If you are planning one day in Golden Colorado, it is one of the easiest day trips from Denver when you want a little mountain scenery without spending a ton of time in the car.
Downtown is compact, Clear Creek runs straight through town, and you can easily mix good food, shopping, outdoor time, and the Coors Brewery Tour into one day.
What I liked most about Golden is that you really do not need to pack your schedule. There are enough things to do to fill a full day, but it is also perfect for wandering around and seeing where you end up.
Here is how I would spend one day in Golden, Colorado.
I would start the day at Abejas, a seasonal bistro in downtown Golden.
The restaurant focuses on regional produce, locally raised meats, and seasonal ingredients, and the space has a cozy, slightly rustic feel with reclaimed barn wood, antique doors, and lots of natural light.
Their brunch menu changes seasonally, but you may see dishes like eggs Benedict, duck confit hash, carnitas rancheros, crepes, seasonal salads, and crispy potatoes.
This is one of the nicer brunches in Golden. If you are visiting on a weekend, I would make a reservation if you can. They do take walk-ins when space is available and keep some bar seating open.
The patio is also a great option in warmer weather.
After brunch, head to the Coors Brewery Tour, probably Golden's most famous attraction.
The tour covers the history of Coors and the brewing process and gives you a look at just how massive the operation really is. Even if you are more of a craft brewery person, the scale of the brewery is interesting to see.
I would allow around 1½ to 2 hours once you factor in the tour, tastings, and a little time in the gift shop. Reservations can fill up, so this is one thing I would book ahead if you know you want to do it.
One of the things I liked most about Golden was how easy it was to get some outdoor time without turning the day into a full hiking trip. Clear Creek runs directly through downtown, with a paved path alongside it that is perfect for a casual walk.
You can spend 20 minutes here or wander for an hour. There are bridges, creek views, spots to sit, and plenty of people biking, walking dogs, and hanging out by the water.
This is also where you will see people tubing during warmer months.
The creek conditions can vary quite a bit depending on recent weather and snowmelt, so if tubing is part of your plan, I would check the current water conditions first. On calmer days it can look very inviting; when the water is running high, it is a completely different experience.
Even if you have zero interest in getting in the water, I would still make time for a walk along the downtown portion of Clear Creek.
If you are visiting during summer, I would also have water with you. I travel with my Brita Water Bottle, which is especially useful on days when I am walking around outside for hours.
This is separate from the little downtown creek walk.
If you want to actually get farther into Clear Creek Canyon, you will need to drive to one of the trailheads west of Golden.
There are several access points along U.S. Highway 6, including:
This area is part of the larger Peaks to Plains Trail project, which is eventually planned to connect Clear Creek all the way toward Denver.
One of the newer sections near the CCR Trailhead adds about 1.5 miles of fully ADA-accessible trail that connects into the Gateway segment. There are several bridges, multiple creek access points, and parking at the trailhead.
The trail follows Clear Creek through the canyon, so you get much more of that mountain-and-river scenery than you do along the downtown section.
You do not have to turn this into a major hike, either. Drive out, walk a portion of the trail, enjoy the canyon for a while, and then head back downtown.
If you would rather spend more of your Golden day outdoors, this is where I would add the extra time.
For a short trail walk, my Small Osprey Backpack works well when I only need water, sunscreen, and a few basics. I would also bring sunscreen because there is no reason to come home from your Denver to Golden day trip looking like you personally fought the Colorado sun. I use SuperGoop Face Sunscreen on my face and Coola Spray Sunscreen for arms and legs.
Save this for later on Pinterest so you don’t forget it.
For lunch, I would go to The Golden Mill. It is a food hall in downtown Golden with several food concepts, self-pour drink walls, rooftop seating, and a creekside patio.
When you arrive, you get a Golden Mill card that keeps a running tab as you order from the different vendors. We tried food from Sushi Sora, Tacos Al Chile, and Happy Cones.
It can get very busy on weekends, while a local told me weekdays are much calmer. I would still go either way—just expect more lines and competition for seating on a busy Saturday or Sunday.
I have an entire Golden Mill Review: Where to Eat at Golden’s Food Hall with everything we ordered, how the card system works, and what I would get again, so I would read that if you are planning to stop here.
After lunch, I would leave some completely unplanned time for downtown. Washington Avenue has shops, restaurants, coffee spots, and plenty of places to wander into without needing a specific agenda.
This is also a good time to get the classic Welcome to Golden photo. Yes, everyone takes it. That is probably because it is cute.
It is worth checking Golden's events calendar before your trip because there seems to be something happening here pretty often. We happened to visit during the Golden Fine Arts Festival, so downtown had artist booths and extra activity while we were there.
Depending on when you visit, you may find markets, live music, festivals, or other seasonal events that are easy to work into your day.
If you want to stay in Golden for dinner, you have a couple of good options.
If you did not go to Abejas for brunch, dinner would be a good time to try it instead.
Their dinner menu is also seasonal and chef-driven, and the atmosphere works especially well for a nicer dinner without feeling overly formal.
Another popular option is Sherpa House, which serves Nepalese, Tibetan, and Indian food.
Reviews seem to vary quite a bit depending on what people order, but the Chicken Tikka Masala gets more consistent praise. If I went, that is probably where I would start.
Since Denver is only around 30 minutes away, you could also make Golden the daytime portion of your trip and finish with dinner in Denver.
