Washington Avenue is the strip of road that contains the main businesses of downtown Golden. For many visitors, one of the first major impressions they see of the town is the “Howdy Folks! Welcome to Golden” sign that arcs up and over from one side of the street to the other. The “Howdy Folks!” part tells you that this is a friendly, old western town, and that historic charm carries itself throughout the street in things like an antique street clock, a collection of bronze installation statues, and sidewalks that are covered with wooden awnings.

While Washington Avenue in and of itself is interesting to looks at, the scenery that lies beyond the buildings is what reminds you that you’re in Colorado. On one side of the street is Lookout Mountain and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, towering in the near distance. On the other side of the street is Table Mountain mesa creating a sharp river valley with another line of mesas. Either direction is a view worthy of a postcard.

In addition to watching the video of my snowy drive down Washington Avenue, I invite you to take a look at the photograph on the next