Hiking Near Denver a Family Fun Activity

I've been very excited about all the hiking trails in the Denver area—maybe a little too excited to wait for warmer weather. As a family we decided to hike Meadowlark Plymouth Creek Loop (Directions below). We started out our hike by having a picnic at the base of the trail (so we didn't have to pack all the food). They have covered picnic tables and restrooms.

There was a chill in the air, but once we got moving it wasn't bad. The trail was a little muddy in spots in the beginning, but nothing to stop us from moving on. As we got higher the trail would be covered in ice and snow when shaded. If we had had any idea how much worse it would get, we would've turned around. Towards the end of the trail it got so icy and steep that many of us just sat on our bums and slid down the trail. It was just too hard to stay standing on the ice. The views were spectacular, but what a relief when we could see the parking lot ahead. We were all very tired.

A hike we had expected to take our family a couple hours max had taken well over three hours because of the ice and snow. Luckily we were well prepared with food and water. We had just recently bought a water pack and I don't know how we got along without it before. It was so nice not having to carry a water bottle or take the pack off and open it every time someone wanted a drink.

I was concerned my kids would now dread going on future hikes, but they loved it! It turned into a hike to remember. I will definitely go back once the snow and ice is gone. It is a heavily used trail year round. We passed many people who had poles and special shoes to handle the ice.

Deer & Denver

As a family we look forward to exploring the many places you can go hiking near Denver. We recently purchased a book called 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Denver and Boulder: Including Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Rocky Mountain National Park. There are pictures, maps, and great descriptions of each trail. I can't wait to try them all out!

Here are the directions(copied from 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles):

From Denver, take C 470 south 6.7 miles to Kipling Parkway; exit south. Go right on west Ute Avenue, and turn right again on Deer Creek Canyon Road. Follow Deer Creek Canyon Road west 2.7 miles to Grizzly Road. Turn left on Grizzly Road, and follow it 0.4 miles to the park entrance (Deer Creek Open Space Park) on the right.

Good Times

My friend was shocked when I told him that I had never eaten at Good Times before. We remedied the situation by going there immediately. It is an old fashioned style burger joint where you order at a window and then eat outside. My friend informed me that I had to try the "wild fries" and dipping sauce along with my meal. I was not disapointed. The fries and sauce were worth the hype. We each ordered burgers, fries, and a "spoonbender"—which is a thick shake. I ordered mine with a chocolate topping and bits of bacon in it. I would have never thought to put bacon in a shake, but it was actually pretty good.

I have since learned that Good Times is a Colorado original and currently also has locations in Wyoming, North Dakota and Idaho.

Check out their menu and fun interactive website.

Guest post by Kevin Harris

Free Days in Denver

I fell in love with the Denver area the moment I learned about all the Free Days provided by SCFD (Scientific & Cultural Facilities District). There is so much I want to introduce my kids to and so much I've never done.

Since moving here we have visited for free the following:

• Children's Museum
• Denver Zoo
• Denver Art Museum
• Denver Botanic Gardens
• Denver Museum of Nature and Science
• Colorado Railroad Museum

 Free Days still left in February:
Botanic Garden-February 21st
Denver Museum of Nature and Science-February 27th
Denver Zoo-February 19th

Check out scfd.org to see all the Free Days. They also have a great bookmark you can download and print to keep track of  the Free Days of the most popular places.

You can read about our visits to Colorado Railroad Museum, Denver Zoo Part 1 and Part 2, and The Children's Museum.

What fun free things have you found to do?

Colorado Railroad Museum

Free fun at the Colorado Railroad Museum. We enjoyed the first SCFD Free day of the year, January 8, 2011. Admission will also be free on March 12, 2011, and November 12, 2011.

I was surprised by how much fun we had walking around the train yard looking at the large variety of trains. We were also able to climb into many of the trains. The kids loved pretending they were driving the train and ringing the bells.

They had an awesome miniature train display inside and outside they had a garden railway. Only members of  DGRS can operate the trains in the garden railway, but the public is free to watch. The detail was amazing! I also noticed they had a great area for bringing a picnic and look forward to bringing one next time.

