Blanche & Lucy visit Places of Interest around Denver

We are discovering there are so many places of interest in the area that we've  moved to.  In fact we know we will never be able to see them all this summer so we are making a list of those we want to see next year already.....  Here are a few that we have visited recently - come enjoy with us....

We took my grand-daughter Tyler with us to visit the Molly Brown House in downtown Denver because she loves History (Cheryl is delighted as she does too). So she took most of the photos on this visit.  If you've seen the Titanic you may remember a very colorful character named Molly Brown as well as an old movie staring Debbie Reynolds named the 'Invincible Molly Brown'.

Well the Debbie Reynold's movie is very fictional and more for entertainment - but the Titanic movie was closer to the reality of who Molly Brown was....  Yet her real story will amaze you...The Brown house is opened 6 days a week & closed on Monday so it's easy enough to find the time to see her home and life.  The tour was reasonably priced... $8 for adults and only $6 for Tyler. The architecture was beautiful her story is amazing.

We could take photos in the 'play room' where kids could touch all the toys and tools and clothes of the era when Molly Brown and her children lived.

What a fun tour! The guides dress up in period clothing and give you so much information about Margaret Brown (Molly is a Hollywood name!) and her family as well as life back then in Denver. These are some of her dresses.

 I learned so much about Margaret Brown,  and the political initiatives she started; it was very educational and definitely worthwhile. I don't want to spoil all the fun tidbits you learn during the tour because you should go and hear about them first hand.

 

We highly recommend this tour - http://www.mollybrown.org/  unfortunately we were not allowed to photograph any of the interiors of the house so you'll have to visit the website or come visit the house to see more.

Another pleasant surprise was our visit to the 'Mother Cabrini Shrine' in Golden, Co. We were on our way to the Buffalo Bill Museum in Golden when we saw a sign for the Shrine and decided to take a left and go up and visit this first - what a great find. Tyler was along with us that day and she loved seeing all the statues and stories of Sister Cabrini's life. She was cannonized: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, (Italian: Francesca Saveria Cabrini), also called Mother Cabrini. She was an Italian Religious Sister, who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic religious institute which was a major support to the Italian immigrants to the United States. She was the first citizen of the United States to be canonized by the Catholic Church.
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There are 376 steps that you will climb to the top of the mountain to view the shrine and along the way is this beautiful 'Way of the Cross' with the images in beautiful mosaic.  And at the bottom of each station is the explanation of that particular station - which was great for Tyler to understand.

Once we reached the top of those 376 steps this is one of the views we saw. Here is the history of the shrine link - where you will read more of her life http://www.mothercabrinishrine.org/history

At the top of the mountain there is lots to see - another station of the cross around the perimeter, a fenced in area with a Sacred Heart that Sr. Cabrini made with area stones in the 1800s, and there is this beautiful enormous statue of the Sacred Heart and inside the base where Tyler and Cheryl are standing is her tomb and information about her. 

Tyler enjoyed the climb and tour and most of all her rest on this stone at the top of the mountain....

From the shrine we drove onto Lookout Mountain where the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave was - great views along the way.

Come this way to see the grave.....

From the top of Lookout Mountain we could all of Golden below and for miles beyond.

Tyler is at an age where she is fascinated with mortality and so asked Cheryl lots of questions about whether Buffalo Bill and his wife were really buried under these rocks and the length of their lives.

The Grave site was very well maintained and fenced off and protected.

For having been here since 1917, all is very well kept.

After visiting the grave we visited Buffalo Bill's Museum.

This was Tyler's 2nd visit to the grave and museum and she enjoyed it just as much this time as the first.

One of her hero's Annie Oakley is what she pretended to be here.

This is one of the original posters of the 'Cowgirls of the West' from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show that toured the world.

Here she is - Annie Oakley.

And a real Buffalo that has been stuffed for our 'enjoyment'.

Cheryl loved all the questions that Tyler had about all the things on exhibit.

There were clothes in the Children's area where the kids could dress up like  the cowgirls and cowboys did in the western days.

And here kids could try to rope a calf to see how difficult it really was.

Here Tyler made the American Flag design with tiles that they used to show the different designs that the were done in the western days with beads.

There was a beautiful Photography Exhibit in one of the rooms that I loved.

They were Black & White photographs that were hand tinted of Native Americans shot in the early 1900s.

There were many more than these - but I wanted to show you a sampling.

