Author: Joy Meadows

My Golden Day- Chris Warner

Written by Joy Meadows on March 20, 2017. Posted in Featured, Golden's Top Picks.

My Golden Day: Chris Warner

Earth Treks is a place where Golden loves to gather. After all, Earth Treks Golden Climbing Center is the premier indoor rock climbing and bouldering gym in Colorado. The 29,000 sq ft purpose-built facility opened in 2013 and boasts over 28,500 sq. ft. of climbing on walls up to 45 ft. high. The indoor climbing gym includes tons of bouldering and top rope and lead climbing for all ages and abilities, a huge fitness area, a dedicated training area (hydraulic systems boards, hangboards and campus boards), a yoga room, and locker rooms. Indoor and outdoor rock climbers will also find their favorite climbing gear and apparel brands at Earth Treks.

Chris Warner, Founder and CEO of Earth Treks, was born in New York City and graduated from CU in the 1980s. This world traveler has seen plenty of cool places– the Alps, Africa, the Andes of Peru, Ecuador and Argentina, and the Himalayas of Nepal and Tibet, just to name a few. Chris has quite the resume, too: He has summited five of the world’s tallest mountains, including Everest and K2; he’s led over 200 international expeditions; he was the first American to solo an 8,000 meter peak; he guided the first ever reality TV show on Everest. This spring he will be on an expedition to Kanchenjunga, the world’s third tallest mountain.

So why land in Golden? Well, Chris wanted, “the intimacy of a community with all of the outdoor resources” that Golden residents know and love. He and his family enjoy the mountain biking trails, the nearly 1,000 climbing routes, the easy access to mountain adventures—all tied in with this great community.

Earth Treks, the indoor rock climbing gym Chris opened in 2013, is a big part of Golden’s community as well. He describes it as a place where people love to come and just hang out with each other. “It’s so positive,” he says, “and multigenerational. We moved from the east coast, where we own and operate a bunch of climbing gyms. When we moved to Golden we knew we had to build one of these club houses in our new home town. Earth Treks is a healthy place where yogis, runners, bikers and climbers hang out and inspire each other.”

Chris’s favorite “Golden Day” starts off before dawn, taking his dog for a run on North Table Mountain. They’ve seen hundreds of sun rises from the trails above Golden. It is a magical way to start a day: The colors of the sky are reflected in the tall golden grasses, owls and bald eagles float overhead, and the very few people who are out are equally entranced. Next, he enjoys special time with his daughter as they wait for her school bus. Afterwards, Chris makes a quick stop at Bean Fosters for a breakfast burrito and a coffee. He then heads to Earth Treks to climb with the morning crew. After a fun lunch at a place like The Sherpa House, it is time to jump on the mountain bike for a crushing ride through White Ranch. After a hard hour or two on the trails, Chris’s Golden Day ends on the patio at Indulge, sharing a bottle of wine with friends. Or, he admits, just watching the sunset from his backyard, where he and his pals may split a growler of IPA from one of his favorite Golden craft breweries.

One last insider tip: When Chris has friends in town, he takes them up Clear Creek Canyon to climb “Playing Hooky” a 440 feet, 4-pitch easy/moderate sport climb.

As of May 2017, Earth Treks announced plans to open a second Colorado location in Englewood which will be the country's largest rock climbing gym: http://www.denverpost.com/2017/05/01/americas-largest-climbing-gym-englewood/

Take a Hike & Raise a Glass to Colorado Craft Beer Week in the World’s Biggest Little Beer Town

Written by Joy Meadows on March 16, 2017. Posted in Featured, Golden Highlights, Golden's Top Picks.

Take a Hike & Raise a Glass to Colorado Craft Beer Week in the World’s Biggest Little Beer Town, Golden, Colorado

What’s more “Colorado” than an afternoon hike, followed by a tasty craft beer? It’s the perfect way to celebrate Colorado Craft Beer Week, March 18 – 25, 2017.

And few towns in the world offer better opportunities for a brisk mountain walk or bike ride, followed by a refreshing glass of beer than Golden, Colorado.

For one thing, this little town, located 12 miles west of Denver, brews more beer than any other city on the planet, largely due to the fact that hometown favorite Coors Brewery is the world’s largest single-site brewery.

But Golden also has an assortment of award-winning craft breweries producing wonderful ales, wheat beers, pilsners and stouts.

And for hikes? Golden is located in an area of spectacular natural beauty. To the east, are two mesas — high flat-topped plateaus surrounded by cliffs- and to the west Golden is the spot where the Great Plains hit the Rocky Mountains. Most notable of the Front Range peaks which tower over Golden is Lookout Mountain that boasts a road filled with hairpin turns and climbs an unbelievable 1,200 feet in just four miles. Down below, Clear Creek cuts through rock to create a beautiful canyon before spilling out into and rushing through downtown Golden.

Here are six classic Golden hiking or bike trails paired with a perfect pub stop for a beer afterwards.

SOUTH TABLE MOUNTAIN

South Table Mountain and its twin North Table Mountain are landmark mesas rising above Golden. South Table Mountain is renowned for Castle Rock, Golden’s signature rock outcropping that offers commanding views of Golden and the Front Range. It was once home to a dance hall that was accessed via funicular, there are ruins visible today. You can access South Table Mountain several ways, but we suggest parking at the base of Golden Summit Trail and heading up the .6 mile trail. It’s very steep and you’ll gain 1,500 feet in elevation before you reach the top. Enjoy the view and hurry back down for a craft beer at New Terrain.

