Seamus

Beloved niece / god daughter will wed in Golden, CO in September 2022. Not certain of the exact venue but think it is a place that specializes in weddings and the like. Wedding is on Saturday, expect there will be some function equivalent to the old fashioned rehearsal dinner on Friday evening. We will likely fly into Denver Wednesday or Thursday (several nonstops available each day) and drive to Golden. Have been to Denver many times, never to Golden. Appreciate any and all info/suggestions as we plan this trip. Questions that occur immediately include:

• Should we we fly into DEN on Wednesday or Thursday? If I understand correctly, Golden is about an hour from DEN airport. We could pick up a car at DEN and drive right to Golden or stay overnight in Denver and drive to Golden the next day. Only reason I would like to stay overnight in Denver is to eat at Rioja, one of my favorite restaurants in the US. Is there something in Golden that would approximate that?
• Although I am keen on hiking and taking in scenery, DH has some limited mobility that makes that not feasible. What sort of not physically demanding diversions might there be around Golden?
• What is the weather likely to be in mid September?
• It is likely that many if not all my sibs will be in attendance, maybe some of their spawn as well. If the happy couple do not plan something for Sunday, what are suggestions for a family gathering (probably a brunch) on Sunday either in Denver or Golden? Group would be somewhere between 12 and 20 or so attendees. I am thinking Denver may be preferable as some will probably be flying out of DEN on Sunday.

Really appreciate all suggestions/advice!

Melnq8

Do you like beer? You could visit the Coors Brewery. My husband went to School of Mines in Golden and we'd often take the free 'short tour' back in the day (lol, no longer a thing). I think they've recently restarted their paid tours.

Weather could be anything from warm and clear to snowy, but my money is on warm and clear (I live in CO).

A lot of people like to visit nearby Red Rocks, although as a resident I don't see the allure unless you're attending a concert.

You might also want to visit nearby Morrison - they had a great little Mexican place there back in the day, but it's been ages since I was last there. If you like wild game, The Fort is a Morrison institution.

https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/morrison

fmpden

Golden is basically a suburb of Denver on the far western edge. An hour or less from the airport is about right especially if there is some traffic. Golden is connected via the light rail public system so you can still visit Rioja. It is still there. I don't think there is a need to stay in Denver the first night unless you just want to. Weather should be excellent in September -- potentially hot but evenings should be great. The Fort in Morrison, while expensive, is a great place to have a family gathering and watch lights of Denver come on in the evening their veranda. There is a terrific railroad museum in Golden though the appeal might be limited to railroad buffs. Coors is always interesting. If gambling is an interest the casinos at Blackhawk -- short drive due west -- is a possibility. At that time of year the leaves will be changing and could be near peak. The drive to Boulder via Blackhawk (Peak to Peak Hwy) and down Boulder canyon is one of the best for seeing the Aspen. Even a drive through Rocky Mt National Park would be an option. Just depends on time available.

oldemalloy

We went to fall wedding in Golden a few years ago. We killed time at the Buffalo Bill museum and grave. A pretty location.

Seamus

Thanks, folks, I appreciate the suggestions. I had not thought about using light rail. From a look at the online info it would require going from DEN to Union Station and transferring to the line to Golden, and would take well over an hour. I'm inclined to go with a rental car as it would eliminate the transfer and also offer the option to pull over if we see something that catches our interest.

The Coors tour is apparently in operation - coincidentally, the bride is a cicerone, actually moved to Denver a few years ago to work with a craft beer producer. Though we are not big beer drinkers, it sounds like a pleasant way to spend some time and I am fairly certain they will have accommodations for persons with limited mobility.

tomfuller

You may find that renting a car in downtown Denver is somewhat cheaper than renting a car at the airport and paying a toll to get out of and back into the airport. Light rail to the newly remodeled Denver Union station and renting the car near there might save you some money if not some time. There is a nice new hotel attached to the station as well. When the California Zephyr backs into the station it backs past Coors Field.

Gretchen

I think Fmpden was suggesting light rail to go into for dinner at some point from Golden if you so desired. I

For a wedding and moving around as you will do during and after a car rental is really the only answer--and going into Denver and schlepping luggage is just not a way to start a trip!! If you want to avoid the toll road I am sure it can be done.
Stay in Golden the first night and be settled.

fmpden

.....and paying a toll to get out of and back into the airport....... ???? There are no tolls for access to the airport. There are toll roads near the airport but you can easily get in and out of DIA without paying a toll. And there are no toll roads between Golden and DIA or downtown Denver.

sludick

We spent a couple of night in Golden around Christmastime. Flew in Denver, rented a car at the airport, and it was a straight shot easy drive to Golden. From there, we went on to Steamboat Springs for a family reunion Christmas, but those two days in Golden were very nice. Our room at the Table Mountain Inn looked out at Table Mountain and the Coors Brewry. Table Mountain Inn has a nice restaurant & bar as well.

