This is a must-see! Part of the Meow Wolf family of installations, it's an immersive, otherworldly art installation. We're annual pass holders.

Downtown Golden is cute. We got engaged right by Clear Creek after having the Million Dollar Cheesecake at the Golden Hotel. There are a bunch of little shops and a pretty cool pay-by-the-hour board game place. We love the pizza buffet at Woody's and the flambayed-tableside queso fundido at the Table Mountain Inn.

Terrariums of terror. This place sells plants, bones, books, and skulls. But you really just want to visit for how great it smells.

If the weather's nice, you can loll around Denver's River North (RiNo) Art District taking in all the murals and public art adorning the buildings and alleys. If the weather's not nice, you can glimpse the art as you dash between the numerous bars, restaurants, and shops that pervade the area.

One of our favorite places. Nestled in Old Town Arvada a few miles from our house, they use (cleaned) gym floors for tables, globes for chandeliers, rulers for siding, and those molded plastic chairs with metal legs that you're all too familiar with. The food is great, the whiskey selection is unrivaled. Lauren's favorite drink is Under the Bleachers.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park creators) rescued this gem from bankruptcy during the pandemic. After extensive renovations and a complete overhaul of the menu, it reopened with a strict reservation system. (Make sure you have one before you go. They don't fill the 1,100 [seriously] seats.) It's blindingly pink and completely unique.

Close to the venue, and great for history buffs. Is this really the grave of Buffalo Bill? Don't ask anybody from Cody, WY...

We haven't been. It's on our list. I've heard it's a little ... rustic.

There are other Beau Jo's locations, but this is the original. You're here for the Mountain Pie (not the Prairie Pie!), so you can dip your crust in honey for dessert.

This concert venue is technically a public park operated by the city of Denver. If there's not an event, you can walk right in and check out this naturally-formed auditorium.

Dinosaur footprints! This is a good place if the weather's nice. They closed the road so people can walk the ridge to see footprints and fossils.

We haven't been, but I think at least a few of our guests might enjoy this shooting range, bar, and restaurant combo.

Try the most beer-drinkingest Olympic sport!

Boulder is a vibe. Pearl Street is a combination of small local stores and high-end surprises. You might find a street magician or contortionist working for tips.

Need more Insta rizz? This place is designed for fun and followers.

Plants, books, herbs, jewelry, tinctures, and teas. One of the premier witchery supply stores in the country.

The outside patio heaters will be in overdrive, but this is a great local brewery with lots of options.

At one time (kinda recently), the Coors brewery in Golden was the largest brewing operation in the world. Coors has been acquired by Molson, and there may be bigger breweries now. But it's still cool to see the process, smell the hops and malt, and sample the product.

Not for the faint of heart. This tiny bar is the most heavy-metal bar in Denver. And there's a Nashville hot chicken restaurant inside that's top notch.

In addition to the standard exhibits, the touring exhibits (Orcas, Poison) have been great. We're annual passholders to this one, too!

Keep your littles entertained and educated.