Think you know the Denver area? If you haven’t made the short trip northwest of the city to Olde Town Arvada, you’ve been missing out on one of the most charming destinations on the Front Range. There’s an enchanting walking district lined with a wide variety of restaurants, coffeehouses and cafés, along with a fascinating museum and a great selection of boutiques, galleries and entertainment options.

© Debra Bokur

The town’s rich history dates to Colorado’s Pike’s Peak Gold Rush days, when Arvada was founded as an agricultural community in the 1870s along the newly laid tracks of Colorado Central Railroad. Initially dubbed Ralston Point — and known for a time as the Celery Capital of the World — the name was changed to Arvada at the turn of the century. Long-ago trolley transportation has since been replaced by the Gold Line of the RTD-Denver commuter rail network. The centrally located station in the historic area connects directly to Union Station in downtown Denver.

Settle in for lunch at Teocalli Cocina, where you’ll find an authentic menu led by Head Chef Julio Gaspar, from Escondido, Oaxaca, and Mexican-born chef John Curiel. Try the Esquites, blistered shishito peppers or scrumptious Birria de Res — braised short ribs, grilled bone marrow, and guajillo stew served with rice and beans.

© Debra Bokur

Start your shopping at Ramah for home décor and a wide selection of gifts and florals; Outside the Box for pottery, floor coverings and quirky finds; or Balefire Goods for art and jewelry. If you’re a musician — or have one waiting for you at home — duck into Pickin’ Parlor.

Next, head over to The TRN golf simulator, where you can book a private golf bay and enjoy a break between the ninth and 10^th holes at the full-service bar, which serves craft beers, cocktails and wine. Golfing instruction is available, and owner Kent McCurdy can help you organize a private event or provide the right coach to help you elevate your game. Bay options can be customized to feature more than 2,000 courses from around the world. There’s even a free, nine-hole miniature golf option; patio seating; and — depending on the day — local food trucks just outside.

Break for some caffeine and a snack at Hunter Bay Coffee Roasters, then stop in at the Arvada Historical Society to enjoy its museum exhibition and to book a guided tour of Arva-Pride Flour Mill. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this towering structure positioned next to the railroad tracks first began operations in the early 1920s. Inside, riveting exhibitions provide a glimpse into what life was once like in the young town when grain production fueled the future.

© Debra Bokur

Worked up an appetite? Dine at Arvada Tavern, where the end of Prohibition was celebrated with the issuing of the town’s very first Tavern License in 1933. The menu of beautifully prepared, pub-inspired favorites is augmented by a selection of clever libations with historic nods. Try Smoke and Mirrors; Lavendar Greyhound; or Mable Gramm, named to honor the Tavern’s famous former barmaid who reigned over the property for decades. Don’t miss the phone booth in the corner leading to a secret stairway and Tiki Room, where live stage performances and musical acts still regularly perform.