Beer Stop: New Terrain Brewing Co. is Golden’s newest craft brewery. It’s located on the eastern edge of North Table Mountain with a view down into Clear Creek Valley. Almost all the walls roll up, there’s an outdoor beer garden with picnic tables, fireplace, food trucks, and eight beers on tap, with more coming. The beer is first rate, but it’s the views and architecture that make it worth a journey. It’s like a ski lodge dumped into the Front Range with buttes in every direction. Plan to spend the afternoon.

MATTHEWS/WINTERS PARK TRAILS

Located just south of Golden on State Highway 93, this Jefferson County open space park has nine miles of trails. A particularly beautiful stretch is the 2.8 mile Red Rocks Trail, which climbs up some mild switchbacks, offering spectacular views of towering red rock formations as you approach Red Rocks Amphitheater. Another, more strenuous hike is the Dakota Ridge Trail, which climbs up and down along the twisting Dakota Hogback, an unusual geologic formation. The first dinosaur bones ever discovered were found along this hogback. Nearby on Dinosaur Ridge, you can see million-year-old dinosaur bones and dinosaur tracks, still visible in the rocks.

Beer Stop: Located across the street from Coors, the Barrels & Bottles Brewery is one of the most unique Golden breweries. There are 27 craft beers on tap (a half dozen of their own and great guest beers from across the country) and 24 wine taps. If you’re not familiar with tap wines, it’s a growing trend and the freshest way to enjoy wine right from the barrel, including wines produced right here in Colorado. A local’s tip: Stop by and say hi to the owner’s two dogs, Pixie and Oba.

CLEAR CREEK TRAIL

The most popular trail in Golden offers all forms of recreation, from strolling to skateboarding, from tubing to biking. The paved, mostly level recreational trail stretches from the beginnings of Clear Creek Canyon in the Foothills of the Rocky Mountains, all the way down to the South Platte River in Denver, 19 miles away, offering a tree-lined path with fishing, horseback riding, kayaking – and even gold panning along its banks. Clear Creek Canyon was the historic route the railroad and stagecoaches took to the gold strikes in Central City and Black Hawk, and on weekends, you can expect to see a couple of dozen people still panning for gold, which washes down the
river today just as it did 150 years ago. The Clear Creek recreational path is a perfect trail for families and picnics, and there is ample parking in downtown Golden just minutes from the trail.

Beer Stop: The Golden City Brewery is just a block from the Clear Creek Trail and offers the one-of-a-kind experience of enjoying a beer in the brewer’s backyard. The brewery was founded in 1993 by two geologists, in an old machine shop behind their historic Golden home. The tasting room was originally located in the sun room of their house. Since that time, the operation has expanded and now the carriage house is the tasting room and their backyard is the beer garden. It’s a friendly place with everyone sharing tables and making new friends. In winter there’s an outdoor fire; in summer, there are often musicians playing. Order a beer through the Dutch door of the carriage house, find a table, and relax in the backyard. After a walk on the river, try the appropriately named Clear Creek Gold Pale Ale, an award-winning, traditional German Kolschbier hopped with Czech Saaz for a pleasant floral finish.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN NATURE CENTER & PRESERVE

The best place to get an introduction to hiking in Golden is the gorgeous 1917 Boettcher Mansion on top of Lookout Mountain. Once a summer home for the Boettcher family, this beautiful log building has been turned in a museum along-side a nature center in the middle of a preserve. The preserve has 1.4 miles of gentle trails that wind through ponderosa pine forests mixed with meadows of wildflowers. Exhibits in the center will tell you about the black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, elk, and mule deer that are often captured on the center’s cameras.

Beer Stop: Now that you’ve learned about the flora and fauna of the foothills above Golden, learn about the beer made down in the valley by taking the free, 30-minute, self-paced tour of the malting, brewing and packing of Coors Beer. Coors is the world’s largest single-site brewery and a perfect place to learn how beer is made. Explore a room of giant copper kettles and then stop in the fascinating packaging room, where millions of cans and bottles whirl by, on their way to being filled with beer and slotted into six packs. After the tour, those 21 and over can sample three free glasses of beer (with soft drinks for those under 21). Try a Colorado Native. This tasty beer is only available in Colorado and is the only “all Colorado” beer made with just Rocky Mountain water, Colorado-grown hops, Colorado-grown barley from the San Luis Valley and the oldest strain of brewer’s yeast in Colorado.

NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN

One of the chief landmarks of Golden is this broad, flat-topped mesa that rises hundreds of feet above the valley and is ringed by cliffs with a half dozen hiking and biking trails crisscrossing the area. The classic hike or bike trip is a moderate 5.9 mile loop trail that will take you around — and over — the mesa top, with 360 degree views of Golden, Denver and the Front Range. A new parking area on Colorado Hwy. 93 just north of town has maps; trails head off clockwise or counterclockwise around the mountain. It’s a mixed-use trail with some steep climbs and singletrack sections for bikers. Once on top, look for herds of deer.

Beer Stop: Cannonball Creek Brewing is just down the road from the North Table Mountain trailhead and a perfect Golden beer stop. Cannonball Creek was the original name of Clear Creek, which flows through the heart of downtown. In its first year, this young brewery took two prestigious silver medals at the Great American Beer Festival. They took Gold in 2014. They usually have between 6-12 craft beers on tap. After a tough hike or bike ride, you deserve the Almond Chocolate Stout, brewed with six pounds of fresh roasted almonds and a generous portion of Belgian dark chocolate to give it a nutty, bittersweet chocolate finish.

