Hiking Mount Galbraith Loop in Golden, CO on a perfect spring day will keep my spirits soaring for the entire week!  Although the morning began with hazy skies, my husband, Jim and dog, Jake, joined me west of Denver at the mouth of Golden Gate Canyon.  Just minutes from downtown Golden, the trailhead provided plenty of parking as well as restroom facilities. The initial part of the hike called Cedar Gulch Trail still had patches of slippery ice and mud but we quickly gained elevation which took us to sunnier terrain.  I carried my new Nikon D7000 in the hopes I would find some early springtime flowers. We hiked for 1.3 miles to the beginning of the Mount Galbraith Loop, 1.6 miles, which would provide 360 degree views. About ten minutes into the hike, I was thrilled to find a clump of P... 03/25/2012

Sketching Nature in Golden The activities never stop in Golden! This Saturday, why not combine two of your favorite passions by going to the Winter Sketching Nature Journaling class at Lookout Mountain Nature Center. Remember those perfect scenes that make Golden the perfect place to be by sketching them into a personal journal. Located minutes off of I-70 near Golden, the Lookout Mountain Nature Center has these wonderful classes throughout the year. The Winter Sketching Nature Journaling program will start with a lesson in basic drawing skills. If you have been interested in trying your hand at sketching for a while, let the amazing staff guide you through capturing wonderful outdoor scenes. You will then head out on the hiking paths around Lookout Mountain near Golden for your sketch... 02/15/2012

1920’s Dance in Golden Many people would agree that the 1920’s were a golden age; the music, the dance moves, the movie stars, the clothing. Take a trip back to simpler times this weekend at the Golden Gate Grange’s Prohibition Dance! Located off of Golden Gate Canyon Rd, Golden Gate Grange is sponsoring a roaring, 1920’s themed dance on Saturday, February 11th from 8 to 10pm. You and your valentine will dance to the lovely sounds of the Prohibition Six Jazz Band. The jazz and swing songs will get your and yours in the mood to show off your buckle shoes as you dance the Charleston. The Six have been playing vintage jazz and swing of the 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s for over 30 years! Don’t worry if you can’t dance; the Prohibition Six Jazz Band is a well-oiled machine that should not be missed.... 02/08/2012

Valentines Day in Golden Valentines Day is fast approaching! Don’t expect the simple Valentines Day box of chocolates or a boring Valentines dinner for two. We have you covered because Golden has many great places to celebrate friends and family. Golden is also a great town to meet up with new friends or old friends during the holiday. Who knows, you may even a new Valentine of your own! Start your Valentines Day off right by getting outside! Golden has dog parks, city parks, paths, and more to get you out into the sunshine and fresh air. Handholding and casual strolling is permitted. Next, check out the Valentines Day deals in downtown Golden. You and your special someone could grab a cup of coffee, pop into your favorite shop, or pick up necessities for the rest of the day. If you are... 02/01/2012

Coffee with a Counselor in Golden Be active in your community!! Saturday, February 4th, Golden city Counselors will be meeting with the you to discuss the issues facing Golden today. This is a wonderful opportunity to try some wonderful coffee and meet with the people in charge. If there is something you would like to see done in Golden, if you have concerns or questions, or if you would just listen into the Counselors responses, stop by Read, Write, and Brew at 9:00am this Saturday. You will be so glad you stopped in for your morning cup of coffee at Read, Write, and Brew which is located on Golden Ridge Road. Counselors Saoirse Charis-Graves, Marcia Claxton, and Joe Behm are coming together at this wonderful coffee and bookstore for an honest and relaxing morning of discussion. The to... 02/01/2012

Dinosaur Ridge in Golden As students of the Colorado School of Mines in Golden know, Golden has some of the best rock around. Geologists and paleontologists have been flocking to the hills around Golden for years in search of rocks and dinosaurs! In 1877, Arthur Lakes discovered a group of dinosaur fossils which started a huge interest in the area now know as Dinosaur Ridge. In 2012, Dinosaur Ridge is still home to many of the original fossils discovered at the site and is host to a number of tracks where people can discover more about the great dinosaurs that once roamed the Golden hills. Located off of West Alameda Parkway, Dinosaur Ridge in Golden is an experience for the whole family. The indoor exhibit hall has information about the dinosaurs found in the area, what Golden looked l... 01/21/2012

