Colorado Fun – 2019

colorado fun EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GREATER PIKES PEAK REGION & BEYOND

2019 ANNUAL GUIDE

FREE

EDITION

Pg. 36

HOWL AT THE MOON!

TAKE A TOUR AT COLORADO’S WOLF & WILDLIFE CENTER Page 84

Plus: ALTERNATIVE EATS: GLUTEN-FREE & VEGAN FINDS DREAMY & ROMANTIC GETAWAYS AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO COLORADO MUSEUMS

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We are your #1 stop for all of the fun in Cripple Creek. Choose from Bronco Billy’s Casino or the ONLY Christmas Casino in Colorado for your gaming pleasure! With over 880 slot machines, PLUS Blackjack, Craps, Roulette and 3-Card Poker you’ll always find a seat waiting for you.

We’ll keep the excitement going with our GREAT PROMOTIONS and JACKPOTS that tally LIVE as they hit for all to see! We paid out over $38 Million in JACKPOTS in 2018 and we want to beat that amount in 2019.

Satisfy any craving you may have at one of our 5 Restaurants; Home Café, Baja Billy’s Cantina, The Crippled Cow, Rudy’s Diner and our fine dining restaurant The Steakhouse. We are proud to be voted “BEST CASINO” 7 years in a row! Whether your looking to experience the JOY of winning in our Christmas Casino or in traditional casino setting of Bronco Billy’s Casino, we look forward to meeting you! For over 27 years we are known as “Cripple Creek’s Lucky Casino”, stop in to see why we still players from day 1 still play with us!

at Bronco Billy’s

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broncobillyscasino.com 233 E. Bennett Ave Cripple Creek CO

A few other exciting events being hosted at PPIR August 17 & 18

July 26-27-28

www.thextremexperience.com

www.grid.life.com

Discount code THROTTLE

August 2-3-4

www.peoplestinyhousefestival.com

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August 2 & 3

www.simplyvintagemarket.com

16650 Midway Ranch Road, Fountain, CO • I-25 at Exit 122

We had a little fun with Pikes Peak International Raceway’s (PPIR’s) Director of Sales, Dana Kahlhamer, with a Q&A session, about PPIR’s most frequently asked questions: just for you! Another great addition for 2019 is our Off The Street Drags series. This series is offered on select Saturdays between April and October. The cost is just $25 for unlimited runs in your street legal car or motorcycle!

It’s a great way to get off the street and avoid the heat!

What are all of those cars parked near PPIR? In a nutshell, we have a client who rented the land, to store cars. But, it really is fun to hear people give it their best guess!

PPIR is open? Why YES, YES IT IS! The current ownership purchased the property in 2009. It was closed for a period, from 2003-2008 but has been open consistently since then.

Prior to 2017, we mainly hosted participatory motorsports events, but, in 2017, we started hosting our own Signature Events, and that’s when things got really exciting!

What do you do down there? The answer is more like what DON’T we do! We are a very busy team, putting together a wide variety of events, ranging from weddings, to corporate events, to large scale Signature Events. Our Drive 365 Corporate & Team Building Program is customizable for groups of 10-200+. We offer a menu of driving events, as well as great banquet & meeting space so you can conduct business and sprinkle in a little fun at the same time. We also have a very popular Time Attack series, sponsored by Heuberger Motors. The series occurs once a month, from February through October, ten events take place in various configurations on the infield road course. Courses are designed for drivers of all skill levels to test and sharpen their skills in their own vehicles. We offer 9 different vehicle classes, single driver and team components and an end of season banquet and awards, which is always a great time!

In 2018, we averaged 226 Time Attack Drivers each month, in vehicles ranging from Geo Metros, to C10 pick ups, to McLarens, and everything in between. It is a very diverse, fun and supportive group to be affiliated with. We also offer our Performance Driving Xperience (PDX) several times each year. PDX offers open lapping and track day training programs for drivers of all skill levels. Whether you are a seasoned racer, or completely new to performance driving and curious what your car is capable of, in a safe and controlled environment-PDX has a program designed

When will you host a NASCAR race? We will not host large spectator races at PPIR. We have a different business model, that doesn’t include hosting just a few large events per year, and instead, filling our schedule with more consistent and participatory programs, to appeal to a wider audience, throughout the entire year.

Why haven’t we heard more about what happens at PPIR? There are a few reasons for this. Up until 2017, a lot of our events were track rentals, meaning the events were smaller and targeted to certain groups and audiences.

Since we started hosting our own large scale events in 2017, we have been making strides to get the word out about all of the great things we offer. We have an amazing group of fans, supporters and sponsors who are helping to reintroduce us to the community. Our Signature Events are described as “carnivals for gearheads” and they have a bit of a 3 ring circus feel, in a good way! Our events are family friendly and offer drag racing, great live music, camping and other festival components, that will leave you ready to get your ticket to the next event!

Please visit www.PPIR.com for the most up to date information regarding our full schedule of events.

Get more smiles per gallon at PPIR in 2019!

16650 Midway Ranch Road, Fountain, CO • I-25 at Exit 122

Letter from

the Publisher

Welcome to our annual 2019/2020 edition of Colorado Fun, your definitive guide for things to do, places to see, events to attend, trips to take and everything else that’s exciting and fun in the greater Pikes Peak Region and the Front Range.

Comprising an area larger than many eastern states, the region includes bustling cities, quiet towns, secluded wilderness areas, and free-flowing rivers.

You can take a trip on a restored historic railroad, climb Pikes Peak, enjoy music festivals, raft the Arkansas, enjoy award-winning craft beer and spirits, eat amazing local food – and that’s just a start. Try visiting Cripple Creek, a town built on gold and gaming where gentle wild donkeys amble down the streets, descended from the burros that worked in the mines a century earlier.

Visitors are often surprised by the region’s variety and diversity. We’re home to some of mostly highly rated colleges and universities in the country, including Colorado College and the United States Air Force Academy, as well as unmatched museums and performance venues. Don’t miss the rollicking melodramas at the Iron Springs Chateau in Manitou, the Butte Theater in Cripple Creek, or the exhibitions and performances at Pueblo’s Sangre de Cristo Arts Center. In Colorado Springs, be sure to visit the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College and the grandly situated downtown Pioneers Museum, one of the finest local history museums in the West. And take a look at the spectacular new Ent Center for the Arts at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

We cover the Front Range from Denver to Trinidad, focusing on the greater Pikes Peak Region. Try following the Arkansas River to Pueblo as it flows southward through Buena Vista, Salida, Cañon City, and Florence – it’s one of many amazing adventures that our region offers to residents and visitors alike. And if you’re tempted to stay, welcome! Thanks to our vibrant regional economy, putting down roots here has never been easier.

So enjoy, appreciate and most of all have fun!

Our Team PUBLISHER Karen Hazlehurst EDITOR Gillian Sheehan ART DIRECTION Neon Pig Creative COVER ILLUSTRATION Laura Tiller EVENTS & LISTINGS Gillian Sheehan EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Kelly Branyik Jewels Burdick Melody Buschur “Hiking Bob” Falcone JL Fields Kevin Fox John Hazlehurst Julie Martin Sunich Caitlin Murphy Eric Ramsey Zach Reynolds Gillian Sheehan Lindsay Tallman Julie Warren PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORS Kelly Branyik Jewels Burdick Melody Buschur ColoradoSpringsStock.com “Hiking Bob” Falcone Kevin Fox Greg Heil Kevin Lesniewski Jesus Lozoya Caitlin Murphy Jennifer Panko Sam Quintana Zach Reynolds Gillian Sheehan Julie Warren DESIGN TEAM Laura Cameron Colin Christie Clint Hager Mike O’Caña Laura Tiller ADVERTISING SALES Karen Hazlehurst Mel Murray ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Kristie Stevens PRINTING Publication Printers DISTRIBUTION Certified Folder INQUIRIES Karen@ColoradoFunGuide.com

ADVERTISE ON OUR WEBSITE! IT’S EASY! CLICK ON THE “ADVERTISING” TAB, SELECT THE AD SIZE AND LENGTH OF TIME YOU’D LIKE TO RUN, AND UPLOAD AND PAY. YOUR AD WILL INSTANTLY APPEAR ON THE SITE. COLORADOFUNGUIDE.COM 10

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FOLLOW THE JOURNEY: ON FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM READ MORE STORIES: COLORADOFUNGUIDE.COM/BLOG

Contents ///////////////////////////////////////

14 22 28 47 56 64 79 93

A STROLL DOWN TEJON STREET

FOUR SEASONS OF SIPPING THE UNSUNG HEROES OF COLORADO TRAILS PIKES PEAK REGIONAL ART GALLERIES WILL TRAVEL FOR VEGAN SWEETS

CANNABIS FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES

SNOWBOARDING AMERICA’S MOUNTAIN

Feature Articles

COLORADO: YOUR UNLIKELY WATERPARK

Page 36

ALTERNATIVE EATS: GLUTEN-FREE & VEGAN FINDS

Page 58

DREAMY & ROMANTIC GETAWAYS

Page 70

AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO COLORADO MUSEUMS

/////////////////////////////////////// FLY FISHING THE FRONT RANGE BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE BIKE RIDES IN THE PIKES PEAK REGION A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A COLORADO DOG HIKING COLORADO’S ALPINE LAKES

DONKEY DERBY DAYS

COLORADO COFFEE CULTURE

BEAUTIFUL SHOPS IN HISTORIC SPACES

96 105 109 116 120 126 130

Q &As

THE REBIRTH OF PUEBLO

“HIKING BOB” FALCONE 33

Page 86

MICHAEL GARMAN 52 CARL BORK & KAREN WATKINS 128

Photo credits from top: Sunwater Spa (Kelly Branyik) / Monse’s Pupuseria / Holden House (Kelly Branyik) / Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College (Chuck Bigger, Courtesy of the Fine Arts Center)

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Photo by Julia Palomino / Courtesy of VisitCOS

Colorado Springs Sitting at the foot of Pikes Peak, there is no shortage of outdoor activities and events in this beautiful city.

May 2019 Pikes Peak Birding & Nature Festival May 17-19

For novice and lifetime bird enthusiasts alike. pikespeakbirdingandnaturefestival.org

Run to the Shrine May 18

A 4-mile course that curves through the zoo. cmzoo.org

MeadowGrass Music Festival May 24-26

One of Colorado’s most eclectic music festivals. rockymoutainhighway.org

Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and Parade July 10-13 Championship rodeo is coming to town. pikespeakorbust.org

Blues Under the Bridge July 13

Blues music under the Colorado Avenue bridge. bluesunderthebridge.org

Colorado Springs PrideFest July 13-14

Celebrate progress towards inclusivity. cospridefest.com

Rocky Mountain State Games July 19-21 & 26-28

June 2019

Colorado’s largest multi-sport festival. rockymountainstategames.org

US Roller Speed Skating American Championship June 11-16

Springs Beer Fest July 20

Coming to Xfinity Roller Sports Arena. usrollerspeedskating.com

Pikes Peak Celtic Festival June 14-16

Bagpipes, fish & chips, Irish dancers, and more. pikespeakcelticfestival.com

Fiddles, Vittles, and Vino June 16

Sip wine and listen to bluegrass melodies. fiddlesvittlesandvino.com

Western Street Breakfast June 19

Western heritage in a family-friendly gathering. cswesternstreetbreakfast.com

Pikes Peak Airstrip Attack June 22-23

Half-mile side-by-side trap speed racing event. pikespeakairstripattack.com

Throw Down Axe Festival June 28-30

Join competitive axe throwers. worldaxethrowingleague.com

July 2019 Colorado Springs Art & Music Festival July 6-7

National and local fine artists with live music. coloradoeventsandfestivals.com

September 2019 Gala Celebration Showcasing the Arts Sept. 7 Kicks off the year’s programming offerings. fac.coloradocollege.edu

What If… Sept. 14

A festival of innovation and imagination. whatif-festival.org

Colorado Springs Marathon Sept. 28

Includes Marathon, Half, 5K & Kids K. thecoloradospringsmarathon.com

October 2019 Boo at the Zoo Oct. 18-20, 25-27, & 31

Beer from over 50 breweries, and food vendors. springsbeerfest.com

The region’s most unique Halloween event. cmzoo.org

August 2019

December 2019

People’s Tiny House Festival Aug. 2-4

Festival of Lights Parade Dec. 7

Full-exhibit of all facets of simpler living. peoplestinyhousefestival.com

USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships Aug. 8-11

The country’s best riders will compete. usacycling.org

Steers and Beers Whiskey and Beer Festival Aug. 18

Hundreds of brews and whiskeys to sample. steersandbeersbrewfest.com

Colorado Springs Comic Con Aug. 23-25

Entertainment and comic convention. cscomiccon.com

Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off Aug. 31-Sept. 2

Hot air balloons, skydiving demos, and more. coloradospringslabordayliftoff.com

Local tradition in downtown Colorado Springs. coloradospringsfestivaloflights.com

Reoccurring Events First Friday Downtown May 30-Aug. 1

Art, music, walking and biking tours, and more. downtowncs.com

Sunday Food & Makers Market June 2-July 28 Sundays at Acacia Park. madeformoreproject.org

Tails, Tastes & Tunes July 25 & Aug. 29

Adult only event at the Zoo. cmzoo.org

Skate in the Park November-January

Outdoor ice skating at Acacia Park. downtowncs.com

Holidays Downtown December

Selfies with Santa, Holiday Stroll, and more. downtowncs.com

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Tejon Street in Downtown Colorado Springs, with The Antlers Hotel in the background Photo by ColoradoSpringsStock.com 14

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T

he first stake of the city of Colorado Springs was driven on Monday, July 31, 1871. The city’s founder, General William Palmer, was not present. His close associate, General James Cameron, represented him at the ceremony. The latter was something of a fabulist, given to extravagant claims and fanciful oratory.

“Inspired by a jigger or two of whisky,” wrote Marshall Sprague in his engaging history of Colorado Springs, Newport in the Rockies, “the General launched into a speech.”

Never mind that the city site was treeless, bleak and brown. Cameron declared, “Fruit trees will blanket these glorious hills, next to the noble Cache la Poudre.”

The whisky had taken its toll.

Cameron had forgotten his lines, confusing Colorado Springs with another startup city, Union Colony, which was in fact bordered by the Cache la Poudre River.

But never mind — it was time to name the streets of the new city. General Palmer’s spouse Queen had suggested that the north-south streets be named after western mountain ranges. It’s impossible to know how General Cameron came up with Tejon Street.

It was probably derived from Tejon Pass, located in southern California at the southwest end of the Tehachapi Mountains. Almost 150 years later, it doesn’t matter — Cameron’s eccentric and notably ill-informed list of names has endured and Tejon Street is the beating heart of today’s vibrant western city.

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Of the principal north-south streets, Tejon may have been something of an afterthought. Cascade and Nevada were conceived as stately residential boulevards, and the first stake was driven at the intersection of Cascade and Pikes Peak, a block west of Tejon. Nonetheless, Tejon quickly became the principal commercial thoroughfare, featuring shops and enterprises of all kinds, with the exception of bars, liquor stores, distilleries, and breweries. General Palmer’s puritanical little city was dry, but commerce quickly solved that problem. Drug stores along Tejon sold “medicinal” alcohol, while anyone who wanted a quick snort could drop a coin into the “Magic Wheel” at the corner of Pikes Peak and Tejon. Rotate the wheel, and an unseen hand would spin it back, replacing your coin with a jigger of whisky.

Bounded by Penrose Hospital to the north, Tejon extends for approximately 4.5 miles through the historic core of Colorado Springs. It includes one of the country’s bestpreserved Victorian residential neighborhoods, a nationally renowned liberal arts college, three gorgeous 19th and early 20th century churches, a delightfully walkable downtown core, and mixed-use enclaves south of the core. It’s fun, safe, and easy to visit, but beware! It’s hard to leave. Unless you’re careful, you’ll be tempted join the thousands of folks who come for a week and stay for a lifetime.

The Old North End Historic District Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, this largely Victorian neighborhood includes hundreds of homes. At the turn of the 19th century, Tejon north of Colorado College was a tree-lined street of spacious two and threestory homes interspersed with cottages and bungalows, home to attorneys, bankers, businesspeople, and college professors. A hundred and twenty years later, it hasn’t changed. It’s a warm, family-centric neighborhood that has fended off commercial intrusion for 70 years, thanks to passionate residents and preservationists.

For a walking tour, park near the intersection of Tejon and Fontanero and head south for three or four blocks. The historic neighborhood extends to the east and west as well, so check out adjacent streets, particularly Cascade and Wood, where you’ll see grand mansions from the Gold Rush days.

Photo by Jesus Lozoya COLORADO FUN

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the most distinguished performing and visual arts centers in the West.

You can also continue down Tejon for another couple of blocks and take in the Gothic splendor of the 1926 Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church at 601 N. Tejon St. and the Richardsonian Romanesque 1889 First Congregational Church at St. Vrain and Tejon.

Colorado College and North Downtown Colorado College sits squarely athwart Tejon Street for three blocks, so drive down Cascade or Nevada to Cache la Poudre (and yes, General Cameron named it after the river that he had mistakenly cited in his 1871 speech).

Park along Tejon, and you can either wander north and tour the Colorado College campus or head south.

Tired? You’ve only just begun. Find a parking place around Boulder and Tejon, and consider your options.

In the four blocks between Boulder and Pikes Peak, there are dozens of bars, restaurants, cool shops, and fun stops. We’re fond of the Wild Goose Meeting House at Boulder and Tejon, Odyssey Gastropub on the east side of Tejon between Boulder and Platte, and Tony’s, a cheerfully noisy bar on the west side of the street.

If you choose the second option, don’t miss the 1893 All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, a block south of Cache la Poudre at the intersection of Tejon and Dale.

Admire its shingle-style architecture, and then head one block west to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, one of

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You might explore the Poor Richard’s complex, also on the west side of the street. It’s an unlikely but somehow perfect grouping of four businesses under the same ownership — a restaurant, a toy store, a wine bar, and a bookstore.

Launched almost 40 years ago as Poor Richard’s Feed & Read by recent Colorado College grad Richard Skorman, the

Photo by Jesus Lozoya

businesses have grown, thrived, and matured along with their owner. The once-ponytailed young progressive is now the president of the Colorado Springs City Council, and the food, wine, books, and toys are better than ever. Have a seat at Rico’s Café and Wine Bar, order a glass and try a slice of the New York pizza.

Downtown The downtown core extends from Platte to Vermijo. Amble on down the west side of Tejon to Bijou, cross the street and walk half a block west to the alley for one of downtown’s newest

Poor Richard’s Downtown boasts food, drinks, books, and toys.

Photo Courtesy of Poor Richard’s

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neighbor when the 27-unit Casa Mundi opens. Crandall says that he sought to create “a communityminded business that combined his fascination with mechanical engineering, his dedication to fitness, and his passion for environmentalism.” He’s remained true to his original vision, and today’s dedicated bike lanes on Weber and Cascade make biking in our busy downtown easier and safer.

bars — Shame & Regret. It opens at 4 p.m., and features a sweet late night vibe, with a dark wood bar and what one patron called the “sexy secret feel of the place whispering in the shadows.”

But before you hit the bars and restaurants, don’t forget to visit the shops. Feeling inadequately shod? You might stop at Podiatryst Shoe Salon at 113 N. Tejon. They’ve got what you need for a fun evening — in men’s sizes 4-14, and women’s sizes 5-16.

Three of our downtown favorites are a block south at Kiowa and Tejon — The Famous Steakhouse, Bonny & Read Fresh Steak and Seafood, and The Rabbit Hole.

Accessible from a sidewalk entrance patterned after a stop on the Paris Metro, The Rabbit Hole calls itself a “late-night New American haunt crafting creative bites and cocktails in a sleek, subterranean space.” The two neighboring eateries are clearly best in class in the city. Reservations are recommended at The Famous and Bonny and Read, especially on weekend evenings. Lunch and drinks at the bar are usually less crowded.

Another block south and you’re at Pikes Peak Avenue.

The Magic Wheel is long gone (alas!), but it remains a lively area. A block to the west is the Antlers Hotel, with multiple bars and restaurants, while to the east is the magnificently restored Mining Exchange, now

Photo by Jesus Lozoya

A little farther south, the 19th century trolley barns on the 500 block have been freshly renovated

a four-star boutique hotel. Try the lobby bar, or sample the authentic Cajun cuisine at Springs Orleans next door.

South Downtown Explosion The Pioneers Museum, situated on a landscaped city block bounded

by Tejon and Vermijo, was originally the El Paso County Courthouse. Its Victorian majesty contrasts with the lively renovation underway in south downtown. As we point out in another article, the museum is well worth a visit!

Atomic Cowboy

Photo by Jesus Lozoya

As of early spring of 2019, 211 new apartment units were under construction along the South Tejon corridor. Plans are well advanced for a 255 room Marriott-branded hotel two blocks south of the museum, as are those for Kinship Landing, a multiuse residential development a block west on Nevada.

by a Denver-based investment group and now house half a dozen linked bars and restaurants, including Atomic Cowboy (also home to Fat Sully’s Pizza and Denver Biscuit Company), and Frozen Gold, a soft-serve ice cream bar. In this rejuvenated part of town, you can also grab a taco at Dos Santos, dinner at Streetcar520, or a swank sip at Cork & Cask.

The lovely 1909 bowstring truss building that has housed John Crandall’s Old Town Bike Shop since 1996 will soon have a

The time has come — lace up your walking shoes and head out for a charming stroll down Tejon Street, at the core of our city.

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A rendering of the U.S. Olympic Museum Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Olympic Museum

Beyond Tejon Olympic City USA will expand past the city core to showcase the world’s great athletes.

BY JOHN HAZLEHURST

Now slated to open in early 2020, well before the beginning of the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games on July 24, the $75 million United States Olympic Museum has been touted as a game changer for the southwest downtown area.

It’s expected to be both a major visitor attraction and a community center, hosting Olympic-related events in what may be the most accessible museum ever constructed. Colorado Springs community leaders are confident that the surrounding area will quickly activate, as major hotel, residential, and sports facilities are already poised to break ground.

The unique design of the U.S. Olympic Museum is credited to its architects at the Diller Scofidio + Renfro studio. This New York firm also designed the Shed, the widely-acclaimed $500 million cultural center in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards that opened on April 5 of this year. The 65,750- square-foot U.S. Olympic Museum promises to be just as extraordinary.

“The dynamic building form is inspired by the energy and grace of Olympians in competition,” according to the architects. As stated by Architect Magazine, “the

design idealizes athletic motion by organizing its programs — galleries, auditorium, and administrative spaces — twisting and stretching centrifugally around an atrium space. Visitors arrive at the ground level of the atrium, and then ascend to the top of the building quickly and gradually spiral down through a sequence of loft galleries, moving back and forth from the introspective atrium to the building’s perimeter and views to the city and the mountains. The museum and the landscape are designed to form a new public plaza, nestling a distant view of Pikes Peak and an intersecting axis bridging downtown across the train tracks to America the Beautiful Park to the west.”

WELCOME TO

Delicious

VISIT YOUR LOCAL CULVER’S RESTAURANT: Culver’s of Colorado Springs 1140 Lake Plaza Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 719-473-9707 © 2018 Culver Franchising System, LLC. 07/18

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We believe in visionaries who can turn skyscrapers into mountains. Adventure seekers whose “rush hour” is only as slow as the fastest zip line. Where ambition isn’t “climbing the ladder,” it’s scaling the wall. We don’t believe in tourists.

We believe in explorers.

Explorers Welcome.

VisitCOS.com

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"

We dream big for our family both now and for the future . The Arc PPR's educational advocate helped ensure everybody understood the language during our IEP meeting, while accommodating all of our long-term goals.

