Author: Joy Meadows

The best way to build up an appetite in Golden is to stop by the Golden Bike Library, check out a FREE bike rental, and then pedal to the restaurant of your choice.  Since the Golden Bike Library also provides a bike lock and helmet, you’ll be all set to stop and savor the tastes of Golden!

Here are a few fun suggestions…

• Bike up the hill on Washington Ave. to the Sherpa House for their wonderful splashing fountain, outdoor deck and exotic buffet. 
• Stop at D’Deli, pick up some of the best sandwiches on the Front Range and have a picnic along Clear Creek. 
• Pedal up to Ali Baba for their tasty gyro sandwiches and fries in a setting straight out of Arabian Nights. 
• Grab a mountain bike, cruise around North Table Mountain and take the cutoff to New Terrain Brewery and see what food truck is there.
• Bike over to Sassafras and pick up some beignets to go.  You can stash your beignets in the handy basket conveniently offered on every Golden bike.
• How about Taco Tuesday at one of Golden’s newest restaurants, Xicamti La Tqqueria Bistro? Point your bike towards  58^th and Washington for fantastic Mexican fare.
• Bike to Bob’s Atomic Burgers and indulge with one of their famous burgers with all the fixins’.
• Check out the Cheese Ranch and browse the artisanal cheeses and deli specialties. Pick up the perfect picnic spread and pedal to a creek side spot.
• Pizza and pedaling go together! Bike-friendly at Woody’s Pizza is a Golden classic and a great place to enjoy pizza and a pint.

There are so many spots in Golden to enjoy delicious dining. And what a great way to get there! Check out a bike and pedal towards a Golden restaurant today!

You may have noticed that we like our craft beer and good food here in Golden and one of our favorite ways to burn those calories is to hit one of our numerous trails. Golden is an outdoors-lovers paradise with dozens of miles of trails pleasant enough for a nice stroll or an incline that can challenge even the most fit.

In order to have a safe and fun time on one of Golden’s trails, here is some advice from a local to prepare you.  Then get outside and have fun!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO HIKE IN GOLDEN

Know your capabilities –  We have trails that wander along Clear Creek and we have trails that go almost straight up a mountain. Not all trails are created equal and understanding which trails may be best for families and which trails are more of a challenge is essential. If hiking with small children consider a child carrier backpack to make it easy on them and allow you to see more of the trail.

Hydration – Notice the people always carrying a water bottle with them? Golden is a semi-arid climate meaning you have probably already noticed the lack of humidity in the air.  Drinking water throughout the day is our solution. When hitting the trails, always carry extra water with you regardless of how far you may be hiking. Also be sure to carry plenty of water for your kids or pets.

Altitude – Sun protection, including sunscreen and sunglasses, is a must for everybody. At our altitude the sun's rays are much more intense and without proper protection you can get a sunburn as an unwelcome souvenir.

Weather – Weather around here changes quickly, from sunny and cloudless to a 10 degree drop in temperature and a thunderstorm within 15 minutes. Locals dress in layers and carry a light rain coat every time we hit a trail for good reason.   Ever heard of “Sunny Rain”? It’s not just a beer but one of those unique Colorado experiences you may get to enjoy.

WHAT TO TAKE HIKING IN GOLDEN

What to take hiking with you? With our combination of dry climate, fast changing weather, intense sun and challenging trails, it is important you have the appropriate footwear and carry certain items with you anytime you hit a trailhead. Carrying a comfortable daypack or lumbar pack is the easiest way to ensure you have what you need with you and will go a long way towards your enjoyment of our outdoor paradise. Some of the essentials you will want in your pack:

• Plenty of water (extra water for dogs & kids)
• Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
• An extra layer of clothing and a rain coat
• Snack food
• Trail map
• First aid kit
• Flashlight

THINGS TO LOOK FOR ON GOLDEN HIKING TRAILS

Wildlife – You may be fortunate to see elk or deer anywhere within the area – just keep your distance. Rattlesnakes are widespread and common to our area, though they want as little to do with you as you do them. Stay alert, keep your kids and dogs with you and stay on the trail.