It gets you out of the big city sprawl of Denver; even though it is essentially a suburb, you'd never know it once you're there.

Seamus

A new perspective - we may be able to extend by a few days, and it is possible SO will have better mobility if surgery happens as expected. I do think he'll still be mobility limited so the hiking I'd love is probably still out, BUT...

Anyone have experience with the Rocky Mountaineer route between Denver and Moab? We could fly into Denver, train to Moab then fly back to Denver/Golden for the festivities, or fly into Moab and train to Denver then home from Denver after the event. Any suggestions?

oldemalloy

Either of those options would work. Tomfuller can probably give you the information on the train and how often it leaves at a time that makes most of the trip during daylight hours.

Arches and Canyonlands are both parks that have plenty of awesome sights to see with short walks from the parking area or even from the comfort of your car.

A short way past Grand Junction, look for rt. 128 along the Colorado river to Moab or from Moab if you train out.

tomfuller

If you want to include a train trip from Denver it is the Amtrak California Zephyr that leaves Denver shortly after 8AM every morning. The best way to get to Moab from the east would be to take the CZ to Grand Junction and then spend the night there and rent a car in the morning. Sometimes the CZ is late getting into Denver as it comes all the way from Chicago.
After the CZ leaves Grand Junction, it goes through the Ruby Canyon into Utah on its way to SLC. The closest Amtrak stop to Moab is in Green River. There is a small airport a few miles north of Moab but I don't know about rental car availability.

Gretchen

It's always a good thing to have a few more days in Colorado. When our son was married in Denver we went to the mountains for a few days with our friends who came to the wedding. Lots to do in the Colorado mountains without going further. And September is spectacular.

fmpden

....Anyone have experience with the Rocky Mountaineer route between Denver and Moab?........ Probably hard to find anyone since this is a new service. I think this may be only the second year. We did the Rocky Mountaineer from Banff to Vancouver. Great ride and great service so I assume it would be the same in CO. In Canada it was a very slow ride around 30 mph with nearly constant dialog from a guide.


As Tom suggested you could do a portion of the ride via Amtrak between Denver and Glenwood Spring or Grand Junction. You could be packing a little too much into your available time. You could do a nice circle driving trip through Glenwood Spring, Aspen, Leadville via Independence Pass (should still be open unless an early snow closed it.) and back into Denver via 285. Leadville has the great Mineral Belt trail -- ten miles and nearly flat - crawls back into the mining background of Leadvilla.

I would save Moab and Utah for another trip.

Seamus

Thanks, fempden and tomfuller! Rate limiting step here is husband's mobility or lack thereof. I was thinking the Rocky Mountaineer might be a nice way for him to see some great scenery without the demands of hiking. Plus, he simply adores being pampered so the onboard amenities would appeal. As I am retired my calendar is pretty flexible, and it now seems he is able to also flex given his online instructing responsibilities can be met anywhere there is an internet connection.

Just to make things a bit more challenging, my high school classmates are planning a 50th year reunion on the East coast on10th September. I am toying with the idea of doing a multicity trip, flying into EWR on 8th or 9th, then a day or two in NYC before EWR to DEN on 14th, then home from DEN on 18th or 19th. Also looking at the possibility of AirBnB lodging shared with one or more of my sibs for the wedding. Looks like there are some viable options in or near Golden for that. As we all age, and since the passing of one brother, it seems we place more value on opportunities to get together. Last Fall's niece's wedding in NYC was a total joy when we were able to share time together, thinking this may be another such opportunity. I can just see us all gathered for a great meal at Rioja!

fmpden

If you are looking for B&B you may want to pin it down earlier than later. Housing in that area could be tight. Just to the east of Golden we had grass fire that took out over a thousand homes a couple of months back. That has put a lot of pressure on short term rentals in that general area. It is a bit of a mess with suggestions of price gouging and other problems.

I have not been on a train west of Glenwood Spring but the ride between Glenwood Springs and Denver is spectacular. However, lots of areas of Colorado are just as spectacular as that route but you would need a car.