-Educational advocacy client, The Arc Pikes Peak Region

"

Learn more about The Arc PPR's in-progress, 100% accessible, life-skills resource center for people with intellectual & developmental disabilities and their families: Building for Change, at thearcppr.org/building-for-change thearcppr.org | (719) 471-4800 10 N. Meade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80909

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Four Seasons of Sipping Innovative Cocktails in Colorado Springs Do you consider yourself an adventurous drinker? Are you looking to up your cocktail game? Well, my friend, you’ve come to the right place. The cocktail bar culture scene is alive and well in Colorado Springs. The lines have blurred between mixologists and bartenders; not only are these imaginative entrepreneurs blending elixirs and pouring pretty concoctions, but they are also creating wellbalanced experiences for patrons.

We’ve put together an innovative list of drinks from some of our favorite Colorado Springs haunts.

While we’ve sorted each libation based on seasonal appropriateness, feel free to indulge in any of these selections whenever you get the urge to shake up your life.

Words by: Gillian Sheehan Photos by: Julie Warren and Gillian Sheehan

Spring

These invigorating mixtures are derived with refreshment in mind, reminding us that winter thankfully isn’t forever.

Awkward Love Child Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• D Los Altos blanco tequila • Cointreau

The Wobbly Olive | $13 • Green Chartreuse • Fresh lime juice • Housemade strawberry cordial

Why You’ll Love It Fruity and floral, with well-balanced sass, this pretty blush-colored potion flourishes with just a hint of sweetness. Spring fever has hit, and love is in the air.

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Kombucha Honey Mule Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• Vodka • Fresh lime • Honey

Coquette’s Bistro | $12 • Athena’s Goblet ginger kombucha

Why You’ll Love It This komboozie puts a lighter spin on a traditional mule, and will leave you wishing for one more.

The honey and ginger team up for a little sugar and spice.

Adelaide

Cork & Cask | $9

Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• Lunetta Prosecco • Crème de rose • Fresh citrus

• Peychaud’s bitters

Why You’ll Love It Tart and elegant, this bubbly invention delivers a rejuvenating zing accompanied with a just touch of feistiness. Try to not smile as you sip this drink.

Summer

Whether you’re chilling by the pool, day drinking on your well-deserved holiday, or enjoying a sweet summer night on the town, we’ve got something to match your unique style.

Booze with News

Axe and the Oak | $10

Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• Red bell pepper juice • Lemon juice

• Jalapeno-cilantro Hill Shine • Fennel bitters

• Cardamom liqueur • Honey • Sea salt

Why You’ll Love It Swap your vodka-tomato pairing for red bell pepper juice spiked with shine.

This vibrant cocktail fuses multiple flavors into a surprisingly tasty blend.

Akira

Alchemy | $950

Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• Vodka • Cilantro • Coconut

• Ginger • Sriracha

Why You’ll Love It The Caribbean-inspired flavors of this unusual yet delicious blend will bring your tropical escape to life, without all the sugar. Bon voyage!

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COLORADO SPRINGS

Shiso-Jito J-Type

Chiba Bar | $10

Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• Bombay Sapphire East gin • Shiso leaf

• Lychee • Yuzu

Why You’ll Love It Forget that Mojito — this Japanese inspired medley might just become your new favorite.

The spicy shiso leaf beautifully balances out the sweet and citrus flavors.

Fall

As the temperature (and the leaves) begin to drop, many people seek comfort in rich, thick, warming flavors.

The Mother

The Burrowing Owl | $5

Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• Benchmark whiskey • Apple cider vinegar • Agave nectar

Why You’ll Love It Simple in composition yet intricate in flavor, this innovative recipe will have you wondering why you’ve never paired whiskey with apple cider vinegar before.

Cimarron

The Archives | $13

Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• Sotol • Lime • Sugar

• Blackberries • Sage

Why You’ll Love It A spirit sourced from a Mexican desert plant, sotol differs from tequila in that it has a mellower, lightly smoky profile. This libation is both complex and delicious.

Don Giovanni

The Principal’s Office | $11

Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• Spring 44 Vodka • Campari • Demerara

• Frangelico • Espresso

Why You’ll Love It Unlike the typical hot, boozy after-dinner drink, this frothy brew is served cold.

Equally bitter and smooth, its coffee-forward nature will put some pep in your step.

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Winter

As you sit by the fireside and still can’t quite shake your chill, look to one of these appealing cocktails to warm you from the inside out.

Cactus Flower

Brooklyn’s on Boulder St. | $10

Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• Lee Sprits Co. barrel stave gin • Lillet

• Lee Sprits Co. Ginfuego • Aperitivo

• Luxardo maraschino cherry • Agave nectar

Why You’ll Love It With a dual gin-base, the rich, oaky barrel stave flavors provide a mellow front while the Ginfuego (gin + “fire”) adds a warming kick to this creative cocktail.

The White Rabbit

The Rabbit Hole | $12

Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• Vanilla vodka • Coconut rum

• Dash of cream • Flaming marshmallow

Why You’ll Love It The playful presentation of The Rabbit Hole’s signature martini is a great reflection of the fun flavors that you’ll taste on your first sip.

Tobacco Old-Fashioned Scorecard

Ingredients

Taste Presentation Originality

• Tobacco • Bourbon • Maple syrup

Axe and the Oak | $10 • Bitters

Why You’ll Love It Served in a glass smoked with oak, the tobacco twist on this timeless classic will have you convinced that old dogs can indeed learn new tricks.

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Without a doubt, Colorado has its fair share of outdoor activities. Many of the nature lovers who enjoy its numerous parks, forests, and trails are oblivious, however, to what it takes to make this form of outdoor recreation possible for all. The average person does not witness the myriad people and organizations endeavoring behind the scenes to support trail development and maintenance.

While all of the public lands fall under the purview of some government entity, much of the work that enables trails to be built or maintained is done – and often, even funded – by some kind of volunteer or nonprofit organization. The public land managers, whether they be federal (such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or National Park Service) state, county, or local governments, admit that they do not have the resources, especially manpower, to match the effects of an increasing permanent population and the rising numbers of visitors. Furthermore, when you include the work that needs to be done to fix trail damage resulting from natural causes such as fire or water, the land managers are often unable to keep up. Financially speaking, the land managers are often not adequately funded to create new recreation opportunities.

Colorado. According to Seel, many grants for trail building projects are sought out by volunteer groups who either do the work themselves or who use the money to hire trail construction companies.

Sometimes, a project is tackled by a combination of volunteers and commercial companies. Regardless of who completes the job, Seel says that it’s often volunteers who are the driving force behind the planning, coordination, funding, and construction.

created the Wilderness Act, a law which sets aside national forest lands to remain unspoiled by humans.

According to Mach, CMC members often join one of the group’s chapters to learn about mountaineering or to go hiking, and then become involved in the group’s advocacy or trail work. In 2018, CMC members and volunteers contributed several hundred volunteer hours on trail projects in the Pikes Peak region. For example, they built 1.3 miles of new trail, designed 8.5 miles of trail that is

So, who are the individuals and groups who make outdoor recreation possible in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado?

The Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) is a statewide organization founded in 1912, making it one of The effort put forth by volunteers does not go unnoticed. the oldest outdoor recreation groups in scheduled to be built in 2019, erected the country. In addition to working 1,500 feet of fencing, and installed with government agencies and signs to prevent damaging off-trail other groups to build and maintain use. In support of these projects, the trails, the club also has a long CMC received more than $30,000 in history of training its members in grants and nearly $4,000 of in-kind safe mountaineering and hiking. contributions from its volunteers.

According to Julie Mach, the CMC’s Rob Seel, a Trails Coordinator for Conservation Director, the group With a full-time paid staff of only six Colorado Parks and Wildlife, was instrumental in the creation of people and about a dozen seasonal affirms that volunteer groups “bring Rocky Mountain National Park and employees, the Colorado Springsthe energy” to trail development in contributed to the legislation that based Rocky Mountain Field The average person does not witness Institute (RMFI) includes volunteers in its mission statement, which the myriad people and organizations upholds that it is dedicated to the endeavoring behind the scenes to support “conservation and stewardship of trail development and maintenance. public lands […] through volunteerCOLORADO FUN

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based trail and restoration projects, According to Peterson, the typical Within the Pikes Peak area mountain environmental education, and RMFI volunteer shares their passion biking community, no single group restoration research.” The 37-yearfor the outdoors with the organization is more active in promoting cycling old organization has earned a and with other volunteers. In and in helping to build new trails reputation in the Pikes Peak region collaboration with other volunteer than the Medicine Wheel Trail for supporting local, state, and federal groups and the City of Colorado Advocates. According to Medicine land managers by building trails, Springs, RMFI hosts annual Crew Wheel president Cory Sutela, the alltraining volunteers, rehabilitating Leader training, in which volunteers volunteer group contributes hundreds fire or flood damaged land, and learn the basics of trail building, of man-hours each year for trail more. According to data supplied by repair, and maintenance. Once construction and maintenance. They RMFI’s Volunteer and Partnership certified, crew leaders work together have built approximately 30 Coordinator Molly Mazel, the miles of trails in the Pikes Peak organization has worked on region, notably in places like 30 distinct project worksites Red Rock Canyon Open Space in Colorado and Utah since and North Cheyenne Cañon people volunteering to work on 1982. In fact, 30,000 people Park. Their most recent project RMFI projects since 1982 --------------------------------------------have volunteered to work on was the ambitious completion RMFI projects, for a combined of Lake Moraine Trail on Pikes total of more than 322,000 Peak. The 4-mile trail, which volunteer hours volunteer man-hours. The took 20 years of political and --------------------------------------------organization has constructed bureaucratic maneuvering more than more than 100 miles of trails, before construction planted thousands of trees commenced, connects two miles of trails constructed and saplings, and transplanted parts of Pikes Peak that were trees in hundreds of thousands separated by the Pikes Peak of square feet of damaged Cog Railway and Colorado land since its inception. The people with land managers to plan trail Springs Utilities land. The trail who volunteer with RMFI “recognize projects, and subsequently lead other connects the Barr Trail to Jones Park their role in getting things done,” as volunteers to carry out the plans. The on the southwest side of Colorado stated by Executive Director Jennifer training of volunteers in professional, Springs by crossing the railway and Peterson. She credits volunteers for modern trail building techniques then by winding its way through a recognizing that trails don’t get built serves as a force multiplier in that it portion of the utilities department’s by themselves, and she acknowledges allows manpower strapped agencies property. Hikers, cyclists, runners, that without volunteers, RMFI to accomplish projects that may not and equestrians can now start, for wouldn’t exist as an organization. otherwise get done. example, at the Elk Park Trail at tree line on the Pikes Peak Highway, and, through a series of trails connected by Volunteers are not just individuals who selflessly donate their time, but they are also part of a team with a greater purpose. the Lake Moraine Trail, end at up near Bear Creek Park. From experience, I can attest that it’s a 22-mile hike.

30,000

322,000+ 100

Medicine Wheel accomplished the Lake Moraine Trail project by applying for grants, setting up endless meetings, fundraising, hiring contractors, and hosting work days during which volunteers did the hand 30

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The people who volunteer with RMFI recognize their role in

getting things done.

Abbott, the Parks and Open Space Supervisor for Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services.

Volunteering increases self-confidence and provides a natural sense of accomplishment.

labor grunt work. Given that no land manager was interested in connecting the gap in the trails system on Pikes Peak, the project would not have come to fruition without the leadership of this volunteer organization.

The collaborative effort put forth by volunteers does not go unnoticed or unappreciated by the public land managers. “Volunteer effort in the Pikes Peak region is a great human resource to tap, in regard to creating opportunities and finding a common bond between land managers and recreational enthusiasts. Giving time and effort in order to help resource managers foster a stewardship ethic is not only important to protect the land, but also because of what it does for the individual or group. Residents and visitors to the Pikes Peak region have numerous choices in which to place their energy and that can pay dividends to the spirit, far and above a simple walk in the woods,” said Scott

The various public land managers also benefit from “Friends” groups, volunteer organizations formed to help their favorite parks. Many of the parks in Colorado Springs and El Paso County have a friends group that provides support to the parks department. Some groups exist as fundraising teams that collaborate with park managers to identify and raise money for projects requiring financial support, while other groups exist to provide volunteer labor, such as trail building and maintenance, or visitor center staffing. These groups work on a small, hyperlocal scale, putting forth their efforts to support just one park, and they do so by enlisting the support of people who frequent or who are neighbors of the park. Over the course of several years, The Friends of Cheyenne Cañon raised over $100,000 to fund the construction of a brand-new visitor center at Helen Hunt Falls in Colorado Springs’ North Cheyenne Cañon Park. A few years later, the same group funded a $20,000 project to reroute a dangerous, eroded trail to the summit of Mount Muscoco.

The peak, the highest within the boundaries of any city park in Colorado Springs, is very popular with visitors and locals alike.

Some volunteers are more involved in decision-making roles. Both Colorado Springs and El Paso County have Park Advisory

-JENNIFER PETERSON Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Field Institute

Boards, composed of volunteers that represent the community and serve to advise city council or county commissioners on matters relating to parks, trails, cultural services, etc. The boards meet monthly; they take questions and comments from the public and listen to proposals from the parks department staff on projects or recommendations regarding how a developer will incorporate parks and open spaces into a proposed development. In turn, these boards then make recommendations to their elected officials, who have the final say in the matters presented to them. The boards serve as the voice of the community and are important in ensuring that citizens have a say in the recreational opportunities made available to them.

So, who are the unsung heroes who make outdoor recreation possible in the Pikes Peak region? Well, to quote an old poem, they are the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker.

They are also the cyclist, the hiker, the runner, and the equestrian. They are the parents who want a place to take their kids. They are people like me, like you, like your next-door neighbor, and like the small-business owner. They are Colorado natives as well as transplants to the state. The people who make outdoor recreation possible in Colorado and the Pikes Peak region come from all walks of life, and what they have in common is a love of the outdoors.

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unforgettable adventures! spectacular views!

Q

WITH

WITH “HIKING BOB” HB: Everything I write about is based on firsthand experience. People can trust that what I’ve written FALCONE is legitimate because I’ve actually hiked it versus

just interviewing someone who’s hiked it. Social media and apps aren’t always reliable because they sometimes compile information from multiple sources, some of which can be unverified. I always map my exact path with GPS and give very detailed information. The guide also includes proper planning recommendations. The guide is great because it’s based on the distance from Colorado Springs, and thus people can easily identify a hike that will fit their timeframe.

Interview by: Jewels Burdick We sat down with Colorado Springs resident Bob Falcone, affectionately known as Hiking Bob. An avid hiker, outdoorsman, professional photographer, and retired firefighter, he is also the Chair for the El Paso County Parks Advisory Board, as well as a past president, current board member, and volunteer for the Friends of Cheyenne Cañon. Bob is certified in trail building and is actively involved in public education of our trails. Additionally, he has been appointed to the committee at the City Parks Department responsible for allocating sales tax revenue for open spaces in Colorado Springs. Look for Hiking Bob’s second book about hiking to Colorado’s alpine lakes, due out this spring.

Q

How did you embark on this adventurous lifestyle?

Hiking Bob (HB): I’ve always been active outdoors. Being active has led me to going on great hikes and to capturing the moment in photos. These two things complement each other. In turn, that brought me to writing for newspapers and magazines. I really wanted to share my enjoyment for the great outdoors and one way to do that was to start cataloging my hikes, which resulted in my first book.

Q HB:

Q HB:

What differentiates this book from other available hiking guides?

What’s the name of your first book and where can people find it?

It’s called Hiking Bob’s Tips, Trips, and Trails: A Guide to Hiking in Colorado’s Pikes Peak Region. It’s available as a digital download for $6 or as a hard copy for $20 on my website.

Q

What kind of trails can people expect to find in this book?

HB: This is a guide to my favorite hikes. These aren’t the typical hikes that you might find in most city or county parks. Many people may have heard of some of these trails, but may be unsure of the details (i.e., trailhead location, trail conditions, distance from Colorado Springs, etc.) All of this helpful information is included for each hike. My hope is that both visitors and locals with get out and enjoy these adventures!

Q HB:

What else can people find on your website?

I take a ton of photos on every hike and in every season. I sell my photography on the site and people can print up to a 30-inch by 40-inch print or, on request, even larger sizes. I also record a weekly podcast and they are all available on the site.

How did you begin to identify which hikes you would include?

I laid out a bunch of maps all over my living room floor and started crawling around on them, looking for interesting and unique hikes that people probably hadn’t heard of.

Follow Hiking Bob: hikingbob.com @HikingGuide

Hiking Bob and best buddy Ollie

@HikingBob_CO @HikingBob

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WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF COLORADO, MOST DO NOT ENVISION THE STATE AS A PRIME LOCATION FOR OUTDOOR WATER SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES. ALTHOUGH IT IS KNOWN FOR ITS WICKED HIKES UP 14ERS AND MOUNTAIN BIKING, COLORADO MAY SURPRISE YOU WITH ITS OFFERINGS IN THE WATER SPORTS WORLD.

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY

KELLY BRANYIK

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We may not have oceans, but we do have incredible lakes, beautiful rivers, and plentiful amounts of outdoor water sports activities that are fun for all ages. Some of the Pikes Peak region’s best water activities locations are just steps from your front door, while others require an adventure outside of your comfort zone.

COLORADO SPRINGS

Get ready to experience the serenity of Colorado’s waters and the powerfully intense liquid forces that cut through our mountains and valleys. We promise these adventures will leave you wanting more of Colorado’s unlikely water parks.

Sunwater Spa

SUNWATER SPA Manitou Springs SunWater Spa is delightful retreat for the soul, tucked against America’s mountain, Pikes Peak, in Manitou Springs. The SunWater Spa facility came to be just four years ago when owner Kat Tudor decided that the lessons of healing learned during her travels abroad should be brought home and shared.

luxurious soak in Ute Indian healing waters that originate from the famous 7 Minute Spring. Coming in at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the mineral waters are heated to between 100 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit using solar energy, and spill out into large cedar tubs that comfortably seat two to four people.

At Sunwater Spa, guests can enjoy a Sunwater Spa

Kat recommends soaking with Sunwater Spa because it has a variety of positive health benefits that improve blood circulation, promote healthy skin, relieve joint pain, and enhance sleep quality.

Sunwater Spa is not just a place for a quiet soak; it is also home to a salt water plunge pool, yoga, aqua yoga, tai chi, and more. It is also a preferred place to spend your evenings after an intense hike up the Manitou Incline, a long drive up Pikes Peak, or a visit to Manitou Springs.

DRAGONFLY PADDLE YOGA Colorado Springs & Monument Many believe water to have therapeutic properties that can enhance a human’s overall wellbeing, notably by bringing peace and relieving stress. In line with

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Practicing yoga ON A PADDLEBOARD

is both an

EMPOWERING

Photo Courtesy of Dragonfly Paddle Yoga

& PEACEFUL experience. their mission, Dragonfly Paddle Yoga seeks to combine the healing energy of water with the tranquil practice of yoga and the relaxing fun of stand-up paddleboarding, thus providing a calming experience. Guests are offered an opportunity to reconnect with themselves whilst surrounded by nature.

For their 90-minute session, the instructor will help you connect to your breath through flowing yoga sequences.

Dragonfly Paddle Yoga welcomes all skill levels, as long as guests are 18 years or older, can swim, are not afraid for getting a little wet, and are up to the challenge of improving the balance within. Classes take place at Prospect Lake, Quail Lake, and Monument Lake.

Photo Courtesy of Royal Gorge Rafting

Founder Christine Malmborg fell in love with the idea of Paddleboard Yoga during a trip to Cabos San Lucas, Mexico, and brought the practice to Colorado after moving here just 13 years ago. She believes that practicing yoga on a paddleboard is both “an empowering and peaceful experience.”

ROYAL GORGE RAFTING Canon City One Location. 100% Fun. That’s the Royal Gorge Rafting motto. Colorado is home to some of the best white water rafting in the nation, and they’re proud of it. If you’re 38

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looking for anything from family fun to world-class rafting adventures for the advanced river rats, Royal Gorge Rafting is the place for you. Trips start at $69 per person and are ideal for anyone on a budget.

Tackle the fierce waters of the Gorge in a raft or kayak with professional white water guides that will steer you in the right direction. Pass through iconic rapids like Sunshine Falls, Sledgehammer, The Narrows and many more all while marveling at the famous Royal Gorge Bridge above you.

If you’re not up for a thrilling or intense adventure, more leisurely trips on the river can be enjoyed in Bighorn Sheep Canyon. Perfect for ages six years and up, families will come across enjoyable rapids such as Wake Up, Spikebuck, Sharks Tooth, along with breaks on stretches of

Photo Courtesy of Royal Gorge Rafting

calming river runs. And if you’re lucky, you may even see a small herd of bighorn sheep during your adventure.

Prime time for your rafting trip begins in April and lasts through September. Guests can reserve a halfday outing or a full-day adventure, the latter of which includes their famous, hearty fajita lunch prepared for you on a riverside beach.

SKAGUAY RESERVOIR Cripple Creek Not far from the historic gold mining district of Cripple Creek and Victor, Colorado lies an unexpected water retreat for the avid angler, still-water

Photo Courtesy of Interlaken Boat Tours

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kayaker, swimmer, small boater, or lover of scenery. With 174 square acres of water playground, Skaguay Reservoir may just be the body of water that you’ve been searching for.

Visitors can easily drive up to the reservoir for a weekend camping trip with their boats or kayaks. They can also opt to reach the reservoir via a lengthy hike through Beaver Creek Canyon, past the Skaguay Power Plant, through thick forests, and alongside the beautiful Beaver Creek. Be advised, the hike to Skaguay is for intermediate to advanced hikers and requires waterproof gear in some areas.

For anglers, Skaguay is a prime fishing location for pike, rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, and the rare catches of cutthroat trout. Great fishing holes can also be found in Beaver Creek, the river that spills into Skaguay Reservoir. This reservoir is also a safe place for people who enjoy lake swimming and cold plunges in mountain waters to escape the summer heat. Curious visitors looking

THIS UNLIKELY

WATERY GETAWAY

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summer retreat for

FRIEND & FAMILY TRIPS or

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COLORADO FUN

for secret areas to swim can also find fun swimming holes in Beaver Creek.

This unlikely watery getaway is a perfect summer retreat for friend and family trips or solo adventures.

As with all outdoor adventures in Colorado, beware of the wildlife and take the proper precautions when planning your trip.

ARKANSAS RIVER TOURS Cotopaxi & Cañon City Explore Colorado’s wild side. Whether assembling a summer team building experience or a family summer retreat, Arkansas River Tours is all about customer service. This company thrives on providing a professional and exciting outdoor water sports experience for its guests. In addition to its rafting tours, it also offers fishing tours and yoga retreats.

COLORADO SPRINGS

ENJOY YOUR NEXT

adventure

WILD COLORADO On those hot summer days, imagine feeling the splash of cool water on your feet as you enjoy your quarter, half, or full-day adventure. Perhaps a multiday retreat is more your thing — how about a three-day whitewater adventure through some of Colorado’s best waters, combining Bighorn Sheep Canyon, Brown's Canyon, and the Royal Gorge?

The rafting tours cater to beginners and advanced level white water sports enthusiasts of all ages. If you’re concerned about your rafting level, and you’re a first time rafter, you can visit their website FAQs to learn which rapid is right for you. No rapid is too small or large, just take your pick and Arkansas River Tours will take care of the rest.

TWIN LAKES BOATING TOURS Twin Lakes (Leadville) Take a boating tour on a 28-foot Aldweld aluminum watercraft at the base of some of the highest mountains in the Rockies, Mt. Elbert and La Plata Peak. On this boat tour, you’ll pass through a channel in Twin Lakes to visit the upper and lower lakes en route to the Interlaken, a historical resort built in the 1800s when

WITH A PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE EQUIPPED TO TAKE YOU THROUGH

Colorado’s best waters

Leadville’s rich mining moguls sought a vacation getaway. During the boat tour, your informative guides will tell you about the role of glaciers in the formation of these enchanting lakes, where the geese now roam and anglers make their dinner catches.

