Golden offers outdoor fun, shopping and great drinks and eats during all four seasons.
The closest mountain town to Denver, Golden offers four seasons of fun. Whether you're a committed ice climber, an adrenaline-fueled paraglider or your definition of "outdoorsy" is "drinking outside on patios," Golden has a slate of activities ideal for a day trip, a weekend staycation or — especially if you're lucky enough to live there — just a few hours of shopping, dining or recreation.
Nestled in the Clear Creek valley between North and South Table Mountains (which are actually mesas) and Lookout Mountain, Golden still offers a taste of the Old West mining town it was when it sprang up during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush in 1859. It served as the capital of Colorado Territory until Denver muscled in, moving the seat of power twenty miles to the east.
Today the city of around 20,000 is best known as the home of Coors Brewery (where you can tour the world's largest single-site brewery), and the prestigious Colorado School of Mines. Downtown Golden's colorful historic buildings now offer a wealth of shopping — especially if you're shopping for outdoor recreation — along with one-of-a-kind boutiques, interesting restaurants with sidewalk patios and whimsical public art.
Here are ten spots worth checking out when enjoying Golden. Bonus: Most of them are easily accessed without a car — the city's Ore Cart Shuttle Service runs from the RTD W Station to downtown.