To get all the latest information check out their website www.coloradorailroadmuseum.org

Colorado Railroad Museum 

is located at:

17155 W. 44th Avenue

Golden, CO 80403

Denver Theatre Tickets—Very Cheap!

I love going to the theatre, but the cost keeps me from going. That will no longer be a problem, thanks to SCFD (Citizens of metro Denver's Scientific and Cultural District) fund. Ten tickets to each of the Denver Center Theatre Company Performances will be available every Tuesday at 10am for only $10 each to every performance in the coming week.

You can stop by their box office or call 303.547.3410 (a $3 service fee will be included in all phone orders) and use code SCFD to purchase up to four $10 tickets each Tuesday.



To see what is playing go to Denver Center Theatre Company

I'll see you at the theatre!

Denver Airport's "Hell Horse"

One of the first things you see as you exit the Denver International Airport, welcoming you to town, is a 32 foot freakishly scary blue ‘Mustang’ statue—complete with glowing red eyes. It is strategically positioned so that everyone leaving or coming to the airport must pass by this disturbing piece of art. I took someone to the airport today who had never flown out of Denver and their response was "that is the stuff of nightmares". I don't know why the City of Denver would want to greet people this way or have them leave with that as their last impression of our town. My guess is: it didn't turn out the way they imagined and now are stuck with it. It is blue—one of the Denver Broncos colors, so maybe they thought it would fit in. But the horse on the Denver Broncos logo is actually white (outlined in blue), and as tough as that horse looks (you want a tough mascot for a football team) at least it doesn't look satanic.

To make matters worse, this gigantic statue has a sordid past. It killed a man. Yes, a piece of its torso fell off and killed the artist, Luis Jimenez, while creating it. His family later finished it, and the City of Denver paid $650,000 in municipal bonds for it.

It has been hotly debated.

According to UsaToday "any petition to move the sculpture would not be considered until 2013, [because of] a city policy designed to give people a chance to get used to new public art."

Some people have called for it to be moved somewhere else, some want to at least turn the red eyes off, and others want to paint it a different color. I don't think someone's art should be altered by anyone other than the artist. And since he is dead, that makes it a little trickier. Many people have said to give it some time—that art grows on you. But the problem as I see it is that this work of art is intended for people arriving for the first time in Denver. It is the first impression of the city they get, and as it is along the road they won't have time to study it or learn to appreciate it. It just gives them a weird first impression and makes them have second thoughts about the town they are entering.

Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop

Christmas is everywhere, even the Bass Pro Shop. They have set up Santa's Wonderland. I've been exploring their website and I'm excited to go visit. They offer free pictures with Santa, crafts, fun games, etc. They have a full schedule go to basspro.com and click on Santa's Wonderland.

I'm going to take my kids to get a picture taken with Santa and make a fun craft, maybe the "Santa Bobber Ornament" or "Snowman Sun Catcher". They have a different craft each week and give away a different Santa Bandz to the first 150 children to visit Santa's Wonderland each week (maybe day, not sure).

They are located at:
7970 Northfield Blvd
Denver Co, 80238

Free Day at the Zoo

One of the things I've come to love about Denver is the free days. This Saturday, November 13, 2010 the Denver Zoo is free. You just walk right in.

I went to the zoo on a free day recently and it really didn't feel crowded. I had to park pretty far away and walk in, but I don't really mind the extra exercise. Once in the zoo I felt like I had plenty of room to observe the animals. I've never paid to go to the zoo, so I don't know how it compares to those days, but for free you'll hear no complaining from me.

Many of the people I have met since moving here have a membership to go to the zoo. I see that as a definite possibility for my family as well. My kids are hungry to learn and the zoo is an incredible place for them to learn about all the unique animals that are found all over the world.

Go to www.DenverZoo.org to check out the current prices, upcoming events, and free days. To find free days click on the quick links drop down menu and click Free Days.

Belmar Park

I was absolutely shocked when I walked back behind the Belmar Library to check out Belmar park and discovered Kountze Lake. The kids and I immediately took off to explore. Each child would yell out in delight when they spotted a duck, goose, turtle, or fish.

This quickly became a family favorite as it took us a few trips to discover the variety of trails as well as find the playground. We now go prepared with a picnic and plenty of water as the children explore.  At each crossroad they take turns deciding which way we go.

