Fall is an especially magnificent time to visit Golden, with the spectacle of colors—yellow, gold, burnt orange, amber, red—lining the trails of this creekside town that is home to Coors beer. At its center is the Table Mountain Inn which has graced the main road for almost 100 years.
Table Mountain Inn is the sister of the Boulderado hotel in Boulder just 35 minutes away. It first opened in 1925 as the first luxury hotel with a view of the splendid Tabletop Mountain. Since its opening, the hotel has changed hands various times. That is,until 1991 when it was bought by the present owners who built two additional floors, added balconies, expanded the banquet spaces, and changed the theme of the restaurant to its present local, southwestern décor and cuisine. The staff here is incredibly welcoming, and Table Mountain Inn is a wonderful place to stay when exploring the area.
The city of Golden owns and maintains 402 acres of open space as well as an interconnected trail system of 24 miles. Walking out of the Inn you can walk in any direction and find a trail. Among them, the one at Clear Creek begins at the Clear Creek Canyon at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the one at the majestic Table Mountain offers a 2.5-mile trek and a fabulous view of the valley and breathtaking mountain range.
If you are interested in the spectacular surroundings, the Mines Museum of Earth Science, founded in 1874 holds the historic Colorado State Mineral Collection including the collection of geologist Arthur Lakes, and is home to one of Colorado’s two Goodwill moon rocks collected during the Apollo 17 mission. If you are a Buffalo Bill fan, you can visit his namesake’s museum located about 20 minutes drive away. There you will also find the historic Boettcher Mansion— a gorgeous mansion that’s perfect to host your wedding day.
Another attraction is the famed Coors brewery, opened in 1873. The largest single-site brewery in the world today,Golden is also home to nine microbreweries.
When I visited Golden, I went with my grown daughter and two of her friends. We spent our days planning different hikes and then enjoyed our afternoons tasting at the local breweries, visiting the cute boutiques, and enjoying the variety of restaurants that line the streets of Golden. Among one our favorites: The wonderful southwestern food at the Table Mountain Inn restaurant. I especially enjoyed their local trout. If you are looking for a warm, welcoming place to host a bachelor/ette party or a quaint wedding, the Table Mountain Inn in Golden, Colorado is the perfect venue for you.
