First time visit to the Gilpin County Arts Association in Washington Hall and it was super…read moreworthwhile! Found the perfect coffee mug I'd been searching for. Immediately across the street from the Central City Opera House, the building alone is worth a visit. The friendly gallery manager, Michelle, will happily recount its fascinating history, not the least of which it is the oldest continuously occupied building in Colorado. The front portion of the gallery houses a diverse and affordable collection of works by local artists including pottery, photos, prints, cards, jewelry, wood, fiber art, etc., etc. Many gift worthy items. The rear very funky gallery hosts changing exhibits. I plan to return for the Mile High International Pastel Exhibit beginning April 9, 2022. The art works were waiting to be hung during my visit--many accomplished artists!

From the owner: Exhibiting the best in local & regional visual art in the Washington Hall Galleries in scenic &…read morehistoric Central City.

I am an opera fanatic, and have attended probably 200 all over the world in theatres both grand and…read moremodest. Today, however, I had the inestimable pleasure of perfect seats at the Central City Opera house to witness the most perfect rendition of The Barber of Seville I've ever seen. Everything was simply perfect; the set, the costuming, the musicians, the director, and above all, the perfectly cast singer/actors. There was not one weak link among them. They not only sang the parts perfectly, they were physically perfect for their roles. I don't know why the DCPA has so much trouble casting (especially sopranos), but the CCO simply nailed each and every one; no fat sopranos or geriatric tenors bumbling around the stage playing the parts of lithe heroines or young militiamen. My hat's off to the casting director!! (The ONLY suggestion I'd make (and this is nigh on trivial) is to ask the musicians in the pit to PLEASE aim their music stand lighting down toward them instead of aiming it up in the eyes of the first five rows of the audience; the light was blinding. Thanks.) It is ABSOLUTELY worth the drive up to Central City to see this production if you can still snag tix at this late date. You'll be glad you did.

From the Front of the House to the Back of the House all the seats afford a perfect view of the…read morestage and the acoustics are awesome. We attended The Pirates of Penzance and from the opening scene to the finale we were totally entertained. The cast was amazing and the delivery of the songs and music were nothing but fantastic. Considering the Opera House was open a year before Gilbert and Sullivan premiered it in 1879 it was a perfect match and we were spoiled by the production and the ambiance of the house!

We stopped in after snowshoeing above the town. There is still a lot of charm in Central City - as…read morethe town is not totally overrun with Casinos. Blackhawk, on the other hand, is mostly casinos - with just a bit of the old Victorian homes. The visitor center in Central City is a worthwhile stop. It's along one of main roads (there aren't many!). The gentleman in the center was very knowledgeable and helpful. For example - the fire code adopted in the late 1800's focused buildings made with stone - to resist fires. As a fire in the late 1800's (1874?) destroyed almost all of the wood frame buildings and homes. They also have quite a few historical pictures of Central City. Recommended!

I wish I had the name of the person working there, but he was extremely knowledgeable about this…read morehistory of the city. What's more, he gave us a lot of insight about the future of the city, as well as the neighboring city of Blackhawk. I'm glad I stopped by. This city has a rich history and so much promise beyond casinos. Don't hesitate to stop by. You'll have a greater appreciation of Central City.

Two weeks ago, I booked two massages at Monarch Spa to celebrate my mother-in-law being two years…read morecancer free. Before booking, I called several times to confirm availability and finally got through to someone who told me there were openings at 2:45 and that I could finish the booking online. I completed the reservation online, entered my credit card information, and pressed complete, so I was surprised when I visited today to be told it appeared the booking had not gone through. When we arrived, the spa couldn't find our reservation and explained they'd been having problems with their new booking system. A few staff members even mentioned that other guests had experienced similar issues. My mother-in-law was visiting from Pittsburgh PA, and we had driven over an hour for the appointment, so it was really disappointing. We also ended up having to choose different services than we originally wanted because our massage reservation could not be found. Thankfully, the staff was very kind and did their best. They were able to fit us in for manicure and pedicure instead but a different times. The spa itself was beautiful and relaxing, and we still ended up having a nice experience overall. Shelly, our manicurist, was fantastic. That said, I truly never complain, which is why this was especially disappointing. I really hope management gets the booking issues sorted out soon because it put a damper on what was supposed to be a really special day. I also feel like some kind of gesture or acknowledgment would have been appropriate for the mistake. Overall, the staff and service were great, and if we had received the experience we originally booked, it easily would have been a 5/5.

My partner and I had the best anniversary weekend at Monarch! We booked a King Spa Suite which came…read morewith a large jetted tub overlooking the mountains. We are both short ('5, "4) and we're both able to soak at the same time. Our room was spacious and the king bed was so comfortable - it was awesome! Staff were so nice and kind throughout our stay. Pros: Free Parking for all (not just those who stay here), luxury on a budget, free soft drinks and coffee/tea on the casino floor, kiosk check-in available Cons: Food options weren't my scene. The choices were a buffet, 24/7 diner, steakhouse, or a taco bistro. We opted to eat at Jinya Ramen at Ameristar. Also, I was unimpressed by the sparse new player rewards.

You wouldn't believe me so you have to experience it for yourself. This place is spot on. I read…read moreabout other local offices and I have no idea why people just don't drive over here and do business. It is run like a fine tuned engine. Oh, and Gnarly the postal dog is the best! Don't waste your time at other offices. You will not be disappointed coming here.

The customer service is the worst I have EVER encountered. The clerk is rude and makes you come…read moreback because he can't figure out where he put your package. Says or probably put the yellow notice in wrong box, come back later. Now he refused delivery of my dogs medicine because he decided my box was closed, it is clearly open and then he lied to me about refusing the package until I proved to him he did in fact refuse my package. Then he got super nasty with me, so I told him he needed to make sure he input correct information and fix the system if it did supposedly say my box was closed, which it is not. He said No I don't have to, end of discussion. What a horrible place to have to go to. And what a horrible person to have to deal with

When my son visited me around September, we did a great tour up to Rocky Mountain National Park…read more Great tour, guide and wonderful scenery.

From the owner: Tour Guide / Tour Director: English; French; Spanish - Western USA…read more The Top 4 Tour Services you'll ever need for corporate, personal or group outings and events begins with your experienced Certified Tour Director / Guide and Event Coordinator. Choose an experienced and certified 1) tour director / tour manager - Over-the-Road Tours in 70 countries and across the Western USA 2) tour guide - step-on-guide in French, Spanish, English 3) tour consultant - customizing your tours and itinerary through first-hand experience 4) event coordinator - planning and coordinating your events with itinerary and commentary designed to your needs at very affordable rates. From escorted USA trips and escorted grand adventure tours of the national parks and little known natural places to hiking, mountain biking, camping, ski-trips, snowmobile trips, etc. From general sight-seeing tours to consulting services, we customize and conduct tours, events, and diverse travel. Our services are offered in fluent French, Spanish, English. Other languages can be accommodated. Those Special Places We Tour: travel.beyondthedestination.com/tour-guide