U.S. Mint at Denver Free Tours (Monday - Thursday)
Denver Mint Tours are closed for construction through February 27, 2014.
If you ever wanted to know where that change in your pocket comes from, the free Denver Mint Tours are the place to find out! Tours are free of charge Monday through Thursday at the United States Mint in downtown Denver. Reservations must be made in advance through the United States Mint Tour Reservation System
The Denver Mint building is highly secure, so you will need to pass through a security screening before your tour begins. Many common items are not permitted on the tour, such as purses, check their web site for a detailed list of prohibited items. The tour itself is very informative and interesting, discussing not only how new coins are made but also America's coin making history.
When:
Year-round, Monday - Thursday.
Reservations are required.
Be at the tour entrance 30 minutes prior to your tour time.
Location:
320 West Colfax Avenue
It's just off the southern end of the 16th Street Mall near Civic Center Park.
Visit their web site for tour details and reservations: 
Santa Fe Art Walk (first Friday monthly)
Denver's Art District on Santa Fe Drive features one of the more diverse collections of galleries in the United States, all situated within a short walking distance.
Half Fast Subs (Boulder)
Half Fast Subs in Boulder has one of the largest menu choices I've ever seen at a restaurant. The hardest thing to do at this place it to make a decision between the hot subs, cold subs, veggie subs and even salads. Whatever you chose, you won't be disappointed.
New Belgium Brewery Tours (Tuesday - Saturday)
The New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins has had to greatly modify their previously awesome tour and beer sampling system. They never said why they changed, but it was obvious what the problem was when I visited. Because of the free beer samples, the place was overrun with college kids who wanted to party hard for free.
Now to get a small free sample you must take the full brewery tour, and reservations fill up online weeks or months in advance. If you go there without being signed up for a tour, you can still buy beer at the bar for a discounted rate.
Despite the changes, this is still an excellent small brewery to see and learn about.
Location: 500 Linden Street in old town Fort Collins.
Liquid Center Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday 10am to 6pm
Closed on Sundays until Feb 9th, 2014.
Guided Tour Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday 11am to 4:30pm
Closed on Sundays until Feb 9th, 2014.
New Belgium Beer Web Site:
Coors Tour: Golden, Colorado (always free)
The Coors tour is one of Colorado's most famous free tours, and one of the top Colorado attractions. If you are in the Denver area, try to make the trip west to the Coors tour in downtown Golden.
After parking, you will be picked up by a small bus and taken on a short tour of downtown Golden. The driver will provide information about Golden and Coors along the way.
After exiting the bus, you go into the Coors tour center, where you will receive an audio device that you listen to as you follow the self-guided tour.
The Coors tour is very in depth, taking you through the history of Coors and the stages of brewing and packaging. You will see the huge brewing vats and other facilities critical to the process. The packaging area is one of the most dramatic aspects when it is in full operation.
In the middle of the Coors tour you enter a room which serves a small sample of the freshest beer you will likely ever taste, recently off of the production line. At the end of the tour you enter the bar area where you receive three free drinks of your choice! And don't worry, they have root beer and other drinks for the designated driver and the children.
The Coors tour is so popular that it can be very crowded with long wait times at the bus and bar. Consider attending earlier in the day or on a weekday.
When:
Winter Hours:
Thursday 10-4
Friday 10-4
Saturday 10-4
Sunday noon-4
Monday 10-4
Closed Tuesday, Wednesday and all major holidays.
Summer Hours (May 29 through Labor Day):
Monday - Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 12noon - 4pm
Closed on all major holidays.
Specific Closure Dates:
April 20th.
May 26, 27, 28.
July 4th.
September 1, 2, 3.
November 28-29.
December 24-25.
December 31-January 1.
Where:
The Coors tour is located in the middle of downtown Golden. The gigantic concrete buildings are impossible to miss.
Parking for the tours is in a large lot at the intersection of 13th street and Ford Street. The line for the Coors tour bus forms near this intersection.
Information about the Coors tour from the MillerCoors site:
Denver Zoo Free Days
The Denver Zoo free days are by far the most popular Denver free days for families with kids, and are typically held during the fall and winter.
Denver Art Museum (Free First Saturday)
The Denver Art Museum has a free day on the first Saturday of every month. The Denver Art Museum is a great place to spend an afternoon with friends in downtown Denver.