DRAGONFLY PADDLE YOGA

Locations in Colorado Springs and Monument dragonflypaddleyoga.com

SUNWATER SPA 514 El Paso Blvd., Manitou Springs sunwellness.net

ROYAL GORGE RAFTING 45045 W. U.S. 50, Cañon City royalgorgerafting.net

SKAGUAY RESERVOIR

The boat tour makes a stop on the shore in front of the famous Dexter Cabin. From there, it’s just a short stroll to explore all the old buildings at the Interlaken.

7 miles east of Victor, via County Road 861 cpw.state.co.us

Twin Lakes Interlaken Boat Tours operate from June to September from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For a mere $20 per person, customers can enjoy a twohour tour, while cyclists, campers, anglers, hunters, and hikers can hitch a one-way ride to the other side of Twin Lakes for half the cost.

ARKANSAS RIVER TOURS

Now that you’re in the know about the Pike Peak region’s potential for water adventure, don’t let us tell you twice to get outside and hit the water!

Whatever your aquatic adventure this summer, make it a Colorado one and play safe.

Cotopaxi and Cañon City arkansasrivertours.com

TWIN LAKES & INTERLAKEN BOAT TOURS

Red Rooster Boat Ramp, Twin Lakes twinlakesinterlakenboattours.com

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P Be a part of honoring the rich past with us, celebrating the delights of the present, and imagining the possibilities for the exciting future ahead.

Broadway-worthy theatre, world-class art exhibitions, unique art classes, and more!

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me

eo Hall of F a or Rod

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Photo Courtesy of Old Colorado City Association

Old Colorado City Tasty restaurants, attractive art galleries, and eclectic shops adorn this historic neighborhood.

May 2019 Old Colorado City in Bloom May 1-11

Over 12 galleries gather to celebrate the month. shopoldcoloradocity.com

Memorial Day Observance May 25

Remembering fallen heroes at Bancroft Park. shopoldcoloradocity.com

Territory Days May 25-27

September 2019 Fall Festival at Bancroft Park Sept. 15

Live music, crafts, games, and kids activities. madeformoreproject.org

Aspens on the Avenue Sept. 21

Fall art fair showcasing excellent artisans.

Taste of OCC Sept. 22

Gathering of local food, drinks, music, and art. tasteofocc.com

A three-day historic street festival. shopoldcoloradocity.com

October 2019

June 2019

October Arts Month in Old Colorado City Oct. 1-31

Happy Little Landscape Paint Night June 14

Bob Ross inspired paint night at 45 Degree.

45degreegallery.com

Westfest June 23

Celebrate the Westside at Bancroft Park. occwestfest.comg

August 2019 Customs & Classics Car Show Aug. 18 The hottest show on wheels. aceent1.com

Highlighting the importance of arts and culture. shopoldcoloradocity.com

Spooky Magic Town October

Spooky Halloween fun in Magic Town. michaelgarman.com

Giant Pumpkin Fest Oct. 19

The biggest pumpkins will be rolling into OCC. shopoldcoloradocity.com

November 2019

December 2019 Santa’s Cabin Weekends in December

Have your picture taken with a Victorian Santa. shopoldcoloradocity.com

April 2020 Mad Hatter Saturday April TBD

Costumed characters, ice sculptures, and more. shopoldcoloradocity.com

Reoccurring Events Art on the Avenue Jan. 2-June 1

Outdoor art exhibit for Colorado artists. shopoldcoloradocity.com

First Friday Art Walks April-December

5-8 p.m.; free shuttle bus through October. shopoldcoloradocity.com

Old Colorado City’s Farmers’ Market June 8-Oct. 26 Saturdays at Bancroft Park. pikespeakfarmersmarket.com

Small Business Saturday Nov. 23

Support small and local businesses. shopoldcoloradocity.com

Christmas Stroll Nov. 23

Walk the holiday streets of days gone by. shopoldcoloradocity.com

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OLD COLORADO CITY

A GUIDE TO

Pikes Peak Regional

Art Galleries Words by Lindsay Tallman

Surrounded by the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, it’s no surprise that the Pikes Peak region houses and inspires a diverse and talented group of artists. These artists are featured in local galleries that cater to a variety of aesthetics and budgets. Here are just a few of our favorites that we recommend checking out if you’re in the region. With so much artistic talent to behold, there’s something for everyone.

Old Colorado City

45 Degree •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2528 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs • 45degreegallery.com 45 Degree opened in February 2010 as a custom frame shop and expanded into a full art gallery in May 2013.

WHAT TO SEE:

Paintings, jewelry, furniture, pottery, and home décor from over 50 artisans.

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:

45 Degree seeks to support local, independent artists in their casual gallery setting.

DON’T MISS:

Lori Hannan’s stunning clay pottery inspired by the Colorado landscape.

Photo Courtesy of 45 Degree Gallery

Febra’s ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

2532 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs • shopfebras.com Febra’s houses art from local Colorado artists both in the main shop and upstairs in the separate gallery.

WHAT TO SEE:

40 local artists display paintings & mixed media art.

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:

Art is featured from many local artists with unique techniques and perspectives.

DON’T MISS:

Sharon Tymes nature-inspired pen & ink and oil roughing creations.

Photo Courtesy of Febra’s

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Hunter-Wolff Gallery •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2510 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs • hunterwolffgallery.com Owner Sharon Wolff selects artwork conceived by artists hailing from Colorado, other parts of the United States, and Mexico.

WHAT TO SEE:

Paintings, sculpture, pottery, ceramics, blown and fused glass, and jewelry.

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:

Museum quality art at a variety of price points.

DON’T MISS:

Artist Jerry Wedekind’s woodturned vessels are unique and captivating.

Photo Courtesy of Hunter-Wolff Gallery

Michael Garman Gallery ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2418 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs • michaelgarman.com Michael Garman is the founder of Michael Garman Productions, Inc. With locations in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, he believes that art should be available to all and is committed to reproducing his works at affordable prices.

WHAT TO SEE:

Handmade sculptures of American characters including fireman, sportsmen, professionals, military personal, street people, and heroes of early America.

Photo Courtesy of Michael Garman Gallery

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:

Michael Garman considers himself a storyteller sculptor, so his characters tell their stories.

DON’T MISS:

Magic Town is a 3,000-square-foot series of life-size, scaled sculptures and structures recreating the feel of an entire city. It includes electronic lighting effects, sound effects, and two-way mirrors.

Manitou Springs

Commonwheel Artists Co-op ••••••••••••••••••••••••••

••••

102 Canon Ave., Manitou Springs • commonwheel.com The Commonwheel Artists Co-op has been in business for 43 years and features 38 local Colorado artists.

WHAT TO SEE:

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Huge variety of mediums including glass, masks, wood, jewelry, pottery, paintings, sculpture mosaics, cards, mixed media, photography, kaleidoscopes, and home accessories.

Photo Courtesy of Commonwheel Artists Co-op

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:

Commonwheel offers a 10 percent discount on the featured artist of the month and a very popular pottery by the pound sale every January.

DON’T MISS:

Artist Helen Smithwick’s beautifully detailed botanical illustrations.

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Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs • csfineartscenter.org The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center (FAC) is a 132,286-square-foot facility that hosts international traveling and changing exhibitions.

WHAT TO SEE:

The FAC museum houses a permanent collection of more than 20,000 pieces of art including 4,000 cultural artifacts.

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:

The FAC’s permanent collection is rooted in art made in the Americas.

DON’T MISS:

The Tactile Gallery is a special gallery designed for visitors to touch the art. It’s open to all visitors, but offers a special opportunity to visitors who are sight-impaired or have special needs.

Photo by Phillip Spears, Courtesy of the Fine Arts Center

Pueblo

Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 201 N. Santa Fe Ave., Pueblo • sdc-arts.org The Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference is a municipally owned and offers 24 new exhibitions a year.

Seven galleries within the center offer the best in historic and contemporary works by regional and WHAT TO SEE: national artists.

Photo Courtesy of Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:

This multi-disciplinary center for the arts is located in Pueblo and serves 17 surrounding counties.

DON’T MISS:

The Buell Children’s Museum, with innovative, hands-on exhibits focusing on the arts, science, and history, has been recognized as a top-ranking children’s museum for art in the nation.

John Deaux Art Gallery •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 221 S. Union Ave., Pueblo • johndeauxartgallery.com The John Deaux Art Gallery is located on the upper floor of the historic Turf Exchange building, an 1881 casino, dance hall, and brothel.

WHAT TO SEE:

A large selection of original art by many of the leading artists of the region, showcased in a beautiful sky lit loft.

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:

The gallery features a range of talent, from established creators to up-and-coming artists.

DON’T MISS:

Radeaux’s nature-inspired artwork.

Photo Courtesy of John Deaux Art Gallery

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Steel City Art Works Gallery

Pueblo Arts Alliance Studios

216 S. Union Ave., Pueblo • steelcityartworks.com Steel City Art Works Gallery is an artist community founded in 2007.

107 S. Grand Ave., Studio M, Pueblo puebloarts.org/studios/

WHAT TO SEE:

Open free to the public, the gallery displays many art forms, including watercolor, oils, acrylics, mixed media, glass, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, and more.

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE: DON’T MISS:

The Arts Alliance Studios offer studio space to creative industry businesses in the Pueblo Creative Corridor.

WHAT TO SEE:

The Studios are open individually by appointment.

This community of creators includes more than 45 local artists who work the store and attend First Friday events.

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE:

The Studios are home to a collective of 17 creative businesses and 40+ creators.

Each month the gallery hosts featured artists.

DON’T MISS:

Monthly special events like First Friday Art Walks and 5th Friday Open Studios.

In addition to the amazing variety of art in the area, fantastic restaurants and unique shops surround the Pikes Peak regional galleries.

Enjoy a night out of art and dining with the First Friday Art Walks in downtown Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, and Old Colorado City. A free shuttle bus is offered from April through December. For more information, search for art walks at visitcos.com.

Pueblo also offers First Friday Art Walks, during which you can visit more than 35 art galleries, restaurants, and businesses in the Creative Corridor. The Corridor is focused around the three historic city centers of Pueblo: Downtown Main Street, Union Avenue Historic District and the Mesa Junction. Visit puebloarts.org to know more.

Visit us in Old Colorado City’s Art District

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OLD COLORADO CITY

WITH

MICHAEL GARMAN

Interview by: Gillian Sheehan Photos courtesy of: Michael Garman Museum and Gallery

something in me. Prior to arriving in Santiago, I must have taken over a thousand photographs on that journey. But once I started sculpting, my camera just wasn’t enough anymore. Everything poured into the characters I was making.

Sculptor Michael Garman took some time out to answer our questions about the intertwinement of his life story, his art, and his museum and gallery.

Q

Based on the information on your website, it seems like you have truly been carving out your career since you were a child. At what point did you realize that sculpting is what you wanted to do for a living?

When I got home I continued sculpting and selling my work door to door and to small gift shops. The idea of a business began when I met a sculpture pirate named Gene Schutza. He was a counterfeiter so to speak. He’d buy sculptures and make cheap knockoffs of them. But he was an interesting character, and we developed a great friendship. He showed me how to make reproductions. When I mentioned that I wanted to reproduce my own pieces, he thought I was out of my mind. At that time, no real artist would even think about reproduction. But I wasn’t interested in being a “real artist.” I just wanted to sculpt and I wanted to collect my own work. It was selfish I suppose. But in the end, it was also good business.

Reproducing my pieces made me a better sculptor.

Michael Garman (MG): I had no plan at all. My

dad was an artist, a pilot and a bit of a poet.

He gave us his art books and encouraged my brother and me to make our own toys. I would create little pipe cleaner men. Then, as a teenager I learned photography and just loved it. After high school I hitchhiked out to California where I met a well-known fashion photographer. My friendship with Tommy Mitchell sparked an interest in photography that inspired me to take these long vagabond travels into Mexico where I’d photograph people in the rural villages, in cafes and such. In 1959, I began a hitchhiking journey from Texas all the way to Chile. I took pictures throughout this journey until I arrived in Santiago in 1961. One day, I was in one of the city parks and I spotted some very pretty young ladies. I followed them into the School of Fine Arts and wound up in the back of an art class where I started playing with the clay. The school didn’t seem to mind. I never took any classes at all, but the school let me use their clay and they even fired my little characters.

Immediately I took these rough little sculptures door to door, selling them for a dollar or two. It was never an idea of a career, but more about needing some money to eat or to drink. I didn’t consider my pieces high art, but they awoke

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Q

What convinced you to cease your nomadic wanderings and to settle down in Colorado Springs in the early 1970s?

MG: I was married by the time I visited Colorado Springs

in 1971. My wife was pregnant with our first child.

We were actually on our way to Dallas with the plan to open a gallery down there. But we stopped in Colorado Springs to visit some of her family, and I just loved it from day one. We took a drive one afternoon, saw woman pounding a for rent sign into the lawn near Memorial Hospital. I pulled the car over, told the lady we’d take it, and I never looked back.

Q

What medium(s) do you used to create your sculptures?

MG: I mostly sculpt with sculptors’ wax nowadays. I love clay, and have preferred it for years. But sculptors

OLD COLORADO CITY

wax not only allows me to create more finite detail, it also allows me to walk away from a piece and come back weeks or even months later. Once a sculpture is done, I work with my reproduction team to create a mold. The finished sculptures are made using Hydrocal, a gypsum cement which I prefer over resins because of the substantial weight it gives my sculptures. They’re solid pieces, not hollow ceramics. And I like the organic feel of stone they have.

Q

How much time do you typically invest into each figure?

MG: That varies wildly. Prairie Rose, the cowgirl that I

finished last year, has been my muse in my studio in one form or another for over 10 years. I could never get her just right. I got used to her being unfinished — a work in progress; most of us are. In many ways, she represents all the loves of my life rolled into one, so her story never seemed complete to me. But when my health started to decline over the last couple of years, the idea of leaving her unfinished began to haunt me. It made it my goal to get her done before my 80th birthday. Other pieces, like Taking the Rough Off, speak to me nonstop and I can finish them in a matter of weeks, sometimes just days. Every sculpture tells a different story.

Q

anyone could really see the exhibit so fast, so they developed some simple questions to get people to slow down. We live in such a fast paced world; if you can’t tell a story in 100 words or less, people lose interest. But Magic Town is not a 100-word story; it’s a voyeurs’ experience. If you aren’t peeking in the windows, you aren’t seeing the exhibit.

Q

Are there any special projects or events in the books for the museum and gallery?

MG: I’ve been working in Magic Town for the past few

months to improve the lighting and effects in there.

As usual, I have a few sculptures in my studio yelling at me to get their stories told. I will be hosting an Autograph Day for my 81st Birthday in May. This lets old friends stop by to say hello, customers and fans can bring their sculptures from home to get them signed, or folks can add to their collection during our Spring Sale.

Find out more about Michael Garman and his art at the Michael Garman Museum and Gallery (2418 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs), on the web (michaelgarman.com), on Facebook (@ MichaelGarmanMuseum), and on Instagram (@garmanstorytellersculptor).

What is Magic Town, and why should visitors add it to their to-do list?

MG: Magic Town is my life in 3D. It’s a gritty version of

Americana that encompasses parts of the eight decades of my life. I created the first few cityscapes as a home for my sculptures, so I could tell more of their stories. And then it just kept growing. After 40 years, it’s still not finished. For visitors, I like to say it’s a 3,000 square-foot miniature city that makes the ugly beautiful (to quote a 9-year-old I met a couple of years ago). I have always found alleyways and abandoned buildings to be fascinating, and I have found that most people agree. Leave a door cracked open, and I dare you not to want to look inside. That’s what you get to do in Magic Town — peek in every window and down every alley; discover the secret lives of my characters.

Q

Can you elaborate on the scavenger hunt held at your gallery?

MG: My staff came up with the scavenger hunt a few years

ago. Sometimes families would come out of Magic Town in just 15 or 20 minutes. But there is no way that COLORADO FUN

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OLD COLORADO CITY

Will Travel for Vegan Sweets

By JL Fields

S

urely you know that “plantbased” is a thing that’s not going away anytime soon, right? From Carl’s Jr. serving up Beyond Burgers to the vegetarian meat section blowing up in grocery stores, today’s consumers are focused on plants for a number of reasons: health, allergies, environment, and animal welfare. Whatever the motivation, there’s one food group that doesn’t typically come to mind when folks hear the word “vegan” — dessert. There was a time when plantbased connoisseurs were happy to settle for frozen banana blended into soft serve ice cream, chocolate mousse made with avocado, and brownies featuring black beans. Hey, we’ve had them all and we’re not knocking them, but let’s just say that the plant-sourced dessert scene has been 56

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elevated by creative bakers and foodie entrepreneurs. Sweet, decadent (or not) treats are far more easily found, including in Southern Colorado.

In Colorado Springs — home to six vegan restaurants and numerous uber-vegan-friendly spots — the sweet treats are as diverse as the dining venues. At the Burrowing Owl, the city’s first “vegan dive bar,” comfort food is the name of the game and that’s what you’ll find on the dessert menu, too. Brownies and cookies, sweets at their simplest, are covered in icing because, well, icing. You can even get that brownie served up in an ice cream sundae, too.

If ice cream is the name of your sweet tooth game, Frozen Gold — the newest niche ice cream shop in

the Springs — makes one of the best vegan desserts in town: the Samoa Samoa. A nod to a Girl Scout cookie, this coconut-based vegan soft serve is covered with goodies including caramel, Rice Krispies, and fudge.

For a treat twist, the Empanadas de Plátano at traditional Salvadoran Monse’s Pupuseria is the perfect sweet ending to any of the vegan savory plates. In this case, the empanadas plantain crust is filled with sweet corn pudding or cinnamon and sugar. And while you’re in the Old Colorado City neck of the woods, keep going west to Manitou Springs.

Adam’s Mountain Café always has a vegan cake special: the baker’s cake rotation includes gingerbread, orange, vanilla strawberry, chocolate, lemon blueberry, carrot, and more.

OLD COLORADO CITY

This delectable donut from Sweet Elizabeth’s Organics is made with allergen-friendly ingredients. For a special treat, have yours topped with frosting, icing, or powdered sugar.

Photograph by Jesus Lozoya

The allergen-free diner does not get slighted in Colorado Springs. Sweet Elizabeth’s Organics — a plantbased, allergy-friendly, gluten-free bakery and café — fills the bakery case daily with fresh-out-of-the oven donuts, scones, cookies, cupcakes and, not to be missed, Mini-Bundt Cakes and Whoopie Pies. It’s an ideal spot for a family-friendly breakfast or lunch. Find even more enticing gluten-free treats at Coquette’s Bistro & Bakery where there are always at least three flavors of vegan cupcakes available, ranging from the infamous Chocolate to the Almond Joy and Vanilla Berry. And for the sporty types, after rock climbing at CityROCK, duck into The Ute & Yeti for their vegan and gluten-free P-Nut Butta Pie — a nearly healthy serving of peanut butter and chocolate in a pine nut and oat crust.

The plant-based fun isn’t limited to Colorado Springs. Farther down I-25, vegan dessert vibes can also be found.

In Pueblo, you’ll find a gluten-free and

vegan Macaroon with an Espresso Chocolate Grenache at Solar Roast Coffee. For those of you who ride the savory-sweet dessert train, it’s all about the vegan bagels at The Hanging Tree Café, which could be considered a meal or a dessert (our favorite dilemma). The Buddha Bagel is drizzled with olive oil and served with avocado, diced apples, blueberries, cracked pepper, sea salt, and a heavy-striped drizzle of their homemade blueberry hibiscus. Kick it up a notch with the Flaming Lips bagel starring peanut butter, fresh sliced jalapenos, and pear sage glaze with some diced pear.

Even further south, slip back into the traditional treats in Trinidad. At Sita’s Kitchen, a vegan spot just off the highway, you can feel good about ending your wholesome meal with their sticky buns, cinnamon rolls, Coconut Lemon Bundt cake, or even a Chocolate Silk Pie. With ample gluten-free options and nearly all organic ingredients, the desserts are made with “integrity and love.”

To the west, farm-to-table Teek: That Eatery in Cañon City proves

that vegan dessert is never boring (hello, aquafaba, you darling beanbased egg replacement). The daily desserts vary so don’t get your heart set on one. Just get excited because whether it’s the vegan Chocolate Mousse, the vegan Meringue Pie or any another plant-based creation from the chef, your sweet tooth will be satisfied.

In Buena Vista, you’ll find continued proof that plant-based is trending: The Evergreen Café recently transitioned to 100 percent vegan, and that means their desserts are plant-based, too. Using whole foods like oats, flaxseed, applesauce and plant milks, you’ll always find a tantalizing treat; from cookies, cake, muffins, and baklava to — we’re looking at you, health nut — chia and hemp seed Super Energy Balls.

There was a time when making a vegan request at a restaurant, café, or bakery got a seriously hard eye roll.

These days, you’re far more likely to receive an enthusiastic response because the times they are a-changin.

And they are changing sweetly in Southern Colorado.

Next time you stop by Adam’s Mountain Café, save room for their mouth-watering Vegan Chocolate Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream.

Courtesy of Adam’s Mountain Café

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The paella at TAPAteria Photo by Bonnie Singleton / Courtesy of TAPAteria

Alternative Eats: Gluten-Free and Vegan Finds Words by Julie Martin Sunich

Dining out is supposed to be enjoyable — maybe even a little adventurous. But, when adventure turns into a gastronomical search and rescue, it can dampen even the sunniest of Colorado days. Whether you are visiting the Pikes Peak region from near or far, we understand the challenges of navigating specific dietary needs in unknown territory.

Luckily, we can point you in the right direction.

Here’s our edible collection of gluten-free, vegan, and just plain great food in the region.

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MANITOU SPRINGS Adam’s Mountain Café 26 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs adamsmountaincafe.com Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-Free Options Even for year-round residents, it’s hard to resist this welcoming bar and eatery. A longstanding Manitou Springs staple, Adam’s Mountain Café delivers slow food principles in a cozy roadside location with comehither views of Pikes Peak. Revered by locals for its consistently innovative take on vegan fare and organic ingredients, it is the perfect après-hike antidote for wherever your feet take you. Eye-opening breakfast entrees include vegan huevos rancheros with New Mexican green chili as well as borracho bean and Spanish rice breakfast bowls, topped with spiced pepitas and sesame-crusted tofu. Lunch and dinner are equally resplendent with a bounty of organic, locally sourced ingredients fused in innovative ways — smoked salmon enchiladas, roasted butternut squash crepes, and a dreamy Asiago-rich mac and cheese in an indulgent sauce of white cheddar and Gruyere.

Adam’s Mountain Café Photo courtesy of Farley McDonough / Adam’s Mountain Café

SOUTHWEST COLORADO SPRINGS The Burrowing Owl 1791 S. 8th St., Colorado Springs burrowingowllounge.com Vegan with Gluten-Free Options

TAPAteria is Old Colorado City’s nod to Barcelona. This Spanish gem shines with an assortment of small plates that could tempt urban diners to fandango. Don’t be misled by the name; TAPAteria is nothing like a cafeteria. Instead, its welcoming ambiance is captured inside a historic 1899 building with a pet-friendly garden patio. The extensive menu includes both hot and cold gluten-free and vegan tapas (think hummus and olives), in addition to the traditional Mediterranean bites of chorizo, lamb sausage, sea-worthy shrimp, octopus, and wild sockeye salmon. Pair any choice with TAPAteria’s wine list

This woodsy-chic kitchen is a neighborhood gathering spot for vegans-in-the-know. Tucked into a corner-side shopping center, The Burrowing Owl offers an eclectic social scene with a rustic vibe as well as an outstanding selection of craft beer and gluten-free ciders. The bar menu is both witty and expansive, listing over 93 canned beers, and the cocktails are served homestyle in kitschy canning jars.