WHITE RANCH

Located just a few miles west of Golden, this gorgeous old ranch has 20 miles of multi-use trails arranged in ingenious patterns, offering a wide number of loop hikes or mountain bike rides for all abilities and lengths. There are mountain and canyon views, old ranch barns, and a collection of antique farm equipment that all make for wonderful photos. Hike in pine forests or across open meadows. It is especially wonderful after a fresh snowfall for snowshoeing and cross country skiing. In the fall, there are pretty stands of aspen that turn all shades of gold.

Beer Stop: The Mountain Toad is the quintessential Colorado brewery with big windows that open to the outdoors, an outdoor patio with food trucks, a beer garden, and 6-12 craft beers on tap. Check out the chalkboard to see what beers have been added to the menu. You can bring in your own food, or buy food at the adjoining food truck, or even order in a pizza. Dogs are welcome and mingle with guests inside and out. Try a tray of four ounce samples, or if you’ve just come from White Ranch, dig into the White Ranch Wit — a complex wheat ale brewed with orange blossom honey, grapefruit peel and coriander with notes of citrus and spice.

Alternate Beer Stops: If you are Gluten-Free, Golden has a brewery for you! After your Golden adventure, head to Holidaily Brewing Co., the only dedicated, gluten-free brewing facility in the state of Colorado. Holidaily is dedicated to creating great-tasting gluten free craft beer.

Cheers!

Beat the “Mud Season Blues” with a Golden Getaway

Written by Joy Meadows on March 10, 2017. Posted in Featured, Golden Highlights, Golden's Top Picks.

Beat the “Mud Season Blues” with a Golden Getaway

Mud season can be tough to handle in the high country. The skis are put away but it’s not yet time to get out the bikes, hiking boots, and climbing gear. Between lingering ice, closed trailheads, and deserted restaurants and bars, it’s easy for cabin fever to set in.

The solution is a quick trip down I-70 to Golden, Colorado. Located where the mountains meet the plains, Golden is the perfect place to get a jump start on summer mountain recreation, even in early spring. The two high western buttes east of town (North and South Table Mountain) receive lots of sun and offer snow-free trails most of the year. Whether mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing or even kayaking, Golden is the place to be in “mud season.” And after a day outdoors, there are five craft breweries and dozens of restaurants and shops in Golden’s fun and historic downtown.

You can even make a weekend of it and take advantage of affordable spring rates at one of Golden’s downtown hotels.

Here are five ways to stave off the mud season blues in Golden:

1. Road Bike up Lookout Mountain & Eat Sherpa Stew at The Sherpa House

Featured twice in the U.S. Pro Challenge, this is one of the most famous hill climbs on the Front Range. The paved road snakes, twists and turns, climbing 1,300-feet in 4.3 miles, from downtown Golden to the 7,379-foot summit of Lookout Mountain. While it is a challenging climb with 5-6 percent grades, bikers are rewarded with incredible views of Golden, the foothills and the far off snowcapped peaks. Fuel Stop: The Sherpa House & Cultural Center in historic downtown Golden is unique, providing a wonderful blend of authentic Himalayan cuisine and culture. Try the Sherpa Stew, a mixture of vegetables, dumplings and spices combined with your choice of beef, lamb or yak meat. They also have lighter dishes and salads, and a killer outdoor patio.

2. Road Bike from Golden to Denver & Fuel Up at D’Deli

One of the favorite paved bike paths in the area is Clear Creek Canyon, which meanders down alongside the river for 19 miles on a slow downward grade to the South Platte River, where it joins another 40-mile paved bike trail, opening up a myriad of possibilities. The path is tree-lined for nearly its entire route, and seldom far from the pleasant sound of rushing water. Fuel Stop: Located downtown, D’Deli (named after the Dutch pronunciation of The Deli) is a Golden institution and routinely wins “best of” awards from all local media for its amazing sandwiches, which include unique Colorado subs made of cold cut elk and cold corned buffalo

3. Mountain Bike or Hike Around North Table Mountain & Taste New Terrain Brews

One of the chief landmarks of Golden is this broad, flat-topped mesa that rises hundreds of feet above the valley and is ringed by cliffs. A half dozen hiking and mountain biking trails crisscross the area. The classic hike or bike ride is a moderate 5.9 mile loop trail that will take you around — and over — the mesa top, with 360 degree views of Golden, Denver and the Front Range

Fuel Stop: You can actually access a trail up North Table Mountain from the parking lot of New Terrain Brewery. This gorgeous new brewery is crafting exploratory beers; some follow brewing traditions….and some don’t. But all beers are made with precision and passion. Changing food trucks, an outdoor patio and sweeping views of Clear Creek Valley are the perfect end to a day on the trail.

4. Hike or Mountain Bike the Matthews/Winters Trails & Savor Cannonball Creek Suds

There are nine miles of generally snow-free trails in this sprawling Jefferson County park located just south of Golden on State Highway 93. The park butts up to Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which also offers a series of connecting trails. A particularly beautiful stretch is the 2.8 mile Red Rocks Trail, which climbs up some mild switchbacks, offering spectacular views of towering red rock formations as you approach Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Fuel Stop: Cannonball Creek Brewing is just down the road about 15 minutes from Matthews/Winters and a perfect Golden afternoon beer stop. In its first year, this young brewery took two prestigious silver medals at the Great American Beer Festival. In 2016, they won two gold medals! They usually have between 6-12 craft beers on tap and changing food trucks.

5. Climb in Any Type of Weather in Colorado’s Premier Indoor Bouldering Gym & Get Spicy at Trailhead Taphouse

There’s no reason to have “cabin fever” in mud season when there’s Earth Treks Golden. This is the premier indoor rock climbing and bouldering gym in Colorado. Opened in 2013, this 28,500 sq. ft. facility has 45-foot high walls with 300 roped routes and some 100 bouldering problems to twist, stretch, and pull yourself over. The walls were designed by rock climbing legend Jason Kehl, the eclectic climber who was the first person to ever boulder a 5.14d grade route.

