Giddy-up to Golden for Wednesday’s tour

We’ve cherry-picked highlights of HISTORIC GOLDEN for the pre-conference tour on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Established in 1859 as a supply base for the Colorado Gold Rush, Golden has evolved into a college town, technology and science center, tourist destination and home to breweries large and small.

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Enjoy spectacular views and an inside look

The morning starts with a trip to Lookout Mountain and the BUFFALO BILL MUSEUM AND GRAVE. The world-famous frontiersman and showman picked a gravesite with a spectacular view of Golden and Denver to the east and the Continental Divide to the west. The museum features a plethora of memorabilia, including movies taken during Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, and testaments to Buffalo Bill’s views on suffrage and his friendship with Indians.

Stand with rock giants

Next, we head to RED ROCKS PARK & AMPHITHEATRE, an open-air amphitheater rated by many as the best in the world. Two massive red sandstone monoliths, Ship Rock and Creation Rock, flank the seats with Stage Rock in front, forming a natural amphitheater. From Sting and The Beatles to opera stars and The Grateful Dead, so many big names have played here, a Hall of Fame was created in the Visitors Center. Red Rocks Park surrounds the amphitheater, where we’ll enjoy the views and lunch in an open-air shelter.

Move on to moon rocks

Our next stop is the Colorado School of Mines, a top-rated research university with a focus on engineering, science and  mathematics, where we’ll visit the MINES MUSEUM OF EARTH SCIENCE, with its mind-boggling collection of gorgeous minerals, including a moon rock collected by the Apollo 17 crew and Miss Colorado’s crown with 600 gemstones.

Stroll the river walk after final history stop

After a drive past Coors Brewery, the world’s largest single brewing facility in the world, and the Colorado Railroad Museum, which preserves and even operates historical narrow-gauge trains, we’ll wind up at GOLDEN HISTORY MUSEUM & PARK, situated on Clear Creek, with displays of log cabins, a schoolhouse, mining equipment, and the history of Jolly Rancher candy company. Then stroll along the creek, a sculpture-lined walkway on your way to Washington St. and DOWNTOWN GOLDEN, full of boutique shops and restaurants.

The bus back to Denver West Marriott will depart from the downtown Golden Visitors Center next to the bridge at 4:30 p.m. If you want, you can find your own way back to the hotel and stay in Golden to dine at one of many restaurants, such as Old Capitol Grill & Smokehouse (early Colorado legislature meeting site), Table Mountain Inn (Santa Fe décor & great Southwest food), Buffalo Rose (oldest saloon in the state), Sherpa House (Nepalese and Indian food), or enjoy the view from Golden Hotel’s popular patio by the creek.

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