The menu is overflowing with variations of meatless tacos, burritos, tostadas, and nachos, not to mention soup and a slew of sloppy sandwiches. This place can also happily accommodate and even fool non-vegans (we know of a carnivore who ate here regularly for over two years before he discovered TAPAteria Photo by Jesus Lozoya that it was vegan). As an added bonus, The Owl sells an assortment of fun merchandise, namely t-shirts, hats, stickers, and which features 36 wines, sherries, koozies. and ports. If you happen to be in town between April and October, keep an eye out for their “Paella on the OLD COLORADO Patio,” an event that takes place one CITY & WESTSIDE Sunday each month. The paella, an authentic Valencian rice dish, varies TAPAteria from month to month, featuring local 2607 W. Colorado Ave., growers as well as imported and local Colorado Springs meats. tapateria.com Gluten-Free with Vegan Options

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Gluten-Free with Vegan Options

Monse’s Pupuseria Photo Courtesy of Monse’s Pupuseria

Monse’s Pupuseria 115 S. 25th St., Colorado Springs monsestasteofelsalvador.online

Since opening her Salvadoran restaurant over a year ago, owner Monse Hines has become the queen of Latin American comfort food. She embraces her native country’s national dish — the pupusa — and proudly serves it up to Colorado Springs. Not quite a taco and not necessarily a quesadilla, this thick, doughy pocket delights taste buds with a variety of delicious fillings including Pueblo chiles and pinto beans, enhanced with the unique, somewhat nutty seasoning of Central

America’s indigenous loroco flower.

Sweet Elizabeth’s Organics 1625 W. Uintah St., Colorado Springs sweetelizabethsorganics.com Vegan, Soy-Free, and Gluten-Free Looking for a safe place to eat? Drop by Sweet Elizabeth’s Organics Bakery and Café, where they take your dietary needs to heart. What initially began as owner Elizabeth Durham’s challenge to create a gluten-free coffeecake for her 10-year-old daughter has blossomed into a delightful shop, known for its allergy-friendly baked offerings. Since moving into a bigger

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or take in the fresh summer breeze on the patio. Make some time to contemplate their extensive menus, which include crepes, sandwiches, and made-from-scratch pot pies.

Coquette’s Bistro & Bakery

NOURISH ORGANIC JUICE 303 E. Pikes Peak Ave., Colorado Springs nourishorganicjuice.com Vegan and Gluten-Free

Photo Courtesy of Coquette’s Bistro & Bakery

space in the fall of 2018, Sweet Elizabeth’s now offers breakfast (waffles, anyone?) and lunch: savory soups, delectable sandwiches, and a build-your-own salad bar all supply a healthy midday boost. For the young (or not-so-young) picky eaters in your group, kid-friendly personal pizzas are also available.

DOWNTOWN COLORADO SPRINGS COQUETTE’S BISTRO & BAKERY 616 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs coquettesbistro.com Gluten-Free and Soy-Free with Dairy-Free and Vegan Options Coquette’s Bistro & Bakery is the home plate for gluten-free fare in Colorado Springs. Aside from its renowned bakery bread and confections (sold in-house and exported to the finest menus all over town), this family-run establishment proudly offers “boldly luscious comfort food” to its customers. Warm up by the fireplace in the inviting dining area, chill in the bar lounge,

For those who seek solace in fulfilling their daily vitamin intake, Nourish Organic Juice is a downtown juice-bar paradise offering cleanses and fresh products.

Their menu features spoon-thick smoothies and vibrant acai bowls, as well as hydraulically cold-pressed juices, guaranteeing a mega dose of nutrients in every sip. Nourish’s menu also offers rice noodle bowls, salads, and standout soups. Whether you need uptime or downtime, Nourish has the perfect antidote to set you off on your next adventure.

Vista locations, the concept is the same; supportive farm-to-table community fare. Its self-proclaimed mantra of “Food for Any Appetite” includes menu items for visitors who seek vegan or gluten-free alternatives, and even some for the wild game aficionados. At the top of the list are Eddyline’s pecan wood-fired brick oven hand-tossed pizzas and calzones, which can be prepared with glutenfree crust. Quinoa bowls, beet and kale salads, and MSG-free soups are featured daily. Thirsty? Eddyline has you covered. Its brewery handcrafts a line of seasonal beers with names like Summer in the Citra, Grapefruit Yanker, and Pumpkin Patch Ale. Spicy nonalcoholic ginger and creamy root beers are also made on the premises.

BUENA VISTA EDDYLINE Restaurant at South Main 926 S. Main St., Buena Vista eddylinerestaurant.com Brewery and Taproom 102 Linderman Ave., Buena Vista eddylinebrewing.com Gluten-Free and Vegan Options Near the banks of Colorado’s adventure-rich Arkansas River, Eddyline is a river rat’s oasis.

Both a brewery and a pub-style restaurant in two separate Buena

Nourish Organic Juice Bar Photo by Jesus Lozoya

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Join us for awesome cocktails, local brews and entertainment

2415 W. Colorado Ave ThunderandButtons.com

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(719) 447.9888

Beautiful beads of all shapes, sizes, and colors! Jewelry making supplies & beautiful jewelry, ready to wear!

NEW to Old Colorado City! 2501 W Colorado Avenue (719) 685-1226 | 11am - 6pm Daily | Socialize with us!

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As recreational cannabis becomes more widely accepted across Colorado and the nation, we’re seeing an uptick in exploratory, creative activities that go hand in hand with cannabis consumption.

We’ve selected some of the most unique cannabis-friendly activities* offered around the state for you to enjoy!

Cannabis Friendly Activities

*All listed activities are for ages 21+.

Words & Photos by Caitlin Murphy

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OLD COLORADO CITY

Denver Puff, Pass & Paint

puffpassandpaint.com $49 per person Thursdays and Saturdays 7-9 p.m.

Regardless of your level of expertise, the Puff, Pass & Paint class caters to cannabis-friendly creatives looking to produce their own masterpiece. The relaxed, yet elevated atmosphere lends itself to limitless imagination — and you’re always encouraged to follow your own artistic gut!

The fee covers all paints, brushes, an 11-by-14-inch canvas panel, and any other required art supplies. The session is BYOC and the intake of cannabis in all forms is both allowed and encouraged. Don’t forget to wear clothes on which you aren’t afraid to get a little paint!

Puff, Pass & POTtery puffpassandpaint.com $65 per person Fridays 7-9 p.m.

As an alternative option offered by the Puff and Pass team, this hands-on course is taught by local potter, Jessa Decker-Smith. You will learn the ins and outs of this cannabis-friendly endeavor as she guides you through the steps to design and build your own custom ashtray. You even get to choose your pottery color and glaze!

The fee covers all materials to create the ashtray in this two-hour long course, plus firing and local shipping once the project is complete (out-of-

towners will have to pay the cost of shipping). Just like for its sister class, the intake of cannabis in all forms is both allowed and encouraged, so BYOC!

whether you’ve cooked with cannabis before or not, you’ll love this cooking with cannabis course. Similar to the others, this class is BYOC and the chef recommends brining at least 1 gram.

Introductory Cooking with Cannabis

Sushi & Joint Rolling Class

While many know and love infused edibles, few cannabis consumers know how to effectively and safely make their own! Fear not, this threehour, in-depth class led by local chef Jarod Farina will dive into both the basic and more advanced culinary techniques that you can use to master cooking with cannabis products. This course will build your understanding of a variety of cannabisspecific culinary skills, such as how to properly dose THC in an infused edible.

Put your skills to the test in this cannabis-friendly sushi and joint rolling course! Before getting to class, you’ll receive information on how and where to buy your cannabis for the event. While the organizers can’t legally supply the cannabis for you, this option allows the consumer to pick up their allotted 2 grams for just 10 cents from a partner dispensary

coloradocannabistours.com $89 per person Sundays 12-3 p.m.

my420tours.com $79 per person Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 7 p.m.

The best part?

You get to sample your tasty treats while honing your skills. The length of the class allows for ample time to ask questions and experiment, so you can leave feeling confident in your cannabilities.

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OLD COLORADO CITY

(this is as close as they can get to actually including the cost of product in their pricing). Once you’ve picked up your goodies and have arrived at class, you’ll kick things off by learning how to expertly roll the perfect cone, “from filter to fuse.” After you’ve had the chance to burn your hand-rolled goodness in this 420-friendly space, you’ll sit down to tackle the art of rolling your perfect sushi roll (all ingredients included). There are many options for fillings including raw, vegetarian, and cooked ingredients. Just follow the lead of your sushi chef and roll your way to a delicious dinner!

Colorado Springs The Painters Pot Classes thepainterspotco.com $30 per person By reservation only

The Painters Pot is the perfect spot for a 420-friendly private event! Founded on the idea that cannabis and creativity go hand in hand, this studio serves everyone from bachelorette parties to veterans groups. This inventive class will lead you and your friends through a step-by-step instructional with a master artist.

While The Painters Pot is certainly a fun and engaging activity, the owners have gone out of their way to ensure that it also serves as a therapeutic environment, acting as a safe space for folks who may be overstimulated in standard social settings.

It is important to note that The Painters Pot is for private events 66

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only. They do not accept walk-ins and encourage you to plan ahead by registering you and your group via their website. There is a 5-person minimum and a 10-person maximum for reservations. The fee includes a canvas, paints, and paint brushes.

They do not supply the cannabis, so BYOC!

Secret Stash Yoga

secretstashyoga.weebly.com $12 per class Fridays and Sundays 9-10 a.m.; Thursdays 2-3 p.m.

Are you looking to deepen your yoga practice? The kind teachers at Secret Stash Yoga are offering a

OLD COLORADO CITY

cannabis-friendly space that fuses the incredible benefits of both cannabis and yoga. These classes are a held at Studio A64, a private cannabis club located in the heart of Colorado Springs. Since the venue is private, guests can seamlessly infuse cannabis into their practice, under the direction of experienced instructors who strive to maintain a safe an educational space.

Cannabis is optional in for this one-hour yoga class but, if you’d like to partake, the standard policy is BYOC. If you’d like to consume, note that the class offers a social consumption circle before and after the class — so come early or plan to stay a little later to enjoy the full benefits!

The Full Baked tour starts at $650 for one person and $100 for each additional person added to the tour (you can have up to three guests).

Estes Park They also offer a Half-Baked Tour for half the time and cost. Prices include Cannabis-Friendly Fly a shuttle to and from guest lodging, a Fishing Tours flyfishingtherockymountains.com boxed lunch, and snacks to keep you going throughout the day. Bring your Prices vary (see website) own cannabis, in your preferred form By reservation only of consumption!

If you’re looking to get out of the city and into nature while experiencing the benefits of cannabis, look no further than Estes Park outfitter, Fly Fishing the Rocky Mountains. They offer a selection of tour options, such as the privately-guided Full Baked tour, led by local fishing celebrity and cannabis lover, Bob “Doc” Young. You will tour through beautiful mountain streams and lakes as you explore some of the best places to fly fish in the Rocky Mountains, all while enjoying your preferred method of cannabis consumption!

Across the State 420 Airport Pickup

420friendlyairportpickup.com Prices vary (see website) By reservation only 420 Airport Pickup is a great option for the canna-curious coming from out of town! All pickups (and dropoffs) are at Denver International Airport and include a stop at a local retail marijuana shop, plus

a 10 percent discount on all items purchased. After you’ve stocked up, the shuttle will drop you off at your hotel. Going to the mountains? Don’t fret! For a fee, 420 Airport Pickup will shuttle you to any ski resort in the state of Colorado.

Local shuttle services in Denver start at $79 per person for up to four people. This includes a 10 percent discount at the retail dispensary and vaporizer rental options. Shuttles costs to and from a ski area vary depending on the selected resort, so be sure to check the website for more detailed information. 420 Airport Pickups also offers shuttles to Red Rocks Amphitheater, as well as custom marijuana tours around the city of Denver. Should you choose to use their services for your return trip to the airport, they will welcome you back with a 20 percent discount.

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Nestled between Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak, historic Manitou Springs is centrally-located to the unique attractions of the Pikes Peak Region. Stay in Manitou and explore our walkable downtown, sip from the cold-water effervescent mineral springs.

Visit art galleries, charming shops and 30 locally-owned restaurants, all in three square miles.

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Request more info or a visitors guide at MANITOUSPRINGS.ORG

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Photo by Julia Palomino / Courtesy of VisitCOS

Manitou Springs Mineral springs, mountain landscapes, and charming shops abound in this town with a vibe all its own.

June 2019 Manitou Springs Colorado Wine Fest June 1

Sample and buy wine from over 30 wineries. manitousprings.org

Manitou Women’s Music Fest June 8

Local and regional music from female artists. manitoumusicfoundation.org

Garden of the Gods 10 Mile and 10K Run June 9

Spectacular setting and plenty of competition. gardentenmile.com

Silent Disco & Food Truck Rally June 15

Get your groove on at Soda Springs Park. manitousprings.org

Starlight Spectacular Night Bike Ride June 15 Begins and ends at Garden of the Gods. trailsandopenspaces.org

Pikes Peak International Hill Climb June 30

America’s second-oldest motorsport event. ppihc.org

July 2019 Ice Cream Social & Pie Baking Contest July 1

Friendly competition and sweet treats for all. manitousprings.org

Garden of the Arts July 6-7

Fine visual arts and handcrafted goods. manitouspringsgov.com

Barr Trail Mountain Race July 28

12.6-mile course along the Barr Trail. barrtrailmountainrace.com

August 2019 Manitou Mountain Music Fest Aug. 9-11

Pikes Peak Cycling Hill Climb Aug. 10

Includes competitive race and Gran Fondo. coloradospringssports.org

Pikes Peak Ascent & Marathon Aug. 24-25 America’s ultimate challenge. pikespeakmarathon.org

Commonwheel Arts & Crafts Festival Aug. 31-Sept. 2

Includes entertainment, prizes, and kid events. commonwheel.com/festival

September 2019 Manitou Springs Fall Wine Walk Sept. 19

A variety of small pours and light bites. manitousprings.org

Heritage Brew Festival Sept. 28

December 2019 Manitou Holiday Spirits Fest Dec. 14

Live music and craft spirits from Colorado. manitoumusicfoundation.org

Santa at the Town Clock Dec. 24

Christmas Eve tradition in Manitou Springs. manitousprings.org

AdAmAn Fireworks at Pikes Peak Summit Dec. 31 Pikes Peak region tradition since 1922. adaman.org

January 2020 Great Fruitcake Toss Jan. 25

Old-fashioned tossing of holiday desserts. manitousprings.org

Tastings from featured brewers and live music. manitouspringsheritagecenter.org

February 2020

Manitou Paints!

Sept. 28

CarniBall, Carnivale Parade, & Mumbo Jumbo Gumbo Cook-Off Feb. 21-22

Meet and observe artists on the street. tracymillerfineart.com

October 2019 Emma Crawford Coffin Races & Festival Oct. 26

Other festivities: Wake and history ghost tours. emmacrawfordfestival.com

November 2019 Volunteer Fire Department Turkey Shoot Nov. TBD Community fundraiser and dinner. msvfd.com

Victorian Christmas Nov. 23-25

Laissez les bons temps rouler. manitousprings.org

Reoccurring Events First Friday Art Walks April-December

5-8 p.m.; free shuttle bus through October. manitouspringscd.org

Manitou Springs Summer Concert Series Mid-June – Labor Day At Soda Springs Park and the Library Lawn. manitousprings.org

Manitou Community Market June 20-Oct. 3

Thursdays 3-7 p.m. at Memorial Park. manitoucommunitymarket.org

Holiday tours at Miramont Castle. miramontcastle.org

Three days of live music in Manitou. manitoumusicfoundation.org COLORADO FUN

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&

Dreamy Romantic

GETAWAYS Words & Photos by: Kelly Branyik

Colorado is full of adorable little boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts, nestled at the base of the Southern Rocky Mountains.

Amongst the beauty of nature, couples can carve out some oh-so-needed quality time together.

If you’re searching for a mountain escape with a loved one, you’ll find pleasant options right here in the Pikes Peak region. Make some time for your relationship and let us help you dream up your ideal romantic getaway.

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Buena Vista

SURF HOTEL & CHATEAU 1012 Front Loop surfhotel.com; surfchateau.com

Surf Hotel is a magical haven that overlooks the banks of the Arkansas River in Buena Vista. Walking into the hotel, you’ll be stunned by the high ceilings and the large windows that pour natural light into the lobby and on-site restaurant. Indulge in one of over 40 enchanting rooms and suites. Their NOLA king suite offers a large space for relaxation, Nespresso coffee maker, spa worthy linens, and a doorway to a shared, NOLA-inspired wrap-around balcony where you can enjoy the Colorado scenery with your loved one.

With its pure and elegant interior designs, Surf Chateau is anything but conventional. Often compared to an AirBnB-style accommodation in the hill towns of France, 20 stone cottage-style rooms encircle a central

courtyard. Through thoughtful design, you can enjoy the aesthetically pleasing architecture, 19th century inspired canopy beds, clawfoot tubs, chandeliers, oak barrel table tops, vaulted ceilings, and majestic views of the mountains.

~ City Canon ROYAL GORGE CABINS 45054 W. U.S. 50 royalgorgecabins.com

Enjoy a night next to a fireplace admiring the stars and drinking your favorite Colorado craft beer.

While that may sound like any place in Colorado, we guarantee that the Royal Gorge Cabins in Cañon City have a special X-factor that makes them worth your time. Unwind with your special someone after a long workweek or a day of exploration.

The luxury cabins and glamping tents are conveniently located near several popular attractions and activities,

Surf Hotel & Chateau

Royal Gorge Cabins

including Echo Canyon River Expeditions, the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience, and many more. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, check out the 8 Mile Bar and Grill, a stone’s throw away from the cabin resort.

These modern and dreamy cabins are perfect for a couple who wants a quiet weekend in or a playful adventure out in the Royal Gorge region. All luxury cabins are furnished in comfort, with high ceilings and big windows for you to admire the Colorado landscapes.

Enjoy a morning coffee on your private patio with orange sunrises and mountains surrounding you, dance with your sweetheart in the kitchen while your home-cooked meal is simmering, or bring more spontaneity to your relationship by traveling downstream for a white water adrenaline rush.

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Colorado Springs

St. Mary’s Inn Bed & Breakfast

(DOWNTOWN)

THE ST. MARY’S INN BED & BREAKFAST 530 N. Nevada Ave. thestmarysinn.com

Pam and Jay, owners of The St. Mary’s Inn Bed & Breakfast, are the type of innkeepers that go the extra mile. While they don’t have any romantic getaway packages, you can call them with any romantic or anniversary requests and they will bend over backward to make sure that your needs are met.

After you and your darling wake up from a glorious sleep in one of nine suites, make your way to the dining area of the Queen Anne style mansion for a hot gourmet breakfast of waffles, pancakes, huevos, sausage, and so much more. Enjoy your morning coffee on the wrap-around porch or sit by the fireplace in their great room.

For that extra special occasion, the Spruce Suite takes the cake. This honeymoon suite boasts incredible views, a plush king-size bed, a fireplace, and a spa-style bathroom with a two person Jacuzzi hot tub, among other amenities.

Take advantage of your ideal proximity to downtown Colorado Springs when you stay at The St. Mary’s Inn Bed & Breakfast. In less than half a mile, you can walk to the beautiful Acacia Park, or just a bit farther to reach a variety of restaurants and the Kimball’s Peak Three Cinema where you can catch an indie movie.

Colorado Springs

(OLD COLORADO CITY) HOLDEN HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST INN 1102 W. Pikes Peak Ave. holdenhouse.com

The Holden House Bed & Breakfast Inn is comprised of three turn-of-the-century Victorian houses, each offering two beautiful suites. The 1902 Victorian Main House, the 1906 Carriage House, and the 1898 Rose Victorian respectively offer their own unique features.

All six suites are equipped with a fireplace for those cooler summer nights, and your very own adoptable teddy bear.

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For breakfast, you and your honey can choose from a variety of freshly baked muffins and other savory and sweet dishes to help get your morning started. If you’re feeling peckish later in the day or simply need a pick-meup, you can head downstairs to grab a coffee or tea and a cookie from their bottomless cookie jar. Also included in any stay is a two-hour afternoon wine social with snacks.

If you feel like venturing away from the coziness of your suite, take a short drive to Old Colorado City where you’ll find many adorable shops and unique restaurants to match your tastes.

Get playful with your significant other with the Just Ducky Bubbles & Breakfast package, which includes a chilled bottle of sparkling cider, fresh roses, breakfast delivered to your room, a bubble bath for two, a rubber ducky, and a pair of Holden House embossed wine glasses to take home in memory of your stay. Visit their website for other lovely add-on package options.

Cripple Creek

CRIPPLE CREEK HOSPITALITY HOUSE & TRAVEL PARK 600 N. B St. cchospitalityhouse.com

First open to the public as the Teller County Hospital in 1902, this facility once cared for many patients over the years before it was bought by the Mackin family and renovated into a hotel. The Cripple Creek Hospitality

House is now adorned with antique furnishings and accents, and each of the guest room doors displays the name of its probable use when the building was a hospital. But don’t let that creep you out. Staying in the Hospitality House is actually quite lovely and perfect for romantic getaways.

The owners, Michael and Richard, are proud of their soothing atmosphere. They offer 14 spacious and comfortable rooms, as well as a massage therapist for those seeking an added touch of relaxation during their stay.

While a tasty continental breakfast is included, guests seeking a heartier meal can take a short drive to Maggie’s Restaurant in the Colorado Grande Hotel and Casino in Cripple Creek or to the Gold Camp Bakery in Victor.

EXPERIENCE TH E FA MO U S HEALING WATERS O F MANITO U SPRIN GS

The Hospitality House & Travel Park is just a mile from downtown Cripple Creek, should you and your significant other fancy a playful night of gambling at one of the casinos or an educational tour of the historical Gold Camp area. And if gambling is not your thing, don’t worry; the Hospitality House strives to be a place of relaxation for anyone who walks through their doors.

Manitou Springs

AVENUE HOTEL BED & BREAKFAST 711 Manitou Ave. avenuehotelbandb.com

Avenue Hotel Bed & Breakfast hosts Gwenn and Randy have made their historic inn an ideal location; enjoy an intimate evening in, or return to your delightful accommodations after an evening out on the town in Manitou Springs.

This award-winning boutique hotel is suited with seven uniquely decorated rooms, each offering a luxurious getaway for any couple looking to get cozy. In addition to

Natural Mineral-Water Cedar Pool Soaking UNIQUE MASSAGES, FACIALS, WAXING, & SPA TREATMENTS THAI YOGA THERAPY • WATSU WATER THERAPIES MOVEMENT, YOGA, & MEDITATION CLASSES TRADITIONAL & INFRARED SAUNA

REIGNITE THE FLAME

WORKSHOPS, CULTURAL EVENTS, RETREATS, AND MORE!

— WITH A —

ROMANTIC

GETAWAY

ONE-HOUR SOUTH OF DENVER

514 El Paso Boulevard • Manitou Springs, Colorado c a l l 1-719-695-7007 sunwaterspa.com B E S T D AY S PA A N D Y O G A

(719) 685-1277

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avenuehotelbandb.com

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711 Manitou Avenue COLORADO FUN

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their beautiful room, guests can enjoy a night beneath the stars in the warmth of a hot tub, take a stroll through Manitou Springs, and experience a delightful gourmet breakfast at a reasonable cost. For an added touch of romance, they can opt for one of the hotel’s well-appointed getaway packages.

For couples who select the Romantic Getaway package, they will be charmed with complimentary wine, glimmering candlelight, and a bed covered with rose petals upon entering their room. In addition to a 60-minute couple’s massage, patrons are invited to use a gift certificate at Mona Lisa’s Fondue

Restaurant, just steps from the front door of the hotel.

ISN’T IT ABOUT TIME THAT YOU TREAT YOURSELF AND YOUR SWEETIE TO ONE OF THESE DREAMY GETAWAYS?

Garden of the Gods is our backyard!

Best place to stay for bicyclists & outdoor enthusiasts!

