Thrillist, recently named the city of Golden, as the best suburb in the Denver Metro area. Golden was named in a study Thrillist conducted to find “The Coolest Suburb in America’s 35 Biggest Metro Areas“.
Each suburb was chosen based on a few factors: the suburb must have a good or fair amount of restaurants and bars within it’s city limits, without the need to commute to the adjacent big city, and the suburb needs to have it’s own separate history and characteristics that it is identified with.
The editors and staff found Golden has the city that answers those two criterias. In honor of Golden’s recognition, we will take this as an opportunity to let you know What to do in Golden, Colorado!
What to do in Golden
Visit the Colorado Railroad Museum and Travel Aboard Historic Trains
Steam locomotive DL&G #191, the oldest steam locomotive in Colorado Railroad Museum. Photograph by ©Milan Suvajac
Golden is home to one of the biggest railroad museums in the state. The Colorado Railroad Museum first opened in 1959 by Robert W. Richardson and Cornelius W. Hauck. Richardson began collecting rolling stock, railway records, and other pieces of equipment in an effort to preserve Colorado history, after railroad companies started to go out of business in the late 1940s. Since then nonprofit Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation was formed to assume ownership and operation of the Museum to preserve a tangible record of Colorado’s dynamic railroad era and particularly its pioneering, narrow gauge mountain railroads.
Today, the Colorado Railroad Museum features over 100 narrow and standard gauge steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, cabooses HO Model Railroad and G-scale garden railway on a 15-acre railyard. The Museum also offers a Depot Museum, a library, a roundhouse and an area for party rentals. The museum also offers special events throughout the year such as: Day Out with Thomas, Ride the Rails, special holiday events including: The Polar Express Train Ride, during the Christmas season. The Colorado Railroad Museum is located at 17155 W. 44th Avenue, Golden, CO 80403.
Learn about Buffalo Bill at The Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave
The Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave. Photograph by ©Wally Gobetz
Travel back to the “Wild West’ and visit The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, a facility owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, exists to preserve the memory of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody. The Museum collects, cares for and interprets artifacts associated with “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s life and times between 1846 and 1917. The museum hosts special events such as a celebration of Buffalo Bill’s birthday every February as well as seasonal events on a variety of themes. The most important exhibit on-site and the center of the Museum’s special events is Buffalo Bill’s grave. By his request Buffalo Bill was buried on Lookout Mountain in 1917. Guests can also enjoy the Museum Observation Deck, that offers unparalleled views of the Rocky Mountain Front Range and the Great Plains. This area is open to the public free of charge. The Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave is located at 987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Road, Golden, CO 80401.
See and Touch Real Dinosaur Tracks at Dinosaur Ridge
Dinosaur Ridge. Photograph by ©James St. John
If you are already “time-traveling” then go ahead and experience a time where no man has gone before at the Dinosaur Ridge. The Dinosaur Ridge is a world-renowned geological and paleontological outdoor museum, containing more than a 100 dinosaur tracks. Bones were first discovered in 1877, igniting the dinosaur rush to the West. Take your own tour with 15 interpretive signs and guided tours or take a guided tour for a small fee. Children can enjoy digging for fossils in the sand pits in front of the museum as well. The Dinosaur Ridge also offers special events for different age groups, such as their Dinosaur Discovery Days for all ages and their Fireside Chats & Hike With series for adults. Dinosaur Ridge is located at 16831 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison, CO 80465.
Transform into a Late 1800s Settler at Clear Creek History Park
Clear Creek History Park. Photograph by ©Golden History Museums
Clear Creek History Park is home to many of the original buildings, dated back 10 1912, from the old Pearce Ranch in Golden Gate Canyon. Stroll through this park and imagine yourself growing potatoes or raising chickens as part of a homesteading family. Peek through the windows of real 1800s cabins and see other buildings from the ranch like the barn, chicken coop and two-seat outhouse and the 1876 Guy Hill schoolhouse. Admission is free of charge. Clear Creek History Park is located at 1020 11th St Golden, CO 80401.
Witness Beautiful Minerals, Fossils, Gemstones & Meteorites at Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum
Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum. Photograph by ©Cool Adventures
The Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum is home to one of the state’s two Goodwill Moon Rocks, collected during the Apollo 17 mission to space. The museum displays other minerals, fossils, gemstones and meteorite and historic mining artifact exhibits on two floors. The outdoor geologic trail features seven outcrops with various geologic and paleontological points of interest, including fossilized dinosaur tracks, logs and leaves. Witness their ‘identification of specimens’ which is performed between 10am – 12pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum is located at 1310 Maple St, Golden, CO 80401.
