The city of Golden, CO is located just 15 minutes west of downtown Denver, on the banks of Clear Creek River, nestled between the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and two scenic mesas. Formerly named “Golden City,” today’s Golden was the capital of the federally recognized Colorado Territory in 1862, before Denver became the capital when the territory officially became a U.S. state. The beautiful historic downtown Golden is a walkable paradise with over 50 historic buildings, shops, restaurants, breweries, outdoor recreation, community events, and three parks. The beautiful mountains surrounding Golden provides 8,000 acres of regional open space and miles of trails for intensive mountain biking, hiking, or casual walking. The Clear Creek Whitewater Rafting Park is one of Golden’s most popular attractions and was built strictly for recreational kayaking and canoeing on Clear Creek River. The Park itself has hosted various different events and competitions, including the Clear Creek Whitewater Festival, Open Canoe Championships, Junior Olympic Championship, and occasionally the U.S. Olympic Kayak Team. A beer town, Golden is home to Coors Brewery, the largest single-site brewery in the world and the second largest producing brewer in the U.S. 30-minute guided tours bring visitors through the maze of production of the world-famous beer, concluding with a beer tasting in the Hospitality Lounge. Golden is home to smaller but notable craft breweries including New Terrain, Cannonball Creek, Native, Mountain Toad, and more. Golden hosts a variety of annual events including bike races, holiday celebrations, the Golden Farmers Market, the Golden Fine Arts Festival, the Ullrgrass Music and Beer Festival, and local favorite, Buffalo Bill Days.
