Fun Day Friday
Good Morning we have made it through another week and now it's time to go on our weekly Friday adventure. Can you guess where we are going this week? We are going to go visit the magnificent state of Colorado.
1.) Garden of the Gods located in Colorado Springs- Jam-packed with dramatic rock formations, the Garden of the Gods is a prime spot for hiking amid beautiful scenery. Stop for a photo by the Steamboat Rock, then set out to trek the 21 miles of trails within the park. The 1.5-mile-long Perkins Central Garden Trail is wheelchair accessible and runs between all the major sights like the Kissing Camels. On your way back, grab a snack and shop for souvenirs at the gift shop.
2.) Denver Botanical Gardens Admission price is $15 and hours of operation are 9am-4pm. Spanning more than 24 acres, Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street presents a wide range of gardens and collections that illustrate an ever-widening diversity of plants from all corners of the world. Distinctive gardens define and celebrate our Western identity and a unique high altitude climate and geography. We are passionate about connecting people to plants through botanical beauty, education, art, events, conservation and sustainable living.
3.) Pikes Peak- America's Mountain located in Cascade- Welcome to Pikes Peak - America's Mountain! The Pikes Peak Highway entrance is conveniently located 15 minutes west of Colorado Springs on Highway 24. The beauty of being so close to the city is that you can spend your time enjoying the mountain instead of getting to the mountains. Plan for your round trip journey to the summit to take 2-3 hours. The safe, scenic highway provides you the opportunity to enjoy Pikes Peak at your leisure. From the gateway at an elevation of 7,400 feet, you'll encounter some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world as you wind your way through an alpine wonderland of scenic beauty, mountain reservoirs, beyond timberline, overtaking the clouds...All along the way to the 14,115 foot summit of America's most famous mountain. Along the way, you'll discover the North Slope Recreation Area, Crystal Reservoir Gift Shop, Historic Glen Cove Inn, and the Summit House. There are three lakes for fishing, picnic areas, hiking trails, and breathtaking views. Stop and watch one of our "Meet the Ranger" Interpretive Programs and learn about the history, myths, flora and fauna on the mountain. All offer visitor services and basic necessities to make your day both enjoyable and memorable.
4.) Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre- Hours of operation are 9am-4pm located in Morrison. This one blew my mind Naturally formed, open air Amphitheatre consists of two, three-hundred-foot monoliths serving as a "stage" for musical performances.
5.) Cheyenne Mountain Zoo located in COlorado Springs- Colorado Springs is home to America’s mountain Zoo. Advance tickets are required. Located at 6,714 feet above sea level, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo offers breathtaking views of the city and of its 750 animals. The unique design of the Zoo’s animal exhibits gets guests closer than ever before. Hand-feed one of the largest reticulated giraffe herds in the world, watch grizzlies swim with trout, hop next to red-necked wallabies and get hands on with some of the Zoo’s smaller residents in The Loft. Have a WILD adventure at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – see the animals, ride an antique carousel, eat a gourmet lunch at the Grizzly Grill and ride the Mountaineer Sky Ride to the Zoo’s summit. Visit 365 days a year for family fun at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The Zoo may close early for special events. Visit cmzoo.org for tickets, daily hours and planning information.
6.) Cave of the Winds Mountain Park located in Manitou Springs- Discovered in 1881, Cave of the Winds has been a premier Colorado attraction for more than a century. Explore amazing caverns, experience total cave darkness, and marvel at the beauty of formations hundreds of thousands of years old. Then step outside and walk on the wind on the Wind Walker Challenge Course, fly like a bat on the Bat-a-Pult, and dive into Williams Canyon on the one of a kind aerial dive ride, the TERROR-Dactyl. Lots of family fun, amazing views and memories to last a lifetime!
7.) Denver Museum of Nature and Science-The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain region’s leading resource for informal science education. A variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help Museum visitors experience the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe.
8.) Denver Union Station hours of operation are 6:30am-11:30pm- Denver Union Station is an urban transit hub and a high-energy, mixed-use destination featuring James Beard, award-winning chef-driven restaurants, locally curated retail shops, and the luxurious Crawford Hotel. Union Station is Denver's most iconic gathering place for locals and visitors alike.