Fuel Stop: The Trailhead Taphouse in downtown Golden offers mouth-watering, homemade cooking including Cajun, gourmet pizzas, fresh and healthy salads, ‘po boy sandwiches, and trail end desserts. And of course, this being Golden, there is a huge selection of craft beers on tap.

A trip to Golden is a sure fix for the “mud season blues.” Come for the day, come for a weekend. Golden is a great place to stay, play and dine in the spring.

Celebrate Buffalo Bill’s Birthday & the Old West in Golden, Colorado

Written by Joy Meadows on February 21, 2017. Posted in Golden Highlights, Golden's Top Picks.

Celebrate Buffalo Bill's Birthday & All Things Western in Golden, Colorado

From Buffalo Bill to Steam Trains, Historic Homesteads to the History of Brewing, Colorado’s First Capital City Has Seen it All – and It’s All Still Here to Be Seen.

Sunday, February 26 marks the birth date of one of the world's first superstars. Not Elvis – he wasn't even born until 18 years after this superstar was laid to rest. No, it's Colonel Buffalo Bill Cody. Today, Buffalo Bill is remembered as a historical figure, but from 1883 to 1913, he created the first show business world tour — “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West.” There has never been anything else quite like it.

While Beyonce’s current world tour has 20 backup dancers and will be held in 41 cities, Buffalo Bill performed in more than 1,000 cities in a dozen nations with a cast of 640 cowboys, Indians, vaqueros and rough riders. It took a special train of 52 box cars to move his show, which included the third largest buffalo herd on earth.

Kings, queens and presidents attended his shows and it is estimated that more than 25 million words were written about Buffalo Bill during his lifetime, making his silver goatee, buckskin jacket and wide Stetson hat more recognizable and famous than anyone in the world. When he died in 1917 while visiting his sister in Denver, his body was put on view in the state capitol and his funeral was (and still is!) the largest ever held in Colorado.

You can help celebrate Buffalo Bill's birthday on Saturday, February 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rock Rest's Buffalo Bill birthday celebration. Featuring hundreds of Old West re-enactors, free contests, fabulous prizes, national and Colorado authors.

On Sunday, February 26, the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave offers a free day and celebration, from noon – 4 p.m. There will be birthday cake, games and even a buffalo chip tossing contest. Get a glimpse of this superstar and his exciting life as an army scout, Pony Express rider, buffalo hunter and showman. Located on top of Lookout Mountain, just a short walk from his grave site, the museum has many of his costumes, guns, hats and posters from the show, as well other artifacts from the many people who appeared in his shows, including gunfighter Wild Bill Hickock and Chief Sitting Bull, who wiped out Custer at the Little Big Horn. Kids (and adults) can try on western outfits for Facebook photos, and the view from the museum is the best in all of Denver. So is the drive to the museum, up the twisting Lariat Loop Trail. The world’s best cyclists have twice pedaled up this torturous climb in the USA Pro Challenge. Every day, dozens of bicyclists come up the mountain, while hang gliders float down. More information: buffalobill.org

Buffalo Bill allegedly chose this pretty spot to be buried because it afforded such spectacular views of both the plains and the mountains. But Golden, Colorado also played an important role in settling the West and there are many other places to get the story. Here are a few:

The Homesteaders & Goldminers: Golden was Colorado’s first capital and the closest town to the goldfields that sparked the Gold Rush of 1859. The Golden History Center has exhibits on the town’s history and the Gold Rush that brought 100,000 men and women across the Great Plains in just two years in the hopes of striking it rich. On the other side of a fast rushing river is Clear Creek History Park, the complete homestead of the Pearce Ranch in Golden Gate Canyon that has been relocated to this beautiful spot, complete with barns, chickens and a farm house. Tours let you see what it was really like living in the Old West, and kids love meeting and feeding the chickens.

The Railroads: It was the railroads that “won the West,” and the largest collection of steam locomotives and cars in Colorado is located nearby at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Most fun of all, the museum has a half mile circle of track and daily throughout the summer, they fire up one of their many operating steam locomotives and pull passengers around this giant model railroad, steam whistles blowing and bells clanging. On the other weekends, they have a Galloping Goose – an old Pierce Arrow limousine that was put on wheels with a bus on back that used to run over the Rocky Mountains near Telluride. The museum has indoor and outdoor model train displays, and during the holiday season they stage the fabulous Polar Express, where Santa comes on board a steam train and every passenger gets a silver bell.

The Dinosaurs: We’re talking real Old West history here, but the Golden area was once a tropical swamp filled with dinosaurs, and the first T-Rex bones were found in Golden on top of South Table Mountain. The Triceratops Trail runs for 1.5 miles through Golden and you can see 100 million year old footprints of a Tyrannosaurus rex, Edmontosaurus, and Triceratops. Nearby at Dinosaur Ridge, you can see actual dinosaur bones still in rocks and examine hundreds of dinosaur footprints. A museum tells the story of the “dinosaur gold rush” that was unleashed in 1877 when Arthur Lakes, a professor at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, discovered the first dinosaur bones and thrilled the world, sending hundreds of scientists to the Golden area to look for more fossils.