Trail etiquette – More important around here than dinner table etiquette is how you interact with others on the trail. Please note the trail etiquette triangle at most trailheads and respect the other trail users. When lucky enough to be going downhill, it is old fashioned courtesy to step aside for other trail users as they are working their way up the hill regardless if they are on foot or a bike; however, bikers are generally expected to yield to hikers on the trail.

WHERE TO OUTFIT FOR HIKING IN GOLDEN

Don’t have the items needed to hit the trail? There are many outdoor stores in Golden including  Mountainsmith, Vital Outdoors, Bent Gate Mountaineering and Runners High to name a few that sell the gear you will need. If you’re just visiting for a short time and do not want to purchase the gear you can rent it instead. Mountain Side Gear Rental rents backpacks, lumbar packs, child carriers and carry's a large assortment of outdoor gear and supplies. They rent this gear by the day and can deliver the gear to downtown Golden.

“I’m not a coffee-drinker, but I spend a lot of time in Golden coffee shops meeting with citizens and handling city business,” says Marjorie Sloan, the Mayor of Golden.  Since the position of mayor does not come with an official office at City Hall, Marjorie goes directly to the people. “Golden has so many wonderful spots to meet and have a conversation, and I try to support them all,” she says.

For Marjorie, most any day in Golden is perfect. Her love for the city runs deep. Growing up, she moved frequently and never had a hometown. Landing in Golden in 1976 when her husband accepted a job at Colorado School of Mines, Marjorie knew she’d found her hometown at last. She and her husband, a professor at Colorado School of Mines, raised their two sons here. Marjorie was a practicing attorney and retired shortly after she became mayor. She’s served as Golden’s mayor since 2012, a position she absolutely loves and hopes more people will consider running for elected office in our city.

“It’s a real delight and privilege to serve as the Mayor of Golden,” she says.

Here’s a rundown of Marjorie’s perfect day in Golden…

For Marjorie, the perfect day begins on her bike. She’s not too proud to admit her bike is an e-bike, which gives her an extra boost when climbing Golden’s hills. Marjorie starts her day riding her e-bike from her home in Beverly Heights to the Pilates Center for a mid-morning Pilates class which will fortify her for the day ahead. “The Pilates Center is such a calming and peaceful environment,”  she says.

Afterwards, Marjorie typically has meetings at local businesses. She enjoys Sassafras for its delicious food and creek side location but other favorite morning meetings spots include the Windy Saddle and Café 13, where she’ll meet with community groups such as the Golden Giddy-Up.

A perfect day would definitely include a stroll along the Clear Creek Walking Path. Marjorie recently had the privilege of entertaining a group of emerging African civic leaders in Golden. Instead of learning about Golden from inside, they went on a walking tour. The group had visited communities across the nation, but said Golden was their favorite, especially Clear Creek Walking Path. “It’s such a centerpiece to Golden. People gather here to exercise, to visit with friends, to kayak or fish or to just sit and enjoy the beauty. It’s such a wonderful spot,” she said.

Marjorie usually works from her kitchen in the afternoons. She spreads out her paperwork on the kitchen table while taking in the views of Golden. Her home overlooks a trail and she enjoys seeing fellow Goldenites hiking and biking along Golden trails. She’s even been known to bake cookies for trail maintenance volunteers.

Early evenings are often spent attending functions. When she has a free night, Marjorie and her husband like to try new restaurants. She is gluten free due to having celiac and is impressed that most every Golden restaurant serves gluten-free offerings. She also enjoys Holidaily Brewing Company now and then and is thrilled to see how this Golden gluten-free brewery has grown. When Marjorie’s two young grandchildren are visiting, they insist on dinner at Woody’s. “Everyone loves Woody’s,” Marjorie notes.

Marjorie is part of the Go Farm Food Co-Op which supports local farmers. She doesn’t consider herself a “routine cooker,” but thinks it’s fun to experiment with the locally grown produce that Go Farm delivers each week. She also frequents the Bridgewater Grill and Cantina at Table Mountain Inn. “There are so many excellent spots to choose among in Golden,” says Marjorie.