Lookout Mountain in Golden Golden is so fortunate to have a plethora of clear days! If you have a clear day and are looking for something new to do, why not take a trip up Lookout Mountain in Golden. Lookout Mountain is so close, an easy drive, and has many activities for the whole family. On top of Lookout Mountain you will find the Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Preserve, the Boettcher Mansion, Gift Shop, Wonderful Views and Hiking Trails that link to the Windy Saddle Parks, Beaver Brook Trail, and Buffalo Bill Gravesite and Museum. The Lookout Mountain Nature Center should be your first stop to learn more about Lookout Mountain and the area around Golden. The educational exhibits and tours will teach you about local wildlife, the ponderosa pines, and how you can help to preserve ... 01/21/2012

Candles in Golden Whether for design, atmosphere, or light, candles have the ability to transport us from one place to another. Candles can remind us of sun and sand when the weather is terrible or bring us smells of home when we are far away. With winter in full swing, lighting a few candles bring warmth and brightness into our Golden homes and hearths. For some, finding candles they like is a chore. Don’t let it be! Golden has the answer to your quest in Nature’s Gift Candleworks! If you are walking on Washington St. in downtown Golden, you may smell Nature’s Gift candles before you reach them. Unlike other shops that sell candles, the scents you encounter here are made by nature and loving hands. Each of the candles at Nature’s Gift are hand poured by artisans who simply love candles... 01/17/2012

Volunteer in Golden As you may have noticed, I think Golden is a wonderful place! There is always something going on that is free, or with your donation helps out the various businesses and communities all around the city of Golden. The local Golden businesses and citizens that are supported by our commerce are always giving too! I think it is time to give back by becoming a volunteer. You can make a huge difference in your community by being a volunteer and sharing your love for this wonderful city with those around you.                                                                                                                       So where do you start? Luckily, the city of Golden has you covered. By filling out an application, the Human Resources department will set you up with ... 01/17/2012

Acupuncture in Golden Congratulations on making it twelve days into the New Year!! Already some of you may be feeling the old stress coming back or finding new stress as we get fit, cut unhealthy habits, and try new things. Taking time out to work those kinks out before they turn into full-blown pains is important and if you live in the Golden area there is something you can do! Acupuncture! Acupuncture has been around for centuries. The purpose is to balance the energy in the body by putting small needles in various physical places on the body. Needles? Don’t worry, the needles used in Acupuncture are very small and many times you don’t feel them whatsoever. Acupuncture is used for just about everything; from relaxation to that old sports injury, from post-pregnancy pain to insomnia. C... 01/12/2012

You Forgot the Milk-Local Grocery in Golden So, you forgot the milk huh? Not to worry. Avoid heading back to the big box stores during peak shopping times and head to a local grocery! Local Grocery stores are conveniently located, have specialty goods you would not find otherwise, and support local growers and producers! Golden is fortunate to now have two near the historical downtown shopping area. Golden Natural Foods 1205 Cheyenne St, Golden 303.279.3420 This corner grocery store is quite the local favorite around Golden. Their wonderful atmosphere, bodega-like selection of fresh grocery items, and helpful staff are more than enough reasons to stop by. Another reason is their assortment of soups and sandwiches! Grab and snack at the grocery store or take your bite to go down by Clear... 01/12/2012

Gear in Golden Now that the holidays have passed, you may find yourself with extra gear. Instead of going through the long process of asking friends, family, neighbors, or strangers on craigslist, if they need the gear you no longer need, why not sell your gear at The Sports Mine in downtown Golden? The Sports Mine is a local Golden consignment shop that takes in gently used gear and clothing year-round. The Sports Mine takes in gear like: backpacks, tents, Skis, boots, snowboards, sleeping Bags, climbing gear, kayaks, skateboards and more. If your gear is in good condition, the friendly, easy-going staff with help you through the process and set a selling price. Once your item sells, you receive a percentage of that sale! Add to that the convenient, downtown Golden location and it is a... 01/11/2012

Spyderco in Golden We love to highlight local businesses that are unique to the Golden, Colorado area. Spyderco is a great Golden company that is known for making high-end, knives and cutlery.  The Spyderco Factory Outlet is still located in Golden, off of highway 93, to this day and features an impressive selection of Spyderco knives and accessories. Started in 1976, Spyderco’s founders Sal and Gail Glesser used to travel around in a converted bread-truck to trade shows to sell the Portable Hand. This device looked like a spider, giving Spyderco their name. After settling in Golden, CO a couple years later, the Spyderco Company took off making their unique line of folding knives. What set these folding knives apart from the rest was the addition of a round hole punched out of the blade... 01/11/2012

