We're in heaven...

Golden, Colorado

Golden is situated between Denver and the Front Range, just south of Boulder. Golden is a fun mix of the Southwest, the cowboy West, a college town, and a launch point for outdoor enthusiasts, with some hippies thrown in for good measure. Adobe houses pop up throughout town and green chiles are an option for most restaurant meals. It's nice to have a big city nearby, with Denver less than 20 minutes away, but also feel like we're in a hidden, laid back, mountain town.  

Downtown Golden 

There are dozens of copper statues around Golden 

Walking to the creek

Slide down to Clear Creek, this is about 2 blocks from our home! 

The "M" on Mount Zion.  A popular place to paraglide. 

It's been truly heavenly to spend the entire day outside and NOT see any mosquitos.  The extremely low humidity is also a huge plus.  Big, big change from the East and Midwest. 

One of the three cutthroat trout adjacent to Clear Creek in Golden, upstream of the Coors plant.

The West Denver chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) has done several restoration projects on Clear Creek, from in the town of Golden to the canyon reach just west of town and beyond were the creek joins I-70 well into the mountains.

Park a couple blocks from our home. 

Enjoying the hot tub

On our drive to Boulder, it's 18 miles North of Golden.

Downtown Boulder, we didn't stop today since the kids were sleeping.  We took a peaceful scenic drive while they napped.  

We can bike to this canyon from our home. 

Photos by Ella 

North Table Mountain 

We got a second hand back pack carrier for Ella, it was a steal!  She loves it and Mark loves it ; )  

Watching kayakers in the creek near our home. 

South Table Mountain 

Looking at North and South Table Mountains from Campus. 

This Natural Foods Market and sandwich shop is right out our back door. 

The back of the house we are renting.  There are 3 units on the main level, we are in one of them.  Upstairs there are law offices so we won't have anyone above us at night.  I'll post indoor pictures when we get the key next week. 

Our home!  We are located in historic downtown Golden.  The house is called "The Colonial".  We can walk to:

-Community Center which has an abundant list of classes and an indoor pool with a water slide

-Community Garden

-great playgrounds

-Clear Creek, we can fly fish, float, and kayak the river

-all of our shopping needs

-numerous coffee shops, restaurants, breweries, and ice cream parlor 

-the bus will run a block away which goes through Golden and into downtown Denver

-trails

-School of Mines campus

-Farmers Market - I've been told it's the biggest in the area! 

...for those of you that know Mark and I well, know how much we both hate driving so walkability was very important to us.  We may even go the summer without a car.  Next on the to do list: purchase a bike trailer for the kids to ride in.  Anyone with suggestions please post.  Also, we would like to learn more about converting the bike trailer into a skier so we can pull them while we cross country ski.  

Discovery Park near the Triceratops trail

Triceratops foot print casts on the Triceratops trail 

Area where dinosaurs trampled 

View of Golden.  You can see the coverings over the fossils in the right hand part of the picture. 

More footprint and palm tree fossils.  

In town 

View from Lookout Mountain 

Hiking

Ella being crabby 

Cafe 13 - across the street from our home ; ) 

Playing in the river near our home 

Mark and Ella watching a fly fisherman 

Driving Clear Creek Canyon road, there were several of these beautiful tunnels 

Can you see the rock climbers?  I'm hoping to take rock climbing lessons with the kids when they are older.  

The rock climbers are resting on the ledge about half way up the photo. 

Golden's Splash park!  

Mark had more fun than Ella ; ) 

View from the splash park, it's about a mile from our home. 

Paraglider! 

A wonderful dinner at the end of a great memorial day. 

Our home for the next year! 

The Guest room/gear room 

Living/dining area

Master bedroom 

Every last Tuesday of the month Golden has a community bike ride.  Hundreds of people gather on the main strip to bike around Golden.  Some people have stereos on their bikes and others dress up in crazy outfits!  It was so fun to watch but this month we'll join in ; )