Denver Area Ziplining | AVA Rafting & Ziplining

Attention all you thrill seekers! Have I found the activity in Colorado for you!

Right outside of Denver in the quaint town of Idaho Springs, you’ll find Ava Rafting & Ziplining. While we missed rafting season, we were definitely in prime ziplining season.

We chose to do the half day cliffside experience complete with a 6-line zipline course over scenic Idaho Springs & Chicago Creek, a dual race line, jungle bridge, and log cross. A couple of the more physical activities are optional, but I highly recommend you try something new and challenge yourself a bit in it.

Our guides ‘Flip Flop’ and ‘Toast’ started off our trip by strapping us into our safety gear and giving us the run down on what to do, how to be safe, and warning us of the many ‘dad jokes’ that will be inevitably told while the day progressed. They really weren’t kidding on this one, FYI.

We had such a good time while on our excursion! The views from the top of the mountains were incredible and even the ride in the truck to the top was…well…you’ll just have to experience that for yourself.

The minimum age for riding is 6 years old and the maximum weight is 250 pounds. Make sure to make your reservation as soon as possible and to arrive the day of at least 15 minutes beforehand. You can also save time by filling out your paperwork online before you get there. The price per person is anywhere between $80 and $95 - depending on the time of year you go. If you’re looking to save money, it’s cheaper after Labor Day each year.

If you have time, make sure to explore downtown Idaho Springs. There’s a ton of cute shops, restaurants, and boutiques that are fun to walk through and eat at.

Table Mountain Inn | Where to Stay in Golden, Colorado

On Washington Avenue in the historic downtown area of Golden, Colorado, you’ll find the Table Mountain Inn. This boutique hotel offers 74 Southwestern style rooms in the middle of all this quaint town.

History

Table Mountain Inn was originally built in 1925 as The Berrimoor, Golden’s first full service hotel. Over the years, the hotel has changed names, added a new section of rooms, and added event spaces to accommodate meetings, weddings, and on-site catering. Through the years, one thing has remained. This hotel is the perfect place to stay in Golden if you want to be able to close to all of the action.

Rooms & Amenities

If you’re looking for a place with a lot of history and a southwestern Colorado flare, this is the place to stay. You can choose to stay in the historic portion of the hotel or the more updated. Every room has a great view – whether it’s of the city or mountains.

The suite we stayed in was in the historic portion of the hotel was a corner room and it had a jetted tub, fireplace, and a balcony with chairs overlooking Table Mountain. We had plenty of space to spread out in the living room area as well as enjoy watching the sunset in the evenings.

If you need meeting spaces, the Table Mountain Inn has 6 different spaces of varying sizes to accommodate your gathering needs. My favorite was the Kokopelli Patio with it’s mix of high top cocktail tables and regular patio tables with string lights strewn above for an intimate and romantic feel.

Table Mountain Grill & Cantina

Located inside the hotel is also the Table Mountain Grill & Cantina. This southwestern style restaurant offers Mexican favorites like fajitas and tacos, with a few other additions like short rib and pork shank. And don’t forget to order one of their blood orange palomas or Mexican mules. Don’t forget to take advantage of their happy hour offerings as well.

Local Area

Golden, Colorado has a lot to offer those who visit. While there you can catch a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater, take a tour of the Coors Brewery, play a round of golf at Fossil Trace Golf Course, or shop at all of the local boutiques and shops on Washington Avenue. There’s also hiking trails and rafting, tubing and fishing on the Clear Creek River.