5 Reasons To Visit Denver In The Fall
Georgetown Loop Railroad (credit: Doug Peter)
Colorado is wonderful any time of the year. However, there is something truly magical about Colorado in the fall. The air is crisp and cool and the leaves change to a brilliant rainbow of colors. When it does snow, the sun bursts out shortly after, melting any trace of it, and you can still go out and enjoy a sunny walk usually that very same day. If you live in the Denver area, or if you may be visiting over the next few months, there are a lot of wonderful ways to enjoy the best season of the year in Colorado. Both indoor and outdoor activities are perfect this time of year, just be sure to dress in layers and plan for sunshine as well as snow.
Coors Brewery Tour
13th St. & Ford St.
Golden, CO 80401
(303) 277-2552
www.millercoors.com
Everyone knows that Colorado is known for great beer and lots of it. Just a short drive outside of Denver is the largest single-site brewery in the world, the Coors Brewery. You'll get a 30-minute tour that shows off the brewery's malting, brewing and packaging processes, and you'll get to sample lots of truly fresh beer in the tasting room. There is also a really interesting museum on-site to give you a glimpse into the past of this huge company. You can check out old photos, historic beer cans and bottles, neon signs and lots of other memorabilia. The whole tour takes you on a fantastic beer-filled journey starting in 1824. Make sure to bring your camera and enjoy this Colorado tradition.
Georgetown Loop Railroad
646 Loop Drive
Georgetown, CO 80444
(303) 569-0133
www.georgetownlooprr.com
One of the most stunning ways to enjoy the scenic beauty in Colorado is to take a trip up to the mountains to see the aspen trees change colors. There are lots of wonderful places you can visit to get a look at these amazing natural beauties, but the Georgetown Loop Railroad is one of the best. You'll get an hour-long train ride through some of the most stunning tree-filled areas of Colorado, with lots of great opportunities to see the gorgeous aspen trees in action. You'll be amazed at the vibrant colors that fill the tree-lined path as you ride the historic steam-powered locomotive up the Clear Creek Canyon. You'll even pass by the remains of several gold and silver mines along the way, making this an historic and even educational journey.
Related: Free Fall Activities For Families In Denver
Elk Bugling in Rocky Mountain National Park
1000 Highway 36
Estes Park, CO 80517
(970) 586-1206
www.nps.gov
Estes Park is always a beautiful town to visit, any time of the year. However, the fall is when this city really shows off, as the herds of elk begin the bugling calls that can be heard throughout Estes and neighboring Rocky Mountain National Park. September and October is elk mating season and you can hear this characteristic call from dusk to dawn. You'll want to head a little closer into Rocky Mountain National Park and stop off at the Horseshoe Park, where you'll find several guides on hand to help you with information and education about these fascinating calls. You'll probably hear more than one herd as the different elk call for their mates. This is the only time of year that you can catch this amazing natural treat, so be sure to find some time to check this one out.
Denver Zoo
2300 Steele St
Denver, CO 80205
(720) 337-1400
www.denverzoo.org
When the weather cools off in the fall, the Denver Zoo is a wonderful place to visit. You'll find hundreds of amazing animals in this massive park, and the fall season is perfect to enjoy the crisp, cool Colorado air. If the weather gets chilly, head indoors to the Tropical Discovery or Primate Panorama exhibits. Or when it warms back up, stretch your legs and wander the many acres of land as you check out the Toyota Elephant Passage, Predator Ridge, Bear Mountain and much more. There are always lots of great educational shows going on as well as different shows and feeding times that you can check out while you are there. The Denver Zoo is one of the largest of its kind in the country, so take this opportunity to see all that it has to offer.
Related: Top Outdoor Fall Dates In Denver
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Pumpkin Festival
8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road
Littleton, CO 80128
(720) 865-4336
www.botanicgardens.org
Dates: Oct. 10-12, 2014
The Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield is really worth checking out when you visit in the fall. Every year the Gardens celebrate the fall season with a huge Pumpkin Festival. It's a fantastic three-day event that is perfect for the whole family. You'll be able to wander the 10-acre pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin to take home and explore all of the other fun events that the Gardens have planned. There will be live music and face painting as well as a pumpkin carving demonstration and even pumpkin bowling. The kids will love the pony rides, cookie decorating station and other fun amusement park-style rides and the whole family will have a fantastic time celebrating the fall season at this beautiful local garden.
Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