OUTDOOR EVENT SPACE HUNDREDS OF MILES OF TRAILS

RETREATS & REUNIONS 4-ACRE PROPERTY

47 ROOMS CATERING AVAILABLE

Follow US

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Your Base Camp for Adventure in the Pikes Peak Region 2 EL PASO BLVD COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 719-634-2851 BICYCLERESORT.COM

Cripple Creek Hospitality House & Travel Park

We carry Colorado State flag doggy collars, leashes, harnesses, t-shirts, bandanas, magnets & stickers! Plus a fabulous selection of innovative products - & we are the local source for Doggles (Doggy sunglasses)!

COLORADO PROUD!

CALL FOR HOURS

Iron Springs Chateau Colorado’s Fun Melodrama

444 Ruxton Ave, Manitou Spgs, CO (719) 685-5104

CHEER THE HERO!

BOO THE VILLAIN!

JOIN US FOR DINNER AND A SHOW

A comedy filled melodrama where the good guys always win!

Followed by a sing-along Intermission & Vaudeville style Musical Revue.

RESERVATIONS: (719) 685-5104 FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! Open Tuesday-Saturday per reservations Closed Sunday and Monday Senior, Military and Group Rates Available

http://ironspringschateau.com COLORADO FUN

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MANITOU SPRINGS, CO

EAT. SLEEP. ADVENTURE. REPEAT. FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED FOR 35 YEARS ♦ 5 MIN WALK TO MANITOU BOOK NOW! NEWLY RENOVATED ♦ NEAR GARDEN OF THE GODS & PIKES PEAK VILLAMOTEL.COM CALL FOR RESERVATIONS: 719-685-5492

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HOTEL LISTINGS Villa Motel

481 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829 • (719) 685.5492 • redlion.com/co/manitou-springs/americas-best-value-inn-villa-motel

Americas Best Value Inn Villa Motel is located in the quaint mountain resort town of Manitou Springs, nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The downtown Historic District of Manitou Springs is just two blocks away and offers some of the finest restaurants, art galleries, and shops available in the area.

MANITOU SPRINGS, CO

No matter what brings you to the Pikes Peak Region, you will find that we are located in the middle of what’s going on! We are within minutes of over 40 major attractions and located directly between Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods. Whether you stay for two days or two weeks, our courteous staff will be happy to help you plan the perfect vacation.

Among your available options are newly remodeled spacious rooms with one king or two queen beds. For a relaxing time, try one of our rooms with a jetted tub for two. All rooms have color television with extended cable and HBO, air conditioning, and combination tub/showers, irons boards, and WIFI. Additional amenities included in most rooms are microwaves and mini-refrigerators, inEAT.and SLEEP. ADVENTURE. REPEAT. room coffee makers, and hairdryers.

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED FOR 35 YEARS ♦ 5 MIN WALK TO MANITOU BOOK NOW! VILLAMOTEL.COM NEWLY RENOVATED ♦ NEAR GARDEN OF THE GODS & PIKES PEAK CALL FOR(summer RESERVATIONS:months 719-685-5492 We also have a heated pool only) and outdoor hot tub (open year round) a gas grill with picnic area, and a guest laundry. There are several times during the year that we are fully booked far in advance, so we recommend you make reservations soon. We have been family owned and operated by the Vance family for over 35 years. We look forward to accommodating your family!

Happy and safe travels!

Keithley Pines Historic Cabins •

7 Keithley Rd, Manitou Springs, CO 80829 • (719) 330-2488 • keithleypines.com

Secluded but conveniently located, five historic log cabins just one mile from the Garden of the Gods and Manitou Springs. Inquire about this lovely lodging by calling 719-330-2488 or via email at keithleypines@gmail.com

The Palace Hotel •

204 N F St, Salida, CO 81201 • (719) 207-4175 • salidapalacehotel.com

The Palace Hotel is Salida, Colorado’s, premier boutique historic hotel. Established in 1909, vintage chic meets modern amenities, in fifteen unique and genuinely considered suites. Located in Historic Downtown Salida, Colorado alongside the banks of the Arkansas River, the newly renovated historic Palace Hotel offers boutique lodging within footsteps of shopping, dining and fly-fishing and more. For a well-deserved dose of peace and tranquility, make the Palace Hotel your next high altitude destination.

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We brew on site 18 Taps House + Guest Beer Food Served All Day Dog Friendly Patio Wine, Cider & Spirits

725 MANITOU AVE | 719.282.7709 MANITOU-BREWING.COM 78

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WORDS & PHOTOS BY ZACH REYNOLDS

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SNOWBOARDING AMERICA’S MOUNTAIN

I

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

f you’ve ever lived near a mountain, then you understand how you can form a bond with the peak, like a silent friendship. It’s often an observational relationship, in which you study its face, emotions, and moods. These features are mostly determined by the seasons and the weather, but also by details that are revealed to you over time — lighting on a slope, or how the snow always collects on a lone ridge.

At a certain point, you feel a connection, even closeness, to it. The mountain becomes a marker for your life, a bearing, a welcoming sight when returning from a trip. Merely being in its presence provides you with a source of comfort. But nothing simultaneously enriches and challenges the relationship like actually stepping foot on the mountain. In fact, one sole encounter can forever change your perception.

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MANITOU SPRINGS

One mountain in particular, Pikes Peak, has been grabbing attention since the first non-native people passed through its region. The state’s secondlargest city, Colorado Springs, is located off its eastern flank, as if to pay homage to the only 14er directly on the Front Range. Open to passenger vehicles, it is one of the most visited mountains in Colorado, cresting the half-a-million people mark in 2018.

Growing up in the mountains of Colorado, my memory of Pikes Peak is like a chapter book of different experiences — like riding up the Cog Railway with my grade school class, and my grandmother buying me ice cream at the summit gift shop. But when curiosity drew me across the parking lot toward the north face, Grandma apprehensively collected me from the edge, knowing very well that only a narrow patch of dirt separated the civility of the pavement from the full severity of the steep and rocky face.

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Many years later, my best friend opened a new chapter for me when he invited me to snowboard down that same face with him. Colin Murphy and I had been riding expert terrain together for decades, climbing and snowboarding down several of the state’s harder 14ers. On each of these adventures, we would seek out difficult and committing descents to fulfill our thrill-seeking urge. Despite our combined experience, descending Pikes Peak with this ethos is considered far beyond what is safe, or even sane, by most skiers and snowboarders.

At the north end of the Pikes Peak summit parking lot, the Y-Couloir offers a 2,200 vertical-foot elevatorshaft decent down its rocky face. It’s a cliff zone that offers a few narrow and barely continuous runnels of snow that eventually spill out gently to a small serene meltwater lake in the open depression below, known as The

Bottomless Pit. To tip the nose of your board off the top of something that steep takes wisdom, experience, skill, and balls of steel.

Pikes Peak also offers slightly less extreme skiing and snowboarding options. Down the highway from the summit, at approximately 12,500 feet, the North Side Couloirs is a popular area in the spring, usually after the closure of resorts. Experienced skiers and boarders gather there to test their metal in steep and rocky chutes such as Little Italy, The Chimney, and The Bowl, often hitchhiking back to the top drop-off point.

MANITOU SPRINGS

The day that Colin and I had planned to board the Y-Couloir from the summit, we decided to start with some warm-up laps in the lower zone.

Between The Bowl and The Chimney is a series of three very narrow and steep chutes called the Flying W, named after a local Colorado Springs landmark ranch. Here, there is barely enough width between the rock walls to make turns at all, on a streak of snow that gets increasingly steeper toward the bottom until you are forced to take a 15-foot drop off a small cliff at the exit of the chute. The reward is an apron of snow that opens up to the flat area down by the road. A fall in those chutes would most likely result in your body ping-ponging down the remainder of it. It’s nothing less than serious, as people have died in the area from such falls.

After a few fun runs through the W’s, we drove the remainder of the gravel road to the summit. Immediately after we geared up and dropped in the Y-Couloir, the casual busyness of the summit was gone; it was just the two of us and the perfect spring snow

sluffing away under our boards. The turns in our sheer no-fall-zone chute came quick and easy, and the route was direct. The soft, bright snow contrasted with the steep, dark rock walls of the couloir, while a gorgeous Front Range landscape fell away in a vertical panorama, thousands of feet below. Our rich experience in high alpine backcountry had taught us to periodically rendezvous at safety points to verify navigation and conditions. The riding was incredible, and we enjoyed each controlled-fall turn on the 45-degree slope, the buttery snow giving way to the power of our boards.

Y-Couloir is named as such because two upper chutes merge into a single passage that leads to the bottom.

Having elected to descend the skier’s right-hand side of the Y, we were faced with a rocky drop-off, just before it connected to the bottom channel. We knew this meant executing a 20-foot mandatory jump at the chokepoint, and it was actually the reason we chose that side of the Y, fueling our desire for adventure and adrenaline. Fortunately, we both landed our airs and made sweet turns down the fun run out to the bottom.

After stopping above The Bottomless Pit and exchanging high fives, we strapped our boards to our backpacks for the return ascent. With roughly 2,200 vertical feet between us and the truck, we set out on our climb up the steep alpine chute. Despite the benefits of sun, music, and friendship, the grueling workout still required us to manage pace, heart rate, breathing, and balance.

Colin, being the fit mountainmonkey that he was, had a hundredyard lead on me after the first 1,000 vertical feet of the climb. He took his usual “French rest” style break (where he packs up and resumes progress the second I make it to the rest point), justifying himself by pointing at the clouds in the distance. Spring in the Rockies can bring a wide range of conditions, even in a matter of a few hours. The gathering clouds, though dark, were still far north of us, somewhere near Denver, but the average pace of progress climbing up such a slope is typically about 1,000 vertical feet per hour. Colin knew this, and having previously had close encounters with lightning, wanted to go faster.

La La Henna Henna Boheme Bo heme 801 Manitou Ave. Manitou Springs 719-636-2626 COLORADO FUN

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I, on the other hand, was maxing out and couldn’t push my pace much more. Not one to leave a friend, this frustrated him. Normally, when we climb and ride 14ers, if the conditions should deteriorate, we would simply make the call, strap on our boards, and ride down to a safe elevation to try again another day. But in the inverted case of drivable Pikes Peak, our vehicle awaited us at the top rather than the bottom, and so we continued our hard-charge upwards.

and ignoring the fire in my legs, I pushed harder. Not long after, I could hear Colin yelling at me to put my rear in gear. Twenty minutes of me gasping the response “NO!” to his now obnoxious request of carrying my board for me had our friendshiptension at its max. My ego couldn’t stomach him carrying my board, though my lungs argued otherwise.

Knowing I would never hear the end of it, but also hearing the thunder, I finally relinquished my board to him,

Five minutes later, I looked up to see Colin standing at the top, peering down with a camera. “Smile,” he laughed. I had been tricked! While the storm was still at a relatively safe distance, the top had been right there. He took immense pleasure in immortalizing my momentary capitulation in photographs. The nerve! Seconds later, we were laughing and hugging in the parking lot, with me swearing how it was the last time I would ever give him my board.

A few years later, driving south from Denver on a fine spring day, I pointed to the north face of Pikes Peak rising up in the center of the windshield and told my kids the story. In Colorado, it’s often our mountain experiences with friends that give them their true appeal. Before my snowboarding adventure with Colin, it had always just been a dramatically picturesque vertical rock-and-snow face. Since then, however, I had developed another intimate connection with the mountain, and a favorite memory to bring it to life.

Before too long, I could hear the thunder over the music of my earbuds.

Sure enough, the clouds were forming into a thunderhead and were headed our direction. Gritting my teeth,

since 1903

mostly just to get a break from his annoying demands. He strapped it on his pack next to his own and took off in a sprint.

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Snowboarding wasn’t invented here, but Colorado has a deep connection with the sport. The first official snowboard competition was held in April 1981 at Ski Cooper, near Leadville. Jake Burton (founder of Burton Snowboards) and Tom Sims (founder of Sims Snowboards) were both competitors in this contest.

other highlights of colorado’s snowboarding history: In 1985, Breckenridge Ski Resort was the first in Colorado to welcome snowboarding on its slopes. Aspen Mountain was last, finally allowing it in April 2001.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort has been home to the U.S. Extreme Snowboarding Championships since its inaugural competition in 1992.

More than threeIn 2013, after being held on the East quarters of the Winter X Games have been Coast for 30 years, the Burton U.S. held in Colorado.

Since the inaugural Open Snowboarding 1997 Games in Big Championships moved to Vail Ski Resort Bear Lake, California, Crested Butte has where the event has since remained. hosted the event twice (1998 and 1999) and Aspen has hosted it for 18 consecutive years (2002 to 2019).

Colorado is also home to many of the sport’s top athletes, including 2018 Olympic men’s slopestyle gold medalist, Red Gerard, who lives in Silverthorne.

for more information, visit the colorado snowsports museum (snowsportsmuseum.org) in vail.

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GOING,

GOING,

GONE. WAYS YOU CAN HELP: TAKE A TOUR OF THE CENTER SHOP AT THE VISITOR CENTER, RETAIL SHOP & GALLERY DONATE VOLUNTEER AT THE CENTER SPONSOR A WOLF PLAN YOUR NEXT EVENT AT CWWC

G

ray wolves are a species native to Colorado. In the 1800s they freely roamed their home territory, but unfortunately they were exterminated by 1945 in Colorado. The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Centers’ mission is to change not only the public’s perception of wolves, but also their very future.

It is unfortunate that this iconic species is still being threatened and persecuted. Historically, wolves were in numbers to almost half a million and today the Gray wolf has dwindled to around 5,000 left. Some subspecies of the Gray are listed critically endangered. The Mexican Gray hovers around 100 and the Red wolf at 35 left in the wild.

For many, wolves are a touchy subject. Ranchers across the west have long viewed them as a threat to livestock and livelihood. CWWC CEO Darlene Kobobel explains that misinformation has significantly contributed to the wolves’ fate.

For example, respiratory disease poses a bigger danger to cattle populations than wolves do. In addition, fear was instilled in our minds through stories and Hollywood portraying the wolf as evil. She contends that ranchers who embrace the potential opportunities afforded by wolf tourism could turn their perceived enemy into an economic boom. Look at what the return of the wolf did to Yellowstone when they were reintroduced in 1973. Not only did the landscape dramatically improve, but the boost in tourism exploded with visitors who to this day flock to observe the wolves.

Plan to visit the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center where you can not only see and learn about these misunderstood incredible animals, but learn how to be a voice for them.

The Center is located approximately 45 minutes west of Colorado Springs in the small mountain town of Divide. CWWC keeps elite company as the only AZA sanctuary in Colorado. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is the gold standard of care for animals. Through conservation, education, and science, it is the goal to promote and secure preservation for wildlife and our environment.

In addition to providing a lifelong home for the animals in its care, CWWC offers guests the opportunity to interact with some of the wolves and fox residents. The Center is home for the

Gray, Arctic, and endangered Mexican Gray wolves as well as 2 species of fox and coyote. The Center also has a rehabilitation and release program of small native wildlife. Visitors can experience the animals through standard, interactive, feeding and meet and greet tours.

The Center is open Tuesday thru Sunday year round. (Reservations required) On the 1 hour standard tour, you will go with a highly trained guide where you will see the animals and learn about them as well as the wild wolf and how critical they are to both the natural world and the human world. At the end of the tour you are surrounded by wolves and coyote and as a good bye you and your group will do a signature “wolf howl”. You will then be graced with an unforgettable experience of the wolves talking back to you.

4729 Twin Rocks Road, Divide, CO 719.687.9742 • WolfEducation.org Facebook.com/CoWolfCenter Twitter: @Wolves_at_CWWC Instagram: @CoWolfCenter Check out our YouTube Channel

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Insider's Guide to Colorado Museums

By John Hazlehurst

fortress-like Gio Ponti building is linked by a covered walkway to Daniel Libeskind’s 2006 Hamilton Building. Its 20 sloping planes are covered in 230,000 square feet of titanium shingles; no plane is parallel or perpendicular to another.

Needless to say, it is a vast deconstructivist sculpture posing as an art museum.

And then there’s the art. In 2019, the DAM is creating and hosting the most comprehensive U.S. exhibition of Claude Monet’s paintings in two decades. The exhibition, according to the museum, will “focus on the celebrated French impressionist artist’s Denver Art Museum enduring relationship Photo by Caitlin Murphy with nature and his response to the varied o we have museums in and distinct places in which he Denver and the Pikes worked.”

Peak Region? The answer is a resounding yes. If you guessed that we Denver Museum of Nature & Science have regionally themed museums 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver featuring rodeo cowboys, mining, dmns.org dinosaurs, and local history, you’d be right on the money. We also have This expansive municipal natural a few surprises for you, including a history museum has everything. gleaming hangar filled with restored Its 716,000-square-foot building World War II aircraft, a brothel, a houses more than 1 million objects, mysterious castle, and more. We including natural history and don’t expect you to visit them all, but anthropological materials, as well we can guarantee that every one on as archival and library resources. our list is well worth your time and Eight themed permanent exhibitions the entrance fee! include dinosaurs, dioramas, gems, minerals and meteorites, Egyptian mummies, North American Indian cultures, the evolution of life on DENVER METRO AREA Earth, the human body and, summing everything up, the universe and our Denver Art Museum place within it.

100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway, Denver

D

/////////////////////// denverartmuseum.org

Dating from 1893, the Denver Art Museum (DAM) conjoins two architectural masterpieces. The 1971 86

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The museum is an independent nonprofit with approximately 350 full-time and part-time staff, more than 1,800 volunteers, and almost

2 million annual visitors. As English literature giant Dr. Samuel Johnson once said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” The same might be said of this resplendent museum.

Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada arvadacenter.org The seeds of the Arvada Center were planted in 1972, when sixth-grade students from Secrest Elementary School presented a pageant called Look Back With Pride, created

by Arvada teacher Lois Lindstrom to honor the city’s rich history. A few months later, Lindstrom founded the Arvada Historical Society and worked with the City Council to create a cultural center, which opened its doors in 1976.

Today’s much-expanded Arvada Center is one of Denver metro area’s most significant cultural players, offering multiple theaters, a spacious amphitheater, a history museum, and generously sized galleries.

The opening show for 2019 was a juried display of Colorado artists, aptly named Art of the State. The exhibition drew 1,555 entries from 566 Colorado artists working in all media. Jurors then selected 154 pieces by 135 artists. Covering 10,000 square feet of gallery space, this showcase is considered an “immense celebration of Colorado art.”

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Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs csfineartscenter.org The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center (FAC) at Collorado College is in its third incarnation. Originating as the Broadmoor Art Academy in 1919, it

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morphed into the FAC in 1936 with Colorado Springs the construction of the dazzling Pioneers Museum southwestern modernist building Photo by Julia Palomino, designed by influential architect John Courtesy of VisitCOS Gaw Meem. Finally, the FAC merged with neighboring Colorado College in 2016, thus forming an enriching alliance for both institutions.

This year, the FAC is celebrating its 100th anniversary in grand style, with multiple events and exhibitions.

On display through December 2019, the exhibit O Beautiful! Shifting landscapes of the Pikes Peak Region features historic, modern, and contemporary artists who lived and worked in the region.

National Museum of World War II Aviation 755 Aviation Way, Colorado Springs worldwariiaviation.com Located on a 20-acre site on the Northwest side of the Colorado Springs Airport, you’ll find an amazing, ever-changing array of historic aircraft. Expect to see a fully operational B-25 bomber, a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, and many others, as well as fascinating historic displays.

The museum’s aircraft are displayed along with a selection of aircraft on loan from private collections around the country to tell the full story behind American advancements in aviation technology during the war.

Another hangar on the site is occupied by WestPac Restorations, a privately owned aircraft

restoration facility and one of the premier restorers of WWII-vintage aircraft. Tours of the facility are occasionally available, featuring both restorations in progress and fully operational WWII aircraft.

Springs at the turn of the 19th century — it’s more like a gilded-age mansion than a prosaic county courthouse. Saved by determined citizens from the wrecker’s ball in the early 1970s, this municipal treasure is free and open to the public.

ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado Springs prorodeohalloffame.com

Founded in 1979, the ProRodeo Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum Hall of Fame and Museum of the 215 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs American Cowboy seeks to enlighten cspm.org visitors on the impact of rodeo in

Western American culture. Humans, Appropriately housed in the horses and bulls are among the magnificent spare-no-expense 1903 hundreds of inductees, reflecting the City Hall, the city-owned museum is long and complex history of rodeo. much richer than its name suggests.

It houses more than 80,000 photographs from the late 19th and early 20th century, five nationallysignificant manuscript collections, along with an object collection of 45,000 items, including art, textiles, and the largest public collection of Van ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum Courtesy of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum Briggle Art Pottery.

Situated in the center of Alamo Square Park, the museum building is a delightful Victorian confection of every Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College architectural Photo by Phillip Spears, Courtesy of the Fine Arts Center style imaginable.

The sumptuous interior and ornate exterior recall the gold-fueled prosperity of Colorado

The Hall of Fame has multiple galleries with captivating exhibits, including one that displays saddles, chaps, ropes, boots, clothing, and artifacts tracing the history of rodeo.

If you’re there between Memorial Day and Labor Day, you can check out our favorite living exhibit: retired rodeo bucking horses. They’re goodtempered athletes that enjoy visitors — no autographs, though…

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The Sangre de Cristo Arts Center 210 N. Santa Fe Ave., Pueblo sdc-arts.org The Sangre de Cristo Arts Center (SDC) in Pueblo opened its doors in 1972. It started small, with an annual budget of about $100,000 and a staff of three. Fast forward to present day — southern Colorado’s leading arts facility is now comprised of a growing three-building complex that includes a theater, multiple galleries, and the separate Buell Children’s Museum.

In its seven galleries, the SDC hosts 24 new annual exhibitions. We’re particularly looking forward to Luster: Realism and Hyperrealism in Contemporary Automobile & Motorcycle Painting, which will be on display in the White Gallery from June through September 2019.

On the first Friday of the month, head for the SDC and participate in tours of the downtown Pueblo Creative Corridor.

America. Built in 1893 for Pueblo entrepreneur John Thatcher, it remained a private residence for 75 years.

Thatcher loaded a wagon with merchandise in 1864 in Denver, and made his way to Pueblo. Business flourished and, by the 1880s, Pueblo was Colorado’s largest and most prosperous city, home to steel mills, breweries, smelters, and a railway hub with a vast rail yard.

Thatcher’s 37-room, 24,000-squarefoot home was constructed of rosecolored rhyolite quarried near Castle Rock. The interior features carved roses in the elaborate woodwork, 10 fireplaces, Tiffany windows and lights, and 26 original Oriental rugs.

Designed by New York architect Henry Hudson Holly, the house encapsulates the tastes of wealthy Americans in the late 19th century.

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CAÑON CITY

Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience 44895 W. US-50, Cañon City dinoxp.com

Sangre de Cristo Arts Center Courtesy of the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center

Rosemount Museum 419 W. 14th St., Pueblo rosemount.org Rosemount is one of the bestpreserved Victorian mansions in 88

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A multigenerational Cañon City family, long fascinated by the extraordinary paleontology of the Lower Arkansas Valley, created the expansive Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience in 2016.

Built and operated by the father-son team of David and Zach Reynolds, the museum is simultaneously informative, educational, and interactive.

The museum’s 16,200 square-foot building houses a world-class collection of interactive displays, full-scale dinosaur fossil casts, and real dinosaur fossils. Also on

Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience Courtesy of the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience

the menu: guided tours, skinned animatronic dinosaur exhibits, and a multistory ropes course.

“Our goal,” said Zach Taylor, “is to ensure that our visitors leave knowing a lot more about Colorado’s paleontological history and carry memories of a great time spent learning, discovering and having fun with their friends and families.”

Royal Gorge Route Railroad 330 Royal Gorge Blvd., Cañon City royalgorgeroute.com Strictly speaking, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad isn’t a museum at all.

It’s a heritage railroad that carries passengers on a two-hour scenic train ride through the Royal Gorge along the route of the former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.

