Can't handle hikes? Scared of tripping on rocks or ice? Or just plain lazy or sore from adventuring…read moreso much? Then this is an ideal sight for your slothy self to see. After my hike at Lookout Mountain, I wanted to see more vantage points of the city and surrounding scenery. We stumbled upon this gorgeous loop that showcases mountain ranges as well as some plateaus in the city. You could easily just drive around the Lookout Mountain area and pick these sites instead of trekking around in the forest. But I highly recommend that trek if you are able to see it through. Nature is just astoundingly beautiful and precious, and you can tell that the Colorado rangers take really pristine care for their wildlife. Not far away from Denver, this 25 minute drive is the perfect recipe for a fun day of activity. The foothills of the Rockies begin around this area, so you could stop over here before heading out into the ski areas too. Unfortunately, lots of visitors come through this area, and leave their trash astray. If you are blessed to see these sights, DO NOT LEAVE A TRACE.

Stellar views and what a gorgeous drive. We spent a day driving around Golden, Boulder, Red Rocks,…read moreEstes Park and couldn't have enjoyed it more. Perfect photo stops all along the way, so have your camera ready!

Service for food can really suck, and people will try to steal your order on a busy night. Can't…read moresay it's a great venue for music, it's just ok. 'Because it's there' is why it gets four stars. At least you don't have to drive to Boulder or Denver if you live in the foothills or mountains.

Finally, a real venue in a town revered for its rich musical history. This place has excellent…read moresound & lighting- although more than once I've been there & the music is way loud for the number of people/size of venue... Great liquor & beer selection and the food is fresh & fantastic. Awesome staff, amazing artists for such a small town (though only an hour or so from Denver).

Who knew the nature center had art classes? No experience required. Twas fun and relaxing!read more

Everyone I know that's been to Majestic View Park has RAVED about it. Probably one of the best,…read moremost notable features of Arvada. I didn't spend much time there this past summer like I should have, but it was a blast in the short time I got to experience the epic trees and expansive green fields. Plenty of parking. Lots more amenities in the Nature Center that I haven't explored. Definitely one to bookmark again for the future!

The employees are very nice, equipped with great knowledge. Our tour guide Toren was really fun and…read moreeducational! You would have never known she's only done a handful of tours and is new-ish touring with Argo Mill. The tour was very interesting and living in Colorado for 20+ years, I've always seen the red building driving by Idaho Springs but never thought they had tours available to check out. We panned for gold at the end and that was very fun to learn how to do that. All in all I'd recommend to support local and Idaho Springs to come check them out. The tour is not handicap friendly so if you have a wheel chair it would not be ideal to walk through the mill. Hard hat is for show with the tunnel visit but it was def a fun experience with photo opportunity.

The Argo Mine & Tunnel tour in Idaho Springs is such a unique and educational experience. The…read moreguided tour takes you deep into Colorado's gold mining history and really brings the story of the miners to life. We purchased our tickets on site at the tour location. Tours times fill up quickly and you can also book tours online. You start the tour by watching a video that gives you a history of the tunnel and mill. The Argo Mill and Tunnel became an international center of milling and tunneling innovation and served for many gold mines in Colorado. Construction of the Argo Tunnel began in 1893 and lasted 10 years until it reached Central City 4.2 miles away. The Argo Mill was a state of the art facility providing the latest technological advancements in milling and situated at the mouth of the mighty tunnel. On January 19th, 1943, a catastrophic flood in the tunnel caused the Argo Mill and Tunnel to cease operations. Then we loaded on a shuttle and took a short ride to the mouth of the Argo Tunnel. We start by picking up safety equipment including a helmet. Walking through the tunnel itself is like going back in time, it's cool, damp, and feels like stepping into another era. Then we moved to the Mill itself that had many original equipment items still on site. Our guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and shared so many interesting details about how the mine operated, the hardships miners faced, and how important the Argo was to Colorado's development. The guide explained each piece of machinery and the purpose along with an explanation for any missing equipment. You can tell he is passionate about preserving the history. The museum area is well done and adds great context after the tour. After the tour, perused the gift shop and got some great souvineers for 50% off! Highly recommend for families, visitors, or anyone looking to learn something new while exploring the mountains. It's a perfect stop if you're passing through Idaho Springs, especially if you enjoy history, geology, or unique local experiences.

