Lookout Mountain – Live Laugh RV

Sunday morning in Golden, Colorado, we awake to another beautiful day. I am anxious to explore. Top on the list today is to visit the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave.

This is an excerpt from the Golden Guide, a magazine highlighting the areas’ attraction.

The Wild West comes to life at the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, operating near Golden since 1921. Enjoy exhibits of rare artifacts, try on cowboy clothes, and discover if Buffalo Bill visited your town. And, of course, visit Buffalo Bill’s grave and enjoy the spectacular view from atop Lookout Mountain. Complete your visit by browsing through the Denver area’s largest museum gift shop and enjoying a buffalo burger at the cafe.

As we embark on this excursion, we don’t bother to look at a map, which is so unlike us. We had noticed the directional sign yesterday on our way into town – to Lookout Mountain – and figured there was only one road, which turned out to be true. So we feel it’s not like we could get lost. However, we didn’t realize the climb in elevation and the switch backs involved.

The views were breathtaking and more than once we were at eye level or even higher than the paragliders. In yesterday’s post, I posted photos of this mountain in the distance. I had no idea we would be driving by the ‘M’ on the mountain today. How cool is this!

paragliding — paraglider above Golden, CO

Once we reach the museum and gift shop, we are greeted with views in all directions. We can see why William “Bill” Cody wanted to be buried on Lookout Mountain. The scent of Pine fills the air. Al and I take our time taking in the view and filling our lungs with the fresh mountain air. We take a well-marked trail through the pine trees to Buffalo Bill’s final resting place. His wife, Louisa, is also buried here by his side.

After a moment of respect, Al and I return to Buffalo Bills Pahaska Teepee, the gift shop and no it’s not a teepee, but there is a teepee in front of the museum. The gift shop is filled with every imaginable trinket one can think of. Al notices a sign, “buy a T-shirt and receive 1/3 pound of fudge free”. Well, FREE sign me up. The search for T-shirts ensues. There’s Al, Ingrid and two kids. I’m always picking up T-shirts for the kids.

My hunt was somewhat successful with the purchase of two shirts…one for Al and one for me, none for the kids. Thus, a piece of fudge for Al and a piece of fudge for me 🙂 We head outside, once again taking in the view and air while enjoying our fudge….yum.

Time to head back to camp and await daughters arrival for dinner. What a fun day!

Clear Creek Golden Colorado — Clear Creek, Golden, CO

Wow, it was great sleeping weather last night here in Golden, Colorado. This morning we even popped the heat on in the RV to take the chill out of the air. This cooler weather has given Bear a burst of energy and at 6 a.m. he’s ready for his walk around the “mountain”. With sweatshirt on, coffee in hand, we’re off to tend the morning business.

Turns out this weekend (Aug 18-19) is the annual Golden Fine Arts Festival, as well as Saturday (today) is the weekly Farmers Market. Well, it’s pretty obvious what Al and I will be doing. We couldn’t have planned this any better. AND the weather….oh, my absolutely perfect.

Although Golden is a super friendly dog town, we leave Bear behind for his much-needed morning nap and head into town. First stop, the Farmer’s Market. This Farmers Market is three times the size of the Farmers Market we frequent in Canon City. Al, Mr. Socialite, engages in conversation with several vendors prior to making any purchases.

Farmers Market Golden Colorado — Al visits with vendors

We enjoy some fresh squeezed lemonade and head on over to the Fine Arts Festival.The Farmers Market is held near Golden’s Library on the north side of Clear Creek and the Fine Arts Festival is on the south side of Clear Creek. We take the pedestrian bridge across the creek, but not before stopping to watch all the folks enjoying the water.

Tubing….I love tubing, whether in the water or on snow. I soooo wanted to do this but was not prepared. Later in the day, daughter joins us and she and I promise to set a date to tube Clear Creek….fun!

Golden is full of outdoor adventure from tubing or kayaking Clear Creek, to paragliding off Lookout Mountain, to being a bicycler’s paradise. Golden is also home to the Colorado School of Mines. Thus the large ‘M’ on the mountain in the background.

Coors Beer Golden Colorado — Coors Brewery in background

However……..Golden, for many of us, is known as the home to Coors Beer and still remains home even though our friends to the north (Canada) now own a stake in the company. In 2005 Coors officially became Molson-Coors Brewery and in 2007 they partnered with Miller now marketing under the label Miller-Coors. But, Coors is still brewed in Golden with the same cold, crisp, mountain waters. I remember back in the 70’s when Coors Beer was “smuggled” across State lines. All of us, under age Illinois kids fought over this famous mountain beer. This smuggling of Coors Beer was even featured in the movie “Smokey and the Bandit“. Distribution back then was very limited and the possession of this infamous beer was a status symbol. It was such a big deal that when Air Force One was stocked with Coors Beer, it even made the news.

Tomorrow we’ll go see Buffalo Bill’s Grave……