The ride is immersive and unforgettable; you board a sparkling vintage train and enjoy rail travel as it was in the 40s and 50s. Think of it as a museum on rails, a particularly delightful one that serves fine food and drink as well as spectacular scenery. A tip: if you’re in coach, head out early and get a view seat!

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////////////////// CRIPPLE CREEK The Cripple Creek District Museum 510 Bennett Dr., Cripple Creek cripplecreekmuseum.com The museum has a cluster of five historic structures, including the 1894 Colorado Trading & Transfer Company building, the 1895 Midland Terminal Depot, the 1900 Assay Office, and two small 1890s homes later moved to the site.

Together, they offer a sense of life in the world’s greatest gold camp, when the Midland operated 10 passenger trains daily and the brawling city had a population of more than 20,000.

But the mines ran out in the early 1900s and Cripple Creek essentially became a ghost town.

Enter Blevins Davis, a flamboyant Colorado Springs resident who founded the museum in 1953.

Ironically, Davis’s life replicated Cripple Creek’s early history; he unexpectedly inherited a fortune in 1948, and blew it all by 1958.

But that’s life, as the gamblers, scammers, swindlers, speculators, miners, and dance hall girls well understood.

Old Homestead House Museum 353 Myers Ave., Cripple Creek oldhomesteadhouse.com The Homestead House was once the most famous brothel in Cripple Creek. Owned and operated by Pearl DeVere, it was a private club catering to the overnight millionaires who had struck it rich in this improbable boomtown.

In contrast to the typical wages for a miner — $3 a day was viewed as a respectable pay — DeVere wisely

set her room price at $250 a night.

Despite its present-day aura of gold rush glamor, it was a difficult life.

DeVere died of a morphine overdose in 1897, and is buried beneath a heart-shaped marble gravestone in Cripple Creek’s Mount Pisgah Cemetery. Today, the Homestead House has been “lovingly restored with velvet bedspreads and handmade furniture.”

Cripple Creek Heritage and Information Center 9283 CO-67, Cripple Creek visitcripplecreek.com Perched on a knoll a few hundred feet above Cripple Creek, the Heritage Museum is a convenient first stop for visitors. You can enjoy interactive exhibits, focusing on a dozen different subjects including gold mining techniques, gems and minerals, railroads, and Colorado wildlife. A wall of west-facing windows offers panoramic views of the city and the usually snowcapped mountains of the Sawatch and Sangre de Cristo ranges.

If you’re traveling with Fido, the museum also has enclosed dog runs for both large and small mutts, allowing you to browse the museum at leisure.

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Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center 201 S. Fairview St., Woodland Park rmdrc.com Dinosaur museums are extraordinarily popular, especially for families traveling with children.

As all parents know, dinosaur-mania primarily affects kids from five to Courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center

their midteens. Once infected with this agreeable disease, it never quite goes away, although it may lie dormant during the storms of adolescence.

Founded by Mike Triebold, a dinosaur-obsessed kid turned paleontologist, the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center is cleverly designed to appeal to all ages.

There’s high-level earth science for adults to enjoy and pretend to understand, as well kid-friendly, highly touchable exhibits.

Mike’s company, Triebold Paleontology, created the casts and exhibits at the 20,000-square-foot museum, which also includes a wellstocked gift shop.

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Miramont Castle 9 Capitol Hill Ave., Manitou Springs miramontcastle.org Jean-Baptiste Francolon, a French Catholic priest, built Miramont Castle as a home in 1895. It’s a wonderful late-Victorian mishmash of architectural styles. Its four levels are perched on a steep hill, with a grand front entrance on the ground level. The 14,000-square-foot house museum includes eight-sided rooms, a 16-sided room, a solarium, arched doors and, thanks to its hillside location, oddly-shaped rooms throughout.

An underground tunnel to the neighboring Montcalm Sanitarium once connected to the house. There were also rumored to be other secret tunnels, hidden compartments, and escape routes incorporated in the structure. And, as you’d expect, the castle is widely believed to be haunted.

In any case, it’s a spectacular place, a full-on manifestation of the airy creativity that still animates Manitou Springs.

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Pueblo Abundant sunshine and an impressive assortment of recreational activities make this town a place to call home.

May 2019

July 2019

Pueblo Summer Home Show May 17-19

Pueblo Summer Musical: Hello, Dolly!

July 13-18

Free entry at the Pueblo Convention Center. pueblohomeshow.com

Home of Heroes Grand Prix & 50th Anniversary Formula Ford Festival May 25-26 Majors tour; regional races; vintage event. motorsportreg.com

Pueblo Parks & Rec Fest May 31

Recreation, fitness, and healthy living activities. pueblo.us

June 2019 Relay for Life June 7

Fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. relayforlife.org/puebloco

Summer BBQ Kickoff June 7

At El Centro del Quinto Sol rec center. pueblo.us

Big Dog Brag Mud Run June 8

5K and family-friendly 2K course options. bigdogbrag.com/pueblo

Rose Walk at Rosemount June 11-15

Fresh and silk rose arrangements and more. rosemount.org

Rocky Mountain Street Rod Nationals June 21-23 Vehicles of 1989 and earlier manufacture. nsra-usa.com

Zoofari June 21

The Pueblo Zoo’s signature fundraiser. pueblozoo.org

Annual tradition sponsored by Parks & Rec. pueblo.us

Rumble at the Rosemount July 13

Antique, classic, an muscle cars, and more. rosemount.org

August 2019 Overnight with the Animals Aug. 10-11

Enjoy camping in the Zoo’s Serengeti Safari. pueblozoo.org

Steel City Music Festival Aug. 10

14 bands, 1 stage; 8 hours of non-stop music. steelcitymusicfestival.com

Colorado State Fair Aug. 23-Sept. 2

Includes a carnival, headliners, and livestock. coloradostatefair.com

September 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s Sept. 7

Join a team, make a donation, or volunteer. act.alz.org

G.A.P Memorial Glow Golf Tournament Sept. 14 Proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs.

On Facebook

Chile & Frijoles Festival Sept. 20-22

Photo Courtesy of the Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center

December 2019 Rock Canyon Half Marathon Dec. 8

Run alongside the Arkansas River Trail. runsignup.com

Reoccurring Events First Friday Art Walk First Friday of every month

5 p.m. in the Pueblo Creative Corridor. puebloarts.org

Movies in the Park May 31, June 15, July 6 & 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 7

Free admission and fun for the family. pueblo.us

Luster: Realism and Hyperrealism in Contemporary Automobile & Motorcycle Painting June 8-Sept. 30

On exhibit at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center sdc-arts.org

Things That Go Zoom!

June 10-Nov. 2

Exhibit at the Buell Children’s Museum. sdc-arts.org

Festival Fridays July 12, 19, & 26; Aug. 2 & 9

Live music at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center. sdc-arts.org

Christmas at Rosemount Nov. 29-Dec. 27

A tradition for many during the holidays. rosemount.org

A food festival ripe with culture and soul. festival.pueblochamber.org

October 2019 Victorian Halloween at Rosemount Oct. 26

Treats, prizes, costume contest, and more. rosemount.org

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The Rebirth of Pueblo

PUEBLO

BY JOHN HAZLEHURST

Formally incorporated in 1870, Pueblo has long been a center of commerce. Native Americans settled near the confluence of Fountain Creek and the Arkansas River, followed by Hispanic and European immigrants in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Until the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848, the Arkansas marked the border between the United States and Mexico.

Prior to the treaty, three other nations had claimed sovereignty over the settlement; France, Spain, and the Republic of Texas.

By the early 1900s, Pueblo was the most prosperous, powerful, and diverse industrial city in the Mountain West. The sprawling steel mills of Colorado Fuel & Iron and vast rail yards moored its economy for much of the 20th century, until CF & I closed in 1982.

With its economy shattered and an unemployment rate of more than 20 percent, Pueblo had to reimagine,

reinvent, and rebuild. The smelters, blast furnaces, and crowded rail yards were gone —what would the future resemble? One solution: to reactivate Pueblo’s historic downtown by creating a safe, beautiful, pedestrian-friendly riverwalk. It was an expensive and audacious plan; one that took years to design, construct, and refine.

The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo (HARP) opened 18 years ago. It has since grown and expanded, igniting businesses and catalyzing downtown development. A once dreary industrial wasteland has been transformed into an amazing regional asset for residents and visitors alike.

HARP anchors a revived downtown, featuring museums, galleries, creative centers, and beautifully renovated 19th century buildings. A locale that once seemed on the verge of disintegration has been reborn — affordable and welcoming, this intriguing city has come into its own.

the Riverwalk RIDE Excursion boats, gondola tours & pedal boats!

Choose from 5 restaurants

June through August Open 7 DAYS A WEEK

Pizza, steak, prime rib, burgers, salad, brunch and MORE!

SHOP

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Stop by local shops along the Riverwalk and Union Avenue for one of a kind gifts and goodies!

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Plan your next adventure with us hiking • biking • shopping • dining Where will your feet take you?

ColoradoFunGuide.com

ColoradoFunGuide.com Tag us with your adventure photos on Facebook & Instagram

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a huge impact on your success later that day. Fully dressed and ready to roll, your guide proclaimed that it was time to get moving as he wanted to get to his secret hole before people started to show up. Grabbing a few rods, you headed out together toward the meandering river that you had seen earlier on your drive up.

Lift. Flick.

Mend. Follow.

For a beginning fly fisher, these may be the first instructions that your guide gives as they explain how to simply cast a fly rod.

You have shown up to try out the sport all of your friends have been babbling about nonstop at work. For the past year, all you have heard was how they went to Colorado and tried an amazing sport that they can’t wait to experience again. The pictures that they showed you — steep canyons, sprawling plains, mountain lakes, with rivers dancing through all of these places — drew your attention.

After doing a little research on the area you knew was calling to you, you decided to book a guide and to figure out what all the hype was about.

Showing up that first morning was

part of the story that your friends had totally left out. You woke up early, hitting the alarm to grab a coffee and a quick bite to eat before driving to meet your guide for your trip on the river. The Colorado morning was a tad cold, but thanks to the layers that you bought, the slight breeze did nothing but kiss your skin as you got out of the car. Meeting your guide was another experience all in itself.

As you walked up to shake his hand, he was sitting and drinking coffee; you observed his slightly messy hair under a faded trucker hat, a face that hadn’t been shaved for a few days, and suntanned laughter lines that creased his face. Trying on the waders that would keep you dry for your day on the river, you quickly made a connection with your guide and he joked about remembering your friends from the previous year.

As the sun started peeking over the hills, you put on the polarized sunglasses you were told would have

Throughout the day, you learned more than you thought about how the river moves through and around obstacles and about how the movement helps show where the fish stay. You also learned a word to bring back to your friends — entomology. Your guide described entomology as the study of bugs; he explained that throughout the day, there would be different bugs floating under the water and landing on top of the water. He casually dug up one of the rocks from the riverbed and showed you the little bugs wriggling on the bottom. He pulled out one of many different boxes from his pack to show you the countless little bugs that he had tied. Pulling out a bug almost identical to his own, he tied it on your line and told you to recast in the same hole in which you had been fishing.

Noticing a slight bump on your indicator, you lifted your rod as he

“The Colorado morning was a tad cold, but thanks to the layers that you bought, the slight breeze did nothing but kiss your skin as you got out of the car.”

COLORADO FUN

97

these waters classified as Gold Medal waters. In Colorado, there are 322 miles of rivers and lakes that fall into this category. In order to qualify as a Gold Medal water, the area must meet a few qualifications, such as having 12 fish over 14 inches long per acre. Also, the waters must be public — meaning anyone can fish them.

from COLORADO SPRINGS had shown earlier. In an instant, the calmness of the river exploded with a cascading arc of boiling water. The fish on the end of your line bent the rod and sent your reel screaming as it took off across the river. Your guide calmly talked you through how to fight the fish and, minutes later, you were triumphantly holding one of the most beautiful looking fish that you had ever seen. Keeping the fish wet the entire time, your guide snapped a quick picture before you released the fish back to the once again calm water.

As the day unfolded, you continued to learn more about the intricacies of fly fishing, from casting to walking in the river, and you even started to pick up on places in which to target fish.

Your guide slowly moved away from continuous instruction and, within no time, you were swapping stories of work and life. Every now and again he would stop midsentence to correct a cast and make sure that no bad habits were developed, and then launch right back into his story. After lunch, you

98

COLORADO FUN

headed back to the river and your guide pulled out a different box of flies than you had seen during the morning. He quickly explained that there would soon be a hatch and that within minutes you would see small bugs start flying around the surface of the water. Almost immediately, you saw the head of a fish engulf a tiny bug as others started landing next to it. Learning how to cast dry flies was a different experience, but the morning’s lessons paid off and soon you had pulled a few fish to the net.

As the day came to a close, you kept asking for one more cast. Shaking his head, your guide just laughed and said that there was always tomorrow. As you parted ways, you put your guide’s business card in your wallet, already dreaming up your next adventure.

While hiring a guide is a beginner’s best bet for catching fish along the Front Range, there are 105,344 miles of rivers and 249,787 acres of lakes to explore across the state of Colorado. Across the Front Range, we are blessed to have a large amount of

Deckers. A little under an hour of travel time, Deckers is the closest place to fish from downtown Colorado Springs. From here, the South Platte River and runs all the way to Denver.

In this river, you will find a variety of fish but a large majority of rainbow trout and brown trout. While it is common to catch fish from 8 to 14 inches long, don’t be surprised to see a 20+ inch trout swimming in the same water. Deckers is a well known location, so be prepared to fish with others.

River Etiquette While the lands you will mainly be fishing are all public, there are a few things that you should keep in mind before grabbing your rod and heading out.

Firstly, look up the Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.

Leave No Trace, or LNT for short, consists of seven principles that should be applied whenever you head out into the backcountry and make use of any public (or private) land. This ensures the protection of these places and helps lessen our impact as we travel the land.

Here are a few easy rules to follow: Stay on the trails — this helps native plants continue to thrive.

Respect the space of other fishers and don’t play music — this helps each individual enjoy their time on the river or lake.

Handle the fish quickly — we all enjoy looking at pictures but taking too long to snap one will injure and may kill the fish. Instead, keep your hands wet, grab a quick picture, then release the fish in the water.

If you are fishing in warmer temperatures, consider leaving the picture or just hiking on hot days — trout become lethargic with the exertion of fighting.

Each area will have different rules and regulations, which can be found online at cpw.state.co.us. Here you will find area guidelines such as catch and release rules, full documentation of where you can fish, and an outline of the types and species of fish that can be found in different parts of our state.

13 COLORADOFUN FUN 99 COLORADO

from PUEBLO Arkansas River. Pueblo tail waters provide a different experience than the options listed above. With the main stretch of river found below the Pueblo Dam, it is a true tail water experience without the combat Eleven Mile Canyon. From Colorado Springs, the drive to Eleven Mile Canyon will take you a little over an hour. This area is known for having feisty 10 to 16 inch trout within the steep canyon walls. Note that there is a seven dollar entry fee that must be paid before gaining entry to the state park. Because of the fee, it is perhaps less popular, but you should still expect crowds on the weekends.

The Dream Stream. At roughly 75 minutes from Colorado Springs, the Dream Stream is undeniably the most renowned section of the South Platte River, and quite possibly the most recognized stretch of river in Colorado. It is a sight fishing heaven, where finding a fish over 20 inches long is common and catching a fish over 30 inches long is not only reserved for dreams.

This information, however, is well known; thus, this is a busy river and the fish have become wary of poor presentations.

from DENVER

Clear Creek Canyon. With the shortest drive from Denver, Clear Creek Canyon sits right outside the town of Golden. A popular destination

100 COLORADO FUN

for nature lovers, don’t be surprised to share parking spots with climbers, bikers, and hikers. The creek holds a larger amount of smaller rainbows and brook trout, with the majority being browns.

Deckers. This stretch of the river flows all the way from the town of Deckers into downtown Denver. To reach the town site, it will be about an hour and a half drive, but there are plenty of spots to park and fish before hitting the town. Explore this entire stretch of river!

“In an instant, the calmness of the river exploded with a cascading arc of boiling water. The fish on the end of your line bent the rod and sent your reel screaming as it took off across the river.”

PUEBLO

fishing that can be found at other places. While tricking the bigger fish into taking your fly will still be a challenge, you will find many fish here ready to put up a good fight.

from BUENA VISTA AND SALIDA

flies to catch fish, the Arkansas gives bountiful opportunity to catch fish on larger dry flies. The slower moving stretches of water will hold large fish waiting for a properly presented fly.

Target ripple lines and bubble lines close to the banks of the river.

Mountain Lakes. Nestled below the Collegiate Peaks, these towns provide easy access to mountain lakes that give you both a workout and a little Arkansas River. Stepping out of solitude. A local’s favorite, cutthroat your house and knowing that you only trout reside in these small lakes that have to walk or drive for a few minutes can be found sprinkled throughout is a special feeling. These towns the state. The pure beauty of a red provide miles and miles of fishable throat is amplified by the aggressive water in your backyard. With intense strikes that these fish produce. stretches of rapids, the Arkansas River provides the opportunity to get in a little white water exploration as well as float trips down the river. While most of Colorado’s rivers depend on smaller

Pueblo's 25th Annual Chile & Frijoles Festival

In 1994, Rod Slyhoff, CEO of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce and visionary of the Chile & Frijoles Festival, plead with local farmers to consider roasting Pueblo Chile and to sell their produce in the streets of Pueblo for a two day festival. One agreed to roast and another agreed to set up a small farm stand. And so it began, and a few thousand people gathered to enjoy the smell of fresh roasted pueblo chiles, one food vendor and a handful of local artisans.

Twenty-five years later, those same farmers are selling an estimated 50 tons of Pueblo Chile in three days! The Annual Chile & Frijole Festival in Pueblo, Colorado has grown from a meager 2500 people on 1 city block to over 150,000+ in attendance over 10 blocks in Pueblo’s historic downtown Riverwalk area. An estimated $4 Million dollars in economic impact is generated with literally every hotel sold out.

Today, the now three-day event is a testament to the importance of Pueblo’s agricultural industry and the beloved Pueblo Chile. Those who attend have the opportunity to be entertained by over 50 local bands in 5 different entertainment tents, wander scenic blocks with over 180 vendors while sampling authentic foods and shopping for one-of-a kind wares. Patrons also enjoy professional culinary demonstrations, a salsa and chili showdown, Jalapeno eating contest and even a Chihuahua dog parade & costume contest!

But let’s not forget the coup de gras of the festival…Pueblo Chile! Festival goers know that this event signals the end of the harvest season and if they do not purchase their yearly supply of roasted Pueblo Chile they may find it hard to get in the winter months.

These seasoned chile aficionados purchase enough bushels of their favorite roasted peppers, take them home, separate them into portioned baggies and freeze them in hopes of making it through the winter….you might call it a Pueblo Chile hibernation plan! But don’t fret, nowadays our farmers are freezing and storing plenty of stock to keep on hand for the beginners.

As word of the Pueblo Chile spreads like a pepper to your taste buds, we invite you to experience the Spicier Side of Colorado at the 25th Annual Chile & Frijoles Festival September 20-22, 2019. See ya there!

COLORADO FUN 101

102 COLORADO FUN

Photo by Julia Palomino / Courtesy of VisitCOS

Cañon City The charm of the Royal Gorge region sets the stage for numerous outdoor activities and festivities.

May 2019

August 2019

Antique & Special Interest Car Show May 18

Putting on the Glitz Aug. 3

Royal Gorge Six and Twelve May 18

Royal 50/Gorgeous 25 Mountain Bike Races & Point Alta Vista Trail Races Aug. 31-Sept. 1

Show cars, car corral, swap meet, and crafts.

On Facebook

Endurance 6 and 12-hour mountain bikes races. ziarides.com

Florence Merchants’ Association Car Show May 19

Laid-back, noncompetitive annual showing. florencecoloradocarshow.com

A gala benefit for Loaves and Fishes. canoncity.com

Races in Royal Gorge Park trail system. royal50.com

September 2019 Tour de Coal Towns Sept. 14

June 2019

Bike through coal towns, lunch to follow. florencepioneermuseum.org

Hardscrabble Mountain Trail Run June 1

Florence Pioneer Days Sept. 20-22

5K and 10K courses with exceptional views. sanisabel.org

Cañon City Car Show June 8

Pin striping, awards, prizes and concessions.

On Facebook

Walk it Off! Pancake Breakfast June 8

Self-guided walking tour of historic Florence. florencepioneermuseum.org

Cañon City Pickle Ball Classic June 15

Three different brackets for doubles teams. colorado.gov/ccrec

Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival June 21-23

Water competitions and land-based events. royalgorgewhitewaterfestival.com

July 2019 Buses by the Royal Gorge July 12-13

Bus campout, Royal View, and VW Bizarre. busesbytheroyalgorge.weebly.com

Fremont County Fair July 26-Aug. 4

Free entry with family-friendly activities. fremontcountyfair.com

Parade, festivities in the park, and a tractor pull. florencepioneerdays.com

Harvest Fest Sept. 28-29

Award-winning wines and tasty food selections. abbeywinery.com

The Crippler Sep. 29

Gravel road bike race that will push your limits. rockymountainadventureseries.com

Boo at the Bridge Oct. 19

Spooktacular treats, games, and entertainment. royalgorgebridge.com

Nov. / Dec. 2019 Turkey Bowl Flag Football Tournament Nov. 23

4-on-4 tourney with 7 different age divisions. colorado.gov/ccrec

4-H Holiday Craft Sale Dec. 7

One-stop shop for holiday shopping.

On Facebook

Model Train Open House Dec. 14

Model trains set up by the Pueblo Train Club. florencepioneermuseum.org

May 2020 Cañon City Music & Blossom Fest April 29-May 3

Features HS band competitions and concerts. ccblossomfestival.com

Reoccurring Events Bell Tower Cultural Center 2019 Concert Series and Art Exhibitions See website for dates

October 2019

Concerts 7-9 p.m.; art receptions 5-7 p.m. florenceartscouncil.com

Penrose Apple Day Oct. 5

Cañon City First Fridays First Friday of every month

Rim to Rim Royal Gorge Races Oct. 5-6

Royal Gorge Route Railroad Wine Dinners May 18, June 21, Sept. 7, Oct. 12

Escape in Time to Steampunk and Wine Oct. 11-12

Santa Express Train November & December

Aftermath Haunted House Oct. 12, 19, 25, & 26

Spirits Through the Gorge Jan 19.-Feb. 23, 2020

Pie contest, competitions, and free pony rides. penrosechamber.org

Includes 5K, 10K, and half marathon events. rimtorimroyalgorge.com

Costume contests, circus arts, and wine!

On Facebook

One of Colorado’s top-rated haunted houses. colorado.gov/ccrec

Music, art, food, and sales on Main Street. canoncity.com

Train ride with 5-course dinner & wine pairing. royalgorgeroute.com

Ride to the North Pole, where Santa awaits. royalgorgeroute.com

Four-course foodie train ride with local spirits. royalgorgeroute.com COLORADO FUN 103

EXP.3-31-20 3-31-20 EXP.

EXP. 3-31-20

A FUN DAY IN CAÑON CITY

BEGINS HERE

ONLY 10 MINUTES FROM THE ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE

AERIAL ADVENTURE PARK

INTERACTIVE MUSEUM + GUIDED TOURS, OUTDOOR PLAY AREA, & MORE

MOVING DINOSAURS

104 COLORADO FUN

DISCOVER WHY OUR AREA IS FAMOUS FOR DINOSAURS

Beginner and Intermediate Bike Rides in the Pikes Peak Region WORDS BY: ERIC RAMSEY

T

here are literally thousands of miles of mountain bike accessible trails in Colorado, from ultratechnical downhill thrill rides to mellow mountain meadow cruising and everything in between.

You don’t have to be an expert rider or have a five thousand dollar mountain bike to enjoy them either.

In fact, many of the trails, like the ones outlined below, can be enjoyed with moderate fitness and skill levels.