The Brewers: What would the Old West be without a saloon? And saloons need beer. In 1872, a young brewer from Germany was walking along Clear Creek in Golden when he discovered many cool springs of crystal pure water bubbling up from the ground. He knew water was a major ingredient in beer, so with a partner, he bought the land around the springs and turned an abandoned tannery nearby into a brewery. His name was Adolph Herrman Coors, and today his brewery is the largest single-site brewery in the world.

Coors Brewery produces 13 million barrels of beer a year, which translates to 4.3 billion bottles – or about 221,000 bottles of beer for every resident in Golden. And Coors isn’t the only brewery in town. There are five other award-winning craft breweries located here, as well as a distillery. Buffalo Bill, who was known to have a fondness for alcohol, would be proud.

The brewery has an excellent tour where you can see and learn how beer is made, and also discover the history of beer brewing in Colorado. After the tour, those over 21 can sample three free beers. What better way is there to discover the Old West in Colorado?

Whether you venture out on Buffalo Bill's birthday or any day, you will find plenty of ways to celebrate the Old West in Golden!

Golden in Denver Restaurant Week

Written by Joy Meadows on February 19, 2017. Posted in Featured, Golden's Top Picks.

Golden in Denver Restaurant Week

Some of Golden’s best restaurants are participating in Denver Restaurant Week (DRW) this year and there’s no better excuse to try out these eateries. Running February 24 through March 5 and with fixed price points and tasty menu options, you’ll love trying out a new Golden restaurant or heading back to your all-time favorite.

ABEJAS
807 13TH STREET
$35.00
Located in Downtown Golden, Abejas (pronounced ah-bay-haus), is a community-focused restaurant dedicated to seasonality. Their DRW menu features vegetarian, vegan and gluten free items including Colorado striped bass, braised short ribs and sweet potato gnocchi. Call 303-952-9745 for a reservation or hop online.

THE BRIARWOOD INN
1630 8TH STREET
$45.00

The Briarwood Inn has been a part of Colorado’s fine dining scene for over thirty seven years. If you’ve never been, this is the perfect opportunity to try out a wonderful Golden tradition. The special DRW menu includes King Crab risotto, filet mignon, and veal osso buco. Call 303-279-3121 for reservations.

INDULGE BISTRO AND WINE BAR
1299 WASHINGTON AVE
$35.00

Located in the heart of downtown Golden, Indulge Bistro & Wine Bar is an upscale, locally owned neighborhood venue with a variety of delicious entrees, tapas, salads, flatbreads and desserts. The DRW menu offers three courses including green chili mac and cheese, bison brisket, and smoked chicken. Call 303-277-9991 or hop online for reservations.

MAKI SUSHI & GRILL
1301 WASHINGTON AVE., #120
$25.00

Maki Sushi & Grill, voted “Best of The Best” Sushi and Asian Restaurant in Golden, is known for its fresh and delicious sushi. Miso soup, volcano roll, spider roll, and jalapeno bomb are all featured on their DRW menu. Call 303-404-2800 or hop online for reservations.

TABLE MOUNTAIN INN GRILL & CANTINA
1310 WASHINGTON AVE
$25.00

With its vibrant Santa Fe decor and fresh Southwestern cuisine, Table Mountain Grill & Cantina feels like dining in a good friend’s home. Green chili, carnitas, piñon cherry chicken—you can’t go wrong! Call 303-277-9898 or hop online for reservations.

A Perfect Day in Golden: DeAnn & Brett Wieber

Written by Joy Meadows on February 13, 2017. Posted in Golden's Top Picks.

A Perfect Day in Golden: DeAnn & Brett Wieber

In April, the Windy Saddle Café will celebrate its tenth anniversary. Located on Washington Avenue, under the “Howdy Folks” Welcome Arch, the Windy Saddle is where locals gather to enjoy delicious food, excellent coffee and friendly conversation with owners DeAnn and Brett Wieber.

Originally from Wisconsin, the Wiebers were high school sweethearts who dreamed of living in Colorado and running a cafe. A few years after graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, — yes, they are die hard Badger fans, — they moved to Colorado and fell in love with the small town feel of Golden. The town was “on the cusp of becoming something really special” and the time was right to make their dream a reality. Despite having a toddler daughter, Stella, and a second baby on the way, the Wiebers opened their doors in the old Meyer’s Appliance Store in April of 2007.

“That first day was crazy busy,” recalls DeAnn, who gave birth to Sam two weeks later. It was a whirlwind as the Wiebers threw themselves into the Windy Saddle and parenting their two young children. Stella and Sam spent a lot of time in the Windy Saddle’s popular “buckaroo room,” a place that is still popular with young kids and parents today.

According to DeAnn, “At any given time, we are a gathering place for business meetings, families, college kids, first dates, high schoolers, moms and babies, you name it. We recently lost a long time customer, an elderly gentleman who would come in every day. So many customers feel like family. We are just so lucky to be in Golden.”

We asked DeAnn to describe the Wieber’s “Perfect Day in Golden.” Her answer:

“Assuming we could actually do everything we love to do in Golden in one day, we would wake up with a stop at Windy Saddle Café for our favorite espresso drinks and grub, including fresh baked goods and breakfast sandwiches.

From there, I would ride up Lookout Mountain and meet up with Brett, Stella and Sam at Windy Saddle Park, along the Lariat Loop, for a hike along Beaver Brook Trail. The out and back trail has great views and fun rocks to climb.

After our hike we’d check out bikes at the Golden Bike Library and ride to Goozell Yogurt before dropping in at Vital Outdoors, Peak Cycles and Golden River Sports. Then we’d head down to the American Mountaineering Museum to walk through the exhibits and hit the American Alpine Club Library to borrow some inspiring books and videos.

