Ten Best Things to Do in Arvada

Olde Town Arvada is a thriving downtown in the midst of a renaissance. The area is surrounded by new hotels and apartments in various stages of construction, but Olde Town manages to still feel like a small-town main street.

Full of restaurants, bars and fun shops, this area is a great representation of a city that has been seeing steady growth and development for years. With such a wide range of activities to offer, it’s easy to understand why.

We selected ten spots in Olde Town Arvada — and the surrounding area — that are worth visiting for a delicious bite, a cultural exploration or a shopping splurge.

The Bluegrass Coffee & Bourbon Lounge
7415 Grandview Avenue
thebluegrasslounge.com
Owners Sheena Gordon and her husband Drew decided to bring a taste of their native Kentucky to Olde Town when they opened The Bluegrass in 2015 and it’s become a favorite spot for dinners and whiskey connoisseurs alike over the ensuing decade. Consistently recognized as one of the top 80 Bourbon Bars in the country, The Bluegrass also specializes in fantastic pizzas (including two killer brunch pizzas on the weekend). With frequent live music and a patio that is creatively used throughout the year, The Bluegrass is the kind of place where you want to be a regular.

Archery Games Denver
5405 West 56th Avenue, Unit D
archerygamesdenver.com
Whoever had the idea of marrying archery and dodgeball is either some kind of mad genius or just plain deranged, but whatever the case, Arvada’s Archery Games Denver is the home of “archery dodgeball,” where two teams do battle with bows and foam-tipped arrows. The 3,300 square-foot playing field allows plenty of room for teams to strategize and the end result is a melee of arrows and battle cries as players go head-to-head. There are eight types of games to select from, including Elimination, Fireball and Dog Eat Dog. Those with some adrenaline to burn won’t want to miss this truly unique activity — losers buy the first round.

Black and Read
6655 Wadsworth Boulevard
blackandread.com
All hail a store where physical media is still king. Black and Read just relocated to a new and bigger home after 34 years at its previous location, and that means there are even more stacks filled with books, CDs, vinyl, cassettes, DVDs and games to wander through. Shoppers can spend a whole day exploring all the items on offer while talking to staff and fellow shoppers about their favorite books, why a certain band’s independent debut is superior to their first major label release, and get involved in a game night. At a time when streaming makes so much art feel ephemeral, Black and Read offers a potent reminder of the power of connecting with a physical object.

Colorado Tap House
14982 West 69th Avenue
coloradotaphouse.com
The Colorado Tap House specializes in all things quintessentially Colorado: delicious coffee, a range of brews and outdoor spaces for gatherings with friends and dogs. It just happens to do all these things better than almost anywhere else. Located in west Arvada, the sprawling property (both vertically and horizontally) has plenty of indoor and outdoor space, including a games area with corn hole, bocce and more. They have some snack options and food trucks are on site every day for those with a more substantial appetite. Since it’s open from breakfast to dinner, you can spend the whole day there and not sample everything. But you’ll have a great time trying.

Secret Level
5711 Olde Wadsworth Boulevard
secretlevelarvada.com
If you miss the feeling of stopping by your favorite arcade with friends for food, drinks and some friendly (or not-so-friendly) competition, then Secret Level has you covered. The neon interior takes customers right back to the 1980s and the cocktails and bar food will help you settle right in before playing pinball or another favorite video game. If all that isn’t enough, they have tournaments, leagues, karaoke nights and DJ events. Secret Level is like finding the best kind of time warp around.

Book Cranny Books & Gifts
7580 Grant Place
bookcranny.com
Every town needs a good community bookstore, and Olde Town Arvada’s Book Cranny has all the warmth and character you could ask for. It’s been in its current location off of Olde Town’s main drag since 2010 and is a great place to do some perusing. You can order anything you need for your book club and their inventory is even searchable online. It also has jewelry and other gifts, making it the perfect stop for any birthday or holiday gifts. Come in and you’ll feel right at home.
Arvada Center
6901 Wadsworth Boulevard
arvadacenter.org
A cultural hub for all seasons, there’s always something happening at the Arvada Center. With two indoor theaters, an outdoor amphitheater and three galleries, plus plenty of room for a range of arts and performing arts classes, the Center provides opportunities galore for cultural enrichment. Audiences can enjoy classic and contemporary theatrical productions, boundary-pushing art exhibits and a diverse range of musicians during the summer concert series. The Arvada Center’s reputation extends far beyond the city, and it’s well-earned over decades of top-tier creative endeavors.

The Cussler Museum
14959 West 69th Avenue
cusslermuseum.com
Best-selling mystery/thriller author Clive Cussler had an avid interest in classic cars and once his Dirk Pitt books became a hit, he was finally able to start a proper collection of vehicles from all over the world. That collection is now housed at the west Arvada museum, which holds around 100 significant vehicles, including a 1921 Rolly Royce Silver Ghost, 1958 Chrysler Imperial and many others. It’s the kind of family-friendly spot that aficionados of all ages can appreciate and might just inspire the next generation of car collectors.

The Stockroom
5713 Olde Wadsworth Boulevard
thestockroomparty.com
Opened in 2019, Sprits Wine Provisions is a fantastic liquor store, with plenty of options for the casual drinker to those who are looking for something very specific. It can be easy to miss the stockroom door in the back that says for staff only. But if you’re there at the right time, you may find yourself gaining entry to The Stockroom, a speakeasy that specializes in creating delicious cocktails and hosting events that people have known to wait hours for. We can’t say too much more without giving secrets away, but we can assure you, The Stockroom is well worth a visit.

Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge
9210 West 80th Avenue
fws.gov/refuge/two-ponds
Everybody can use a natural oasis for some peace and quiet, but not many cities can provide that with a gem like Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge. Tucked away in the heart of Arvada, the refuge offers visitors the opportunity to see wildlife and surround themselves with the beauty of nature. Entry to the 72-acre refuge is free and as you’re hiking around, keep an eye out for some of the more than 120 species of birds, coyotes, red fox, beaver, turtles and deer that call Two Ponds home. There’s hardly a bad time to visit and it can be just what you need to get away from things for a while.

This is part of an ongoing series highlighting things to do in Denver suburbs and neighborhoods. Have a suggestion for another place we should profile? Send it to [email protected].