Mountain biking is a great way to get outside, get some exercise, spend time with your family, and explore the world around you. Let’s go!

Midland Hills Figure 8 Loop Photo by Greg Heil COLORADO FUN 105

CAÑON CITY

SALIDA: Methodist Mountain Spartan Loop — 5.5 miles (Beginner) The Methodist Mountain Trail System lies to the south of Highway 50 in Salida. It’s mostly comprised of beginner to intermediate trails that have mainly been machine built. The wider, more forgiving trail surface is perfect for families and beginner riders wanting to build up their skill set. A great loop that includes two of the newest trails in the area starts at the trailhead off County Road 110. From the parking lot, begin on the Spartan West Trail. This downward trending trail is full of flowy goodness and out-of-this-world views.

As you effortlessly weave through the piñon forest, glimpses of the mighty Sawatch Mountain Range and verdant Upper Arkansas River Valley peek through. Cross County Road 110 and continue on the Spartan East Trail. The flow keeps going, contouring the hillside with views over the idyllic town of Salida and S-Mountain in the distance. At one point, you’ll pass a shaded grove of majestic ponderosa pines. This is a neat spot to see what the forest used to resemble before the area was developed. Spartan East ends at Little Rainbow Trail where you’ll head right (west). Continue up, down, and around back to your car. If you’re feeling strong and looking for a bit more challenge, head on up the intermediate Double Rainbow Trail for a 5.4-mile outand-back jaunt featuring solitude and a true singletrack experience.

Salida has three great bike shops to choose from, each with their own style and character.

Absolute Bikes, Salida Bike Company, and Subculture Cyclery can all be found a couple of blocks from each other in downtown Salida. All three boast friendly employees, great service, and a variety of rentals and bike accessories. /// absolutebikes.com /// salidabikecompany.com /// subculturecyclery.com

Methodist Mountain Spartan Loop Photo by Greg Heil

BUENA VISTA: Midland Hills Figure Eight Loop — 7 or 10 miles (Beginner/Intermediate) This loop has it all! You’ll find everything from technical rock riding and flowy singletrack to relaxed dirt road riding and an interesting section of the historic Midland Railroad grade. Incredible views are omnipresent and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment once finished. Start the ride by driving up County Road 304 a couple of miles from its junction at Highway 24 just east of Johnson Village. A small parking lot is found where County Road 304 meets the Midland Railroad grade. Start the figure-eight loop by heading east for two-tenths of a mile and then down Django (Trail #6033). This purpose built singletrack descends through a sparse piñon forest winding over and around many rock features, some of which may test your bike handling skills. Once at the bottom, cross County Road 304 and pick up Fist Full of Dollars (Trail #6034). Heading back uphill, you’ll encounter similar terrain to that which you just rode down, but easier and less technical. Once back at the car, grab a snack and refill your water pack; the best is yet to come! Pick up County Road 376-A, essentially across from the start of Django. Pedal up this graded dirt road for about a mile and a half to a small meadow and the start of Bacon Bits (Trail #1450A). Ready to smile? Downward trending and full of surprises, this trail features some of the most fun singletrack in the area. Twisty, flowy, scenic, and never too demanding, Bacon Bits will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Head right on the historic Midland Railroad grade (Midland Bike Trail) and enjoy a slight downhill cruise with occasional semi-technical ups and downs through various washes back to your car. If Django and Fist Full of Dollars are omitted, this ride is an approximate 7-mile fun loop than leans toward a beginner skill level. Otherwise, consider it to be an intermediate 10-mile figure-eight loop.

Boneshaker Cycles in downtown Buena Vista is your one-stop shop for bike rentals, repair needs, and local trail advice.

They pride themselves on making everyone feel welcome, no matter your biking skill level. They may even invite you to play bike polo! /// boneshakerbv.com

CAÑON CITY: South Cañon and Tunnel Drive Trail — 3 and 4 miles (Beginner)

The Arkansas Riverwalk Trail, which connects to the Tunnel Drive trail, forming a continuous gravel path experience.

Photo by Greg Heil 106 COLORADO FUN

Cañon City has trails for every level of rider, although it is a bit scant on the beginner side. Not to worry though; the two trails outlined below are perfect for the casual rider and only a few miles from each other. The South Cañon Trail System starts and ends at the Eagle Wing Trailhead. To get there, take South 1st Street, near the west end of town off Highway 50. Immediately after crossing the Arkansas River, take a right on Riverside Avenue. Take a left on Colburn Lane, then a right onto the dirt road leading to the trailhead. Be sure to get an early start on those hot summer days, but keep this trail system in mind for when it’s colder too — it’s also a great winter destination.

A short, fun loop for beginners starts on Mutton Bustin. Continue up this smooth and gentle trail for half a mile before taking a left on Schepp Ridge. A few switchbacks will take you to the crest of a small ridge with nice views. Continue along the ridge and maneuver over a few short pitches before dropping down to the upper end of Mutton Bustin. The next 1.5 miles back to the trailhead are smooth, fast, and fun for all ages! This section feels like a roller-coaster ride and will have you begging for more!

CAÑON CITY For the next family adventure, head over to the Tunnel Drive Trailhead at the mouth of the Royal Gorge. Take Tunnel Drive off Highway 50, also on the west end of town, and drive a half mile to the parking area. The four-mile round trip out-and-back Tunnel Drive Trail is a nonmotorized, 8-foot wide smooth gravel path that anyone can enjoy. The trail follows an abandoned railroad grade featuring two short tunnels and a bridge as it parallels the Arkansas River. During the summer, you’ll spot rafters down below navigating the rapids, and you’ll find plenty of opportunities for family photos! The views into and up the canyon walls are absolutely breathtaking, so don’t forget the camera!

Cañon City Bike and Brews is a neat place to grab a bite to eat and to get your bike wrenched on at the same time. They have an amazing outdoor patio and friendly service. Additionally, you can pick up a rental and local maps at Red Canyon Cycles. /// canoncitybrewsandbikes.com /// redcanyoncycles.com

PUEBLO: Pedro’s Point — 5 miles (Beginner) This is another great family ride that ends at a spectacular view point, which also happens to be a perfect picnic spot. Lake Pueblo State Park is a gem in the rough and contains many miles of singletrack for all abilities. From Highway 50 at Pueblo West, take North Pueblo Boulevard to Thatcher Avenue. You can start the ride from inside the state park, which requires a fee, but this route is described from a legal parking lot located just outside the park boundary. Continue past the park entrance on Thatcher Avenue for approximately 1.5 miles to a parking area on the south side of the road. Carefully cross the road and go through a gate to the trail. Pedro’s Point Trail begins soon after. This double track trail takes you 2.5 miles out to the end of a peninsula Lake Pueblo State Park with incredible views over the lake. If you want to include some singletrack in your day, there Photo by Greg Heil is a plethora of trails suited for beginner to intermediate riders that intersect Pedro’s Point at several junctions. One option is to take Pedro’s Point to the end then ride the Inner or Outer Nick’s Bikes is located close by in Pueblo West. They offer a full range of bike rentals Limits Trail back, or vice versa. Each one offers around 4.5 miles of rolling, twisty singletrack. and accessories and also have a service center staffed with friendly mechanics. /// nicksbikes.com

COLORADO SPRINGS: Zook & Blackmer Loop – 4.5 miles (Beginner/Intermediate) These two loops are located in Cheyenne Mountain State Park (fee required). To reach the park, take JL Ranch Heights Road off Highway 115. Start the ride from the southwest corner of the parking lot and go right on Zook Loop. This trail is mainly flat and wide, while traversing a large, pretty meadow with views of Cheyenne Mountain. It’s fairly popular with hikers, so be respectful and announce yourself when passing. After less than a half mile, hang a right onto the Blackmer Loop Trail. This one is generally best ridden in a counterclockwise direction. It features a shady pine forest with interesting rock features. Once at the highpoint, you can enjoy views overlooking Colorado Springs and a unique rock with a tree growing right from the top of it! From here, you’ll descend through the forest on a smooth trail to the intersection with the Zook Loop again. Turn right and take a break at the unique “Rock Garden” area. This cool, shady spot contains many weathered rocks on which to sit and enjoy a snack. Follow Zook Loop back to the car, being careful at the creek crossing, which may or may not be flowing.

Criterium Bicycles is the largest independent bike shop in Colorado Springs. Open since 1973, they have a large selection of rental bikes and accessories. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and they truly care about helping people enjoy the sport of cycling. /// Criterium.com Pikes Peak Bike Tours offers opportunities for adventure without doing all of the planning. Have you ever dreamed of riding down Pikes Peak on a bike? Check! Want to do an overnight trip? Check! Interested in a night ride? Check! They can plan an adventure for every level. /// BikePikesPeak.com

Pikes Peak Bike Tours offers tours to all levels of riders.

Photo by Jennifer Panko

Now that you’ve gained some ideas and hopefully some inspiration too, it’s time to dust off that bike sitting in the corner of your garage and go for a ride. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your local bike shop for advice. Most shops have friendly, helpful employees who are more than willing to answer questions and get you set up. As with any activity, go prepared. It is always a good idea to bring a map or a downloaded mountain bike app with GPS capability. Colorado is an amazing place — get out and have some fun!

COLORADO FUN 107

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108 COLORADO FUN

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Words by: Gillian Sheehan Photos by: Sam Quintana

Hi there! My name is Benny. I’m a 1-yearold corgi and I live in Cañon City, Colorado with my humans. I rescued them when they came to the Humane Society of Fremont County, but that’s a story for another time.

Today, I’d like to tell you about a day in my life!

6:37 AM

I lay my head on my mom’s side of the bed and touch her with my cold nose. She shivers, but doesn’t wake. I try Dad next. I put on my cutest face and stare. And stare. I hope he wakes up soon. I really need to check on the squirrels. Finally, after what seems like forever, I see him open one eye.

Suddenly, my tail starts to wag on its own accord, shaking my whole body.

Yay! He’s awake! I missed him!

COLORADO FUN 109

6:43 AM

Dad lets me out into the backyard to do my business, from where I can see a few of Cañon City’s scrappy peaks.

I love Colorado! Maybe we’ll go on a hike today? Maybe I’ll get a treat?

Maybe...

S QU I RR EL !

7:05 AM

Breakfast time! Mom says that the NutriSource grain-free dog kibble she bought from Frontier Feeds is healthy, but I like it because it tastes good too!

7:37 AM

7:52 AM

We’re here, at the Arkansas Riverwalk Dog Park! I’m SO excited!

I know, I know, I was here yesterday and the day before that too, but being allowed off leash is just so much fun! Some of my friends are here too — Xander the terrier mix and Cass the boxer. Xander did some time at the Humane Society, like me, while Cass was trained by an inmate as part of Colorado Correctional Industries’ K-9 Companion Program. He says that he learned a lot from his trainer! Regardless of our individual backgrounds, we love playing and chasing each other around the park. We sometimes even hit the agility area — gotta stay trim for the ladies!

9:01 AM

Mom just grabbed my harness and leash! We are going for a WALK!

7:39 AM

She fooled me — we only walked as far as her car and she had me jump in. But it’s OK guys! That means that we’re going for a DRIVE (next best thing to WALK!)

Omg omg Mom just put the window down! I love getting wind-whipped in the face by Colorado mountain air (*cheeks flap in the breeze*). Did you know that I have 220 million olfactory cells in my snout? I just thought you should know. Now Mom is singing along with the radio. Silly human, that’s not how you do it. Let me show you....

B O W- O W- O O O O !

110 COLORADO FUN

11:26 AM

Guys, I had the craziest dream. I dreamt that I was chasing this giant Frisbee as it sailed through the air. When I jumped up and caught it in my mouth, I just kept flying along through the air with the disc, getting higher and higher, toward the top of Pikes Peak.

Other dogs joined in too, and suddenly it was like we were part of a spinning amusement park ride…oh, gotta go, Mom just called me for lunch!

11:27 AM

7:50 AM

I’m back at home and just about ready for a nap. The park has me tuckered out! But first, Mom said that I was a good boy at the park so I could have a couple of my favorite Zuke’s natural dog treats. It’s hard to beat the Peanut Butter & Oats flavor, but I have to admit, the SuperFood Blend with Vibrant Veggies is kind of growing on me.

NO M NO M NO M , S L U R P S L U R P S L UR P, N O M NO M NO M …W H AT A R E YO U L O O K I N G AT ?

CAÑON CITY

5:14 PM

1:02 PM

11:45 AM

It’s so nice outside in the Colorado sunshine. Mom said that I can stay in the backyard for a little while like a big boy if I PROMISE not to dig holes. Again. I will do my best. I will not dig, I will not dig, I will not dig, I will not…SQUIRREL! Now what was I saying about digging?

ZZZZZ....

2:10 PM

Dad got home early today, so we are going out for a hike!

W O O F!

2:41 PM

On the drive to Hogbacks Open Space Recreation Area, Dad reminds me that I shouldn’t jump or roll in any puddles, should I see any.

2:51 PM

We’re here! We park at the Floral Avenue trailhead and make our way north along the valley floor on the Greenhorn trail as our warm up.

3:42 PM

At the north end of the Rec Area, we jump on my favorite trail, Dakota Ridge.

This one gives us the best views of the area, connecting up to Skyline Drive. I love the challenge (so does my dad!)

5:27 PM

Somehow, near the end of the hike, I manage to find the only mud puddle around (I’m smart like that).

I get excited and dive right in before I hear Dad hollering at me…oops; I forgot that I wasn’t supposed to do that. It sure was fun, though!

Mom made a funny face when she saw me come in the door, and an even funnier face at Dad. Now she’s talking about calling Big Dogs Grooming first thing in the morning to make an appointment for me. I hope that I get a cool bandana when I’m done being groomed!

6:32 PM

Mom and Dad cleaned me up the best that they could, and now we’re headed to Di Rito’s Italian Restaurant for a family dinner outing. I get to go too because they have a dog-friendly patio! Maybe I’ll even get a bite of Dad’s pizza if I use my cute face again.

8:45 PM

It’s nearing my bedtime, so I get one last backyard frolic.

Back in the house, I pass by Mom and Dad cuddled up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a movie. There’s room for me too, right guys? As I squeeze in between them for our family viewing of A Star is Born, I feel like a pretty lucky dog. Thanks for tagging along!

COLORADOFUN FUN 1113 COLORADO

DOGGY DAYCARE AND BOARDING IN THE GREATER PIKES PEAK REGION Words by: Gillian Sheehan

All business listed below offer both dog boarding and doggie daycare services unless otherwise noted. Businesses may also offer additional pet services (not mentioned in this article).

BUENA VISTA & SALIDA Alpha Dog Care alphadogcare.biz

Double J Cross Kennels doublejcrosskennels.com Gone to the Dogs (daycare only) salidadogs.com Wag-n-Tails wag-n-tails.net

COLORADO SPRINGS & FOUNTAIN

4Paws Country Kennels (boarding only) On Facebook Alpine Animal Inn (boarding only) On Facebook

CASTLE ROCK, SEDALIA, & ELIZABETH

Animal Hospital of Colorado Springs (boarding only) animalhospitalcs.com

4 Paws 4 Life 4p4l.org

A Paw Above Canine Boarding Service apawaboveboarding.com

Beau Monde Kennels beaumondekennels.com

Aspen Meadows Pet Resort aspenmeadowspet.com

Brooklyn Veterinary Clinic – PAWS Pet Resort brooklynvet.com

BamPaws bampaws.com

Camp Bow Wow campbowwow.com

Brown Veterinary Hospital (boarding only) brownvet.com

Elizabeth Country Kennels elizabethcountrykennels.com

Camp Bow Wow campbowwow.com

Country Kennels On Yelp

Gigi’s Groom and Board gigisgroomandboard.com

Canine Campus Dog Daycare caninecampus.us

Eight Mile Ranch eightmileranchcolorado.com

Hallcrest Kennels (boarding only) hallcrestkennels.com

Canine Design Salon & Country Club caninedesign.org

CAÑON CITY, FLORENCE, & PENROSE Freemont Veterinary Hospital (boarding only) fremontvethospital.com Kenline Veterinary Clinic (boarding only) kenlineveterinaryclinic.com Kinsey’s Kennels kinseys-kennel.business.site KLB Boarding Kennel klbkennel.com

112 COLORADO FUN

Prestige K9 prestigek9.com Tails Up tailsup.com The Light of Dog (boarding only) thelightofdog.com

ChampDog Park champdogpark.com

sunrise-woodmenpetcare.com

Countryside Kennels countrysidekennels3.com

Timberview Animal Hospital (boarding only) timberviewah.com

Dancing Dog Inn dancingdoginn.com

Tumbleweed Country Kennels tumbleweedcountrykennels.com

Diamonds in the Ruff Pet Play Care and Grooming diamondsntheruff.com

Under the Sun Doggie Daycare (daycare only) underthesundoggiedaycare.com

Doggie Dude Ranch (boarding only) On Facebook Elmore’s Doggie Daycare elmoresdoggiedaycare.com Holly’s Home Pet Care On Facebook House of Dog Training houseofdogtraining.com K-9 Cuts and Care k9cuts.com Lucky Dog Resorts bealuckydog.com My Mutt Makeovers Dog Grooming and Boarding (boarding only) On Facebook Northwest Animal Hospital and Pet Care Center nwanimalhospital.com PetSmart services.petsmart.com Polo Springs Veterinary Hospital polosprings.com Rampart Kennels rampartkennels.com Smudge Car & Dog Wash (boarding and daycare services coming spring/summer 2019) smudgewash.com Stubby’s Dog Wash and Grooming Salon stubbysdogwash.com Sunrise Kennels & Woodman Kennels (boarding only)

PUEBLO

A Country Canine Resort acountrycanine.com Elite Paws Pet Resort elitepawspetresort.com Kamp-4-Paws (boarding only) kamp4paws.org

MONUMENT, LARKSPUR, & PEYTON

Mountain View Pet Lodge mountainviewpetlodge.com

Aavondale Pet Services (boarding only) On Yelp

Pueblo West Boarding Kennel pueblowestkennels.com

Bed N’ Biscuit Pet Resort (boarding only) bnbpetresort.com

The Dog House pueblodoghouse.com

Camp Bow Wow campbowwow.com Carnival Cat & Canine Care (boarding only) petcarebycarnival.com Cathy’s Dog, Cat & Llama Grooming cathysgrooming.com Double J Pet Ranch doublejpetranch.com Falcon Dog Daycare and Boarding falcondog.com Jackson Creek Kennel (boarding only) jacksoncreekkennel.com Pampered Pets & People pamperedpetsandpeople.com

Paw Cottage thepawcottage.com

WOODLAND PARK & TELLER COUNTY

Above the Clouds Pet Sitting abovethecloudspetsitting.com Animal Medical Center – Milo’s Services wpamc.com Compassion Animal Center (boarding only) mycompassionanimalhospital.com

Doggie Kamp With Cats on the Side (boarding only) doggiekamp.biz Florissant Kennels & Grooming On Facebook

Red Coyote Kennels On Facebook

Pikes Peak K9 Camp (boarding only) On Facebook

Shield Kennels shieldkennels.com

Town & Country Kennels

Smiths Dog Lodge smithsdoglodge.com Woodmoor Veterinary Hospital & Pet Lodge (boarding only) woodmoorvet.com

towncountrykennel.wixsite.com

Woodland Kennels On Yelp

COLORADO FUN

113

DOGGY DAY CARE & BOARDING

10% OFF All Military & First Responders

CAMP BOW WOW® COLORADO SPRINGS EAST 1075 Ford St. Unit 120 719-573-9247

CAMP BOW WOW® COLORADO SPRINGS CENTRAL 4295 Northpark Dr. 719-260-9247

*LEGAL WOOF: Valid only at Colorado Springs locations.

Camper must pass interview. Other restrictions apply.

114 COLORADO FUN

Photo by Julia Palomino / Courtesy of VisitCOS

Cripple Creek The fully restored main street of this historic gold rush locale is a delight for tourists and casino lovers alike.

June 2019

August 2019

October 2019

Top of the World Rodeo June 8

Salute to American Veterans Rally & POW/MIA Recognition Ride Aug. 16-18

October Arts Month in Cripple Creek Oct. 1-31

Highest elevation rodeo in the world. visitcripplecreek.com

Victor Gem and Mineral Show June 14-16

Jewelry, mining antiques, and much more. victorcolorado.com

Century Experience Ride June 15

Choose from 100, 75, or 50 mile routes. bicyclecolorado.org

Donkey Derby Days June 22-23

Game, music, and heritage competitions. visitcripplecreek.com

Once Upon a Time in the West Art Show June 29-July 8

A show-stopping, patriotic display. theveteransrally.org

Pikes Peak Region’s Memorial Wall Dedication Aug. 18

A beautiful, solemn remembrance ceremony. visitcripplecreek.com

BMX Races Aug. 24

Compete for a chance to win a new BMX bike. ccparksandrecreation.com

Victor Celebrates the Arts Aug. 31-Sept.

Includes an “en plein air” artists competition. victorcelebratesthearts.org

Featuring Western art at the Heritage Center. visitcripplecreek.com

September 2019

July 2019

Victor Pack Burro Race Sept. 7

Cripple Creek’s 4th of July Celebration July 4

Highly anticipated party and fireworks show. visitcripplecreek.com

Victor Gold Rush Days July 19-21

123 years of mining heritage and lots of fun. victorcolorado.com

Barkin’ in the Creek July 27

Offered by Rocky Mountain Cocker Rescue. visitcripplecreek.com

Pearl de Vere Day July 27

Course length of 6.62 mile with cash prizes. stcfg.com

Aspen Tours with the 2 Mile High Club Sept. 21-22, 28-29

Donations benefit the free-roaming donkeys. visitcripplecreek.com

Taste the Gold Sept. 28

Pair a crisp glass of wine with changing leaves. victorcolorado.org

Local artwork displayed in historic buildings. visitcripplecreek.com

December 2019 Gold Camp Christmas Dec. 6-7

Holiday events in Cripple Creek and Victor. visitcripplecreek.com

February 2020 Cripple Creek Ice Festival Feb. 8-16

Captivating ice sculptures with a fun theme. visitcripplecreek.com

Reoccurring Events Cripple Creek Summer Music Series June 15, July 13, Aug. 3, Sept. 1 Free at Cripple Creek Pocket Park visitcripplecreek.com

Sunnyside Cemetery Walking Tours May 18; 2nd & 4th Saturdays June-Sept.

Insights into the cemetery and its history. victormuseum.com

Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine Tours Memorial Day-Labor Day Reserve your spot for a two-hour tour. victorcolorado.com

The Big Aspen Happnin’ Fall Festival Sept. 28-29 Golden aspen leaves and a street party. visitcripplecreek.com

A day for the Madam of the Old Homestead. visitcripplecreek.com

Teller County Fair July 27-Aug. 4

Fun midway rides and livestock competitions. tcafas.org COLORADO FUN 115

Hiking Colorado’s Alpine Lakes WORDS & PHOTOS BY “HIKING BOB” FALCONE

116 COLORADO FUN

For many, hiking in Colorado is all about the mountains. The spine of the Rocky Mountains bisects the state and defines the Continental Divide; it is no wonder that over half of the United States’ 14,000-foot peaks can be found in Colorado. Hiking to the summit of these 14ers, often called “peak bagging,� is a popular pastime for residents and visitors alike. As a result, it is a challenge in its own right to park on summer weekends at the trailhead of peaks that are deemed relatively easier, such as Quandary Peak and Mount Bierstadt, or more accessible, like the everpopular Pikes Peak.

On the other hand, for those who do not find bagging a 14er quite so appealing, there are thousands of miles of trails that crisscross the Colorado Rockies, ranging in terrain and difficulty level. Throughout my hiking adventures in the southwestern U.S., some of the most enjoyable and visually stunning treks have been to alpine lakes.