All in all, to Marjorie, Golden is a place to enjoy the slower, more relaxed pace. She thinks it’s a bit of a hidden gem. “I do a lot of work with other Metro mayors and whenever they come to Golden, they are always pleasantly surprised,” she said. “Most people think they know Golden, but it you don’t take the time to get off I-70 or 93, you don’t really see what a special community it is.” Out-of-towners are also frequently commenting to Marjorie how convenient it is that in Golden, you really only need to park once. “Almost everything is within walking distance,” she notes. “This makes for a very stress-free existence and is so very convenient.”

Marjorie’s perfect Golden day ends as she enjoys a sunset with her husband and friends on her back deck. “We love to watch the lights of Golden turn on as everyone settles in for the night.”

In Golden, Colorado, it’s not unusual to see hang gliders floating down a mountain, while world class cyclists pedal up it.  The closest mountain town to Denver, Golden is just 12 miles from the state capitol building, but is a world away in atmosphere, terrain, and adventure. Photo credit: @slacklarsen.

Just some of the extreme sports available in Golden include:

Rock Climbing:  Clear Creek Canyon begins in Golden and offers some of the best rock climbing in Colorado. It is largely known for sport climbs with some trad climbs interspersed. The rock varies from gneiss and schist to a sandy granite with a variety of ratings. Beginners head to the Canal Zone, which can be accessed by foot from downtown Golden using the farthest west footbridge over Clear Creek.  Little Eiger, Red Slab and High Wire Crag also offer beginning routes to work you up to Primo Wall, Anarchy Wall and New River.  And if you’ve never climbed, or just want to sharpen up, head to Earth Treks Golden.  This is the premier indoor rock climbing and bouldering gym in Colorado.  The 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.

Mountaineering:  Opened in February 2008, Golden’s Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum is the first and only museum in the United States dedicated to the heroism, technology, culture and spirit of mountaineering.  Whether you have climbed a dozen fourteeners, or are just thinking about summiting your first, this is the place to start.  There are exhibits about climate, the science of mountains, Colorado’s 14ers, lightning, and the history of mountaineering in both Colorado and around the world.  The clothes worn by the first Americans to summit Mount Everest are here (made by a then little-known designer named Eddie Bauer) as is an ice axe that climber Pete Schoening used on K2 to single-handedly save six teammates from falling to their deaths.  There are 5,000 other items, photos, outfits and cultural artifacts on display, including a huge model of Mount Everest, showing the many different ways the peak has been climbed, and where some of its most famous tragedies have occurred.  There’s also an exhibit on the famous 10^th Mountain Division, a regiment of U.S. troops that trained in Colorado to fight in the mountains of Italy during World War II.

Golden resident Erik Weihenmayer is the only blind person in history to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, has been featured on a Time Magazine cover, and has climbed the Seven Summits (the highest points on each continent).  He has written books, kayaked the entire 277-miles of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, and co-founded No Barriers, an organization headquartered in Golden that helps people with challenges face barriers head on and live rich and meaningful lives. 

One of Erik’s favorite Golden restaurants is Sherpa House Restaurant and Cultural Center.  It was built by Lhakpa Sherpa as an authentic representation of a typical Sherpa house in the Solu-Khumbu region of Nepal. When Lhakpa wanted to offer a beer from Nepal to go with his authentic dishes like yak stew, he discovered there was none.  So he got with has neighbor, Charlie Sturdavant (owner of Golden City Brewery) and they opened the first brewery in Nepal.  You can taste their creation at the Sherpa House.  The beer’s name?  Why, Sherpa Beer, of course, made with water from the Himalayas.

Cycling:  The climb up Lookout Mountain from downtown Golden is one of the most iconic cycling routes in Colorado and one of the very few to be featured twice in the U.S. Pro Challenge with some of the world’s top riders.  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.  The area around Golden is filled with extreme mountain bike routes, from the five mile loop around North Table Mountain to the Apex trail network, Dinosaur Ridge, White Ranch, and the Enchanted Forest.  Golden also has some of the most relaxing streamside paved trails in the region.

Slacklining: Possibly the newest extreme sport craze to hit Golden, you will find slackliners all summer long practicing their craft at Golden Cliffs, in several Golden parks and even featured in the Golden Games. Slacklining is walking, balancing or bouncing across a length of flat webbing similar to a tight rope, tensioned between two points. Slackliners almost always attract a crowd and often in Golden you’ll find them in the midst of onlookers who enjoy the show of athletic grace and bouncy fun.

