The City of Black Hawk is a cool little mountain casino town. It's very walkable and also has a free shuttle service; click the link for more shuttle information. We recommend checking out the different casinos (Monarch and Ameristar are the nicest ones, and they also have teeny tiny ones that only have a few slot machines!), walking along the path next to North Clear Creek, relaxing at Monarch Spa (see below), spending time in Gregory Street Plaza, driving the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway to Estes Park, and hiking or biking in the Maryland Mountain Quartz Valley Park. The shuttle will take you to the neighboring historic Victorian town of Central City. They have museums, galleries, shopping, dining, more casinos, free parking, nearly 300 historic buildings, and a 1-1.5 mile easy trail voted "The Best Fall Day Hike Near Denver" at the Historic Central City Cemetery.
The Rocky Mountain National Park Visitor's Center is about 90 minutes from Black Hawk. It's a bit far, but it's one of our favorite places in the world! Make sure to check if a timed-entry permit is required. (Or ask us, we've navigated the process many times and are happy to help!)
Visit the largest single-site brewery in the world for a 90-minute tour.
(Formerly known as Mount Evans) Drive up the highest paved road in North America for EPIC views and wildlife. Just know that it's a 30-mile narrow, cliff-side road with no guardrail. If you're feeling extra brave, start it late afternoon so you can catch the sun setting with some of the best views in all of Colorado. The peak is over 14,000 feet. It's impossible to describe just how special, grand, and otherworldly it is. It's truly awe-inspiring. The air is very thin at 14,000 feet, so don't spend too much time at the top. We recommend doing this later your trip if possible so that your body has more time to acclimate to high elevations before visiting.
Idaho Springs is a great little mountain town about 25-30 minutes from Black Hawk. It has a very cute walkable downtown area with great shops. It's also home to the historic Argo Mill and Mining Tunnels from the 1800s. (This area was known as the Richest Square Mile on Earth in the Colorado Gold Rush!) It is also home to Clear Creek, which has some of Colorado's best rafting.
The Monarch is home to the #2 spa in the country! It's over 30,000 square feet and has a scenic lounge on the top floor. You can book a treatment or just a day pass to enjoy the amenities. They have limited availability, so book as soon as you can!
An awesome state park only 15 minutes from Black Hawk!
Red Rocks is a top-tier concert venue and beautiful park, so you can visit whether attending an event or not. AND! Andrea Bocelli will be there the day after the wedding.
If you're extending the trip into a vacation, head south ~2 hours to check out the Colorado Springs area. Drive (if you're brave) or take the railway up Pike's Peak, see the Garden of the Gods (get a meal at the Grand View Restaurant at the Garden of the Gods Resort!!!!), hike the Manitou incline, visit the Broadmoor and zipline.