I am an opera fanatic, and have attended probably 200 all over the world in theatres both grand and…read moremodest. Today, however, I had the inestimable pleasure of perfect seats at the Central City Opera house to witness the most perfect rendition of The Barber of Seville I've ever seen. Everything was simply perfect; the set, the costuming, the musicians, the director, and above all, the perfectly cast singer/actors. There was not one weak link among them. They not only sang the parts perfectly, they were physically perfect for their roles. I don't know why the DCPA has so much trouble casting (especially sopranos), but the CCO simply nailed each and every one; no fat sopranos or geriatric tenors bumbling around the stage playing the parts of lithe heroines or young militiamen. My hat's off to the casting director!! (The ONLY suggestion I'd make (and this is nigh on trivial) is to ask the musicians in the pit to PLEASE aim their music stand lighting down toward them instead of aiming it up in the eyes of the first five rows of the audience; the light was blinding. Thanks.) It is ABSOLUTELY worth the drive up to Central City to see this production if you can still snag tix at this late date. You'll be glad you did.

From the Front of the House to the Back of the House all the seats afford a perfect view of the…read morestage and the acoustics are awesome. We attended The Pirates of Penzance and from the opening scene to the finale we were totally entertained. The cast was amazing and the delivery of the songs and music were nothing but fantastic. Considering the Opera House was open a year before Gilbert and Sullivan premiered it in 1879 it was a perfect match and we were spoiled by the production and the ambiance of the house!

It's beautiful and peaceful here. Clean. The restrooms are…read morenice. The business space is very modern.

Gorgeous nature center located minutes from the Anchhutz medical campus. Free to visit and gorgeous…read moresight lines from any angle! Birds galore! Quite unexpected to be driving down Peoria and running into this beautiful sanctuary, nice and clean and lots of spectacular wildlife! It's free to visit and there's always so much to see!

This is a nice little stop located within the shops of Idaho Springs main street. The Underhill…read moreMuseum chronicles the history of Idaho Springs as a mining town, with relevant exhibits. There is nothing terribly exciting and it will keep you occupied maybe 15-30 minutes (it is a very small place), but there are a few items worth looking at. Two things really stuck out at me. They have a few vaults/safes including one that you can walk in, along with a series of rocks and minerals that you could show to your children. They also sell historical photos of Idaho Springs and a few other similar pictures. The prices were not terribly expensive from what I recall -- although, there were a few pricier options. Some people may wonder why I gave this place such a good rating. That is because its free. They ask for a $2 donation, and I can respect this miniature museum for what it is. If you're strolling through, its worth a few minutes of your time.

We got married at Boettcher Mansion last summer and it was perfect. 90% of our wedding was out of…read moretowners looking for a chance to escape the heat so we were trying to find something mountainous without the drive. I loved how unique the venue was, easy to access from the highway for out of town folk, and tucked away it felt once you were inside. We got some gorgeous mountain photos! Shea was so lovely and answered any questions we had. Our guests absolutely raved and I am still getting compliments on how unique it was. I think the important thing to know with the Mansion - it is not a typical style venue and is not a good fit for certain groups. For context, we had a 120 person afternoon wedding in July (2-7pm). I did a tremendous amount of research and painstakingly picked each vendor, who all ended up working together and are incredible. If you are a bride looking for a more inclusive-everything-included style venue, this is not it. IF you are willing to do work on researching vendors, you can make the Mansion work for you at your price point and are rewarded in something more custom. It can really rack up cost wise if you use all the recommended vendors and do all the add-ons. We rented the entire space (highly recommend) so our wedding moved throughout the venue and guests got different experiences. I loved the outside ceremony and they have nice white chairs that look great in photos. Cocktail hour was outside in the gardens - so pretty still in July! The reception was inside. I loved the stone walls, very little decor is needed which is awesome. If you have over 80ish people and want a dance floor, we did have to flip some tables to make room, but our catering team did it so fast and we did the first dance outside - then conga lined the party back inside. Honestly I think more people started dancing since they already were up and moving, so it worked better than I hoped. I would pick this 10 out of 10, but like I said, I think it's good to know this is not the spot for a bride without a planner or who is willing to do her homework. Because it is a historical site, if you have a lot of custom built out decor or a large wedding or want to get ready at the venue, this is not for you. If you have under 120, want something special, and are organized (or have a good friend who is) you have found the perfect spot. Photography credit: Melina Massengill (melinamassephoto)