Hang Gliding:  Golden is the center for foot launch hang gliding off of Mount Zion, the 6,800 foot high peak adjacent to Lookout Mountain.  The skies above Golden are often filled with a half dozen gliders curling down to a landing spot near the Colorado School of Mines.

Water Sports:   Clear Creek flowing through Golden has become one of the extreme rafting and kayaking centers in Colorado, with more rapids per mile than any other commercially rafted river.  While commercial rafting puts in at Idaho Springs, the lower portion of Clear Creek closer to Golden is the center for kayaking.  There are even a dozen man-made tubing chutes in the heart of downtown Golden, which is filled with hundreds of tubers throughout the summer.

Outfitting:   Golden is center for recreation shops for all sports.  Bent Gate Mountaineering, Vital Outdoors, Icelantic, Golden Bike Shop, and Golden River Sports are just some of the outfitters in town.

Beer:    What would extreme sports be without beer?  Golden brews more beer than any other town in the world.  Coors is the largest single brewing site on the planet, and Golden has six craft breweries, all with dog-friendly outdoor beer gardens and mountain views. 

No matter if you enjoy extreme sports or more mild mannered recreation, Golden the place to be for mountain sports. For more information, check out VisitGolden.com.

Golden is Home to Dog Friendly Breweries, Restaurants, Parks, Shops and Trails

You don’t have to be a Golden Retriever to feel welcomed in Golden, Colorado.  All dogs will feel at home in this beautiful foothills community, just 12 miles from downtown Denver.  There are more than 100 miles of nearby mountain hiking trails, dog parks, and dog shops, and the historic village has a very dog-friendly policy that allows dogs at outdoor cafes, breweries, restaurant patios, in parks and along the relaxing paved trail that lines Clear Creek through the heart of town. You’ll also find that many of the shops, galleries, and boutiques that line Washington Ave. have an array of water bowls and treats out for four-legged friends, many of whom are welcome to accompany you while you shop.

Here are some suggestions for you and your pal to enjoy in Golden.

HIKES:

Clear Creek Trail:  All dogs love this paved trail that offers year-round, creek-side walking, with many opportunities for them to get a drink or take a quick dip. The 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 an often tree-lined path along the banks of the river. A beautiful flat stretch goes right through the heart of historic downtown Golden.  Please remember, dogs must be on a leash at all times on the trail, and please be careful of strong currents along the river if your four-legged friend stops in for a dip. (photo above by @eibeltower101)

Peaks to Plains Trail:   A four mile stretch of this paved trail is now open from the Big Easy Trailhead (12 miles west of Golden on Hwy. 6) heading up the canyon to Tunnel No. 5.  Eventually, the trail will stretch all the way from Idaho Springs to Golden.  Already, an exciting four-mile paved stretch has opened in the canyon from the Big Easy Trailhead to Tunnel No. 5.  There is ample parking at Mayhem Gulch Trailhead, 12 miles west of Golden on Hwy. 6.  Dogs can get a refreshing drink at the many bridges that cross the creek. 

Mathews Winters Trails: There are more than nine miles of trails in this sprawling Jefferson County park located just south of Golden.  The park butts up to Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which also offers a series of connecting trails.  Some shady patches of the trail can be muddy in spots in spring and winter, but because they are open rolling hills with limited trees, the trails are generally dry.  There’s a stream at the main trailhead for dogs, but you’ll have to bring water for the pups after that.  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.  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.  The trail leads to Dinosaur Ridge, where you can see 68 million year old dinosaur bones and dinosaur tracks, still visible in the rocks.  There are interpretative displays that tell the history of the area.

BREWERIES: 

All of Golden’s craft breweries have outdoor patios welcoming dogs. 

At Golden City Brewery, your dog can snuggle up with you in the brewer’s backyard!  This small brewery is located at the brewer’s house and the beer garden is literally his backyard.  Barrels & Bottles has a wonderful dog friendly patio out front, where the owners two dogs, Pixie and Oba, frequently hang out. 

