Things to Do in Golden with Kids

Golden is a great place for kids.  Activities abound in a safe, family-friendly, community environment. 

Alpine Slide

The Heritage Square Alpine Slide is fun for the older kids.  A chair lift transports riders 490 feet to the top of a mountain where they can slide to the bottom on a plastic sled at their own speed.

Batting Cages

The City of Golden has an excellent five-position batting cage located at 1205 Ulysses St. at the Ulysses Sports Complex.  Baseball, softball, slow, and fast pitch machines are available. The hours of operation depend on the time of the year and the weather.
  Batting Cages

 
Two bicyclists  

Bicycling

The paved trail along Clear Creek and along the northern side of Coors Brewery is a nice place to ride bikes.  The terrain is mostly flat, and the sidewalk is wide.  The City of Golden provides bicycle safety information on its web site.

Bowling

High school students like to meet and bowl at Golden Bowl.  Rosie's Diner serves good food inside the bowling alley.

Buffalo Bill Museum

This is the place to learn about Buffalo Bill.  Visit the Kids’ Cowboy Corral to Design a brand, dress as a cowboy, or sit in a saddle and try to lasso a calf! This interactive area offers hands-on fun for children of all ages.

Clear Creek History Park

Children ages 6-10 can learn about life in the 1800's during a week of outdoor hands-on history camps at the Clear Creek History Park, a working 19th century village.

Climbing Wall

Located at the Golden Community Center, the indoor climbing wall is popular with youth of all ages.  Parents may bring in their child ages 6 - 17 years old and supervise them while they use the bouldering wall.  Drop-in fee applies.  The wall may be reserved for birthday parties, too.

  Climber

Colorado Mountain Club

Youth interested in rock climbing can find an abundance of classes offered through the Colorado Mountain Club.  Also learn about plants, birds, hiking, and survival skills.  Perfect for kids who love the outdoors!

Community Center

The Golden Community Center offers many classes for tykes and teens, such as drawing, music, ceramics, dance, computer, sports, babysitting and first aid courses, and yoga.  An on-site preschool program is fun and educational two mornings a week during the school year.  Child-care is also available for a fee for children ages six months to seven years for people using the facility.    

Pond at Lions Park  

Fishing

A small fishing pond is located in Lions Park at the west end of 10th Street where children and their parents can spend a relaxing afternoon.  Kids love to throw in a line whether or not they catch any fish!
 

Foothills Art Center

Art classes are frequently offered for the young set at the Foothills Art Center

Fossil Trace Golf Club

The Fossil Trace Golf Club offers special discount rates to juniors (up to age 18) Monday - Thursday from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.  In addition, private lessons are available.  Spring golf clinics and a summer golf school are also held for golfers ages 4-18.
Kids at Fossil Trace

Geology Museum

The Colorado School of Mines has an awesome Geology Museum with rocks galore!  Full of interesting specimens.  And admission is free!

 

Golden 
History Center Creek Entrance  

Golden History Center

Learn about the history of Golden through exhibits, artifacts, lectures, programs, and events.  The Golden History Center has been updated and is worth a visit!

Halloween

Golden's Downtown Merchants Association makes Halloween especially fun for the little ones.  Kids (and sometimes adults) put on their costumes and can trick-or-treat at the local shops on Washington Avenue where it's safe and still light out.

According to the local teenagers, Spider Mansion at Heritage Square Amusement Park is a very creepy haunted house and well worth an annual visit.  In fact, it's so scary that children under seven years old must be accompanied by an adult.  Set in a 5000 square foot Victorian mansion, this popular Halloween attraction is best seen with a group of friends.

Heritage Square Amusement Park

Originally built as a buffer zone between the LaFarge gravel quarry and the Heritage Dells neighborhood, Heritage Square Amusement Park is worth a visit with the little ones.  Activities include go kart tracks, bumper and paddle boats, miniature golf, some amusement rides, ponies, and fishing.  The Heritage Rio Golden Train circles the park.  The Children's Theater makes a great field trip.

Hiking

Living in Golden wouldn't be complete without a hike up North or South Table Mountain.  Views at the top of either one are spectacular.  For maps and directions, click here.

Horse-drawn Carriage Rides

A highlight for kids is riding through Golden in a carriage pulled by a friendly horse!  Horse-drawn carriage rides are free and are available at the following Golden events:  Farmers' Markets, Olde Golden Christmas, and Golden Family Easter, as well as many First Fridays.

In-Line Hockey Rink

Located in Hockeystop Park, the in-line hockey rink is open to the public from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.  Put on your roller blades and protective gear and enjoy a sunny morning practicing your goal shots.  FREE.
  In-line 
Hockey

Friday Fun Club

Fridays during the school year, kids from 8 - 13 years old can hang out at the Golden Community Center from 7:00 - 10:30 p.m. for only $10.00 and play games, dance, eat, climb, swim, and much more.  Supervision provided.  Visit the Golden Community Center web site for more information.

Martial Arts

The Action Family ATA Martial Arts offers a variety of classes for ages 2 and up.  Work towards your black belt or just train for a nice fitness workout.

Golden Tae Kwon Do Family Center has been in the Golden area for over 15 years and offers classes for the whole family!  Learn not only the physical aspects of martial arts but also develop a positive mental attitude.

Miners Alley Playhouse

If your child has a flare for acting, Kids Eye Theater is a must for workshops to perfect the performance.  Fun and educational!

