Category: Recreational

Top Things To Do In Denver This Winter

Whether you are checking off your bucket list items or planning to create a memorable adventure this winter, Denver is one of the best places to fulfill your dreams. In fact, you don’t have to travel far in Denver for some of the best attractions in the region; the metro area is full of great adventures. The best thing about visiting Denver is you don’t have to commit a whole day to experience unforgettable sights and sounds in the city.

If you want to enjoy Colorado’s beauty, winter is the best time to do it. Winter has fewer crowds in the city, whether there is snow on the ground or not. You will find an exceptional backdrop in Denver to enjoy some of the most attractive landmarks around the Mile High City in the winter season. It is also small business friendly. The frosty mornings or snowy afternoons will convert the surrounding foothills, parks, and mountains in Denver into a wonderland opportunity. Remember that most people will be staying indoors when it’s snowing outside. Hence, you can take advantage of this fact to enjoy the scenarios in Denver during the winter months. Experiencing the myriad of activities in Denver, Colorado, will make you appreciate this great state.

Head To The Clear Creek River Walk, 13th & Ford In Golden

Golden is a great community nestled between the South Table Mountain and the foothills. The former gold rush town presents some of the best shops, craft breweries, and cozy restaurants for you to enjoy in winter. Don’t forget to check out one of the best urban trail systems while you are in Golden. Clear Creek River Walk Trail (https://dayhikesneardenver.com/clear-creek-trail-downtown-golden/) is a great attraction in the City of Golden. The trail parallels Clear Creek and lets the traveler enjoy a refreshing stroll through the city. It is the perfect site to exercise your pet with tremendous views and easy access to shops & restaurants along the way. The venue gets a triple word score for picnicking, tubing, and relaxation during the summer months. You can relax here and watch the world go by during such times. 

Go Ice Skating At Evergreen Lake, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Rd. In Evergreen

The Evergreen Lake is situated in Evergreen & surrounded by Denver Mountain Parks and towering mountain peaks. It is a paradise for ice skaters. The breathtaking 8.5-acre lake has 11 hockey rinks and a large public skating area – which is maintained on a daily basis by a Zamboni. You can bring your own skates or rent them at the Evergreen Lake House. The Lake House is a beautiful lodge located on the shores of Evergreen Lake.

See The Flatirons/Chautauqua Park, Baseline, And 9th St. In Boulder.

The Flatiron’s formations in Boulder are a symbol of the city, just like the Red Rocks of Denver. It resembles the flat part of iron and consists of five majestic outcroppings, and is a popular climbing venue that serves as the backdrop for numerous hiking trails in the city. The Flatirons is a part of the Boulder Mountain Park System and is known for its Mesa Trail – which extends to the south to Eldorado Springs. 

Walk The Steps At Red Rocks Amphitheater, 18300 W. Alameda Pkwy. In Morrison

No visit to Denver will be complete without seeing this iconic venue. The Red Rocks are situated amidst the red sandstone formations in Denver’s foothills. The Red Rocks are sprinkled with frost and snow during the winter season. It’s an artist’s masterpiece that will surely captivate your senses.

The natural amphitheater is at the core of the Denver Mountain Park and hosts some of the best bands and musicians from across the world.

A Beginners Guide To Adventures In Colorado

For unforgettable adventures, head to Colorado, where there is an abundance of ways for the whole family to explore some of the fun-filled, favorite spots in and around Colorado Springs, Denver, and Cañon City. Summer activities that everyone will enjoy include scenic day hikes, mountain zip lines, and mellow raft trips, to name a few. But where to start?  In a friendly chat with Brooke Goudy, a local mountain biking expert, and Jennings Hester, a fly fishing guide, they shared with us some of the fun-focused trips they enjoy that serve as a great guide to Colorado and all it has to offer.

Denver

The Whitewater Park in Downtown Denver

Head to Confluence Kayak and Ski and grab an inflatable tube to splash in the white water at Confluence Park. The slow-moving South Platte River that cuts through the city has a few short drops that add a little excitement to an otherwise mellow trip. Grab a snack at the Denver Central Market from a dozen or so vendors and have a picnic on the waterside while you watch other kayakers and tubers go by. Just a few blocks away from the market, you will find the Ramble Hotel, where you can enjoy a cocktail in the Death & Co lobby bar.

Rafting on Mighty Arkansas

From the train, you can view the Royal Gorge with its splashy water before heading to Bighorn Sheep Canyon for a rafting experience on the Arkansas River. The trip has beautiful calm stretches interspersed with fun rapids and is well suited for kids aged six and up. While enjoying the magnificent views of the canyon, see if you can spot some of the bighorn sheep that this area is named after.

Take a Single Track Cruise around Green Mountain

The 7-mile loop around the perimeter of Green Mountain is perfect for a comfortable mountain bike ride. Brooke Goudy, who is an ambassador for the VIDA Mountain Bike Series and co-leader of ‘Black Girls Do Bike,’ says it is easy to get to Green Mountain from Denver, where you can ride for the very first time, and it is a really fun trail to progress on. According to Brooke, “it is my favorite trail for introducing people to the joy of mountain biking, especially women of color.” As the trail is close to the metro, it can get very crowded over the weekend, and it may be better to ride during the week.

Keep singletrack single and protect plants on the side of the trail by stopping when you encounter other riders and letting them pass by rather than leaving the trail.

Colorado Springs

Head to Paint Mines Park for an Otherworldly Hike

Paint Mines Interpretive Park is just 45 minutes east of The Springs, where you can undertake a mind-blowing adventurous 4-mile hike through the tall, vibrant, and multicolored formations and improbable spires of rock. Make sure you have plenty of space on your SD card for photos of the brightly colored red, purple, white, orange, and brown earth found in the area. Remember to always leave all rocks, plants, and historical items exactly as you find them so that other hikers can experience the joy of discovering them.

Heading back to town, stop off at the acclaimed Four by Brother Luck Restaurant for spiced pork belly or rabbit green chili cooked up by Brother Luck, a Top Chef competitor.

Cañon City

A Train Ride Back in Time

Take a train ride back in time on the historic Royal Gorge Route Railway for an incredible sightseeing experience, especially from the glass-walled car of the Vista Dome that provides unmatched views of the one thousand foot deep gorge and the Arkansas River Rapids. See the Royal Gorge Bridge, the highest suspension bridge on the continent with its 1,260-foot steel span that crosses the canyon.

Other Royal Gorge (https://royalgorgebridge.com/) attractions to get the blood pumping a bit faster include a 50 mph Skycoaster ride that soars above the south rim of the gorge and a Via Ferrata that is great for absolute beginners but who have an adventurous spirit.