There are almost as many dogs as patrons at Mountain Toad Brewery in their big outdoor beer garden with a dirt floor and picnic tables…. and there’s always a food truck handy for snacks.  Gluten-free dog owners can gather at Holidaily along with their best pals. The award-winning Cannonball Creek Brewery has a large outdoor dog-friendly patio overlooking Mount Zion, while New Terrain’s dog-loving patio has views up spectacular Clear Creek Valley – and its very own trail that leads from the patio up North Table Mountain for a quick dog walk before or after a beer.  Or head down to nearby Tony Grampsas Park, a 2.5 acres off-leash dog park, complete with a stream for them to cool down.

RESTAURANTS: 

You can dine on a wide variety of cuisines with your pooch in Golden.  Pick up one of the best sandwiches on the Front Range at D’Deli (known for their Colorado Buffalo Ruben or cold elk meat subs) and have a picnic along Clear Creek. 

You and your dog can step back in time and enjoy a table on the patio of Old Capitol Grill & Smokehouse. In the 1860s, this building housed Colorado’s first state capitol. Or head to the Trailhead Taphouse & Kitchen for a Colorado Cajun vibe and homemade gumbo, jambalaya, and po’boys…and of course, a place on the patio for your pal.

The Sherpa House has an amazing tiered, tree-shaded outdoor patio with views of South Table Mountain and a splashing fountain, where you can munch on yak stew and authentic dishes from Nepal while your pooch naps in the shade.

Halu Sushi has some dog-friendly outdoor tables, while Anthony’s Pizza has a large outdoor patio.

HOTELS:

Several of Golden’s hotels are pet-friendly. Furry friends are welcome for an extra fee at the Table Mountain Inn, The Golden Hotel and Origin Hotel Red Rocks. Each hotel offers special pet perks and can serve as a great home base for you and your best pal to explore Golden.

TOYS AND SNACKS:

Your dog will love the Green Paw and Spaw in downtown Golden, and so will you.  It’s the best place in town for toys, treats, perhaps a new collar, or even a little post-hike grooming. 

For more info on Golden, follow @VisitGoldenCO on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and sign up for our quarterly email newsletter here.

Golden was founded in 1859 at the height of the Colorado Gold Rush.  Since it was directly on the trail that prospectors took to the goldfields, one would assume the town was named after “gold.”  But, in one of many quirky things, Golden was actually named after Thomas L. Golden, who by an amazing coincidence was one of the first prospectors in the area.

Here are some other bizarre things about this little town at the foot of the mountains.

• From 1862 to 1867, when Colorado Territory was the Wild West, Golden served as the first territorial capital.  The large brick building the politicians used for their meetings as the first “state capitol” was a saloon. And it still is – the Old Capitol Grill & Smokehouse, which is today a wonderful, historic restaurant on main street. The decision to move the capital to Denver won by only one vote!
   
• Of course, the first visitors to Golden came much earlier – 68 million years ago!  Golden was a marsh at the edge of a great inland sea and many dinosaurs got stuck in the mud and later became fossilized. The first dinosaur bones ever discovered were found in and around Golden, including the first Tyrannosaurus Rex.  Today, you can take the Triceratops Trail, a 1.5-mile gravel path that winds around downtown through vertical walls of sandstone lined with traces and tracks of dinosaurs, birds, mammals and insects from 68 million years ago.  Or play a round of golf at Golden’s Fossil Trace Golf Course, where you can see real Triceratops footprints adjacent to the 12^th green.
   
• These first dinosaur bones were discovered in 1877 by Professor Arthur Lakes from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden.  He went on to create the school’s Geology Museum, which is free and open to the public seven days a week.  In addition to many exhibits on dinosaurs, the museum has an eclectic collection of all things gold and minerals. You can see and learn about the gems in Miss Colorado’s crown, look at rare gold coins minted in Colorado in 1860, enter a uranium mine, and examine rocks from the Moon and Mars.  Stop in the gift shop and you can even buy a small sliver of rock from the Moon!  It’s also a good place to stock up on gold panning supplies.  Every weekend, you will still find modern gold-panners searching for precious nuggets along the banks of Clear Creek.
   
• President Ulysses S. Grant and General William Tecumseh Sherman once stayed in Golden (in a building that is now the Buffalo Rose Saloon). 
   