9.) National Museum of WWII Aviation located in Colorado Springs hours of operation are 10am-5pm The Museum's new 40,000 sq ft hangar is now open at 775 Aviation Way, Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 5 PM. Visitors can walk around the museum on their own and hosts are available to answer questions. Two hour docent-led tours are offered at 10:30 AM , 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM, and include a visit to WestPac, a private WWII aircraft restoration company.
10.) United States Air Force Academy located in Colorado Springs- Visitors can tour this modern sprawling campus that includes the Academy, Falcon Stadium, a chapel and Arnold Hall, a museum honoring Air Force personnel.
11.) Denver Zoo hours of operation are 10am-4pm Adventure Awaits! Every day, Denver Zoo seeks to inspire exploration and discovery, and creates connections with people, animals and nature. And every day, we’re working to save animals and conserve wildlife here and around the world. Your visit and support aids in all these efforts- Thank you. Home to 4,100 animals, representing more than 600 species, Denver Zoo is committed to species conservation by bringing science education to life and providing extraordinary experiences that foster human and animal connections. It is the most visited cultural destination in Colorado, serving 2 million people per year. Located in Denver’s City Park, the Zoo is a nonprofit organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which assures the highest standards of animal care. With the mission to secure a better world for animals through human understanding, Denver Zoo dedicates more than $2 million annually to zoo-led programs aimed at protecting animals within their natural habitats around the world.
12.) Telluride Mountain Village Gondola- One of the most unique forms of public transportation connects Mountain Village to Telluride offering stunning 360-degree views of the San Juan Mountains that extend as far away as Utah. The gondola, the first and only free public transportation of its kind in the United States opened in 1996 and was initially built to help improve air quality while expanding the ski area. It is entirely free to commuters and sightseers. Since then, it has become a popular attraction for residents and visitors alike, giving them a stunning ride that caps out at 10,540 feet above sea level. Approximately 3 million passenger rides annually – and safely – and more than 50 million passenger trips have been provided since opening day. The gondola operates roughly 287 days each year with routine maintenance scheduled during our shoulder season months. It takes about 12 minutes to get from the Town of Telluride to Mountain Village Village. It takes 3 minutes from Mountain Village Center to Market Plaza.
13.) Argo Mill and Tunnel located in Idaho Springs hours of operation are 10am-6pm Experience the wonder of ingenuity, technology, and entrepreneurial spirit that is the Argo Mill & Tunnel with a guided walking tour. Situated in Historic Idaho Springs in the heart of Colorado Gold Country sits the Mighty Argo Mill and Tunnel, one of the most striking and prominent Heritage Landmarks in the American West. The Argo is a central character in the story of the Colorado gold rush and remains one of the largest, most well-preserved historic gold mills in the world. Plan to be on the tour at the Argo for an hour and a half to two hours for the full experience. Each professionally guided tour of the Argo Mill and Tunnel takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. A gold panning lesson and experience, which lasts about 20 minutes, is also included with every Argo Mill and Tunnel tour. Tours: We offer guided tours on the hour every hour from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Booking and more information: Please visit ArgoMillTour.com to reserve your spot!
14.) Pearl Street Mall located in Boulder Situated in the heart of an energetic city is beautiful, historic Downtown Boulder. At the heart of Downtown Boulder is the Pearl Street Mall, a wonderfully charismatic four-block-long pedestrian mall that celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2007. Colorful, bright flowers fill the mall almost the entire year and street performers, with a multitude of talents, make the Pearl Street Mall one of the best people-watching destinations anywhere.
15.) Molly Brown House Museum located in Denver hours of operation are 10am-5pm- This antique-filled Victorian house was the home of Margaret "Molly" Brown, not only a famous survivor of the Titanic, but so much more. started in the summer of 2022 the summer exhibit, "Heroine of the Titanic" available to all guests. Explore on your own or join us for a guided tour. Entry to the Museum is every 20 minutes throughout the day. We strongly encourage our guests to purchase tickets in advance since we often sell out and hate to turn people away.