Next we’d head to the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum and afterwards, we’d stop by Clear Creek to soak our feet in the cool water. Our day would conclude at the Trailhead Taphouse and Kitchen to kick back, relax and sample a variety of Rocky Mountain beers on tap and enjoy some serious jambalaya or a fresh, filling protein-packed salad on the patio overlooking the foothills.

Wow, what a great day! “

Stop into the Windy Saddle for a perfect start to your Golden day and say hi to Brett and DeAnn.

February 14—A Date Night in Golden

Written by Joy Meadows on February 13, 2017. Posted in Featured, Golden Highlights, Golden's Top Picks.

February 14 — A Date Night in Golden You'll Love

Valentine’s Day. What a great excuse to grab a date, take a romantic walk along Clear Creek or historic Washington Avenue, and head to one of Golden’s new hotspots. Here are some top new locales to celebrate love.

Abejas– At Abejas (pronounced ah-bay-haus), tasty seasonality is the name of the game and every delicious dish screams it through fresh local produce, organic meats, and even sustainable fish. Guests also get to sip on classic cocktails with ingredients from craft distilleries, suds from local breweries and vino from small production wineries. You and your date are sure to fall in love with Abejas.
Miners Saloon– In search of a bit of ambiance? Miners Saloon won’t let you down—with a lighted Onyx bar (it just glows!) and two fireplaces, it’s hard to find a better place to snuggle up with your sweetheart. Not only do they boast the most beer taps in downtown Golden, but also on tap are their signature Miners Margarita and the 44 North Huckleberry Vodka Lemonade. Pair that with a delicious, chef driven menu and you’re in it to win it.
Trailhead Taphouse & Kitchen– With local beer on tap and a solid selection of wine, the home-style cooking including Cajun food, gourmet pizzas, and fresh salads combine to make this one cozy place for a night on the town with your Valentine. Just be forewarned that said Valentine may request frequent returns—which could definitely be a bonus.
New Terrain Brewing Company– Celebrating Valentine’s Day with someone new? There’s no better place to explore your commonalities than New Terrain Brewing in north Golden where the beers are constantly evolving—just like love. Awwww. How sweet! With an inviting interior sporting a roaring fireplace, New Terrain is a great place to get to know each other better. Plus, their brews are really darn good.

Need a place to score a sure-to-please gift for your Valentine? Here are a few Golden ideas:

Creekside Jewelers provides a wide selection of beautiful items, many exclusive to the store. Exclusive sounds good for Valentine’s Day, doesn’t it?
Urban Escape Day Spa in downtown Golden offers a chance to unwind and be pampered—the perfect Valentine’s Day treat.
Find a valentine for your outdoor enthusiast at Golden River Sports, Pedal Pushers, Bent Gate Mountaineering, or any other of our fine outdoor retailers.

Golden adventures that you can finish before Broncos kick-off

Written by Joy Meadows on February 8, 2017. Posted in Uncategorized.

Earn those Nachos!

Take on one of these seven active adventures in Golden & be back before Broncos kick-off

Football Sundays don’t have to be lazy. Why not up your heart rate and be back on the couch refueling with chips and dip in time for kick-off? There’s not enough time to battle traffic to get from Denver to the mountains and back before kickoff. Golden, Colorado offers the same mountain experience, and it’s located just 12 miles from the Mile High Stadium.

So put on your game face to tackle your own adventurous challenge before the game. Here are seven exciting ways to burn some calories and have a great pre-kickoff day in Golden, Colorado.

Bike or hike up North Table Mountain. One of the two broad, flat-topped mesas hovering above Golden, this rocky desert-like area is ringed by cliffs with a half dozen hiking trails crisscrossing it. The longest hike/bike ride is a moderate 5.9 mile loop trail that will take you around — and over — the mesa top, with 360 degree views of Golden, Denver and the Front Range. A new parking area on Colorado Hwy. 93 just north of town has maps. Shorter hikes head straight up the mesa over a lunar landscape of rocks to the distinctive top of Lichen Peak. Be on the lookout for herds of deer. Afterwards, stop at the Briarwood Inn in Golden, which does a champagne brunch with seafood crepes, omelets, fresh fruit and pastries starting at 10 a.m. on Sundays.

Bike up Lookout Mountain. Featured twice in the U.S. Pro Challenge, this is one of the most famous hill climbs on the Front Range. The paved road snakes, twists and turns, climbing 1,300-feet in 4.3 miles, from historic downtown Golden to the 7,379-foot summit of Lookout Mountain. The scenic road was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., the son of the famed landscape architect who created Central Park in New York. It was built in 1914 as part of the Lariat Loop Trail, a series of early scenic paved roads that connected the famed Denver Mountain Park system. Today, there are far more cyclists than cars. While it is a challenging climb with 5-6 percent grades, bikers are rewarded with incredible views of Golden, the foothills and the far off snowcapped peaks. Cyclists can zoom back down the mountain, or continue on a 15.5 mile loop trip, which includes views of a genuine buffalo herd. Afterwards, you’ve deserved a pre-game beer! Try a Mount Zion IPA at Mountain Toad Brewery. (Mount Zion is the peak you’ll bike up on the way to Lookout Mountain).

Hike or Bike Clear Creek. Begin right in the center of town and head towards the mountains. The paved bike/hiking trail is tree-lined and follows the creek, where you can stop and listen to the water as it tumbles down from the mountains toward town. Along the way, the trail passes the Clear Creek History Park, which has re-created the 1878 Pearce Homestead, complete with log cabins, barns and outbuildings, and a chicken coop. After a relaxing walk, stop for brunch at a creek-side outdoor café, or a pre-game lunch at one of downtown Golden’s restaurants. From classic Woody’s Pizza, to the southwest-influenced Table Mountain Inn, to the taste of Nepal at the Sherpa House Restaurant, to the most famous sandwiches on the Front Range at D’Deli, you can sit at an outdoor café, or get the meal to go and dine at picnic tables along Clear Creek…and still be home long before kickoff.

