Fun Western Get-Away

BELOW: Visitors to the charming town of Golden, Colorado are welcomed with a friendly arch. INSET, FROM LEFT: Guests of The Dove Inn Bed & Breakfast enjoy small-town luxury; sample a Buffalo Reuben at local favorite D’Deli; catch a show at Red Rocks Amphitheater.

“Howdy Folks! Welcome to Golden,” reads the historic arch as you enter this charming downtown. Just fifteen minutes west of Denver, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, sits the quaint Front Range town of Golden, Colorado. Extremely walkable options for where to stay, shop, play, and dine abound.

WRITTEN BY KIM A FUQUA

Enjoy views of Table Mountain from your room at Table Mountain Inn, an adobe-style hotel with Southwest decor in the heart of downtown. Another great downtown option is The Golden Hotel, boasting charming mountain lodge ambience and an expansive deck overlooking scenic Clear Creek. The Dove Inn Bed & Breakfast occupies a stunning Victorian mansion with several historic rooms and luxury suites from which to choose. Located on a quiet street just off the main downtown strip, Dove Inn proprietor and hostess Elizabeth ensures guests are well cared for and well fed before they head out for a day of shopping and adventures.

Spend a day getting to know Golden with a walking tour along Washington Avenue, the main street of historic downtown. Stop by Spirits in the Wind Gallery for beautiful western art and jewelry crafted by local artists. You’re guaranteed to find a unique piece of wearable art at Baby Doe’s Clothing, a women’s apparel and jewelry boutique featuring the works of many local artisans. The scent of freshly baked bread wafting out to the street beckons a visit to the decades-old sandwich shop D’Deli. This old-fashioned counter-serve deli features hot and cold creative sandwich classics along with locally sourced twists like the corned buffalo Reuben and smoked corned elk with goat cheese and blackberry chutney. Pair your sandwich with a locally crafted Rocky Mountain Soda and enjoy an alfresco lunch on the bluffs overlooking the kayaking and tubing action on Clear Creek.

Photography by (opening spread) ©iStockphoto.com/cumulus_humilis, (these pages, from left) ©iStockphoto.com/milehightraveler, The Dove Inn Bed & Breakfast, D’Deli, ©iStockphoto.com/schmez.

Following an afternoon of wandering through galleries, kitschy museums, and Wild West gift shops, hit up Indulge Bistro & Wine Bar for happy hour in its sleek bar area. Order a round of small plates to share; don’t miss the garlic fries and the Ahi Tuna Guacamole with wonton chips. Pair these eats with a Colorado Native draft beer or a glass of Troublemaker red blend from the specially priced menu available until 6:00 p.m. daily. For dinner, don’t miss the gorgeously ornate Nepalese cultural experience that is a meal at Sherpa House. Cap off the evening with a handcrafted cocktail with a vintage vibe at Golden Moon Speakeasy.

The Front Range offers ample tasting opportunities for beer lovers, particularly during the month of October when Denver hosts the Great American Beer Festival. Golden alone boasts seven breweries, including MillerCoors, the largest single-site brewery in the world. Prepare yourself for a day of beer tasting with lunch at Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza, a local favorite for lunch, dinner, and late-night eats. Sample a bit of everything with the unlimited pizza bar, including the salad bar and a crock of beer cheese soup. Walk one block and you’re ready to take the Coors Brewery Tour, a self-guided tour that ends with free samples.

Spend the rest of the afternoon touring Golden’s craft breweries. Walk back downtown a block and visit Barrels & Bottles Brewery, a nano brewpub that’s home to Colorado’s first fusion beer tower. Next, hang with the locals in the downtown beer garden at Golden City Brewery. Located in an old machine shop on Washington Avenue, Mountain Toad Brewing features a broad range of styles in a hip setting.

A short drive will take you to Cannonball Creek Brewing Company, where brewers focus on Belgian-style ales, and Holidaily Brewing Company, currently the only gluten-free brewery in Colorado. Whatever your plans, don’t miss a visit to New Terrain Brewery, Golden’s newest craft brewery. The culture of adventure and creativity shines through in both the thoughtful design of the indoor-outdoor space and the array of innovative brews. Grab a picnic table outside and savor the beauty of the surrounding foothills. You’ll soon understand what Golden is all about.

A day exploring the foothills around Golden cannot be beat. Take a scenic trip up to Golden Gate Canyon State Park, stopping at Panorama Point Scenic Overlook, where you can see one hundred miles of the Continental Divide. Twelve unique hiking trails offer something for everyone, including horseback riders and mountain bikers. The “Golden Cliffs” on North Table Mountain offer opportunities for novice and expert climbers alike.