 First Fridays in Golden Fridays are cause for celebration! No, I’m not talking about beginning the weekend. I’m talking about First Fridays! The first Friday of every month you will find local Golden-ites celebrating art and culture in the downtown area. Galleries, shops, restaurants, museums, and more will be featuring a variety of activities, free for the whole Golden community. There will be artist signings, wine tastings, and carriage rides all around the downtown area. Bring a group of friends to experience the best of our local community. Free parking is available all around the downtown Golden area. Afterwards, take the friends to your favorite Golden restaurant or walk down by Clear Creek. Golden is a wonderful community with so much art, music, and culture. Support your local ... 01/09/2012

Car Racing near Golden  First, you hear a buzzing noise. It slowly builds to a roar and that is when you know you have arrived! During the warmer months, thousands flock to Bandimere Speedway to participate in the age-old, American custom of car racing. Car racing began not long after the creation of gasoline-powered vehicles were created and has since become one of the most popular sports to watch. Located in Golden right up against the Hogback, Bandimere Speedway has been in the forefront of the Golden and Colorado racing community for over 50 years. In 1958, John Bandimere Sr. purchased the land near the Golden foothills to provide a safe place for young people to learn about and experience car racing first hand. Since then, Bandimere Speedway has expanded from car racing to go-carts... 01/09/2012

Gardens in Golden Hidden under a few inches of snow, the gardens in Golden sleep. During the spring and summer months, the gardens around the downtown area of Golden awake and become the most popular places to walk, play, and relax in. The Friendship Garden, History Center Gardens, and Loveland Garden are conveniently located within walking distance of Clear Creek and your favorite downtown shops. The History Center Gardens are located near the History Center, which was formerly known as the Pioneer Museum. This colorful garden backs up right to the walking path of Clear Creek and is a perfect place to find shade during the warm months with mature trees. You can take the walking path down the creek to watch Golden tubers and kyackers or find a serene spot to relax in the fresh aroma of ... 01/09/2012

Antiques in Golden There is a point we all reach some time or another where we wish we had something we once had long ago. This is where antiques come to the rescue. Antique shops pop-up here and there without warning, bringing with them all of the sights, sounds, and smells of years past. Being a mining town, Golden has antiques that highlight an amazing journey from a simple mining town to a prosperous community. You can discover Golden’s long and interesting history in Rockin’ Horse Antiques and Collectibles. At one moment you are in the middle of downtown Golden, looking in the front window of Rockin’ Horse Antiques and Collectibles, and the moment you step in you are transported to another era. A few other eras, in fact! Rockin’ Horse Antiques and Collectibles in Golden is over 300... 01/07/2012

Bed and Breakfast in Golden If you have not been to Golden yet, what’s the hold up? I have been blogging all of these amazing things about Golden, so I am forced to believe you have yet to find a place to stay! There are hotels a plenty, but wouldn’t you rather stay in a Bed and Breakfast? Me too! The Dove Inn is just what you are looking for in a Bed and Breakfast in the Golden are. Located in historic, downtown Golden, The Dove Inn Bed and Breakfast was originally a pioneer home that was converted into an inn in 1868. Like many other Bed and Breakfasts, the Dove Inn is a Beautiful Victorian design that has been remodeled to include private in-room bathrooms, queen or king sized beds, and breakfast too. The Dove Inn, however, outshines the other Bed and Breakfasts by having wonderful h... 01/06/2012

Art and Wine in Golden If you are meeting up with a friend for a drink in Golden, or if you want to try your hand at making art, why not try something new like Art on the Brix? Art on the Brix is a place to grab a nice glass of wine and set your creativity free by making art! Perfect for a date whether the first or the 999th, Art on the Brix is not just a place to doodle and have a drink. Art on the Brix in Golden has ongoing classes you can sign up for, encourages you to bring other local Golden-ites, has a selection of wine, beer, and drinks, serves delectable food from their tapas bar, and provides all the art supplies you may need! The staff and artists are friendly, knowledgeable, and fun! Many live in Golden too! Each person receives easy to follow instruction and takes home their... 01/06/2012

Interesting video on Fox Business News today. Greg Rand CEO of Own America said Denver is the top city for investment opportunities in real estate. He says there is a nationwide migration coming into Denver due to our young average age and awesome lifestyle. There is something to be said for our mountains and blue skies. Overall good news and our market has done very well. Worth a view! Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com 01/06/2012