Corsica would be my pick if you want a fun, stylish dinner with excellent food that still feels relaxed.
It serves French- and Italian-inspired small plates meant for sharing, and this was one of my favorite meals of the trip. I would happily order our entire meal again.
I have a full Corsica Denver Review: What to Order at This RiNo Restaurant with exactly what we ordered and what surprised me most, so I would read that rather than repeating everything here.
If you are celebrating something or want a major foodie experience, BRUTØ is the splurge.
It is a Michelin-starred tasting-menu restaurant built around fermentation, preservation, local ingredients, and a lot of experimentation. It was expensive, but it also felt much more like an experience than a normal dinner.
My BRUTØ Denver Review: Is the Michelin-Starred Restaurant Worth It? breaks down every course, the booking process, price, and whether I thought it was worth it.
If food is a major part of your Denver trip in general, my DIY Denver Food Tour: Best Places to Eat in Denver Colorado has more of the restaurants and stops I would build a trip around.
I think one full day is perfect for a first visit to Golden. A loose Golden Colorado itinerary could look something like this:
Morning: Brunch at Abejas
Late morning: Coors Brewery Tour
Early afternoon: Walk along Clear Creek or drive into Clear Creek Canyon
Lunch: The Golden Mill
Afternoon: Downtown shopping, coffee, and wandering
Evening: Dinner in Golden or drive back to Denver
You can easily adjust the day depending on what you care about most. If you love hiking, spend longer in Clear Creek Canyon. If you are more interested in food and shopping, stay closer to downtown. And if Coors does not interest you at all, use those extra couple of hours somewhere else.
The downtown portion of Golden is extremely walkable. Once you park, you can walk between Washington Avenue, Clear Creek, The Golden Mill, shops, and several restaurants.
The exception is the Clear Creek Canyon trail system. For that, you will want your car because the trailheads are west of downtown along U.S. Highway 6.
If you are flying into Denver and need a rental car for your Colorado trip, I use Discover Cars to compare options.
Definitely. Golden gave me a nice mix of things I like to do when I travel: good food, interesting local attractions, a downtown that is easy to explore, and enough outdoor scenery to feel like I actually came to Colorado.
I think that is a big part of why people like Golden so much. You can walk along Clear Creek, sit by the water, shop, eat, grab a drink, or head farther into the canyon, and you do not have to spend the whole day driving from one thing to the next.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
If Golden is part of a larger Colorado trip, you can compare flights on Skyscanner and rental cars through Discover Cars.
For hotels in Denver or Golden, I would compare options on Booking.com.
If you want to see what other tours and activities are available around Denver and Golden, you can compare options through Viator or Get Your Guide.
If you are still building the rest of your Colorado itinerary, start with Spend a Week in Colorado: The Perfect Denver and Golden Itinerary.
For more Denver sightseeing ideas, read Top Things to Do in Denver Colorado.
If Red Rocks is also on your list, I have a full Red Rocks Amphitheatre Guide: What to Know Before You Visit.
And if you are trying to figure out where to eat that night, see my Best Dinner Restaurants for a Special Occasion in Denver.
One of my favorite travel seasons is almost here, and I have zero chill about it. 🍁✈️
There’s just something about fall trips cooler air, apple orchards, that first flannel of the season, food that actually makes sense with the weather again. I’m already mentally packing for it before September even starts.
If fall is your favorite time to travel too, tell me where you’re headed... I’m taking notes for the list.
Pack your bags... ✈️🧳My hiking and road trip gear shop just got a refresh, and this is everything that actually earns a spot in my bag. The dry bag pulls double duty for beach days and trail days, the Osprey backpack is the one I grab for anything motorcycle or day-hike related, and the GoPro comes with me literally everywhere at this point.
Nothing on this list is filler it’s all stuff I’ve used, packed, and repacked more times than I can count. Full shop linked in my bio if you want to build out your own kit before your next trip.
Filing this one under “go now before it gets cold.” Bonneville Hot Springs is one of those trips where fall access is honestly the sweet spot the campground road is open, the hike in is short, and you skip the snow-and-gate situation we dealt with when we went in March.
September and early fall mean clearer trails, easier parking, and pools that are just as good without the extra mile of hiking to earn them. Fewer than 10 people out there when we visited, a rustic changing booth, zero amenities, and pools that range from “relax” to “actually scalding” until you move some rocks around and mix in river water. Small waterfalls feeding in, mountains in every direction, not polished, and that’s exactly the point.
Full breakdown on parking, what to pack, and timing it right is linked in my bio.
Summer’s not even over and I already have the itch. Fall hiking season is calling and I am answering.
Save this if you feel the itch too.🍁
Columbus hotel roundup because “just find something downtown” isn’t a strategy✈️
I stayed across the price spectrum on this one so I could actually compare notes. Hotel LeVeque is the splurge Art Deco lobby, marble bathrooms, and a restaurant (The Keep) worth visiting even if you don’t book a room. If you want to walk everywhere, Le Méridien puts you right in the Short North with murals and shops outside your door. And if budget’s the priority, Aloft gets you clean and modern near Ohio State without the markup.
Want a full escape from the city instead? Hocking Hills lodges and Gervasi Vineyard are both an easy drive out and worth the detour.
Not every hotel on this list is for every trip... that’s kind of the point. Full breakdown by neighborhood and budget, link in bio 🍂
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