• The historic figure most associated with Golden is Buffalo Bill Cody.  Buffalo Bill was the world’s first superstar, performing his Wild West Show in more than 1,000 cities around the world. When he died in Denver while visiting his sister, he allegedly asked to be buried on top of Lookout Mountain above Golden, where his grave would have views of both the snowcapped Rockies and the great plains.  His funeral in 1917 was (and still is) the largest ever held in Colorado. 
   
• If Buffalo Bill’s grave appears to be fortified and buried in concrete, that’s because it is.  Some people from Cody, Wyoming resented that Buffalo Bill was buried in Golden, and they threatened to “take him back.”  The Colorado National Guard was called out and a tank was parked on the grave.  Eventually it was dug up and buried under tons of reinforced concrete.  Today, the adjacent Buffalo Bill Museum is a hoot with many of his costumes as well as those of Annie Oakley and Chief Sitting Bull — both appeared in his show.  Don’t miss the gift shop, considered by many to be the largest and best souvenir store in Colorado. 
   
• There’s a wonderful statue of Buffalo Bill on Washington Ave. (the little girl on his shoulders is his granddaughter).  Every July, Golden celebrates Buffalo Bill Days with a pancake breakfast, parade and a downtown Wild West Show.  
   
• A block away is a statue of another man destined to have a large impact on Golden. In 1872, a young brewer from Germany was walking near Clear Creek and discovered many cool springs of crystal water.  He knew water was a major ingredient in beer, so he opened a brewery.  His name was Adolph Herrman Joseph Coors.  Today, his brewery is the largest single-site brewery in the world, producing 13 million barrels of beer a year, about 4.3 billion bottles  – or 221,000 bottles of beer for every resident in Golden.  You can take a tour of the brewery daily, and afterwards sample three free glasses. 
   
• One of America’s favorite candies, Jolly Rancher, also comes from Golden.  The sour treats were first created in 1949 by Bill and Dorothy Harmsen.  They called their shop the Jolly Rancher to suggest a hospitable, western place. Originally, Jolly Rancher was an old-fashioned candy store located on Washington Ave., producing ice cream, chocolate and hard candy. Today, the Hershey Company owns Jolly Rancher, but Golden still has several places selling old fashioned candy and ice cream, including Golden Goods and Golden Sweets.
   
• Of course, the quirkiest icon of Golden is the 58-foot long Welcome Arch that has been saying “Howdy Folks!” since 1949.  There used to be hundreds of these arches all over the West; Golden’s is one of the last to survive.  The best time to photograph it is during the annual holiday candlelight walk in December, when Washington Ave. is closed to traffic and thousands of Golden residents turn out to march down the street holding candles and singing carols.
   
• Just a block off Washington Ave. is Golden’s Armory Building, the largest cobblestone building west of the Mississippi.  Built in 1913, it took 3,300 wagonloads of stream-worn boulders from Clear Creek and quartz from Golden Gate Canyon to create this stone castle in the center of town.
   
• In addition to Coors, Golden has six other craft breweries, the quirkiest of which is downtown’s Golden City Brewery. The brewery was founded in 1993 by two geologists, Charlie & Janine Sturdavant, in their own house!  The beer is sold from their carriage house, and the beer garden is literally their own backyard. 
   
• Golden’s Sherpa House Restaurant and Cultural Center was built by Lhakpa Sherpa as an authentic representation of a typical Sherpa house in the Solu-Khumbu region of Nepal. When Lhakpa wanted to offer a beer from Nepal to go with his authentic dishes like yak stew, he discovered there was none.  So he got with has neighbor, Charlie Sturdavant (owner of Golden City Brewery) and they opened the first brewery in Nepal.  You can taste their creation at the Sherpa House.  The beer’s name?  Why, Sherpa Beer, of course, made with water from the Himalayas.
• Speaking of the Himalayas, you can see the actual clothes worn by the first Americans to summit Mount Everest in Golden’s American Mountaineering Museum.  The climber’s mountain gear was made by a then little-known designer named Eddie Bauer.  Among the treasures in this museum, the only one of its kind in America, is an ice axe that climber Pete Schoening used on K2 to single-handedly save six teammates from falling to their deaths. 
   