 

Movie Screen   Movies & Music in the Park

Fridays in August the City of Golden and the Golden Resource for Education, Arts, and Theater (GREAT) present live music and outdoor films for families to enjoy in Parfet Park.  Families can bring a picnic dinner and settle in for an evening's entertainment under the stars.  Admission is FREE. 

Music

The Golden Music Center is the happening place for musically-inclined young people.  Private lessons are available from qualified instructors for many instruments.  The Center also sponsors an audition-only Student Chamber Orchestra which meets during the summer.  Instrument rental and repair, too!

Nature Center

The Lookout Mountain Nature Center has wonderful programs and interactive exhibits for play groups and individual families.  The trails are very manageable for hikers of all ages.  Take a picnic lunch and enjoy the vanilla scent of the ponderosa pines.

 

 

Girl at Nature Center
Panning for gold  

 

Panning for Gold in Clear Creek

When panning for gold, select a spot where the water isn't very deep and make sure it's flowing slowly enough that it won't wash the water out of your pan. Try it with a metal pie tin.  Or check Gold-n-Detectors for more sopisticated equipment.


 

Playgrounds

   Beverly Heights 19th St. & Goldenvue Dr.

   Cressman Wyoming St. & Mesa Court

   Discovery Park 23rd Street & Illinois Street

   Heritage Dells Crawford Circle & Kimball Ave.

    Lions 1300 10th St.

  Dinosaur at 
Discovery Park
Ulysses Park 
Playground      New Loveland Mine 1309 5th St.

   Norman D. N. Ford St. & Mesa Dr.

    Parfet Park, 10th St. & Washington Ave.

   Southridge 16th Ave. & Violet St.

   Tony Grampsas 4471 Salvia St.

   Ulysses Park 1205 Ulysses St.

   White Ash Mine 1400 Iowa Street 

Railroad Museum

Kids love to sit and wave out the windows of the many types of rail cars at the Colorado Railroad Museum.  Another highlight is the toy train display inside the museum building.  Thomas the Tank Engine periodically visits as well.

 

Skateboarder   Skateboarding

The Skateboard Park is located at the Ulysses Ballfield Complex at 10th Avenue and Ulysses Street. It includes a two-level half pipe, slide rail, an Ollie box, a jump ramp, a quarter pipe, and fly box.  Park is open from dawn to 10:00 p.m.  FREE.

Golden Heights Skate Park at West 2nd Place and Quaker St. has a quarter pipe, fun box, fly box, rail, and unique concrete wall structure.

Sledding

The hills at Heritage Dells Park hold the distinction for best sledding in Golden.  After any major snowfall, sledders, tobogganers, and snowboarders share the park with homemade snow jumps, smooth tracks, and even kiddie runs for winter fun.  

Soccer

The Colorado Ice Soccer (part of the Table Mountain Soccer Association) has teams for kids as young as four years old.  Both recreational and competitive soccer draw players of all ages from all over Golden.  The sport is very popular here.  Micro-soccer for pre-kindergarteners is offered in the fall and spring.

  Soccer players

Storytime

The Golden Public Library has many programs for kids and teens, but Storytime is a favorite with the little ones.  Different programs are scheduled Monday through Thursday throughout the school year.  A theme-based reading program for all ages with special presentations, prizes, and book awards takes place during the summer.  Visit the Jefferson County Public Library web site for more information.

Strollers   Strolling

From Parfet Park (at 10th Street and Washington) to the library on both sides of Clear Creek the walk is paved and partly shady.  Continue on the north side of the creek to Lions Park.  This section is popular for people-watching, but keep a close eye on your children; the water in the creek is swift.


Swimming

When the weather is summer hot, head for The Splash where you'll find water slides, sand, an activity pool, fountains, and more.  Lawn chairs provided and concession stand available.

The indoor pools at the Golden Community Center are open year-round.  The Leisure Pool is especially popular for the younger set.  All ages love the big enclosed slide.  Swim lessons and classes are also offered.  Drop-in fee applies.

  Splash

Tea for Two...or Three...or Four

Periodically the Astor House holds Tea Time with luncheon or dessert and an interesting historical program.  Private teas are also available.

Tennis

Lions Park tennis courts are popular with youth.  When they are full, the courts at Southridge Park are available during the day, too.  Two of the three Lions Park courts are lighted, making it easy to play in the cooler summer evenings.  First come, first serve.
  Tennis Player

Quilting

The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum offers a variety of quilt-making and sewing activities for youth.  There is a monthly quilting bee plus classes with instruction for specific projects, as well as individual instruction.


Youth Activities at Special Events in Golden

4th of July

The Golden Lions Club puts on quite an eventful 4th of July celebration in downtown Golden.  Many activities for children and their families are available, including free rides, live music and, of course, fireworks after dark.

Buffalo Bill Days

One of Golden's signature events the last weekend in July, Buffalo Bill Days has plenty of activities for the little ones, including Mutton Bustin, a parade down the main street, a wild west show, and plenty of food. 

Candlelight Walk

Families gather on the south end of Washington Avenue near 15th Street each year in late November or early December for the traditional Candlelight Walk to usher in the holidays with singing and merriment as part of Olde Golden Christmas.  Kids love holding a candle while walking through downtown.  Many activities follow, including the chance to pet one of Santa's reindeer.

Golden Family Easter

The Downtown Merchants Association and the Kiwanis Club work together to make the Saturday before Easter a fun community event.  The day starts with a brief and very intense Easter Egg Hunt in Parfet Park.  The crowd then strolls up and down Washington Avenue, meeting the Easter Bunny and various other characters (Mother Goose sometimes makes an appearance).  Cart rides drawn by Newfoundland dogs are popular with little children.

 

 

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