8 “made-in-Colorado” tours to take this fall

You shouldn’t stop taking field trips just because you’re an adult. Throughout Colorado, companies that make goods in the state open their doors to give visitors a peek at the process. You can see how they craft high-performance mountain bikes, learn why snowmelt makes whiskey taste good, and see how money is made.

Here are seven Colorado places – and an entire industry (brewery tours, anyone?) — where you can go behind the scenes and get the inside scoop on the creative process.

U.S. Mint

In 1862, not long after miners struck it rich in Colorado, Congress established the Denver Mint to convert gold into coins. Today, Denver’s mint creates commemorative coins and coin dies and stores gold and silver. The mint’s machinery can churn out as many as 50 million coins a day. The historic building on Cherokee Street near Colfax Avenue was designed to mimic the Riccardi Medici Palace in Florence, Italy.

Tours are free, but tickets are required and given out on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 7 a.m. Monday through Thursday. The 45-minute tours are offered Monday through Thursday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. 320 W. Colfax Ave., Denver; denverusmint.gov/about/mint-tours-facilities/denver

Breckenridge Distillery

Breckenridge Distillery bills itself as “the world’s highest distillery.” Tours at this award-winning distillery (elevation 9,600 feet) bring spirits enthusiasts into the production facility where they can witness the roar of the 42-foot column still and sample bourbon, gin and vodka. Sometimes, during the After Hours tours, guests get to preview spirits before they’re released to the public.

The tours also get into the nitty-gritty about how Rocky Mountain snowmelt — which doesn’t have unpleasant tasting minerals in it— makes great hooch.

Distillery tours begin at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sundays and cost $35 per person. The distillery also offers After Hours tours by reservation for $200 for groups of one to five people and $400 for groups of six to 10. 1925 Airport Road, Breckenridge; breckenridgedistillery.com

Hammond’s Candy Factory

Did you know that Denver has its very own Candyland? Hammond’s Candy Factory has been handcrafting hard candies for more than a century. The candy artisans crank out 2 million candy canes annually, with flavors including traditional peppermint as well as clove and root beer. There are even raspberry candy canes filled with chocolate.

Visitors can witness candymakers knead, twist and pull the sugar and corn syrup candy cane mixture like it’s a glossy dough before it is shaped into canes. After the tour, shop for candy to take home as a Christmas-in-July souvenir.

Tours run every 30 minutes during factory business hours, 9:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The tours are free, but make your reservation in advance, online. 5735 Washington St., Denver; hammondscandies.com

Boulder County farms

Boulder County has more than 1,000 farms, some of which sell fruits and veggies at roadside stands and have u-pick orchards and flower gardens. If you’re curious about the ins and outs of how some of the area’s most notable farms operate and want the story behind the food you’re enjoying at local farm-to-table restaurants, several sites offer tours.

At Cure Organic Farm in Boulder, for example, group tours can focus on topics like composting, the seasonality of crops, sustainable farming methods or visits with chickens, ducks and pigs. Tours must be arranged in advance at cureorganicfarm.com/farm-tours.