• More unusual items can be found at the Golden History Park — some of them living!  The downtown park contains a historic farmstead from 1878, including a 100-year old chicken coop filled with seven historic chicken breeds (Dominiques, Buff Orpingtons, White Plymouth Rocks, Silver-laced Wyandottes, Golden Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, and Black Australorps).  Bring some quarters and you can feed the chickens and watch them fluff their feathers. These are not your standard white chickens, but are instead some very exotic, colorful and unusual animals that look like something from a Star Wars movie.
   
• Finally, there is the Galloping Goose.  This one is not alive, but is a 1928 Pierce Arrow limousine put on train wheels with a bus welded on the back. The Goose was a crazy contraption that ran over Lizard Head Pass near Telluride, Colorado, carrying passengers through the Rocky Mountains.  Somehow it picked up the name, “Galloping Goose.” Today, it runs on weekends at the Colorado Railroad Museum on a circular half-mile track, tooting its horn as it crosses the road, and giving passengers a bumpy, fun, and definitely quirky ride back into the past. Only seven Galloping Geese were ever made, and three are here at the museum in Golden.

And as you leave Golden in the evening, take one last look up at Mount Zion behind town to appreciate one of the country’s oldest mountain monograms.  Every evening, the stone monument of the Colorado School of Mines (a giant white “M”) is illuminated.  These days they use energy efficient light bulbs, of course.  The monogram is made up of thousands of white painted rocks.  Freshmen to the college must climb the mountain and deposit a rock.  When they graduate, they climb up and take one with them as a souvenir.

Don’t Waste Time in the Car Driving –

Hit the Trails Running and Enjoy Family Fun in Nearby Golden, Colorado

The kids are out of school for a week—what have you got planned? Nothing? Have no fear! Gorgeous Golden, barely 15 minutes from downtown Denver, offers fun, sun and a little splash of relaxation. Here are a few highlights to get you dreaming:

Hike, Bike or Climb in the Colorado Sunshine – Springtime in the Rockies can be – well, a snowy, muddy mess. But Golden is in the “banana belt” where the mountains meet the plains, making it the perfect place to get a jump start on summer mountain recreation. North and South Table Mountain receive lots of sun and offer snow-free trails most of the year, perfect for hiking. You can cruise Clear Creek Trail on your bike. Or learn to rock climb with Golden Mountain Guides.

Step Back in Time – The kids will never know they’re getting a history lesson when you walk into the Golden History Park. Check out the one room schoolhouse and frontier cabin, as well as the chicken coop and heritage gardens. Then walk over to the 1.5 mile long gravel Triceratops Trail, where you can run a path in the great outdoors hunting for dinosaur tracks.

Walk Clear Creek & Grab Lunch in Golden – Golden is a town that was made for walking! The beautiful Clear Creek walking paths offer gorgeous mountain views and plenty of spots to sit and watch the kayakers paddle by. Afterwards, walk into town and grab lunch at D’Deli – or better yet, start there and bring your delicious sandwiches down to the creek to enjoy a creek side first picnic of the season.

Enjoy a Patio– Golden is completely surrounded by mountains, buttes and views, so it’s the perfect place to sit at a patio, listen to some music and see and be seen.  Some of the best patios?  The huge deck and fountains of the Sherpa House, the center of the action patio at Woody’s Pizza, the outdoor deck of Mountain Toad with food trucks and dogs welcome, Charlie’s backyard at Golden City Brewery (the brewer lives in the house – you are literally in his backyard), and the long deck along Clear Creek at the Golden Hotel’s Bridgewater Grill where you can watch kayakers and rafters.

Dazzle at the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum – With shiny gems that dazzle, fossils to educate, and even a moon rock to inspire, your little one  – and your budget – will love the free Geology Museum.  Check out Miss Colorado’s jewel-studded crown and enter a uranium mine.  And don’t forget to visit the gift shop, where you can literally take home a small piece of Mars.