16.) Historic Downtown of Durango-Cosmo's Magive Historic Downtown Durango is the heart of the community. Filled with over 200 unique shops, stores and restaurants, Downtown Durango has something for everyone. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is located in Downtown, and has daily excursions plus a FREE museum. The Strater Hotel is also in Downtown and has been in operation since the 1800's. We have wonderful restaurants, from fast food to fine dining, and everything in between. Plus there are amazing shops with unique items, including nearly a dozen world class art galleries. To learn more about Historic Downtown Durango, visit our website, and use the FREE wifi Downtown at Durango WiFi.
17.) Cosmo's Magic Theater located in Colorado Springs- After nearly 2 decades as a full time performer in Los Angeles, Cosmo Solano has returned home to Colorado and performs weekly in this intimate, elegant, beautiful little theater. Enjoy evening performances of world class sleight of hand and magic for grown ups in the evenings, (teens and older) and our "kid show" matinees for families with younger children 3-13 yrs. All shows are "family friendly".
18.) Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine located in Cripple Creek- hours of operation are 10am-4pm The only 1,000 foot vertical shaft gold mine tour in the U.S.; the vein was discovered by Mollie Kathleen Gortner in 1891.
19.) Olympic Training Center located in Colorado Springs hours of operation are 9am-5pm The Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center is home to Olympic hopefuls in various sport disciplines. Take the guided walking tour and see the facilities in which athletes train as they aspire to be part of Team USA in the upcoming Olympic Games! While you are in the area you can also check out the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum hours of operation are 10am-5pm The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum is a one-of-a-kind tribute to the Olympic and Paralympic movements, with Team USA athletes at the center of the story. The 60,000-square foot building features 12 galleries following a narrative arc that takes guests through the Team USA athlete's journey. Guests will experience these inspiring stories through cutting-edge technology that prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity. Connected to the USOPM is the Museum Shop and Flame Café. The Museum Shop boasts an impressive collection of Olympic and Paralympic merchandise and Flame Café offers Neapolitan-style pizza, gourmet salads, sandwiches, and much more from its seasonal menu. Visit uspom.org to plan your visit today.
20.) Forney Museum of Transportation located in Denver hours of operation are 10am-5pm The Forney Museum of Transportation is a one-of-a-kind collection of over 600 artifacts relating to historical transportation. It began 60 years ago with a single 1921 Kissel, but soon expanded to include vehicles of all kinds. Today it includes not just vehicles, but also buggies, motorcycles, steam locomotives, aircraft, carriages, rail equipment, fire apparatus, public transportation, sleighs, bicycles, toys & diecast models, vintage apparel and much, much more! Our collection highlights include: Union Pacific 'Big Boy' Steam Locomotive #4005, Amelia Earhart's 1923 Kissel 'Gold Bug', Forney Locomotive, Colorado & Southern Caboose, 1923 Hispano-Suiza, 1913-53 Indian Motorcycle Collection, Denver & Rio Grande Dining Car, Stutz Fire Engine, 1888 Denver Cable Car, 1923 Case Steam Tractor, 1817 Draisenne Bicycle, 500 Piece Matchbox Collection, and more!
21.) The Bachelor-Syracuse Mine Tour located in Ouray hours of operation 8:30am-4pm Strike up your Adventure! The Bachelor-Syracuse Mine Tour walks you 1,500 feet horizontally into Gold Hill, rich in gold, silver, and other precious metals. Guests are at all times accompanied by a thoroughly trained guide who has first-hand experience working the mine. The guides are prepared to answer questions and eager to share the legend and lore of the mine. While you're here enjoy our Miners Breakfast!
22.) Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave located in Golden hours of operation is 9am-5pm this is the Gravesite and museum dedicated to the life and times of Buffalo Bill Cody.
23.) Hovenweep National Monument located in Cortez- I added this one because it's worth the drive even though it is Located in Utah but near Cortez, this site has six ruin sites all built around 1200 AD. Hovenweep is 42 miles from Cortez, CO and approximately 48 from Blanding, UT
24.) Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum located in Denver hours of operations are 10am-5pm Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum is Colorado's Official Air & Space Museum. Founded in 1994 and housed at the former Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Wings is dedicated to inspiring, educating and entertaining the public about aviation and space endeavors of the past, present and future. Visitors will find over 50 aircraft on display, thrilling flight simulator experiences and an enrichment program dedicated to the expansion of aerospace education in Colorado. The Museum was also named 2016's best event venue in the Denver Metro by Colorado Meetings + Events Magazine.