And inside this teepe were real animal skins of smaller animals - like skunks, fox, badgers, squirrels, and even a wolf.  This was Tyler's 2nd trip to the museum and she said she wants to go again - its a wonderful trip into history for all - here is the link - http://www.buffalobill.org/

After viewing the museum, we drove down in to the little western town of Golden to view the sights there. My grand-son Ethan came on this trip too.  Here in the center of town is a beautiful statue of Buffalo Bill.

Blanche and Lucy (in the carriage) along with Cheryl & Tyler and Ethan look over the bridge down to Clear Creek where they are watching folks 'Tubing' down the river - a water roller coaster ride that looked like fun.

This 8month old 'puppy' came to say hello to the kids...

This bridge in Golden reminded me of the Zakim Bridge in downtown Boston with it's beautiful graphic design.

All around Golden are these beautiful bronze sculptures that encourage the kids to get close up and touch and view the details.  This one is a little Pioneer girl that is in the garden at the Clear Creek History Park.  

And this one of adult & children musicians and singers is along a 2 or 3 mile walkway that winds through downtown along side Clear Creek. 

Also right in the middle of downtown is the Clear Creek History Park - a collection of pioneer homes, and buildings - old church, school, barn a few homes and even animals.

The buildings were not open on this day sadly, but Tyler and Cheryl peeked into all the windows to see the interior of this school and the other buildings.

They even had an old 'Out House' behind the school which Tyler found.

And being city kids - Tyler and Ethan enjoyed watching and feeding the chickens the corn and seeds provided by the park.

Cheryl & Lucy taking a rest along the creek pathway.

Another beautiful sculpture along the creek pathway of a Native American girl with a beautiful detailed shall and necklace.

Ethan loved this sculpture of a butterfly.

And at the end of the day the kids loved the slide at the playground in downtown Golden the most. We are so glad we live right next door to Golden - its a wonderful little western town with tons of history, museums, festivals and fun - we are coming back this weekend for the big Annual Art Festival here.. check it out on this link - http://visitgolden.com/

Blanche & Lucy want to show you around Olde Town.

Blanche & Lucy want to give you a walking tour of our little downtown, starting at their favorite park in Olde Town (because they always spot squirrels here.)

Here and there around town you will see these great plaques in the sidewalks welcoming you to Olde Town Arvada.

And you will also see lots of pretty banners on the lamp posts

They're all over town welcoming you.

And there are many variations.

And from anywhere in town you will see this very tall water tower at the top of the hill marking the Olde Town section.

There are lots of beautiful flower barrels around town as well.

They take pride in making the town very pretty.

The tree lined, streets are loaded with interesting shops and restaurants. Many shops are brick, some in cute little Victorian homes built in the 1800s.

Not unusual to see vintage cars around town - many car lovers here.

Every town needs an Army Navy Surplus store ....

and ours has great art work painted on the side.

We also have two Breweries - this is one of them - Arvada Beer Company.

You can buy their brewed beer in a brown glass jug and bring the jug back for refills at a discount price.

And the brewery has great outdoor seating that welcomes dogs which Blanche and Lucy love.

Every town needs their own winery too -ours is Silver Vines Winery.  They have tastings & great entertainment every Friday and Saturday evenings.

And if you know Cheryl - you know she is very particular on her wines.... well she really likes their wines, well priced and very tasty... so we became club members and will receive wine monthly...

This local German bakery creates specialty cakes & creates many delish 'gluten free' baked goods.

The Rheinlander bakery has little outdoor eating tables - the morning sweet rolls are deadly with great wake-me-up coffee.

Earlier this season the bakery had a great fundraiser for our local food bank.

If you want to make a one-of-a-kind necklace or bracelet for yourself or for a gift - this bead place is where you want to go...

This Candleworks studio is a place my sister-in-law Diane would love - she enjoys candles... and lucky for me they have lots of 'unscented' candles.

For all the gals I know who do ' Fly Fishing' you'll want to drop into Charlie's.

"I know - sounds painful doesn't it?"  Forget the 'eyebrow threading' - I'll go in for the facials - my favorite guilty pleasure.

Bread Winners is a function hall but they also do catering for the community.

If you like live music - pizza and a funky place to enjoy it - you'll love D-Note.

I don't usually shoot posters, but I wanted to let you know what goes on here at D-Note.... 'Beer Pong'..... I don't  know - seems to me drinking beer and playing ping pong could be difficult.

But live Salsa Music every Sunday  - plus free salsa lessons sounds like fun - No we haven't gone yet - waiting for someone else to go with us.....

And for those of you who like Blues - every Tues D-Note has 'jump blues' with free swing dance lessons...... hey Jakota come join us for this....