I've found a map online showing the three trails (1.1 miles, 1.4 miles, and 1.8 miles). Whenever I get a chance I take a brisk walk around the lake pushing my daughter in her stroller before the library opens and we go to story time. A concrete trail goes around the park’s perimeter, and the area is divided by intersecting gravel paths and horse trails. I've had very little trouble pushing the stroller on the concrete as well as the gravel paths. Every once an a while there will be a spot where the gravel is a little deeper and I have to push the stroller a little harder, but I figure that just gives me an added workout.

One trail even takes you to Lakewood's Heritage Center. We've yet to take a tour. Currently we've just walked by the many historic buildings and we've been to the amphitheater for a movie after dark.

Belmar Park 

801 South Wadsworth Blvd.

Lakewood, CO 80228

Rock Creek Farm

My son's kindergarten class went to Rock Creek Farms for their fall field trip. We, as parents, were allowed to come as well. We arrived at the farm after the school bus had already headed out to the pumpkin patch. We were given directions at the front and sent out to find them. I was shocked by the hills of pumpkins that went on and on. You would think it would be easy to spot a big yellow school bus in a pumpkin patch—not so. Finally we got up on a hill high enough we could see it in the distance.

The kids were already out and having a great time picking out pumpkins. Parents and children were soon spread out all over the nearest hillside. There were tools to cut the vines if needed.

After the kids picked their pumpkins we went to eat our lunch. They had a big tent set up with tables, a petting zoo off to one side, a hay maze (many of the kids could hardly see over the large bales), inflatable slides and bounce houses. The kids had so much fun. There was also a corn maze, which we didn't do—not the best place to let over 60 five year old children run loose.

Rock Creek Farm is free to get in. You just pay for what you take home.  Besides pumpkins, they have wonderful goodies: caramel apples, cider, pumpkin bread, etc.  They also have things to decorate with for fall like Indian corn, straw bales, gourds, etc. The corn maze is an additional charge.  Check here for current prices.

Rock Creek Farm is located at:
2005 South 112th Street
Broomfield, CO 80020 

To get all the latest information go to http://www.rockcreekfarm.com

Just a note: they only accept cash and checks.

The Children's Museum of Denver

The Children's Museum of Denver is a fantastic place to take your children! We don't have a membership, but on the first Tuesday of each month you can go for FREE from 4-8pm. They have such a variety of things for the kids to explore. The museum makes learning fun.

We spent a large portion of our time playing with the bubbles. The picture on the right is not blurry they are actually in a bubble.

Creative play is around every corner: shopping, cooking, puppet shows, trains, an actual fire truck, a veterinarian room, painting, and dress up—just to name a few. 




One area we've yet to check out is the The Center for the Young Child. This is geared towards infants and children up to about four years old. My two year old daughter was set on following her brothers (five and six) around the museum and enjoyed herself, but I would like to go back and explore the area designed for her age.




My biggest concern when going was that it would be packed because it was FREE. There were a lot of people, but my kids still had a chance to do whatever they wanted. Sometimes they had to wait a little, but I feel that is good for children to take turns and learn patience. If crowding is an issue you can buy a membership or pay to go the one time. I recommend Mondays as a great time to go because it is a school-group free day (no large groups).

To check out all the latest info on upcoming events, prices, and location go to http://www.mychildsmuseum.org




                                                                                                                                                     

Discovering Denver

When I found out I was moving away from the place I was born and raised and moving to Colorado, I was, to say the least—nervous. I knew very little about this place. I spent hours on the internet. I began researching to find out about my future home, and was immediately impressed by the variety of things to do. I found info about wonderful parks and hiking trails, theaters, museums, a zoo, gardens, etc. I became excited about all that Denver and the surrounding areas had to offer.

Now that my family and I have actually moved here (We settled in the adjoining town of Lakewood).  I can officially say I'm in love with the Denver area! I have been amazed by everything there is to do here. Since moving here I have found more and more to love. I'm constantly learning about new things for me and my family to do. I was concerned I would be limited by our income, but have found no matter what your budget is there is something for you to do.

The coming posts are going to document the wonderful places, events, food, activities, and deals that I find as we explore and discover Denver and the surrounding areas.