No need to dread those postcards from friends and family this summer bragging about pizza in Brooklyn or exhausting fun at SeaWorld. The best summer ever could be right at home. Here are five things you’ll be happy to boast about when the days get shorter and the vacation season is nothing but good memories.
#1. Rock Climbing — Quincy Snowdon
If you can’t afford to get too far out of town this summer, getting a little above it isn’t a terrible compromise.
Replete with elevated views and hundreds of bolted opportunities to momentarily leave terra firma, that’s exactly what the Golden Cliffs of North Table Mountain offer.
Just a quick scoot up West Sixth Avenue from Denver, the red rock facades of the North Table Mountain make for a sublime — albeit challenging — urban escape, even if it’s for just a few hand-blistering hours.
I’m talking about rock climbing.
Now, this is the part where lifelong flatlanders already start deflecting the rocky notion with quips like, “No way. I’ve purposely avoided dangling from cliff faces, otherwise I’d work for REI or the Marines.”
That’s not a wholly invalid inclination, but it’s really just a bunch of knee-jerk fooey. And here’s why: If a guy who stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and has the upper-body strength of a bird can learn to climb — poorly, but still slap those anchors — anyone who’s ever driven on I-70 can, too.
And the Table’s Winterfest Wall is a perfect place to cut your teeth. And fingers. And knees. And probably elbows, too.
With top rope access available just a short walk from its base, Winterfest offers a solid range of routes ranging in difficulty from 5.8 to 5.12b. All climbing routes in Golden, and pretty much everywhere, are rated using the Yosemite Decimal System, which takes into account stamina, strength, size of moves, technique and safety needed to summit a route. A rating starting with 1 would be equivalent to walking on a regulation track, while one beginning with 5 indicates a vertical or nearly vertical face.
If Winterfest isn’t your speed, The Brown Cloud Crag area down trail is another go-to. Located just a few hundreds yards away from Winterfest, Brown Cloud boasts about two dozen simpler, slightly less-challenging routes that are better-suited for slightly doughier novices — like me. “Deck Chairs on the Titantic” and “Punkin Puss & Mushmouse” are two particular 5.9+ pathways that are enjoyably difficult. And yes, like ski runs, the names of climbing routes run the gamut of creative to offensive to laughably intricate inside jokes between the climbers that first ascended them. The luxury on the rocks, though, is that the only viewers of these outré names are climbing wonks feverishly thumbing through guide books — not thousands of Texas tourists holding the mountain map upside down in the middle of “Leave the Beave.”
For those uninterested in actually participating in the whole rope-dangling stuff but still want to up their intake of vitamin D, the Golden cliffs are also a faultless place to catch beguiling views of the mountain microcosm that is downtown Golden. And toss back a few road sodas. Just be sure to bring a designated driver, a six pack of your favorite brew and be in the company of a proud owner of a mountain couch. Yes, that’s right, a mountain couch. Well, technically it’s called a crash pad and is meant to brace well-coordinated falls for those climbing a rock wall without ropes, but as long as everyone in your group is harnessed up with a conscious belay buddy, the pad is much better suited for non-climbers to catch rays and sip suds. Naps are also highly encouraged.
To end your quick societal sabbatical, a stacked sandwich at D’Deli is a delightful exclamation point. And if you didn’t overly prime your liver with the lion’s share of a mountain mixer and aren’t too covered in chalk, Golden Moon Speakeasy is a pretty neat place to grab a day-end dram. Although, after clawing at Roseanne’s Belly (route name, not literal) all day, the strength to hold a pint glass may very well be a luxurious pipe dream. But trying is encouraged.
Before the Summer Ends:
Bike on any of the hundreds of miles of metro trails, but don’t miss the trek from the confluence of the South Platte River and Clear Creek, west to Golden. Anyone in fairly good shape can do it, and you won’t regret it.
#2. A Big Day At The Big Park — Aaron Cole
No one likes to stay home for vacation because the Bahamas don’t remind you that you need to do laundry this afternoon.
On the city’s southern fringes is a state park that possesses the power to make you forget everything waiting at home, and give you that been-someplace-cool feeling, right in your own neighborhood. Cherry Creek State Park is the kind of place “staycations” were made for — proximity, price and possibilities.
