Top Free Tours In Denver
A free tour at Celestial Seasonings (credit: CBS)
Spring has finally found its way to Denver and locals know this could either mean a day filled with gorgeous sunshine or bright white snow. Thankfully there are five fabulous tours that are perfect in all types of weather. These tours offer treats for both the kids and the adults with the wonderful price tag of free.
Hammond's Candies Factory
5735 N Washington St.
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 333-5588
www.hammondscandies.com
When it comes to making delicious candy by hand, not much has changed at the Hammond's Candies Factory since it opened in 1920. Today visitors can enjoy a half-hour tour to watch with wide eyes to see how candy canes and lollipops are pulled and twisted into shapes people know and love. This is an ideal place to bring the entire family, and the free tour will delight the kiddos as well as the adults. A bonus will be the free candies at the end of the tour. Find a warm spring day and pack up the kids for a tour of the factory and a picnic after. It is a fun way to spend a day in Denver for both locals and visitors alike. Good luck walking out of there without bringing home some amazing and unique candies. It is always a good idea to plan the tour in advanced, especially on the weekends.
MillerCoors Golden Brewery Tour
Southeast corner of the visitor parking lot
13th & Ford Street
Golden, CO 80401
(303) 277-BEER
www.millercoors.com/golden-brewery-tour
The MillerCoors Golden Brewery Tour is well worth the short drive outside downtown Denver. Adults and kids alike will enjoy the 30-minute self-paced tour highlighting the brewing and packaging process. Coors Brewery dates back to 1873 and at the end of the tour, visitors can check out cool old photos, neon signs and historical memorabilia. Of course, the best part of the tour is the opportunity to sample various beers for the adults and free sodas for the kids. Be sure to stop by the Coors and Company gift shop for that special beer connoisseur or Coors lover. After the tour, spend some time in the quaint city of Golden with its old-fashioned downtown shops and restaurants. For the adventure seekers, there are some nice nearby hiking trails as well.
Related: Top Weekend Happy Hours In Denver
Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey
200 S Kalamath St.
Denver, CO 80223
(303) 296-7440
www.stranahans.com
Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey is one of the finest drinks ordered in Colorado restaurants, and for anyone 21 or older, Stranahan's free tour is simply a must. Stranahan's was started when George Stranahan's barn caught fire and he and his neighbor worked together to save the structure. It turned out that both had a passion for fine whiskey and the rest was history. The fun and informative guides take the visitors through the warehouse and storeroom with interesting facts on not only whiskey but Colorado history. With the soft lighting and old fashioned look, the storeroom gives visitors the feel of an old time factory. No doubt the best part is the free drink at the end of the tour. Reservations are highly recommended as weekend tours fill up quickly.
Celestial Seasonings Tour and Tea Shop
4600 Sleepytime Drive
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 530-5300
www.celestialseasonings.com
For centuries, there have been traditions of making and enjoying tea. Tea lovers will delight in a visit to the Celestial Seasonings Tour and Tea Shop in beautiful Boulder. This location happens to be the world headquarters for Celestial Seasonings' well-known delicious teas, and lucky visitors have the chance to spend about 45 minutes discovering how tea is made and packaged. The free tour ticket gets you a little ceramic cup with a tea bag to get started on the adventure of tasting as many Celestial Seasonings teas as you like. The most talked about portion of the tour is the incredible peppermint room where senses and sinuses may never be the same. Following the tea experience, an exploration of all that Boulder has to offer is a must.
Denver U.S. Mint
320 W Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80238
(303) 405-4761
www.usmint.gov
Amazingly, the Denver U.S. Mint cranks out 35 million coins a day and it is very interesting to see how they are actually made. Right in the middle of downtown near the State Capitol and the Denver Public Library, this free tour is well worth the visit. It is ideal for all ages and the hour or so tour of this historic landmark is well worth it. The kids will like to see all of the coins and the adults will enjoy the history lesson, including the story about the only person to rob the Mint. It is quite an experience to watch the production of actual American money. A visit to the gift shop is perfect for avid coin collectors. Reservations are recommended, and leave the bags, purses and cell phones in the car as they will not be allowed in.
Colleen Bement is a freelance writer covering all things Denver. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
