Golden, Colorado: The City That’s Worth Its Weight in Gold

my world • bettering communities • family fun • travel

by Ariella Rogge on May 20th, 2011 | 5 Comments »

On Thursday, May 12^th, over 50 women of Colorado Mom It Forward and Mile High Mama fame enjoyed an evening in historic Golden, CO. Once the Territorial Capital of Colorado (1862-1867), Golden has evolved to become “Where The West IS!” Its award winning parks, charming Victorian-era architecture, fabulous museums, and colorful history make it a perfect mountain getaway for families, couples, and adventure-seekers.

The Golden Vistor Center directors and volunteers were excellent hosts, providing a delicious buffet, some delightful local beverages, and amazing information about Golden’s “wealth” of family-friendly activities. Centrally located next to beautiful Clear Creek, and housing Golden’s Chamber of Commerce, the Visitor’s Center has a contemporary, warm atmosphere and is THE resource for things to do in and around Golden.

Along with the great goody bag filled with chocolates, free admission to local museums, coupons and discounts from many Golden businesses, and samples of the new Colorado Native beer from the AC Golden Brewing Company, the Vistor’s Center also offered free horse-drawn carriage rides around downtown Golden to all of the Mamas in attendance. Anyone and everyone can enjoy this charming, free, horse-drawn tour the first Friday of every month during Golden’s First Fridays event. This event showcases local artists, Golden’s family-and-fido-friendly downtown, and the myriad museums within walking distance of the Vistor’s Center.

Covered by a warm quilt, our tour guide and his trusty steed, “Doc,” showed us the sights in the 12^th Street Historic District and gave us the “dirt” on Tom Golden’s entrepreneurial spirit (which included the selling and re-selling of certain questionable mining claims). This spirit is alive and well in local ventures such as the wildly popular Golden City Brewery (the 2^nd Largest Brewery in Golden!) and the Golden Farmer’s Market, which begins this year on June 4^th. We also trotted past the Armory Building, at 13^th and Arapahoe, which we learned is the largest cobblestone building in the US, and caught a glimpse of the Coors Brewing Company, just east of Downtown Golden.

After our tour, we walked up to the Windy Saddle Café, which impressed with its homemade baked goods, wide-variety of hand-roasted coffees, and incredibly kid-friendly ambiance (in the back: a full kids’ play area; in the bathroom: a free standing changing table, step-stool for the sink, AND a potty chair!). There was even time for a ride down the street-level to river level “hidden slide” on the Clear Creek Trail.

We hit the “motherlode” in Golden: great people, outstanding restaurants, and fun activities…all just a short drive from Denver. With summer activities like the Summer Solstice Music Festival, the Quizno’s Pro Cycling Challenge, and Buffalo Bill Days there has never been a better time to “strike it rich” and have your own experience “worth its weight in gold.”