Golden keeps a tight grip on its historic past. One of the best experiences is to simply stroll down Washington Avenue to check out restaurants, bars, and shopping. Another option is to stroll along the many paths around Clear Creek. Golden has hit a homerun with city planning, most notably for preserving the past, avoiding overbuilding, and prioritizing walkers and bikers. Golden is also underrated for its “foodie” and bar scene.

Golden sits right at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Residents and visitors love to spend summers playing in the river. Clear Creek is one of the most technical rivers in the country for whitewater rafting and kayaking. For a more laid-back option, consider river tubing through a calmer portion of the iconic river. Hiking and biking are also favorite summer activities. Consider taking the 6th avenue trail, where you might see some wildlife and will definitely see some beautiful nature.

Golden is one of top cities for number of arts and cultural facilities (museums, galleries, etc.) per capita in the state. The city also boasts of growing live music scene. Visit everything from the Colorado Railroad Museum to the US Marine Corps Memorial to Buffalo Bill’s Grave & Museum.

Some love it and some hate it, but you can’t avoid the smell of the brewing of Coors beer over the city of Golden. The Coors facility is the largest single-site brewery in the world. Coors offers a free brewery tour on Thursdays through Mondays throughout the year. It includes samples.