Cowboys & Mountain Views – Head up Lookout Mountain to give your littles a taste of the Wild West with Colorado’s most famous Westerner, Buffalo Bill at the Buffalo Bill Museum.  Buffalo Bill was a showman with fancy hats and outfits.  Your buckeroos can be too!  One of the favorite activities is dressing up as cowboys and cowgirls with chaps, hats and ropes in the “selfie-station” made for memorable photos.

All Aboard at the Colorado Railroad Museum — There are dozens of locomotives and cars to climb on and explore, and the basement of the museum is one of the largest model railroad displays in the state – an entire city of miniature trains with a circus, fire engines, mining camps and hundreds of buildings and figures to explore.  Throughout the spring, there are special steam excursions like the Bunny Express (complete with Easter Bunny and egg hunts), which give kids a chance to see real steam engines, smoking and blowing whistles, just like Thomas.

For more information on Golden activities, dining and shopping, head to visitgolden.com. And why not make a night of it? Both The Golden Hotel and Table Mountain Inn feature outstanding restaurants and a perfect place to call home while you explore Golden.

Located a short drive from anywhere in Metro Denver, Golden goes all out with events to celebrate spring and summer. From art to adventure, Golden gatherings are sure to be the highlight of the season. Mark your calendars now!

Taste of Golden – March 19, 2018 – Sample fare from Golden’s restaurants, eateries, sweet-shops, breweries and distilleries. Advance ticket purchase required.

Colorado School of Mines E-Days – April 12 – 14, 2018 – Since 1934, Mines students have put aside the stress of studying each spring to celebrate Engineering Days (E-Days) and honor CSM’s unique history, traditions and unflappable Oredigger spirit. Activities include an Ore cart Pull, Field Days, cardboard boat races on Clear Creek, a concert, fireworks and more.

Ladies Only Sample Tour – May 3, 2018 – This annual “Girls’ Night Out” features fabulous freebies and special deals at dozens of Golden stores. A perfect evening to visit downtown Golden shops with girlfriends and enjoy complimentary treats and drinks along the way.

Golden Games – May 18 – 20, 2018 – Enjoy adventure sports competitions highlighting: kayaking, SUP (standing up paddleboarding), fly fishing and a Vendor Village. This annual celebration of all things adventurous is a great way to get excited for the summer!

Colorado Railroad Museum – Spring & Summer event highlights include Steampunk at the Station (May 12) Dinosaur Express Train (July 14), Rails and Cocktails (August 3) or Ride the Rails Saturday (Saturdays through mid-May and then rides are offered Thursday – Sundays during the summer).

ARTSWEEK GOLDEN – July 16 – 22, 2018 – ARTSWEEK GOLDEN is a week-long celebration of the arts orchestrated by Foothills Art Center in partnership with Golden arts-oriented organizations. All week long, visit Golden for pop-up art installations, plein air sessions, kids activities and a juried weekend arts festival on the CSM campus.

The Mopar Street Party  – July 19, 2018 – This lively street party kicks off Mile High Nationals NHRA racing weekend on Washington Avenue in downtown Golden. Event highlights include race car driver autographs and local car club displays along with live music, concept cars, and, of course, food and beer.

Buffalo Bill Days – July 26 – 29 – Thousands of people fill the streets of Golden for Buffalo Bill Days. Catch Cody's Wild West, the popular parade, mutton busting, live music, an orphan car and a classic car show, a golf tournament, food and merchandise vendors and much more.

Movies and Music in the Park – August 3, 10, 17 & 24 – Free music and a family-friendly movie each Friday night in Parfet Park. Bands begin performing at 7 p.m. and the featured movie of the night begins at dusk, around 8:30 p.m. The movies are shown on a giant inflatable screen under the stars.

The 28th Annual Golden Fine Arts Festival – August 17 – 19 – Browse a variety of beautiful art at Colorado’s most accessible arts festival, the Golden Fine Arts Festival, on 11th Street just west of Washington Avenue in historic downtown Golden. The juried festival is an open-air art gallery in a gorgeous, foothills setting adjacent to Clear Creek. The Festival is well known for its quality, affordability, ambiance and features a variety of media. Presented by the Golden Chamber of Commerce.

No matter what brings you to Golden this spring or summer, you’re sure to find a small town atmosphere reveling in the season. You can also find a full listing of Golden events at visitgolden.com/events-all.