Visit White Ranch. Ute and Arapaho Native Americans once camped and hunted on this land. In 1865, James and Mary Bond built a homestead and farm here. They were bound for California, but settled on this land after their young son was accidently killed under the wheels of their wagon. Their house still stands on the park grounds. There are 18 miles of multi-use trails offering a variety of hiking and biking trails with mountain and homestead views. The 4,300-acre park is located just 2.7 miles from downtown Golden. Afterwards? Try brunch at the Old Capitol Grille in downtown Golden. When White Ranch was a working homestead, this restaurant was the Capitol Building of Colorado Territory. There are salads, burgers and sandwiches, or try Miners Pot Roast or the Pioneer fried steak.

Hike among the Red Rocks at Matthews/Winters Park. Located just south of Golden on State Highway 93 , this Jefferson County open space park has 9 miles of trails. A particularly beautiful stretch is the 2.8 mile Red Rocks Trail, which climbs up some mild switchbacks, offering spectacular views of little-known towering red rock formations as you approach Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Another, more strenuous hike is the Dakota Ridge Trail, which climbs up and down along the twisting Dakota Hogback, an unusual geologic formation. The first dinosaur bones ever discovered were found along this hogback. Nearby on Dinosaur Ridge, you can see millions of year old dinosaur bones and dinosaur tracks, still visible in the rocks. It’s only a few minutes downhill to Golden to stock up on snacks before the game.

Hike through Golden Gate Canyon State Park. One of Colorado’s most popular state parks is just 20 minutes from Golden and offers 35 miles of year-round trails through dense forest and across meadows rimmed with aspen trees. Whether you hike the Mule Deer Trail, the Raccoon Trail or the Snowshoe Hare Trail, make sure to plan a stop at the Panorama Point scenic overlook, arguably the best viewpoint on the entire Front Range with views of more than 100 miles of snowcapped mountains along the Continental Divide. Golden Gate requires a $9 daily pass, or an annual State Parks pass. After the hike, stop in Golden for a pre-game drink at one of the town’s six craft breweries: Cannonball Creek, Mountain Toad, Golden City Brewing, New Terrain, Holidaily or Barrels & Bottles. Golden brews more beer than any city in the world! (That’s because Coors is the largest single brewery in the world). You can take the first tour of Coors and enjoy three free samples starting at noon on Sundays.

Climb South Table Mountain. The first T-Rex bones in the world were discovered on this high butte that rises above Coors Brewery. A pleasant 1.5 mile trail snakes up the mesa to the top, where there is a fantastic view of Golden and the entire Front Range. After the hike, stop back in Golden and shop Main Street, which is lined with one-of-a-kind boutiques, galleries, sporting goods stores, and bike shops.

My Perfect Golden Day – Steve Friesen, Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave

Written by Joy Meadows on January 9, 2017. Posted in Golden's Top Picks.

My Perfect Golden Day – Steve Friesen, Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave

Steve Friesen has been the Director of the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave on Lookout Mountain overlooking Golden for 21 years. One of the top authorities on Buffalo Bill, he is the author of the book “Buffalo Bill: Scout, Showman, Visionary,” and of another book due to come out in May, 2017, “Lakota Performers in Europe: Their Culture and the Artifacts They Left Behind,” which will be about the many Native Americans who toured Europe with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show. He recently received the Rosenstock Lifetime Achievement Award from the Denver Posse of Westerners.

More than half a million people make the climb up the Lariat Loop Trail every year to see Buffalo Bill’s Grave, and 73,000 of them stop in the museum to learn more about the world’s first Super Star. Buffalo Bill’s show performed in more than a thousand cities in 12 different countries with 640 cowboys, Indians, trick riders and sharpshooters, like Annie Oakley. As a modern comparison, his show was more than 10 times the size of Beyonce’s 2016 World Tour.

Among the museum’s collection of 10,000 historic items, some of Steve’s favorites include Sitting Bull’s headdress, Buffalo Bill’s priceless saddle made with silver inlays of the animals of the Rocky Mountains, and a silver dollar with a bullet hole through the center that was put there by Buffalo Bill. “We have the real stuff – the real things that belonged to Buffalo Bill and have his DNA on them,” Steve says.

Prior to his current job, Steve was the director of the Molly Brown House in Denver. He filled out a form back then, describing his “ideal job” as being a consultant with an office on top of Lookout Mountain, never realizing that he actually would work for more than two decades from one of the best offices in Colorado, on top of Lookout Mountain with a view down to all of Golden.

Here’s how Steve Friesen would spend a Perfect Day in Golden.

“I like to walk along the Clear Creek bike path in the morning. It’s a beautiful walk and you can follow the creek right up into the mountains. Then I’d visit the Colorado Railroad Museum. My masters degree from the State University of New York was in American Folk Culture and I like museums that showcase real things. Interactive exhibits are okay, but I like to see and feel and touch the real thing. For lunch, you can’t beat the buffet at Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza. You get pizza, the cheese soup, and the salad bar for $11.99– it’s a great deal.