Where do I start? We chose Boettcher Mansion as the venue for my son's wedding on May 4th, 2024…read more What an incredible result. We had family and friends converge from all over the world to experience the best of Colorado. The weather behaved itself as well as can be expected in early May and the venue and its recommended vendors were the best that they could be! Boettcher Mansion is in a beautiful setting, allowing for an outdoor wedding with the woods as a backdrop, and cocktail hour and pictures with the sunset emerging behind the mountains. While we had just a sprinkle or two, the clouds made for a perfect vista, and if a downpour had occurred, the wedding could be quickly moved inside. We visited many potential wedding venues across the front range, including some beautiful options in Estes Park. We visited Boettcher Mansion first, and it inevitably remained our top choice as it offered several perquisites while also checking off the Bride and Groom's event venue expectations for the wedding. Ultimately, Boettcher Mansion's facility with its iconic outdoor colorado beauty, ample preparation accommodations for both the bride and groom and attendants, beautiful outdoor patio and reception space, and the ability to fully customize the event won us over. This venue provided a remote location with proximity to the Denver for out-of-town/country visitors to stay, and ease of access for all involved. As an added bonus, their fee supports Jefferson County Parks. The ability to customize every aspect of the day at first seemed daunting, but ended up being important to the special day. Boettcher Mansion hosts an annual wedding show where you can talk to all their recommended vendors. If you veer from these vendors and go your own way, you can do so for an extra fee. But by sticking with the recommended options for the major items, you will find they are very familiar with Boettcher policies, allowing you to have an efficient event on the day and secure the return of 100% of your $500 damage deposit! We chose Roots for our catering, which deserves its own special review, but for now I will say that the food and service were spectacular. The food was prepared, plated, and presented beautifully, with delicious options for everyone. The caterer also handled the sparkling toast and cocktail and wine service with their trained and certified servers, but the offerings were provided by us. We could have hired Applejack (or whomever) to deliver what we wanted, which is a huge cost savings over other venues who require the customer to use in-house service, and permits customization to personal tastes. In this case, Applejack will accept returns for any unopened bottle at the end of the night. In our case, however, the Bride and Groom selected the unique dinner wines and champagne toast from their parents' cellared wine libraries, adding a nice touch to the experience of their special day and helping to control costs even further. The Grand Piano in Boettcher Mansion's reception hall offered a special moment, when, at the Bride's request, the brother-of-the-groom played Debussy's Claire de Lune as the processional. Boettcher Mansion offers a D.J. You can provide your own music, but we found the D.J to be helpful in announcing what was to happen next, etc. He also offered a Photo Booth, which provided the Bride and Groom with a thumb drive of all their guest's funny pictures throughout the evening. Other exceptional vendors for whom I should write a separate review include Jessica Shipman, the "Day of" planner. Can't have a wedding without her! She, incredibly, planned and coordinated everything throughout the entire day, allowing all the guests and family to enjoy the event and focus on the Bride and Groom without having to be worried about actually doing any decorating or coordinating leading up to, and on the day. TeeLee Florist put together a one-of-a-kind Tower of Flowers for the alter, while we secured a beautiful and cost-effective flower package from Costco for the bulk of the floral decorations and the bouquet/corsages. We hired a shuttle service to offer for people to go up and down Lookout Mountain, for those who found the drive daunting, or out-of-towners without a car. Berg Berg Photography captured special moments throughout the event, including the sunset, and even provided special lighting for effect. Special candles handcrafted by the mother-and father-of the bride, and table number placards artfully drawn by the sister-in-law of the bride represent additional custom touches permitted by Boettcher Mansion that made the day incredibly special. In the end, our happy couple was forever touched by the gifts family and friends provided in memories we carry away from the wedding, indelibly amplified by the ambiance, staff, vendors, and personalization afforded by this incredible gem in Golden, Colorado.