Golden

Golden, “Where the West Remains”, provides a gateway to the Rocky Mountains on the western edge of the Denver area. The city located 15 miles west of Denver on U.S. 6, was Colorado’s Territorial Capital in 1862. The area is now home to such diverse attraction as the Coors Brewery, Buffalo Bill’s Gravesite and Museum, the Colorado Railroad Museum, Colorado School of Mines and the Foothills Art Center.

Historic downtown Golden really is a piece of the old west, with Victorian buildings housing quaint boutiques and homey restaurants. Take a deep breath of the fresh mountain air and you might get a whiff of hops from the nearby Coors Brewery, established in 1873 by German immigrant Adolph Coors. A free tour of the factory includes a chance to taste the fresh, cold beer straight from the tap.

Travel up the winding road on Lookout Mountain for breathtaking views of Denver and beyond. Once you reach the top, you can view the grave of Buffalo Bill Cody while learning a little western history at the adjoining museum. The Lookout Mountain Nature Center and the 1917 Boettcher Mansion provide the opportunity for a beautiful hike through woods and meadows. Take the entire family to Heritage Square, an open-air Victorian-style village complete with bungee jumping, children’s rides, water and alpine slides, shops, restaurants and a dinner theater.

A short drive from town brings you to nearby Golden Gate Canyon State Park, where you can hike, fish, kayak, boat, horseback ride or bike through the scenic forests and valleys. If you are up for a different type of adventure, head on up to Central City, one of the few places in Colorado that offers legalized gambling.

Golden is part of the R-I School District of Jefferson County consistently rated one of the best school systems in the country with student averages above the national norm in all study areas. Jefferson County schools SAT scores rank in the top ten nationally. The prestigious Colorado School of Mines’ beautiful campus is in the middle of Golden, while several other colleges and Universities are within easy commuting distance.