Get dirt under your feet. Find one of the few unspoilt parcels of metro area that feels like the high plains rather than a plain pain in the ass. The park’s dusty wild grass and flat terrain are its best features. Wait, wait, I promise I meant that. From skeet shooting to RC plane flying, cycling for beginners and advanced riders, a mountain bike course, fishing, boating, canoeing, disc golf to running, outdoor grills and the park’s signature clamshell enclosures, the sheer size and scale open more like an recreational Disneyland from the elevated dam road and front gates than sensory overload at Colorado’s more-mountainous parks.
The park offers plenty of one-time recreational opportunities (one can paddleboard only so much in Colorado) along with ongoing opportunities to return beyond your staycation.
West of Cherry Creek State Park sits a Village Greens that actually serves as an extension of the reservoir. From there, ballfields and soccer fields, open grills and greener open space for picnics are available. Immediately north of those open spaces is an 18-hole disc golf course and mountain bike park for riders to traverse rocks and logs, dusty trails and steep inclines and declines.
From there, it’s a straight shot over the dam road into the state park ($9 daily fee) and a range of recreation, contemplation and vacation possibilities open from there. The reservoir is open for boating, jet skis, sailboarding and paddle boarding in designated areas. If you’re one of the many of us who live in a land-locked state and never bothered to buy serious aquatic gear, rental facilities nearby can facilitate whatever day’s activities you’re looking for.
On the west side of park, the skeet-shooting range and RC plane field (an odd match, really) are fun to watch — even more fun to try for the first time. On the east side of the park, the dog park, swim beach, fishing areas and trails are exceptionally accessible via car.
(Note to new Colorado residents: Cherry Creek State Park is more than 13 miles all the way around, and not easily walked around or run around. If you’re like me and think, “How hard can it be?” be prepared to call a cab to get home. It’s that big.)
The park’s relative isolation offers a peek at an metro area universe long gone: open space and quiet fields. It’s a visual feast of trees and ponds, tallgrass and Colorado wildlife, secluded copses and rickety bridges that are fun to explore for a day, or a day every year.
What the park lacks in relative topography, compared to say Rocky Mountain National Park, it makes up in diversity and accessibility. The boat ramp clears quickly and often, the fishing posts are plentiful and easy to find. The swim beaches have space and are usually friendly.
Despite its proximity to major roadways, birds sound louder than passing traffic and the breeze off the water can cool most heat radiating from busy sidewalks and roadways from just outside the park’s gates.
And you thought you had to escape to the islands to getaway.
Before the Summer Ends:
Catch at least one of Aurora’s amazing free summer concerts in the park. Look in the Aurora Sentinel for the schedule or go online. Free and not what you might expect.
#3. Bagging the Bard and the Flatirons in one fun day — Dave Perry
Find Out Why Boulder is its Own Very Entertaining Republic
This is going to be the kind of day biscuits and gravy were meant for.
If you usually wake to just coffee or a couple spoonfuls of yogurt, it’s going to be a long day. We’re doing Boulder — right.
Although this town has morphed more than Larry King has changed wives, it’s never been anything less than a good time since the state built a university there in 1876.
Leave late for Boulder, about 1 p.m., you’ll see why. We’ll start with a hike, which is what Boulder does best. Summer shouldn’t pass without traipsing across the area’s iconic flatirons. It’s a pretty easy two-hour strut there and back. You’ll gain and lose about 1,300 feet in elevation. If you’re not in the best health, or if you it’s not a cloudless afternoon, skip this part of the itinerary and just take a long drive up Boulder Canyon. The falls are beautiful and easy to get to.
The best place to start the flatirons hike is the Chautauqua Park trail head. From the parking lot, it’s a little more than a mile each way. A little research won’t hurt, but the trails are clearly marked. You hike to the first flatiron, then the second, then back. The scenery on the ground as well as the vistas from the top are some of the most stunning in the state. They are so much so, that this summer lark is best enjoyed on a weekday to avoid crowds. Take water and extra shoes for later.
