The employees are very nice, equipped with great knowledge. Our tour guide Toren was really fun and…read moreeducational! You would have never known she's only done a handful of tours and is new-ish touring with Argo Mill. The tour was very interesting and living in Colorado for 20+ years, I've always seen the red building driving by Idaho Springs but never thought they had tours available to check out. We panned for gold at the end and that was very fun to learn how to do that. All in all I'd recommend to support local and Idaho Springs to come check them out. The tour is not handicap friendly so if you have a wheel chair it would not be ideal to walk through the mill. Hard hat is for show with the tunnel visit but it was def a fun experience with photo opportunity.

The Argo Mine & Tunnel tour in Idaho Springs is such a unique and educational experience. The…read moreguided tour takes you deep into Colorado's gold mining history and really brings the story of the miners to life. We purchased our tickets on site at the tour location. Tours times fill up quickly and you can also book tours online. You start the tour by watching a video that gives you a history of the tunnel and mill. The Argo Mill and Tunnel became an international center of milling and tunneling innovation and served for many gold mines in Colorado. Construction of the Argo Tunnel began in 1893 and lasted 10 years until it reached Central City 4.2 miles away. The Argo Mill was a state of the art facility providing the latest technological advancements in milling and situated at the mouth of the mighty tunnel. On January 19th, 1943, a catastrophic flood in the tunnel caused the Argo Mill and Tunnel to cease operations. Then we loaded on a shuttle and took a short ride to the mouth of the Argo Tunnel. We start by picking up safety equipment including a helmet. Walking through the tunnel itself is like going back in time, it's cool, damp, and feels like stepping into another era. Then we moved to the Mill itself that had many original equipment items still on site. Our guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and shared so many interesting details about how the mine operated, the hardships miners faced, and how important the Argo was to Colorado's development. The guide explained each piece of machinery and the purpose along with an explanation for any missing equipment. You can tell he is passionate about preserving the history. The museum area is well done and adds great context after the tour. After the tour, perused the gift shop and got some great souvineers for 50% off! Highly recommend for families, visitors, or anyone looking to learn something new while exploring the mountains. It's a perfect stop if you're passing through Idaho Springs, especially if you enjoy history, geology, or unique local experiences.

Georgetown Loop Railway is a train ride, a theatrical experience, nature views and more!…read more Dress up like a cowboy or cowgirl and really immerse yourself in a day of fun! This was my second experience and it did not disappoint. The views out the train windows are spectacular as your train winds around the mountain and you get to see a waterfall and the river rushing by! Cowboys and ladies are all dressed up to give you an experience that you'll remember for a long time! There is free parking that it can get crowded so get there at least 30 minutes early maybe more and buy your ticket ahead of time as they sometimes sell out day of.

Georgetown Loop is a Colorado bucket list moment!…read more Exploring the Rockies by rail is the way to go. We did this for the first time on Mother's Day. My little guy loved it! Tickets are around $35 per person, only a few bucks off for my man under two which felt like a cash grab, but what are you gonna do? If you're visiting from a place where there aren't mountains, this will blow you away. But even for us locals here, the views are pretty stunning! Some are lackluster depending on which side you're seated on, you might be directly up against rocks, haha. But when it opens up, wow, just wow! PRO TIP: even if you have your QR code ticket, you MUST go inside to receive your physical paper tickets. They will not let you on the train otherwise! The novelty is there and as much as I appreciate it, I think maybe it's time to arrive in 2026. Worth the price of admission, in my opinion. Far from perfect and at times a little kitschy, but if you go with a positive attitude you'll see some spectacular views of our beautiful state!

A large, impressive museum with something for everyone. The main museum is technically two museums…read more(there are a total of three), the Hamilton building and the Martin building. Sections include modern and contemporary African art, arts of Oceania, Western American art, latin American art, indigenous art, alaskan art. They also have textile, fashion, and architecture exhibitions. They also have rotating temporary exhibitions. When I visited, it was European and American art. I had a little fun finding paintings of judgmental looking people and making a "we listen and we judge" instagram post. All the rooms are large and well curated/presented. I visited on a Tuesday and it was free (I still donated). On regular days, admission is 30 dollars, but gets you into all three museums, including the Kirkland (reviewed separately), which is right next door. I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves as far as the variety available at this museum.

The depth and breadth of the Denver Art Museum's collection is breathtaking. There is so much to…read morelearn and enjoy in the standing exhibits and the rotating exhibits that amaze and delight the senses. The current exhibition on Australian Indigenous Art "The Stars We Do Not See" is a stunning example of how much there is to gain and appreciate from going to see something you know nothing about. I particularly enjoy the tours, ongoing programs and lectures that the Museum offers. In conjunction with with the Aboriginal exhibit, the monthly "Mindful Looking" program offered a deep dive into one painting in that exhibit as a group of maybe 50 patrons listened in rapt attention as the curator of "The Stars We Do Not See" gave us a deep understanding of not only how that piece was made, but also its historical, symbolic and hidden perspectives. This is just a tiny slice of the education, amazement and enjoyment the Denver Art Museum has to offer. It's a treasure.