And for those of you who have enjoyed "The Whale" in Newburyport with Cheryl - the 12 Volt Tavern is Arvada's answer to the Whale...

The 12 Volt was voted Arvada "Best" local Dive in their 'best of' magazine, we are dying of curiosity - so we will definitely try it at least once.  We've seen some interesting 'characters' come in and out of this place.... there is a guy on the bench outside in this photo playing the guitar (got his inspiration inside....)

Scattered all around town we also have these great "Walking Tour" plaques that describe what the particular section of Olde Town that you are in looked like in the early days.

We have not taken this tour yet - but the first Arvada Flour Mill is this original building in this original location and is still in operation.  They give tours by appointment.... we'll be going next week.

We did tour the McIlvoy House which also houses the Arvada Historical Society.

An outdoor plaque describes it and shows photos of how it originally looked.  Here is a link to an article written on the McIlvoy Home  and especially Mrs McIlvoy - http://www.historycolorado.org/content/chn-arvada%E2%80%99s-mcilvoy-house

This carving of Mrs Clamency McIlvoy who rarely left her home, and her dog was created from an original 100 yr old Cottonwood tree.  The bottom of the carving is still the original tree trunk that is still rooted on the property. 

Mrs McIlvoy was quite a town character - she smoked cigars and told stories to the local children for hours on end - kids called her 'auntie Mac'.

Katrina's Boutique is a lovely little yellow cottage filled with really sweet, very unique, well priced women's clothes.

Our main street is Olde Wadsworth and many of the shops here are in converted little cottages and older Victorian houses.

This converted Vitorian is now "Global Goods & Coffee Shop" a coffee shop, gift shop that supports Global Refuge projects around the world. To learn more about Global Goods click on this link:  http://globalgoodsandcoffee.com/about-us/

They provide an emergency lifeline to victims of war, infectious disease, and disaster.  This is a photo of a Uganda girl who is studying to be a Medic.

They have photos of people who have been helped with our purchase of a cup of coffee or some of the handcrafted goods from Uganda and Burma that they carry.

This little cottage is the home of our Healing Arts Center, offering everything from Acupuncture, Chakra Balancing, Foot Baths, to Massage Therapy and more....  here is there site http://eliashbyhealingarts.genbook.com 

Blanche & Lucy wanted to make sure you saw their favorite shop - this little Pet Supply store always has fresh dogy cookies in stock. 

The Archive Room is just one of the many restaurants we have in Olde Town.  There is also a function hall upstairs which is always jumping with music.

We've eaten outdoors here at the Archive and have to say they have fabulous sandwiches and wine.

We have visited Manneken Frites way too often... Here we are with Tyler on this visit .....    http://www.mannekenfrites.com/  they offer the most deadly 'Authentic Belgin Fries'... And they love when Blanche & Lucy visit.

Another of our favorite places is the Arvada Tavern which have the Best Best refreshing salads with their home-made dressings.

The EggShell is now my very favorite breakfast place.  Amazing Eggs Benedict...  http://www.arvadaeggshell.com/

Our first visit to the EggShell was with our friends - Mary, Libby, and Nancy.

The EggShell also has a great outdoor dinning area - but it was too hot on our visit to sit ourdoors.

Many of our little restaurants and businesses made the area "Best-of" magazine - This is Fuzzy's, a Mexican restaurant that we were told has the "Best" Margaritas... so of course it is on our list of must visits.

Udi's Restaurant occupies the first floor of this brick building, as well as a great outdoor pattio with lots of shade... Great 'Brick-oven pizza and sandwiches.

This one is for 'Uncle Paulie' - this is our beautiful old St Anne's Catholic Church - for when you come to visit (Paul & Cindy)...

And part of St Anne's Parrish - we also have the Catholic School (brings back my memories of 12yrs of catholic school....

Something that was a real plus for us when we visited here looking for the perfect little town to live in was this little theater.  The Festival Playhouse.

The playhouse was originally the Clear Creek Grange Hall where farmers would meet to discuss the problems of the day.  The theater only seats 100 and is perfectly charming with lots of hilarious and charming productions.

And for Cheryl, Tyler and Blanche and Lucy there is nothing better than an ice cream cone at the end of the day... So 'Scrumptious' home made ice cream and candy fills the bill....

If you sit here long enough you will seem most everyone in town walk by. Blanche and Lucy are waiting for Tyler to share her ice cream with them.... Hope you enjoyed your little tour of the town... There are so many more shops and restaurants and clubs - but we couldn't fit them all on this blog...