Historic Downtown Golden and Clear Creek

Downtown Golden is the easiest small-town day trip from Denver and the natural base for the western foothills. Founded in the gold-rush years and briefly the capital of Colorado Territory, Golden sits where Clear Creek tumbles out of the mountains between two flat-topped mesas, and its historic main street, Washington Avenue, still feels like a Western town: brick storefronts, mountain views at the end of every block and the arched Welcome to Golden sign, one of the most photographed landmarks in the state, spanning the street. The town is home to the Colorado School of Mines and to the Coors brewery, and that mix of students, outdoors people and brewing history gives it a relaxed, active personality. A visit typically starts with a stroll up Washington Avenue for gear shops, boutiques, cafés and ice cream, then drops down to Clear Creek, where a paved trail follows the water past parks, sculptures and spots where locals wade, tube and kayak in summer. Several small museums are free or low-cost: the Golden History Museum and Park covers the town's past with a hands-on family gallery, the Foothills Art Center shows contemporary art, and the Mines Museum of Earth Science displays the state mineral collection and a moon rock from Apollo 17. For craft-beer fans, Golden's independent breweries make a perfect counterpoint to the Coors tour, and the town's farmers market runs on summer Saturdays. Golden is free to wander, parking is easy, and it pairs naturally with Red Rocks, Lookout Mountain and the Colorado Railroad Museum.

Golden's history runs deeper than its size. In the 1850s and 1860s it competed with Denver to become the region's main city, serving as the territorial capital for several years before Denver won the title. The railroads and the brewery anchored its economy, and the School of Mines, founded in the 1870s, made it a center of mining and engineering education. Today the downtown blocks preserve much of that heritage, and the public art walk along the streets features murals and bronze statues of Old West scenes. The welcome center at 10th Street and Washington Avenue is the place to pick up maps and event information.

To plan a good day, combine one foothills highlight with an afternoon in town. Morning options include Red Rocks and Dinosaur Ridge to the south, the drive up Lookout Mountain to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, or a hike on North or South Table Mountain. Then come down for lunch on Washington Avenue, a walk along Clear Creek, a museum or two, and the Coors tour or a round at one of the town's independent breweries. In summer, Clear Creek is the town's playground, but the water can run fast and cold during spring runoff, so tubing and wading are best left until the flow drops. Winter visits are quieter and cozy, with holiday lights on Washington Avenue and the mountains dusted with snow.

Golden suits almost every kind of traveler. Families get the creek, the museums and plenty of ice cream; couples get a walkable, romantic main street and a brewery or two; outdoor fans get trailheads at the edge of town. It is about thirty minutes from downtown Denver by car, and the W Line light rail reaches the eastern edge of Golden, though a car makes it much easier to combine with nearby foothills sights. Staying overnight is an option for travelers who want to wake up close to the mountains.