We did a road trip, and this was one of the spots we stopped at. It's the first gold mining town…read morewhen the gold rush started. The town is so small, if you blinked you would miss it. It has a bunch of mom and poo stores. This trip we went into their local museum which was cool and gave you a bit of history about their town. We all loved it and bought some cute souvenirs. Overall, a cute quaint town. Will be back to ski!

Signs out front saying masks required, yet staff inside not wearing them/not wearing them properly…read more Very disrespectful of the staff. Every single guest inside was wearing one, which was noticed and great. The whole staff-not-masked gave me a bad taste about this town since this was the first place I visited. Luckily the rest of the town's establishments were intelligent enough to both have the sign out front AND actually follow it. Hopefully this will be over soon but it's not over yet. Bathrooms for paying visitors only (require a key), and they were dirty. Went to the museum which was $3 or $2 for military and I think $1 for seniors, signs had many spelling mistakes and the exhibits were not very cohesive--there was no progression throughout the museum just random exhibits and artifacts. It would be extremely boring for a child.

Georgetown is the quintessential mountain town! Why you ask? Let's talk about it!!…read more It has plenty to offer year-round! Here's just a few ideas: Spring: Hit the trails in the nearby Mt Evans wilderness and check out some wildflowers in bloom! Craving to get a 14er under your belt? Well Mt. Bierstadt just happens to reside off Guanella Pass! Summer: Take a ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad! They offer a variety of packages and options for riders. Fall: Fall in Georgetown is a sight to see - after all it is the gateway to Guanella Pass; a popular fall leaf-peeping destination! Winter: In the winter ice fishers' take to the frozen waters of Georgetown Lake. They also hold ice races (think all-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles skidding and sliding around) too! Not to mention a great variety of year round local businesses and rich history! It was established in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush and many museums throughout the town offer up tours or speak to the rich history of the area! Yet the town has experienced a boom of new businesses seeking to make their fortunes in this picturesque town! Want to grab a quick drink? Cabin Creek Brewing and Guanella Pass Brewing Company have got you covered! Need a bite to eat? Having made my way to Lucha Cantina I can say that they are tasty AF and will quell your grumbling tummy. Plus so many more options! Def make sure you take the time to explore! Georgetown makes a great stop for the day or a mountain weekend!

While out on a scenic drive, exploring the mountainous roads of Colorado, I came across this old…read morehistoric town. This small town is located 40 miles west of Denver and sits in the front range of the Rocky Mountains at 8,520 feet above sea level and is home to a population of 1,202. There is a local family owned brewery that sits center to a few local restaurants and is surrounded by a variety of small businesses (ice cream shop, antique store etc). Great rest stop for some fresh air, a pint and a quick meal before heading on your way!

Meow Wolf Denver is hands-down my favorite location so far…read more There's something about this one that feels more intentional and cohesive compared to the others. It still has that signature Meow Wolf chaos and "what am I even looking at" energy, but it feels like the artists came together with a really clear shared vision. Instead of just exploring random cool rooms (which I also love), this one felt more curated - like every space is part of a larger, connected world you're slowly uncovering as you go. It's immersive in a way that kept pulling me deeper in the longer I stayed. I've loved all the Meow Wolf locations for different reasons, but Denver is the one that felt the most complete as an experience. If you're only going to pick one, this is the one I'd recommend!

I've now been to all the Meow Wolfs in the nation except Las Vegas (Grape Vine, TX, Denver, Santa…read moreFe). If you've seen one, you understand the basic experience, though to really get what's going on, you have to see them all and do a lot of wandering and research. Denver's Convergence Station is the largest of the Meow Wolf complexes (I think) at over 90K square feet. For timed entry and a drink, it cost over 60 dollars (flexible entry is more expensive). I actually had to go twice because I was so overwhelmed and missed a large portion of the venue, even staying like three hours. The art is awesome. Lots of mysteries. Phone booths where you can call multiple numbers and get various weird clues. A neon castle. Tunnels to crawl through. Lots of climbing up stairs too (they have elevators if needed). You can stop by a bar in the Japanese-inspired "city" to grab a regular or boozy drink to take around with you. Lots of places to explore. You can touch everything (make sure to sanitize after you leave). Multi-media and diverse textures everywhere. Bright lights. Weeeeiiiiirrrrddd stuff. Aliens. Monsters. Sometimes if you time it right, their real life alien characters will make their way through the installation. I don't think there is any way to see or understand this installation in just one visit (they offer annual passes by the way). And honestly, you have to see all the other Meow Wolfs to really get the big picture (but it doesn't hamper your enjoyment or delight if you haven't). I will say that this version of Meow Wolf is a little more winding and convoluted than other smaller venues. Things don't connect quite as well. But still a good time. Employees are all helpful and cheerful. You can make this into as much or as little of a day as you like. And it's 100 percent worth it.

What a cute little museum!!! Unexpected and uncrowded. A nice history Estes Park. There are plenty…read moreof exhibits and be sure to go outside to the cabin and other exhibits.

This was the cutest small museum about the history of the town Estes park in Colorado. It has 3…read morebuildings with history art and artifacts. Definitely worth a visit if you come. Maybe takes you 45 mins to and hour to complete. Not to long. You can get it done is less than 30 if you don't actually read anything and just look at what they have. But definitely take the time to read and watch some of the movies they have to offer. You will be surprised at some of it. I won't spoil it so go see for yourself. The town itself IS AMAZING!!!!