When you’ve had your fill of scrub and red rock, it’s time for lunch. Told you to eat a big breakfast. From Chautauqua Park, drive downtown. Boulder has become one of the culinary capitals of the planet. We’re here for late lunch, which will include either wine or one of the region’s impeccable beers. Go easy. There’s more to come. Downtown Boulder has an embarrassment of stellar eateries, from $5 street food to bank-account-busting meals you’ll never forget. I recommend The Kitchen on the mall. Happy hour starts at 3 p.m. Locally sourced food and ideas that others follow and mostly poorly imitate. You won’t be sorry. Relax and enjoy.
Now, it’s show time. My advice is to park away from the CU campus, and stroll in, with a stop for espresso or strong coffee, just in case you’re fading. It’s going to be quintessential Boulder: The Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Don’t sneer. Shakespeare wrote comedies for the masses long before there were inane sitcoms. The man was the first king of the fart joke and bawdy snort. Besides, in the world famous outdoor Mary Rippon Theater, it’s all good. This year, Othello and Henry V promise to rock the world of fans of The Bard, but my recommendation for this outing is Much Ado About Nothing, a raucous comedy that never disappoints. If you think Shakespeare is tame and boring, just ask around what “nothing” was a euphemism for in Elizabethan England. Now if you’re old like me, plan a 6:30 p.m. curtain. If energy is never an issue, bring a blanket and stretch out on the lawn for while and then enjoy the 8 p.m. production. Shows after dark are most fun. These events sell out frequently, so plan ahead and get tickets online. Snacks and often some music is outside the theater on the campus grounds, setting the mood. Inside the theater, magic happens. While just about every production is world class, even the just really good shows are like nothing else under the dark, crisp Boulder skies. And if you can take it, there’s more Boulder snacks and Colorado beers at intermission. If you’re flush, a night at the Hotel Boulderado makes it a perfect day, but the drive back to Aurora goes fast rehashing the best lines and sight gags in the show. It’s a day you won’t forget.
Before the Summer Ends:
A hike in Colorado’s newest state park, Staunton, just southwest of Denver on US 285. Stunning, accessible and easy
Arapahoe County Fair July 23-July 26, you know the drill
Bike on any of the hundreds of miles of metro trails, but don’t miss the trek from the confluence of the South Platte River and Clear Creek, west to Golden. Anyone in fairly good shape can do it, and you won’t regret it.
Drive to the Arkansas Valley in August and get your own canteloupes and watermelons. This is the humble heart of your state, from Pueblow to Lamar, Highway 50 offers a life you’ve probably never seen.
Catch at least one of Aurora’s amazing Banks in Harmony Concerts in the Park. Look in the Aurora Sentinel for the schedule. Free and easy.
#4. Old Ned Ain’t Dead — Rachel Sapin
More Than Frozen Dead Guys, Nederland Offers Respite
There’s only one place to find the stunning beauty of the Rocky Mountains and a festival celebrating a frozen corpse in a Tuff Shed.
Nederland is awash in the natural beauty factor, being situated as it is along the iconic Peak to Peak Highway. next to Brainard Lake and just minutes from the Eldora’s laid-back ski mountain.
But “Ned,” as locals like to call it, is on par with strange Colorado foothills attractions that include the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave in Golden, the North Pole Colorado Santa’s Workshop near Pike’s Peak, and Tiny Town in Morrison.
Nederland really lets all of its isolated mountain-town weirdness come to the forefront with its most popular annual festival, Frozen Dead Guy Days. Replete with a polar bear plunge and coffin races, the weeklong festival held in town is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Grandpa Bredo Morstoel, who is cryogenically frozen and cared for in a shed on private property.
Visitors and locals alike participate in brain freezing, frozen t-shirt contests and even icy turkey bowling in ode to Morstoel and the hope that he will one day be resurrected and cured of the heart disease that took his life in 1989.
And though it’s easily accessible from the Front Range and has crazy festivals that draw all walks of life, Nederland still has a small-town feel to it with 1,500 people residing in its unpretentious cabins and ranch homes. It’s filled to the brim on weekends with visitors who come for a quick getaway to enjoy Nederland’s main street that buzzes with cafes, quaint knick-knack stores and saloon-style restaurants that feature local jazz, rock and bluegrass bands.
