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Arvada is a city of about 125,000 people northwest of Denver, where gold was discovered in Ralston Creek in 1850, years before the famous Colorado gold rush. Settlers turned the area into farmland, and Arvada was once called the Celery Capital of the World. Today it is a family-friendly suburb with one of the most charming old downtowns in the metro area.
Olde Town Arvada has restored brick buildings, local restaurants, breweries and boutiques around a central square, and a commuter rail station connects it to Union Station in Denver. The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities is one of the region's leading theaters and galleries, and historic districts such as Reno Park and Stocke-Walter preserve early 20th-century homes.
The Ralston Creek Trail follows the creek through parks such as McIlvoy Park and Gold Strike Park, which marks the 1850 gold discovery. Majestic View Nature Center and Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge offer quiet wildlife watching, and the foothills of the Rockies rise just to the west.
Arvada's historic downtown around Grandview Avenue and Olde Wadsworth has brick buildings from the late 1800s filled with restaurants, breweries, cafes and independent shops. It hosts summer festivals and the G Line commuter train stops here from Denver Union Station. Weekends are lively.
A restored wooden flour mill from 1925 in Olde Town Arvada that is now a small museum run by the Arvada Historical Society, showing milling equipment and the town's farming roots. It is open on limited days, but the building itself is a nice photo stop on a walk through Olde Town.
A park at the confluence of Ralston Creek and Clear Creek marking the site where Lewis Ralston found gold in 1850, an event that helped spark the Colorado gold rush. Signs explain the history, and trails along both creeks begin here. It is quiet and good for a picnic.
A small shaded park in Olde Town Arvada with a playground, lawns and a bandshell used for summer concerts and community events. It is handy for a break with children while exploring downtown restaurants and shops. Check the city calendar for free summer music nights.
A paved multi-use trail that follows Ralston Creek across Arvada from Gold Strike Park toward the foothills, passing parks, ponds and neighborhoods. It is popular with cyclists, runners and families. It links to the Clear Creek Trail for longer rides toward Golden.
A large cultural center with two theaters for professional plays and musicals, free art galleries with changing exhibitions, a history exhibit and an outdoor amphitheater for summer concerts. Galleries are free to visit. Book theater tickets early, as shows sell out.
A small city nature center and park in west Arvada with live animal displays, wildlife exhibits and a short trail loop around a pond with views of the foothills. It offers family nature programs. It is free and suits young children; trails are easy and mostly flat.
One of the smallest urban national wildlife refuges in the country, a patch of ponds, wetlands and prairie in Arvada with short trails for spotting ducks, herons, muskrats and songbirds. Open hours are limited to daylight and some seasons, so check before visiting.
Also known as Blunn Reservoir, this city drinking water reservoir in northwest Arvada is open seasonally for fishing and non-motorized boating such as kayaks and paddleboards, with a trail around part of the shore and foothill views. Swimming is not allowed; check boating rules first.
A large public recreation center in Arvada with an indoor ice rink, a leisure pool with slides and a lazy river, a climbing wall, gym and fitness classes. Day passes are available to visitors. It is a good option for families on a cold or rainy day; check open swim and skate times.
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