Of course you have to visit the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave in the afternoon and see the view from Lookout Mountain, which is especially spectacular at sunset. In the late afternoon, I’d have a whiskey at the Bridgewater Grill, where you can sit outside in summer and see rafts and tubes coming down the river. For dinner, I like the Table Mountain Inn Grill & Cantina, where I’d have the Pinon Cherry Chicken, which is a piñon nut crusted chicken breast sautéed with dried cherries, served with sour cream and chive mashed potatoes. It’s a great setting too.”

Get Your Western On in Golden, Colorado! Only 20 Minutes from the Stock Show, It’s a World Away in Atmosphere

Written by Joy Meadows on January 6, 2017. Posted in Golden Highlights.

Get Your Western On in Golden, Colorado!

Only 20 Minutes from the Stock Show, It’s a World Away in Atmosphere

Golden, Colorado is where the plains meet the mountains, and it’s one of the best get-a-way spots for National Western Stock Show visitors looking for some fresh air.

Located in pretty Clear Creek Valley, just 12 miles west of Denver, this little town has long been known as the home of Coors – the largest single brewing site in the world producing a staggering 13 million barrels of beer a year (that’s roughly 4.3 billion bottles).

But unlike Denver and many of the newer suburbs, Golden has never forgotten its Western roots and history. Spanning main street is Golden’s famous 58-foot long Welcome Arch, which has been saying “Howdy Folks!” to visitors since 1949.

Right under the arch is the Buffalo Rose, an institution that has been a hotel, a saloon and a swimming pool since 1859. Generals Grant, Sherman and Sheridan all stayed here. Today, the Buffalo Rose offers some of the best live country music on the Front Range, or as they like to say, “it’s where food, drinks and live music are Golden.” And the Buffalo Rose is just the beginning. Golden’s “Old West” style main street is lined with historic buildings that now house Western art galleries, breweries, a distillery, restaurants, one-of-a-kind shops, cafes, outdoor sporting goods stores…and there’s even a Starbucks!

The most famous character of the Wild West, Buffalo Bill Cody, is buried in Golden, high on top of Lookout Mountain with panoramic views and a fun museum next to the grave site. Colorado’s largest collection of steam locomotives and model railroads is here at the Colorado Railroad Museum. Or walk along the Clear Creek Trail past the old 1878 Pearce Ranch homestead. Eight children were raised on this ranch and you can tour the barn, farmhouse, outbuildings and even feed the chickens, all in a pretty creek-side location right in the heart of the historic downtown.

Here are some events and things to do during in Golden during the Stock Show.

Listen to Some Authentic Cowboy Songs at the 2017 Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering – A Festival of Western Song, Poetry and Storytelling, Jan. 19-22, www.coloradocowboygathering.com/

This colorful, musical festival celebrates cowboy heritage and entertainment, which grew from the traditions of cowboys sitting around the campfires at night during the great cattle drives of the American West. It’s an artistic link to the past, where a handshake was your word and the Code of the West meant living a life of integrity and respect. It’s also a lot of fun with music and laughs mixed with some authentic Western History. Staged at the American Mountaineering Center in downtown Golden.

Tour Coors www.millercoors.com/Brewery-Tours/Golden-Brewery-Tour.aspx

Well, of course, real cowboys drink beer, and Coors is the official beer of the National Western Stock Show. So come on out and have three free beers on Coors! The brewery has a free, 30-minute, self-paced tour of the malting, brewing and packaging of Coors Beer. You get to explore a room full of giant copper kettles and then stop in the packaging room, where thousands of cans and bottles whirl by, marching one-by-one on tread mills to be filled with beer and slotted into six packs. After the tour, those 21 and over can sample three free glasses of Coors, Colorado Native, George Killians Irish Red and other Coors beers. Cowboy Tip: If you already know how beer is made, ask for the “short tour,” which is no tour at all. They’ll direct you straight to the free tasting room and gift shop.

Meet Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Bill Cody was the most famous character in the history of the American West, a buffalo hunter, Pony Express rider, and scout for the U.S. Army, and the showman who essentially brought the West to the rest of the world. Starting in 1883, his Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show was performed in more than a thousand cities in 12 different countries. Bill brought along 640 cowboys, Indians, Vaqueros, ropers, trick riders, and sharpshooters, making his show more than 10 times the size of Beyonce’s 2016 World Tour. A version of his show takes place at the National Western every year.

Sadly, Buffalo Bill was visiting his sister in Denver in 1917 when he died. His funeral on top of Lookout Mountain was the largest in Colorado history. Today, a fun museum near the grave brings his incredible story back to life with costumes, guns, artifacts like Chief Sitting Bull’s headdress, posters and pictures from the show. On display through the Stock Show is a medal given to Annie Oakley by British Queen Victoria, along some of her rifles and guns. There’s also a silver dollar with a hole through the center put there by sharpshooter Buffalo Bill himself.

The drive to the grave site on top of the mountain begins in historic downtown Golden on the Lariat Loop Trail. This is a white-knuckle thriller, with cliffs on every turn (and no guard rails), but the view from the museum’s outdoor deck is worth it.

Ride a Train Back into History

It was the railroads that won the West, and there’s nothing like hearing a steam whistle echo off the mountains, especially in January where the cold air makes the billowing mountain of steam rise that much higher into the mountain air. The Colorado Railroad Museum has a half mile circle track – sort of a giant’s toy train set – on which they run steam locomotives and the famous Galloping Goose – a 1928 Pierce Arrow limousine put on train wheels with a bus welded on the back. It’s the only way to fly – on wheels. During the Stock Show, the museum will have two special exhibits – the Trains of the National Western, detailing the strong connection between railroads and the Stock Show, and a special on the Train of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. Bill had a 52-car special to move his show that was so efficient loading and unloading, that the Germans studied the process before World War I.