtn., is worth it in itself. I always think about what it would have been like to be up there when Denver settlement was in it's infancy. Short drive from Golden is Golden Gate Canyon and Coal Creek Canyon off of 93 which leads you to the Peak to Peak Hwy. Scenery would be good up there at that time of year. Head northish up to Estes Park about another hour. Southish into Central City and Blackhawk. Gambling towns.

Sounds like you have quite a bit of free time. It’s been a long time, but I lived in the foothills west of the city. I might suggest taking a drive south to Morrison (could see Red Rocks), then driving up Bear Creek Canyon. Idledale (lived there), Kittredge (lived down the road in Indian Hills), then into Evergreen. Evergreen wasn’t quite the address of the elite that I believe it to be now, but it’s a pretty town in a prettier setting; you might eat there. Depending on time, you could either head north, connect with 70 and head back to Golden, or wend you way up to Blackhawk/Central City to the casinos. Go back to Golden down Clear Creek Canyon. Nice, albeit long, day.

By the way, as mentioned, Spyderco is made in Golden. There is a factory outlet there where you can find a deal.

Eat at the Sherpa House. It is one of the few restaurants I visited on a single trip more than once. AMAZING Nepalese food.

https://sherpa.house/

Like visiting Golden, one of the few Front Range areas I look forward to, pretty area and idyllic downtown.
Golden Mill is a food hall, that has a big assortment of self-pour beer taps. Two floors, outdoor seating with a number of fireplaces sits along Clear Creek, super causal space to enjoy.

Get dropped-off or, take a car share to Tunnel-1 trail head on Hwy-6, then do a leisurely downhill 45-min hike along Clear Creek into town, stop at Golden Mill for several pints and a meal.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: corsair,

Colorado Railroad Museum is across the way from Coors. Fantastic place if you have any interest in American railroading. Some fantastic Denver & Rio Grande equipment on display. I went last summer. Spent a few hours there.

Id checkout Pikes Peak, MT Evans, Rocky Mountain Natl Park, if you go to the park check to see if you still need a reservation. Garden of the God's in COS along with seven falls and wind cave. Royal Gorge ought to be within striking distance as well as Monarch Pass. If you don't mind the drive you can head west to Montrose and checkout Black Canyon Natl Park and then drive the million dollar Highway to Durango.

And for something different the Bucksnort Saloon

Wow. Thanks to you all!
When I posted this I foolishly thought; who the heck will know anything about this place anyway?

As usual, that was foolish.

Someone already mentioned Red Rocks, but definitely see if there's a band you like playing at the amphitheatre while you're there, and it's worth a visit even if not.
The view over Golden from the Buffalo Bill Museum is worth the trip. The crazy drive up the mountain is a bonus.

I've not been to this place yet, but I'd like to. The Gallery Range and Restaurant. Has drinks, but you MUST shoot first, not the other way round.

https://thegallerysportsmansclub.com/

quote:

Originally posted by FLhiker:
Haven’t made it here - but seems like an interesting visit.

THE SPYDERCO FACTORY
OUTLET STORE

820 Spyderco Way
Golden, CO 80403
Phone: 303-279-8383 x 1
Toll Free: 800-525-7770 x1

Mon - Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm Mountain
Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm Mountain
Sunday: Closed

I have been there and would recommend it. Had a good time.

Drive I-70 to Idaho Springs, go south and drive up to the top of Mount Evans...they renamed it Mount Blue Sky. Very impressive! A fourteener. You will have to hike the last 2-3 hundred feet. It has a fee for the 14 mile stretch after Echo Lake. I participated in trophy run in the late 70's. We ran the 14+ miles from Echo Lake, and got bused back down after the competition. It was limited to 1500 runners. It was discontinued after the lodge at the top burned down a few years later. The YMCA helped organize the event. Those were the days...

mount blue sky scenic byway

You may need a reservation. Check the website and verify.