Experience the Golden Music Festival
Golden Music Festival. Photograph by ©Golden Music Festival
The Golden Music Festival, presented by Golden History Museums, is an annual bluegrass music festival held during the summer season. The Golden Music Festival allows you to spread your blanket on the natural hillside amphitheater at Clear Creek History Park in Golden, Colorado, and enjoy toe-tapping live bluegrass and folk music. Beer, food, and other refreshments will be available for purchase. The festival is an annual fundraiser for Golden History Museums. This year, the Golden Music Festival will take place on June 10-12, 2016 and the lineup of includes: Ragged Union, Front Country, Wood & Wire, Timber, Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, The Railsplitters, Dr. Harlan’s Amazing Bluegrass Tonic, Running Out Of Road & Thunder & Rain. Tickets are $30 for a 3-day pass, $20 single day passes at the door, $15 single day passes in advance and $10 single day passes for members. Children ages 12 and under are free. Purchase tickets at: bit.ly/GoldenMusicFestival
Get Active at The Golden Games
Photograph by ©The Golden Games
Join athletes from across the US looking to take home prizes and awards in their sports at The Golden Games. Now in it’s 6th year, The Golden Games continues to grow and host a variety of adventure sports, live music, demos, clinics, gear swaps and more. Adventure Sports include: White Water Kayaking, Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), Fly Fishing, Slack Lining, Freestyle Rodeo, Kayak Slalom Race and more. The Golden Games was recognized by Elevation Outdoors as the “Best Paddling Event in the Rockies” in 2016. This year The Golden Games will take place on May 20-22, 2016 and the event will also include a Vendor Village that will feature onsite registration, raffles, competitor check-in, product companies sharing and selling their goods, food vendors, product demos, live music and more. For a complete schedule of events visit: bit.ly/TheGoldenGames2016Schedule. For more information and to register for a specific event visit: www.thegoldengames.com.
Cool Off at The Splash at Fossil Trace Family Aquatic Park
The Splash at Fossil Trace Family Aquatic Park. Photograph by ©WanderBat
The Splash at Fossil Trace Family Aquatic Park includes two large water slides, a sand play area, lap pool with diving board, and a bustling leisure pool complete with play structure, small water slides, spray fountains, and a 500 gallon dump-bucket. Birthday party packages and private rentals are also available. The Splash at Fossil Trace is owned and operated by the City of Golden Parks & Recreation Department and is open daily 10am – 6:30pm. This year, the water park will be open from May 28th through August 23rd, 2016. The Splash at Fossil Trace Family Aquatic Park is located at 3151 Illinois St, Golden, CO 80401.
Bike at the Golden Bike Park
Golden Bike Park. Photograph by ©303Cycling
The Golden Bike Park, at Tony Grampsas Memorial Sports Complex, opened in 2010 and was developed through a partnership between the City of Golden, Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COMBA), International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), and a group of dedicated local volunteers, the Golden Bike Park Group. The Golden Bike Park is a skills-only bike park and provides an adventurous environment for bike enthusiasts. The park features trails for every skill level: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The Golden Bike Park is located at 4471 Salvia St, Golden, CO 80403.
Let your Kids Experience Discovery Park
Discovery Park. Photograph by ©City of Golden
Discovery Park is a unique park that wows kids with unique playground equipment. Children will enjoy climbing on the big dinosaur or the enormous brass tortoise. When they tire of climbing, they can head over to the digging pit and be little archeologists for a while, finding the buried dinosaur bones hidden there. Discovery Park also features a climbing wall, a grass maze, and great views for the whole family to enjoy. Discovery Park is located at 2300 Illinois St, Golden, CO 80401.
Enjoy Family-Friendly Movies & Music at Parfet Park
Movies & Music at Parfet Park. Photograph by ©City of Golden
Each year, the City of Golden offers movie-lovers the Movies & Music in the Park series. The free series typically runs Friday nights in August at Parfet Park in downtown Golden. The series features free music and a family-friendly movie each Friday night. Bands begin performing at 7 p.m. and the featured movie of the night begins at dusk, around 8:30pm. The movies are shown on a giant inflatable screen under the stars. Parfet Park is located at 701 10th St, Golden, CO 80401.