Things To Do
The Golden Mill
We love to bring out-of-town guests here. Tap wall with beer, cocktails, wine, sake, non-alcoholic, etc. Also has cafeteria-style food options (mexican, american, bbq, sushi) and some great ice cream.
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
You can visit the infamous Red Rocks Amphitheatre - climb the hundreds of steps to admire the beautiful concert venue or skip the amphitheater to explore a short hike in the park to enjoy the unique Red Rock formations. Check that there aren't any closures due to concerts or events.
Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant
Our favorite Mexican restaurant and close to where we live.
Olde Town Arvada
Historical downtown with pedestrian street, lots of cute shops, restaurants, etc. Rachel's favorite coffee shop (Hunter Bay Coffee Roaster) is here too
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Amazing place to see the Aspens in the fall! Many hiking trails and a accessible overlook by parking lot!
Evergreen Lake
Beautiful lake with boat rentals, walking path, etc. There are some great restaurants, brewery, ice cream in the surrounding area.
Mt Blue Sky Scenic Drive
Scenic mountain drive up to the summit of a Colorado 14er! Unfortunately, the road to the summit is typically closed around Labor Day due to winter weather conditions. So for this trip, enjoy the drive to Echo Lake for some beautiful views and a short walking path. Please note that this is high altitude, so please be mindful and drink plenty of water.
Little Man Ice Cream
This is the original location of Little Man Ice Cream. This is a local chain that we will be serving as our wedding dessert.
Staunton State Park
Stauton State Park has a great mix of beginner and intermediate hiking trails. Since it is a State Park, there is a fee to enter. For an easy hike, we would recommend the Davis Ponds Trail (2.2 mi loop, fairly flat). For a moderate hike with some mountain views, we would recommend Red Wall via Stauton Ranch Trail (5.1 mi out-and-back, 1000 ft elevation gain).
Chief Mountain Trailhead
If you want to summit a mountain without having to hike for 5+ miles, this is the hike for you! This is a moderate 2.9 mi out-and-back trail with 1000 ft of elevation gain. The elevations is pretty much a constant the entire 1.5 miles up to the summit so take lots of breaks. This is one of our favorite short hikes in the area as the views at the top are gorgeous! A few things to note, the temperature is much colder at the trailhead than weather apps will say for Evergreen, CO. The trailhead starts off at 10,500 ft so much higher elevation than the nearby town of Evergreen. Additionally, you will hike above the treeline and it is almost always VERY windy so dress for the conditions. Additionally, if there is snow on the trails, be prepared for walking through thick snow the entire hike.
Indian Hot Springs
Hot springs, spa, etc. in an old mining town. Check out the website for more details!
Chatfield State Park
Reservoir with swimming, boat rentals, walking/biking paths. Note this is a State Park so does require a fee to enter.
Denver Botanic Gardens
The Denver Botanic Gardens are an awesome place to walk around and learn about different vegetation in Colorado. Majority of the areas are outside but there are a few indoor areas to explore. There is a small fee to enter.