3 4 at Indian Hot Springs (3) , thrill rides at Lawson Adventure Park or stops in the town’s cute shops — The Spice and Tea Exchange and The Bees Knees are two favorites. Or journey farther west on I-70 to Georgetown . Tucked off the highway (beyond the first gas stations you see), visit the town’s Victorian-era homes and silver-boom relics at the Hamill House and Hotel de Paris museums, as well as exhibits and events at the Georgetown Heritage Center . Break for afternoon tea at the Dusty Rose Tea Room or a brew at Guanella Pass Brewery (named for one of fall’s loveliest enclaves, which you can see along the Guanella Pass Scenic Byway) and stop into the crafts, cake and coffee shops along the main street. Board the George-town Loop Railroad (6) for a narrow-gauge train ride to Silver Plume and back for views of the Clear Creek Valley and an optional walking tour that takes you 500 feet into an 6 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: INDIAN HOT SPRINGS, TED GOTWALS; CENTRAL CITY OPERA HOUSE, MILES/ANDREA BUROLLA; GEORGETOWN LOOP RAILROAD, EFRAÍN M. PADRÓ; ECHO MOUNTAIN RESORT; CENTRAL CITY, EFRAÍN M. PADRÓ. 5 1870s mine tunnel. It also now offers snacks and parlor class aboard. More refined entertain-ment options reside at the Central City Opera House (4) . The 550-seat jewel-box theater was built in 1878 by Welsh and Cornish miners and continues to draw international applause with classic to contemporary perfor-mances each summer. Visiting in the daytime? From Black Hawk, you can easily hop on the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway and head toward Estes Park, an amazingly kaleidoscopic journey in the fall. WINTER FUN 7 Small but mighty Echo Mountain Resort in Idaho Springs is the closest ski area to Denver — and one of the few that offers night skiing. EVENING Step into Colorado’s mini Western-style Las Vegas for some nightlife action in “the richest square mile on earth.” The canyon-cradled hamlets of Black Hawk and Central City (5) are just 1 mile apart and are lined with bustling, grand casinos as well as mom-and-pop gaming saloons, historic storefronts and visitors hoping to strike it rich. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Black Hawk , Central City (page 191), Dumont (page 194), Empire , Georgetown (page 197), Idaho Springs (page 199), Lawson (page 200), Silver Plume COLORADO.COM / 141
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2018: Page 141
