Mile High Fun One of Denver’s major draws is its proximity to the mountains. But to some residents, the concepts of high-altitude safety and basic trail etiquette can be a little intimidating. Enter the Colorado Mountain Club. Headquartered in Golden, the club provides adventure education and recreational opportunities for everyone from the newbie day hiker to the ultra-experienced … Read more
Bright sunlight peeks through the latticework and casts checkerboard patterns across large patio umbrellas. Spring has brought brilliant greens to the trees, and the small patio at the Shiloh Steakhouse is a welcome refuge from Cortez’s sweltering desert climate. In the far reaches of southwestern Colorado, Cortez is known for its proximity to Mesa Verde … Read more
After years as a non-coffee drinker, one change switched my status in an instant: parenthood. I began to understand the addiction my parents always had for this aromatic beverage, and the low growls that were substituted for words before the first cup was sipped began making sense. However, I quickly realized that someone up above … Read more
Sighs are common when customers encounter the contents of the long glass cases at Dolce Sicilia, an Italian bakery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. First they see the trays of cookies: soft amaretti pignoli, chewy chocolate-dipped Florentines, and raspberry-topped farfalletta. Their eyes widen at real cannoli, tiramisu and especially the flaky sfogliatelle. Then they smell the … Read more
Boulder is well-known as a trendy hub for culture, history, family activities and home-grown businesses, not to mention its surrounding natural beauty. While the city offers many great attractions, activities seem sweeter when they’re free. Here are a few suggestions for enjoying Boulder without ever opening your wallet. Celestial Seasonings 4600 Sleepytime Dr. Boulder, Colorado … Read more
I’ve been fighting a little bug lately. Uh, no, I feel fine, thanks. The bug is the mountain pine beetle, scourge of the Colorado high country, munching through our alpine forests like Grant went through Richmond. From Canada to Mexico and California to Colorado, every single pine tree is threatened and countless millions have died. … Read more
Colorado state parks don’t close just because it’s winter. They offer an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities, no matter the season. Vega State Park, about 50 miles east of Grand Junction at the northeast edge of the Grand Mesa National Forest, is one park that serves the needs of winter enthusiasts. At 8,000 feet, the … Read more
If you ask typical Coloradans what’s changed at Arapahoe Basin in the last few seasons, a mention of the Montezuma Bowl expansion is probably the first thing to leave their mouths. But for the locals who ski the Basin regularly, they might also give a nod to Black Mountain Lodge and some of the exciting … Read more
The Old West – in times gone by it was full of cowboys, open frontier and adventure. Today, the lure and call of the West still beckon from Colorado’s prairies and mountains to those who hunger for a taste of a simpler time. Families can escape the bustle of today’s lifestyle at a place where … Read more
There’s an old Zen tale of a man who, while running from a tiger, grabbed onto a vine and went over a cliff. While hanging, he looked over and saw a strawberry hanging on the vine. He plucked and ate it. It was the sweetest strawberry he’d ever tasted. Lucky for me, I’m able to … Read more