Glenwood Springs is only two hours from Denver and has plenty to keep you busy for a few days. Here’s our 2 day itinerary: On your first day, get your adrenaline junkie ass to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. It has some of the most unique rides in the country, including the Alpine Coaster (watch the video here), the Giant Canyon Swing (check it out here) and the new Haunted Mine Drop – it plunges 110 feet underground into a mine shaft, and it’s gotten a ton of accolades in the 8 months it’s been open. Best of all – it’s open year round. If you’re a wimp like myself, you can... Read More

You might want to start planning trips to visit Colorado’s National Parks. Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison are must-do’s when in Colorado, but the Great Sand Dunes is often overlooked. It’s our small but mighty National Park, and well worth a visit. It may not look like much from the highway, but once you hike over that first ridge of sand, you’re engulfed by the enormity of the place as you gaze out over 30 square miles of sand, with dunes rising as high as 755 feet. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains serve as a grand backdrop and provide a mythical ethos, shrouded... Read More

Tucked away in the Boulder Valley is the historical Eldorado Canyon State Park. It may be small, but it’s one of my personal favorites. As many times as I’ve been, I’m always awestruck by the sheer magnitude of the quartzite cliffs and the vastness of the canyon. South Boulder Creek runs through it, adding to the wild-west feeling that emanates from the place. Best of all, now is the perfect time of year to visit. The parking lot is always at capacity during the summer, but it should be clear for a few more weeks. The park is especially famous for its rock climbing routes – there are... Read More

Hike Responsibly It might be tempting to venture off the trail, but doing so not only risks injury or getting lost, you could be trampling protected habitats. Even if the trail is muddy or icy, don’t veer off into the grass. It might seem harmless, but when hundreds of people start doing it…you get the idea. Oh, and those narrow, dirt paths that seem to be shortcuts? Those are most likely deer migration paths. Best to stay off of them. For those hiking with friends – make sure you communicate and have an emergency plan. Earlier this year in Vail, a backcountry skier died when he and his... Read More

Colorado is an amazing state. While it may sound trite, there really is something to do for everyone. But you don’t have to go to the far corners of it to experience the best. Here are some Colorado must-do’s close to Denver. Relax in some Hot Springs How would you like to soak in natural hot springs in an underground cave? Indian Springs is just an hour west of Denver. While famous for the indoor pool, the lush botanic garden feels more like Hawaii than Colorado. For something a little more adventurous, opt for the lesser-known geo-thermal caves. The pools are carved into the rock and filled... Read More

So, you’ve had a beautiful day of hiking, you’re ready to relax, but it’s still too nice out to go home and sit in your cave – what to do? How about going to one of the many outdoor movies in the Denver area this season! The 88 Drive-In is open now, and for just $8 you can see all three movies. This weekend they are playing Tomb Raider, Annihilation, and Game Night. We don’t have to tell you that it’s one of the last drive-ins in the country, so take the Subaru and a blanket and go! Recommended hike: Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Next month kicks off Film on the... Read More

March is the snowiest month of the year for Colorado. It’s also the month of one of the quirkiest, weirdest festivals in the country: Frozen Dead Guy Days. Next weekend marks the 17th year for the festival, which, if you don’t know, is in honor of a frozen dead man stored in a Tuff Shed in Nederland. What? Bred Morstol was born and raised in Norway. After he died in 1989, his grandson Trygve Bauge took the body to the United States in hopes of cryogenically freezing it because…why not? After a stint in California, the body wound up in Ned, where Trygve and his mother, Aud, attempted to build... Read More

Alright, you’ve decided that you love snowboarding or skiing enough to invest in your own gear. Here’s a brief guide to what you need. Boots Set aside the majority of your budget for high quality, comfortable boots. This is the most important feature of your set up, and often overlooked. Go to a few different shops, get fitted, and make sure you’re getting the best possible pair. They’ll typically last between 100-150 days of riding, which is much longer than it sounds. Snowboards & Skis The guidelines for beginners are generally the same regardless of gender. For snowboards, you’ll... Read More

Learning to ski as an adult can be, well, awkward. It’s embarrassing riding the lift to the intermediate slopes alongside a 5 year old who can get off and NOT fall on their face. And as we grow out of our overconfident twenties, the fear of injury becomes more prominent. So, is it worth it to take up the sport so late? I spoke with Kevin Foote, who has been a ski instructor with Vail for the last 5 years (he is off this season), about how to begin.     Take A Group Lesson  Okay, maybe you don’t want to spend the money, but think of it this way: one full day of group lessons will... Read More

Recently, I wrote about hiking in Conifer as an alternative to more popular locations like Boulder and Golden. Another quiet spot that’s easy to get to is Evergreen. It’s a bit bigger than Conifer and offers a wide range of activities. For hikers, there are plenty of options in Evergreen, including Elk Meadow Park and Alderfer/Three Sisters Park. Each has over 14 miles of pet and bike friendly trails that are easy to moderate. Elk Meadow features wide open spaces and—you guessed it—plenty of elk. For something less strenuous, take Painter’s Pause to Noble Meadow (2 miles one way). For... Read More