Golden

Golden, a gateway to the Rocky Mountains on the west edge of Denver, offers a peek at mining, beer and Buffalo Bill.

The grave of Buffalo Bill Cody, of legendary Wild West Show fame, is situated on Lookout Mountain above town. It's a major attraction in the Denver area, and the quaint museum next to it is worth a stop. While you're up there, stop by the Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Preserve and the 1917 Boettcher Mansion.

Down below, the smell of hops permeates the clean mountain air. The Miller Coors brewery was established here in 1873 by German immigrant Adolph Coors. A factory tour includes sampling some fresh brews.

Golden was such a boomtown, it was made Colorado's territorial capital in 1862. Local museums, including the Golden Pioneers Museum, will flesh out the amazing local history for you. Don’t miss the Colorado Railroad Museum, where you can actually climb around on old trains.

The Colorado School of Mines makes its home here; visitors can view displays of rocks, gems and minerals and learn about how they're important to modern civilization in the school's geology museum.

If you're looking for outdoor activities, head to nearby Golden Gate Canyon State Park. You can enjoy all sorts of recreation here. Be sure to take a look around and remind yourself what this part of Colorado looked like before settlers and miners made their mark.