Walk into Blue Owl Books, a unique and funky used bookstore that also serves ice cream and coffee in the center of town for a taste of the local culture.
Just across the street from the bookstore is the Carousel of Happiness. This is a relatively new, whimsical and extremely affordable attraction for the area. Rides only cost $1, and consist of unusual options like a rabbit, zebra or a dolphin. The carousel’s creator, a Vietnam veteran named Scott Harrison, trucked the classic 1910 Looff carousel frame from the former Utah State Training School and spent the next 26 years carving 56 animals to rotate around it. He restored the frame and visitors can now enjoy riding to the music of a 1913 Wurlitzer band organ.
The carousel is a historic relic that harkens back to the country’s turn-of-the-century enjoyments, and is one of only a few hundred wooden carousels left in the United States.
Luckily for Coloradans, it’s in our backyard.
Before the Summer Ends:
Go people-watching at Denver Union Station Denver Union Station is not only Denver’s hottest place to eat, drink, even loiter — the refurbished 100-year-old hub has some of the best people-watching in town.
#5. Camping Feels right at Home — Courtney Oakes
No Reason To Look Any Farther Than Your Own Backyard to Find All of the Comforts of Home
I hope that was a raccoon I heard scuttling outside the tent?
Not that I relished the prospect of meeting up with one of the trash-loving masked mammals, but there could be a lot scarier things given where I’d pitched my tent on this surprisingly warm April night. Far from the mountains, I’m smack dab in the wilds of the backyard of my southeast metro home.
A quick peek from under the flap reveals nothing, but I half expect to find a random stranger who wandered through my dilapidated gate looking for a place to sleep. Who knows what goes on in the backyard when you are tucked snuggly in bed?
Normally, I take my tent and my love of camping into the incomparable Colorado mountains. It’s a regular rite of seasonal passage that has been interrupted by the birth of our daughter. She’s a trooper, but being just months old, I figured we’d only see the mountains from a car this year.
It immediately made me long for that weird smell you only find in a pitched tent. My wife, not so much. Ants, dirt, damp everything. She prefers a vacation that involves a check-in time.
We’ve had all sorts of adventures in our four-year relationship, but I’ve never been able to convince her about how much fun it is to live in a tent for a day, a weekend or a week. She insists on an air mattress, a shower and a proper bathroom when she goes “camping,” which pretty much reclassifies the experience. She’s not afraid to get dirty, but she’s not keen on staying that way for long.
So, it’s out to the great backyard for the camping trip of a lifetime, or at least for the summer. Green grass. Twinkling stars. A campfire. And the low-volume-flush toidy just steps away.
In my 13 years traveling to every corner of Aurora, I’ve seen some backyards that couldn’t be more perfect for camping with wide open sprawling views, and maybe a little too much wildlife. Hello, rattlesnakes.
My yard is about as urban as it gets, and just a few feet from a very busy street, but traffic and sirens rushing back and forth is comforting to city dwellers. With a little creativity and imagination, any space becomes something remarkably different, especially at night.
The lure of an open campfire is replaced by the more restrained glow of our two-log fire pit, which gives off plenty of heat and enough embers to cook hot dogs and s’mores to our hearts’ content. We could use sticks, but our extendable metal forks can go right into the dishwasher later.
No worries about running out of lantern fuel, an extension cord means there will be light, a fan, music, and fully charged iPhones in the morning. While enjoying those indescribable campsite flapjacks at sun-up and realizing we forgot the Vermont maple syrup, problem solved. I’ll be right back.
The moon rises the same as it does in the mountains and shines its light between the branches of our lone tree, plus those of the park across the street. With a frozen mojito right out of the blender, it’s bliss. And nothing is as cozy as a warm sleeping bag, especially one on top of an air mattress, especially one that can get tossed in the dryer a few minutes after I spill my latte on it. There’s no replacing a stream-side campsite and the smell of sun-warmed pine trees, but a tree-shaped air freshener and a happy baby sure make for a great vacation.
Before the Summer Ends:
Film on the Rocks. Nothing says summer in Colorado like watching movies in the world’s most scenic amphitheater. Presented by the Denver Film Society every year at famous Red Rocks amphitheater in Morrison, www.denverfilm.org
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