25.) Capital Prize Gold Mine Tour located in Georgetown hours of operation are 11M-3PM Most extensive mine tour in Colorado! Visitors can enjoy an easy walk over 1,000 feet into the mountain and see several tunnels. Experience the challenges of working by candle light, view seven of the 17 gold veins discovered, see the machinery and tools and explore a stope. Visitors will also learn about drilling, blasting and mucking and the importance of mining back in the early days of the Wild West. The Capital Prize is still an active mine and visitors will see a modern prospecting operation which includes dredges, sluice boxes, classifiers and shaker tables. Instead of gold panning, you get to mine the real stuff inside our stope and keep what you find!
26.) Animas River Trail located in Durango is by far one of the most beautiful river walks I have ever been on.
27.) Butterfly Pavilion located in Westminster hours of operations are 9am-5pm Butterfly Pavilion has been part of the Colorado community since 1995 and is the first Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited, stand-alone, non-profit invertebrate zoo in the world, currently occupying a 30,000-square foot facility situated on an 11-acre campus. Frolic with 1,600 free-flying tropical butterflies in Wings of the Tropics, hold the famous Rosie the tarantula in the Crawl-A-See-Em, dive into the wonder of the coral reefs and other ocean invertebrates in Water's Edge, and and explore the unique and diverse invertebrate habitats that exist here in Colorado. Our mission is to foster an appreciation of invertebrates by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation. Beyond Colorado, Butterfly Pavilion conservationists are doing important invertebrate conservation projects around the world from Mongolia and Saudi Arabia to Tanzania and Indonesia.
28.) Dinosaur Ridge located in Morrison hours of operation are 9am-4pm This hidden gem is home to numerous fossils from the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods. Explore dinosaur tracks, visit the exhibition hall, and dig for fossils at two play areas. The informative bus tour is highly recommended; otherwise it's an uphill walk for about half of the way. If you opt for the bus, sit on the right side for the best views. Before you leave, stop at the souvenir shop for some affordably priced trinkets.
29.) Frisco Adventure Park for my winter loving friends- The Frisco Adventure Park is minutes from Frisco's charming Main Street, and in the winter, hosts a lift assisted tubing hill and a beginner ski/ride hill, 27k of cross-country ski trails, 8k of snowshoe trails, and horse drawn sleigh rides and dinners. Both the tubing hill and ski/ride hill require reservations, and ski and board lessons are available. A friendly surface lift gets you up the hill right next to a cozy lodge and free parking. Snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals are available at the Nordic Center. Downhill ski and snowboard rentals are not available at the Adventure Park, but there are many rental shops just minutes away in downtown Frisco. During the summer, the Frisco Adventure Park boasts great free amenities including miles of mountain biking/hiking/running trails, a bike park, a skate park, and a 27-hole disc golf course. Chuck wagon rides are also offered, and camping may be booked through the National Forest Service.
30.) South Park CIty Museum located in Fairplay hours of operations are 10am-6pm South Park City is an outside historic museum with 43 original furnished buildings and structures depicting an 1880s-era mining town. The buildings include a church, school, dentist/barber, doctor, coffin-maker, blacksmith, saloon, drug store, general store, homes, train engine and caboose, and other structures that portray life in an early gold mining town in the Colorado Rockies. Visitors can walk into each building, and try out the furniture, play the pianos, ring the school bell, stroll along the boardwalk, and, in the process, get a real feel for life in the Old West.
With so many other amazing things to do while visiting this beautiful state I hope that you take the time to one day visit or if you love there check out some of these amazing places.
I hope that you have enjoyed this week's tour and come back next week for another amazing adventure. Remember to always be kind as it costs nothing and if you see someone without a smile stop and give them yours a smile is contagious.
Written by: Beautifulchaos318
