OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST

These must be visited by car. These are only some suggestions. You can get door-to-door directions from your home to any place in Colorado or the United States by visiting Mapquest. Just type in your address and the address of where you want to go and the computer will do the rest.

l. Boulder: Hwy 93 north out of Golden; a 20-minute drive. Home of the University of Colorado, Pearl Street Mall with street musicians, entertainers, etc. See what's going on in Boulder at the Boulder Camera Daily News online.
2. Canon City, a small town south and west of Colorado Springs, was a favorite trading spot for hunters and trappers because of the climate, hot springs, and Indians. 7 campgrounds, hotels, restaurants. Home of the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas River, 8 miles west of town on Hwy. 50. The Royal Gorge Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge (1,035 feet above the Arkansas River). Aerial tramway, incline railway, Buckskin Joe Park and Railway. Fees. Directions: Take 1-25 south of Denver; take Hwy 50 west just before reaching Pueblo. About 3 1/2-hour drive.
3. Castle Rock: south on I-25. 1 hour. Best known for its Factory Outlet Shopping Center. Follow the signs to the Shopping Center.
4. Central City and Blackhawk: about 45 minutes from Golden. Hwy 72 northwest out of Golden. Turn left on Hwy. 119. Home of casino gambling, Central City Opera during the summer months, many historic places. Former mining town.
5. Colorado Springs: Take 1-25 south of Denver. 1 1/2 hours. Home of the US Air Force Academy, Olympic Training Center. Free tours. The Academy is north of C. Springs; watch for exit signs. Also the beautiful red rock formation, Garden of the Gods (rock climbing, hiking, biking) which is free, and the famous Pikes Peak, with its cog railway or road to the top (FEE). Santa's Workshop (alpine village and amusement park), Miramont Castle museum, Rainbow Falls, Manitou Cliff dwellings, Cave of the Winds, Seven Falls. The latter all have fees. The U.S> Olympic Training center is free.
6. Cripple Creek: I-25 south to Colorado Springs, take exit #141 and go west on Hwy 24 to Divide, turn left on Hwy 67 and to 18 miles to Cripple Creek. Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine (fee) under ground tour 1000 feet below ground. Gambling casinos. Cripple Creek is an old historic mining town.
7. Leadville: 2 1/2 hours from Golden. West on I-70 to Minturn; exit on Hwy 24. Historic old mining town. Departure site of the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad Co. (May-October,about $20), home of Mining Museum, Leadville Boom Days in July. Camping, hotels, restaurants, shops. Turquoise Lake is nearby. North of the town is the world's largest molybdenum mine.
8. Glenwood Springs: 3 1/2 or 4 hours from Denver, west on I-70. Famous natural hot springs pools (fee) and vapor caves (fee), Ski Sunlight, beautiful Glenwood Canyon, snowmobiling, river rafting, fishing, mountain biking and hiking. Many hotels, campsites, restaurants, shops. Very popular place winter and summer; hotel reservations are suggested.
9. Steamboat Springs: at least 4 hours from Denver. I-70 west; exit north on Hwy 40 at Empire and go past Winter Park. At Granby take Hwy 40 west to Steamboat. Must go over Rabbit Ears Pass, which is sometimes closed in the winter. Great skiing, biking and hiking, August Hot Air Balloon Rodeo, September Vintage Auto Race.
10. Dinosaur National Monument: 7 hours from Denver. I-70 west; exit north on Hwy 40 at Empire and go past Winter Park. At Granby take Hwy 40 west past Steamboat Springs and Craig. Camping is available. This is not a town so there are no hotels or restaurants, etc. See dinosaur bones being excavated. Rangers give information talks and short classes.
11. Rocky Mountain National Park/Estes Park. I -70 west; exit north on Hwy 40 at Empire and go past Winter Park. At Granby turn north on Hwy 34 (this route in the park is often closed in the wintertime.) OR: take Hwy 93 north out of Golden, to Hwy 36 through Boulder and follow Hwy 36 to Estes Park , the town; there are hotels, shops, etc. Follow the signs through town to Rocky Mountain National Park (Hwy 34). The park has an entrance fee per car. Campsites are available in the park but should be reserved months in advance by calling 1-800-280-2267. Museums; wild animals such as elk, deer, mountain sheep, etc.; hiking, biking, beautiful scenery, picnic areas. You may drive through the park and go home the opposite way you came. Trail Ridge Road may be closed in the winter. The park is open year round. Visit the Unofficial Guide to the Rocky Mountain National Park.
12. Mesa Verde National Park, a 7-hour drive from Denver. Go south on I-25 and turn west on Hwy 160 at Walsenberg, passing through Durango. Campsites are available at the park or in nearby Mancos or Cortez. A few hotels are available at the park; advance reservations are necessary. The park is atop a large flat mountain (mesa) and can be reached by driving to the top. Fee per car. Tour buses are taken around the park; you may get off and on at any time. Much walking. Hot in the summer; much of the park is not open in the winter. Beautiful historic cliff dwellings which Indians built and lived in and then left about 600 years ago. You can walk among the ruins. THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE TO VISIT AND SHOULD NOT BE MISSED!
13. Idaho Springs and Mount Evans Road. FEE. Take I-70 west and exit at Idaho Springs. Forest Service station is on the south side of I-70; stop and get information about the drive to the top of Mt. Evans. This is the highest paved highway in North America. You can drive to the top of this 14,000 foot mountain. Idaho Springs is an old mining town with interesting shops and a museum, about 1/2 drive from Golden. Indian Springs Resort--natural hot springs mineral water pool.
14. Georgetown: Take I-70 west, exit at the sign which indicates Georgetown. About an hour's drive from Golden. An old mining town with a quaint street of shops, museums, and the GEORGETOWN LOOP RAILROAD, a steam-driven train which travels between Georgetown and Silver Plume as it did in the mining era. Fee for train ride, in an open rail car; as the train track spirals, you can take beautiful pictures. Train ride is open from late May-mid September.