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CRIPPLE CREEK

W

hen found in the high mountains, alpine lakes are typically rather small, and can be very blue due to the rock flour suspended in the water. These particles distort the wavelengths of light and reflect blue and green tones. While there are hundreds of high altitude lakes in our state, some require a fair amount of work to attain. Because of their elevation, many alpine lakes are not accessible until mid-to-late summer, either due to snow pack or inaccessible trailheads.

The Pikes Peak region is home to a number of lakes, and a journey to any of these destinations will be a rewarding experience.

Near the towns of Cripple Creek and Victor, the South Slope Recreation Area encompasses three bodies of water at approximately 11,000 feet.

The McReynolds, Mason, and Boehmer reservoirs are property of Colorado Springs Utilities and are accessible by permit only. From the McReynolds parking area, the Mason Trail is open all the way to Boehmer Reservoir after July 15 to accommodate for bighorn sheep lambing season. This easy 9.4-mile round trip has gentle rolling hills and stunning views of nearby mountains, including the south face of Pikes Peak. If you have a fishing license, you can even throw a hook in a reservoir. Permits are limited in number each day and available from the week before Memorial Day through the end of September.

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Grizzly Lake

Southwest of the twin small towns of Silver Cliff and Westcliffe, you can find three lakes at 11,460 feet.

The trail to the Goodwin Lakes is a moderately difficult 10.5-mile round-trip hike. During this out-andback trek, you will gain 2,400 feet to the uppermost lake. The hike shares a trailhead with the more popular,

difficult, and longer VenableComanche Trail loop, leaving the Goodwin Lakes trail a little quieter and, in my opinion, more desirable.

A bit further southwest of Westcliffe are the more challenging Upper (11,745 feet) and Lower (11,471 feet) Sand Creek Lakes. If you want to reach

CRIPPLE CREEK

Crater Lake

these lakes, you will first need to drive 3.5 miles on a four-wheel drive road, followed by a steep hike to the top of Music Pass. From there, it is relatively straightforward; the trail to the two lakes is well defined and easy to follow. Before heading off to the lakes, take the time to absorb the breathtaking view from Music Pass, which gets its name from the sound of

the wind as it roars through the valley below. Assuming that you can drive to the trailhead, this hike registers as a 12.5-mile round trip. If not, tack on another 7 miles to your outing.

Consider taking advantage of the dispersed camping that is available along the trail and making it a twoday trek.

Goodwin Lake

Near Buena Vista, Cottonwood Pass has a number of alpine lake hikes, including Hartenstein Lake (11,451 feet), and Ptarmigan Lake (12,132 feet). The hike to Hartenstein Lake starts at Denny Creek Trailhead on Cottonwood Pass Road, a shared starting point for hikes to the 14er Mount Yale. Crossing Denny Creek during the spring runoff can be a little tricky, but the 7.5-mile round trip to Hartenstein Lake is otherwise moderate. Farther up Cottonwood Pass Road, Ptarmigan Lake is a popular hiking destination. The trailhead is well marked, with sufficient parking on most days.

The hike to the lake is just less than 7 miles round trip and is moderately difficult, although the elevation of the lake may render someone new to high altitude hiking a little breathless.

Near St. Elmo, a ghost town in Chaffee County, Grizzly Lake is just over 11,000 feet. The fairly moderate 6-mile round-trip hike to this lake is also accessible in the winter as a snowshoeing escapade. From County Road 162, take Forest Service Road 295 just past St. Elmo for a short distance to reach the trailhead. This hiking venture is scenic with plenty of wildflowers in the summer and deep, soft powder in the winter.

If you’re looking for a great Colorado hiking experience, along with wonderful photographic opportunities, head on up to one of these pristine alpine lakes. You won’t be disappointed!

COLORADO FUN 119

CRIPPLE CREEK

WORDS BY: JOHN HAZLEHURST PHOTOS BY: JEWELS BURDICK

O

n sunny summer mornings in Colorado, it’s common to witness a steady stream of cars as they make their escape from larger cities. These mountain migrants are on the hunt for cool air, sparkling vistas, snowcapped peaks, and wildflowers in bloom — a fun day and a temporary respite from the urban clamor. One restorative getaway option is the historic mining town of Cripple Creek, particularly during the festive Donkey Derby Days in June.

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CRIPPLE CREEK

Donkey Derby Days is an event that both brands the city and helps it reconnect with its roots. This festival, which arose organically, is sustained by the community and delights visitors, especially kids. In a time when many cities hire public relations professionals to create a civic brand, it’s refreshing to see a community embrace and cherish its unique past.

In the 19th and early 20th century, burros worked in the gold mines of Cripple Creek and Victor, pulling carts loaded with ore. These beasts of burden completed taxing work in confined spaces unsuitable for horses or mules.

As the mines played out, many of the burros were simply released, set free to fend for themselves. The tough little animals survived, and even thrived.

They came together as a herd, one that roamed the streets of Cripple Creek, grazing on the grassy meadows that surrounded the city.

From 10,147 in 1900, Cripple Creek’s population fell to a low of 418 in 1970.

Despite the significant decrease in residents, the number of burrows remained constant. Inhabitants of the town looked out for the small herd, offering carrots and apples to the gentle creatures in the summer and hay in the winter.

Today’s Cripple Creek is a prosperous little city of more than 2,000 residents, and burros still roam the streets.

Compared to their ancestors, they’ve got great lives. “We keep an eye on them,” said Wendy Field, the marketing director of Bronco Billy’s Casino.

“City employees in the transportation department kind of monitor them, so we know where they are. From May to October, they just wander around the city and the countryside, but in winter

they stay in an 18-acre paddock with a barn for shelter, water, and food.”

During the Donkey Derby Days festival, local and visiting burros of all sizes and descriptions can be found ambling along Bennett Avenue. The streetscape is comprised of original storefronts from the 1890s, although the buildings themselves have been converted to other uses (think casinos!) The historic street is lined with itinerant vendors, dogs are everywhere, and kids shriek happily.

Even the most dedicated gamblers abandon the slots to take a look.

This year, the event will take place June 22-23. Bennett Avenue will be closed to traffic during the festival, which kicks off at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast. The first event is the aptly named Big Ass Challenge, in which members of the media are paired with racing donkeys in a mercifully brief course from the Double Eagle Hotel and Casino to Second Street. Note that you don’t physically ride the animals, but rather run side-by-side with your long-eared partner.

A few years ago, my spouse (Colorado Fun publisher Karen Hazlehurst) and I showed up to compete. We thought we could win, or at least place. In a previous life, Karen raised horses and burros on a Texas ranch, so that gave us an edge — or so we believed. “They can be stubborn,” she said. “I’ll take some grain along to encourage him, and we’ll get off the line in a hurry. I know donkeys — I don’t think any of the other media people have even been close to one!” We had no clue. Our donkey was the Bruce Springsteen of donkeys, born to run. He bolted off the line and we couldn’t keep up, so

he dropped behind and tried to speed us up with a few encouraging head butts. We finished an inglorious last, welcomed by good-natured cheers.

Donkey racing has a long history

in Cripple Creek. As the Great Depression deepened in 1930, local businessman Charley Lehew thought that some sort of summer festival would help attract visitors to the then-moribund mining town. Oddly enough, he settled on burro racing.

Aided by a couple of partners, he built a makeshift racetrack, sold advertising, hired bands, contracted with concessionaires, and launched the first Donkey Derby Days festival on Aug. 15, 1931.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

COLORADO FUN 121

CRIPPLE CREEK

According to contemporary accounts, it was a pretty big deal. Colorado Governor Billy Adams served as Grand Marshall, paying tribute in his opening remarks to donkeys and miners. After his speech, Adams mounted a donkey and led a parade down Bennett Avenue. Next, the Grand Donkey Sweepstakes inaugurated the weekend’s events.

Thirty-five donkeys competed, many from out of state. There were few troublesome rules to constrain competitors. Rider and donkey had to finish together, with the rider still atop his or her donkey. The winner reportedly received a silver loving cup, hopefully full of feed for the exhausted steed. Other events included a boys’ relay race, a girls’ chariot race, and a visitor free-forall. There was also a tug-of-war between Cripple Creek and Victor The Butte Theater buttetheater.com 719.689.6402 Cripple Creek, CO

businessmen, horse races, stock car races, and the Miles High Smoker, a 32-round boxing match.

Donkey Derby Days was Tejon Street Corner Thieves: suspended Sat. June 22, Main Stage, 3:15-6 p.m. during World War II, and subsequently revived and the in the late 1940s. The event was city has expanded in the 1950s to include been a carnival, a rodeo, and hard rock reborn. drilling competitions, and struggled And if you can’t make Donkey Derby on until the city’s visitor economy Days, don’t worry — the donkeys strengthened with the advent of aren’t going anywhere. You’re likely casino gambling. to see the herd roaming peacefully through their home, the historic, Since then, the event has grown and beautiful, and utterly unpretentious matured, the donkeys have thrived, city of Cripple Creek.

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My Partner: Melodrama and Olio June 21 - Aug 18

Grease!

July 5 - Aug 18 For the misfits.

The Andrews Brothers

The troublemakers.

You Can’t Take It With You

The rule breakers.

The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Aug 30-Sept 15

Sept 20-Oct 6 Oct 11-Nov 3

All I Want For Christmas Is: More Olio!

Tickets On Sale Now 122 COLORADO FUN

Nov 22-Dec 29

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OPAL BOUTIQUE

Your one stop shop fashion boutique located in downtown Salida, Colorado.

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Located alongside the banks of the ark ansas River, the newly renovated Palace Hotel offers boutique lodging within footsteps to shopping, dining, hiking, biking, and fly-fishing.

204 NORTH F ST, SALIDA, CO 81201 719-207-4175 . SALIDAPALACEHOTEL.COM

124 COLORADO FUN

Salida &

Buena Vista

Near the headwaters of the Arkansas River, these two towns are home to art and adventure.

May 2019

July 2019

September 2019

CKS Paddlefest May 24-27

Colorado Brewers Rendezvous July 13

Salida Fiber Festival Sept. 7-8

Bluegrass on the Arkansas May 25-26

Salida Riverside Art and Music Festival July 20-21

Buena Vista Apple Fest Sept. 14

Campout for the Cause May 31-June 2

Music, conversation, yoga, bonfire connections. campoutforthecause.org

Chaffee County Fair and Rodeo July 25-Aug. 4

Where rodeo rocks the heart of the Rockies. chaffeecountyfair.com

Salida Bike Fest Sept. 20-22

June 2019

14er Fest July 27-29

Salida Studio Tour Sept. 28-29

Century, metric, half century, & 35 miles routes. bvbf.org

August 2019

November 2019

Collegiate Peaks Stampede Rodeo June 8-9

Contin-Tail Rock and Mineral Show Aug. 8-11

Christmas Mountain Lighting & Parade of Lights Nov. 29

Paddling demos, live music, & competitions. ckspaddlefest.com

Music, food, drink, and fun for all ages. bluegrassonthearkansas.org

Buena Vista Bike Fest June 1

Annual family-friendly event. buenavistacolorado.org

Over 75 Colorado breweries at Riverside Park. salidachamber.org

National/local juried fine artists & live music. coloradoeventsandfestivals.com

Mountain festival with adventurous events.

14erfest.org

Colorado’s largest outdoor show. buenavistacolorado.org

FIBArk June 13-16

Gold Rush Days Aug. 10-11

Rapids & Grass Beer Festival June 28-30

Heart of the Rockies Roots Festival Aug. 10

Salida Art Walk June 28-30

Salida Jazz Fest Aug. 24

Mountain Mania Car Show June 29

Seven Peaks Festival Aug. 30-Sept. 1

Salida Arts Festival June 29-30

Salida Wine Fest Aug. 31

America’s oldest whitewater festival. fibark.com

Live music and beer along the Arkansas. rgfest.com

Over 50 art venues and pop-up galleries. salidaartwalk.org

Over 100 cars from all over the region. bveventcoop.org

Run by/for artists; limited to 100 artists. salidaartsfestival.com

Town heritage celebration. buenavistacolorado.org

Inaugural event featuring female musicians.

On Facebook

Array of local, regional, and national acts. salidasteamplant.com

Camping and country music festival. sevenpeaksfestival.com

Traditional and contemporary fiber creations. salidafiberfestival.com

Hosted by Buena Vista Heritage at Turner Farm. buenavistaheritage.org

Includes the Banana Belt Mountain Bike.

Race.salidabikefest.com

Enjoy the fall foliage and visit artists. salidastudiotour.com

Tenderfoot Hill is lit up as Christmas Mountain. colorfulcolorado.com

December 2019 Buena Vista Christmas Opening Dec. 7

Share in the community’s holiday spirit. buenavistacolorado.org

Reoccurring Events Free Concerts in Riverside Park May 30-Aug. 1 Thursdays at 6 p.m. salidachamber.org

Foodshed Alliance Farmers Market June-October

Salida: Saturdays; Buena Vista: Sundays foodshedalliance.com

Celebrate vintage wines from around the world. salidawinefest.com

COLORADO FUN 125

SALIDA & BUENA VISTA

Colorado Coffee Culture

Photo by Melody Buschur

713 U.S. 24, Buena Vista 105 F St., Salida browndogcoffee.com

Whether you’re looking for a quick coffee fix before heading out into the mountains, or to snag a bag of beans to brew at home, Brown Dog Coffee is worth the visit. With locations in both historic downtown Salida and Buena Vista, Brown Dog serves up a variety of coffee, breakfast, and lunch options in a cozy and family-friendly atmosphere.

By Julie Warren

W

hether you’re brewing it over a morning campfire, using it to get through the workday, or perfecting your pour-over technique, there’s no denying that coffee has a powerful impact on the people who love it. As coffee has steadily increased in popularity, so too has its availability and presence in everyday life. It’s no secret that large-scale chain coffee shops tend to dominate the caffeine landscape, and it’s not difficult to understand why. These places not only provide their customers with a consistent and reliable caffeine fix, but they also offer an ideal place for social interaction, with comfortable seating and acoustic music in the background. As a result, coffee culture has become just as much about the social experience in a coffee house environment as the coffee beverage itself.

While the chain coffee shop can be thanked for helping to make coffee culture more mainstream, there’s another alternative that’s worth investigating. Imagine walking into a local coffee shop, with the warm and nutty smell of freshly roasted coffee hanging in the air. The stench of over-roasted beans is nowhere to be found. Instead of ordering your drink via smartphone app and making eye contact with no one, you order your drink from the person who roasted the beans themselves; this creative human being has a clear passion for their coffee craft and is willing to share as much information as you’d like to know. This type of experience can be found all over our region — here are a few places that we highly recommend.

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Brown Dog Coffee

Brown Dog Coffee roasts all of their coffee weekly at their Buena Vista location, which is then available for purchase at both locations. According to their owner Jennifer Pyle, they source their coffee “from sustainable and socially responsible farms and use organic and fair trade varieties as well.” Their coffee selection includes light, medium, dark, and organic roasts, which can be purchased by the pound. If you find you really love Brown Dog’s coffee but can’t reach their location as frequently as you’d like, you can join their coffee club and have freshly roasted Brown Dog coffee beans shipped to you every month.

In addition to a great selection of coffee options, Brown Dog is known for its great breakfast and lunch menu. The more popular items range from pastries made in-house to breakfast burritos and quiche. Next time you’re setting out on an adventure in Salida or Buena Vista, be sure to check out Brown Dog coffee!

Inertia Coffee

406 S. 8th St. Unit B, Colorado Springs inertiacoffee.com If you’re on the Westside of Colorado Springs and looking for a freshly roasted brew with a friendly and unique atmosphere, look no further than Inertia Coffee. The owners of this science and Photo by Jesus Lozoya space themed coffee shop, Brian and Joanna Derheimer, are truly passionate about coffee, from roast to brew. Both veterans of the United States Navy, this husband-and-wife team began their coffee journey as roasters, selling their beans at the Old Colorado City farmers market in Bancroft Park in 2015. They quickly realized their potential and expanded their roasting business to a full coffee shop.

When you first walk into Inertia Coffee, you can’t help but notice the cool science culture and friendly staff. All of their coffee is roasted onsite and is never more than just a few weeks old.

You can enjoy a coffee beverage or grab a bag of one of their nine different roasts (to include a decaf option) to brew at home. Not sure what to order? The staff will gladly help you select one of their fresh roasts for a pour-over or point you in the direction of one of their science-themed

SALIDA & BUENA VISTA

espresso specialty drinks. The Caramel Sagan, named in honor of renowned astrophysicist Carl Sagan, is a popular choice. This caramel and espresso drink is served with a “pale blue dot” of whipped cream, a nod to Sagan and his book by the same name. To top it off, the beverage is even served in a glass beaker. While you’re there, make sure to look around and see how many astronauts you can find hiding throughout the shop!

Loyal Coffee

408 S. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs loyalcoffee.co Are you someone who likes to “geek out” over coffee? Do you have a favorite coffee region? Do you discuss coffee flavor profiles like someone might describe a glass of wine? If so, you will want to check out Loyal Coffee in downtown Colorado Springs. This baristaowned coffee shop and roastery is the embodiment of the Third Wave coffee culture, with an emphasis on bringing out the best flavors in each coffee using varied and creative roasting techniques.

Everything about Loyal Coffee feels well-appointed and polished.

You certainly don’t need to be a card-carrying coffee geek to Photo by Jesus Lozoya appreciate the Loyal Coffee experience. From the moment you walk in the door, the atmosphere is inviting, and the staff is eager to share their coffee knowledge and suggestions with you. While could certainly grab a cup of coffee to go, this is the type of coffee shop that begs you to stay, read a book, or catch up with a friend. The selection of roasted beans available for purchase is varied, and often they have beans available from other local roasters as well. If a pour-over is what you’re after, they typically have a selection of three to four roast choices available. They also have a variety of classic espresso drinks and a solid cold brew as well.

Solar Roast Coffee 226 N. Main St., Pueblo solarroast.com

If you like some creative engineering and ingenuity along with your incredibly smooth cup of coffee, you will enjoy a visit to Solar Roast in Pueblo. Solar Roast claims to be the first and only commercial solar-powered roaster in the world. Owned by Oregon-native brothers, Mark and David Harktop, Solar Roast began as a satellite dish, 100 plastic mirrors and a broccoli strainer. Yes, you read that right.

To take advantage of the nearly year-round sunshine here in Southern Colorado, the Harktop brothers developed a method of roasting beans using solar concentrated energy.

After a few iterations of their roaster, they’ve graduated to roof-mounted solar arrays, and the result is a highly refined and efficient method of roasting coffee beans that is also environmentally conscious.

While the creative roasting process itself is certainly a draw, what keeps locals and visitors alike coming back is the overall Solar Roast coffee shop experience. A family-run operation, Solar Roast treats their customers like old friends. A wide variety of roasts are available on-hand, ranging from light to espresso and everything in between. Solar Roast has used entirely organic and fair trade coffee beans since the beginning, and they are certified by the USDA as 100 percent organic.

Whether you’re after black coffee, and espresso-based specialty drink, or some creative latte art, you can find an exceptionally appealing cup of Joe at Solar Roast Coffee.

Serving Awesome

COFFEE, TEA, PASTRIES & LUNCHES for over 20 years!

2 locations!

Buena Vista

713 S. U.S. Hwy 24 Buena Vista, 81211 719.395.2634

Salida

105 F. St., Salida, 81201 719.539.4337

Coffee beans available online at browndogcoffee.com COLORADO FUN 127

SALIDA & BUENA VISTA

WITH

CARL BORK & KAREN WATKINS

Interview by: Gillian Sheehan

Husband and wife duo, Carl Bork (CB) and Karen Watkins (KW), opened their art gallery and studio in Salida, Colorado in 2010. Although he prefers to create impressionist art and she is a pop surrealist, their very different styles complement each other on many levels.

Q CB:

KW:

Q CB:

Q

Biding Time - Karen Watkins

How and when did each of you know that you wanted to create art in your respective styles?

Before moving to Colorado from the Midwest, I thought that I was going to be more of a realist artist. When I moved here, I was so inspired by all the color and the quality of light in the Colorado landscape — I knew that I needed to change my style to impressionism in order to express my feelings toward painting outdoors or in the studio.

I enjoy symbolism, narrative, and creativity in surrealism work and I wanted to express that in my art. Pop surrealism also stems from the influence of Disney, Jim Henson, Don Bluth, and Tim Burton movies in my childhood.

Carl — we’ve read on your website (carlbork.com) that the appreciation for the medium and the mood in a painting is important to you. Can you elaborate on that?

I want people to sense what I am expressing in my paintings. Oil paints are the vehicle for expression.

For example, if I paint really thick with a palette knife, I want viewers to appreciate the expressions of my feelings present when I am creating that piece of art.

Karen — your website (kmwatkins.com) states

that you also make handmade dry felted soft sculptures. How did you first start making these cute creatures?

KW:

Q

I always liked sewing and I also wanted to get into sculpting. I found that needle felting combined both.

What do you consider to be one of your greatest professional accomplishments as artists?

CB and KW: Taking more independent professional artist career paths has allowed us more freedom with our art. If we have an idea for a painting, a project, or a show, we just do it — we don’t have to worry if a gallery rep will show it or not. To us, achieving freedom with our art is our greatest accomplishment.

Q

Why did you choose Salida as the location of your studio and gallery?

CB and KW: Affordability and location are the major reasons. In 2010, the rent for a space in town was really low, so cost of entry was very accessible.

The location in the mountains is also great! We’ve got the Arkansas River, 14ers, and mild weather throughout the year. We have endless outdoor locations just beyond our backyard from which we can draw inspiration.

Q

You’ve both recently published books of your paintings, entitled “Colorado Impressionism” and “Fatally Cute.” What prompted you to put them together?

Reaching High Above the Range - Carl Bork

SALIDA & BUENA VISTA

CB:

After painting professionally for more than 15 years, we decided it was time to start documenting our work. My book focuses on my work from 2015 to present day. It was around 2015 when I started to paint primarily with a palette knife; this marked a big change in my painting style. Colorado is the state that I love — it was an easy choice to make the region the focus of my work.

KW:

Q CB:

Many of my paintings depict simple subjects such as cute animals or trees, in a whimsical and colorful style. A book allowed me to compile my work and to showcase pop surrealism as my main focus.

Will you offer any workshops in 2019?

Every year, I offer a three-day intensive workshop in September. The first day is spent indoors, focusing on fundamentals, while the last two days are spent outdoors at my favorite “secret spots,” observing what we learned. Sign up for my newsletter at carlbork.com to stay updated on future workshops.

Q

Will your art be featured in any upcoming shows and events?

CB:

In May 2019, my work will be on exhibit at the Colorado Governor’s Art Show in Loveland for the second consecutive year. I will also have a solo exhibit at Greeley’s Tointon Gallery in January 2020.

KW:

I will be a guest artist at the Valkarie Gallery in Lakewood in September 2019.

Q

Is there anything else that you’d like to share about yourself or your art?

CB and KW: We love meeting new people at and sharing our creations with others. We hope to see readers at our gallery soon.

Shop for art by Carl and Karen at the Bork & Watkins Studio–Gallery at: 149 W. 1st St., Salida, CO and on the web (borkandwatkinsgallery.com; etsy.com/shop/kmwatkins).

Follow them on Instagram (@carlborkart; @karen.watkins.art) and on Facebook (@borkandwatkinsgallery).

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Buena Vista offer a comfortable setting for retail, restaurants, and locally-owned businesses as an entertaining alternative. I have fallen in love with the quaint and eccentric atmosphere that they display. The majority of the buildings are still original from when these towns were founded during the mining and railroad days, and it is obvious that, along with the excitement of growth, these communities maintain a deep appreciation for their heritage.

Beautiful Shops in Historic Spaces WORDS & PHOTOS BY

MELODY BUSCHUR

O

ne of the most enjoyable aspects of getting to know new places is discovering the richness of history and character built into the area. Whether it is just a weekend getaway or finding a new place to lay down roots, I am always captivated by the hidden treasures tucked away in the architecture, people, types of businesses and downtown areas, like a historical roadmap laid out with layers of intriguing stories.

I call the Arkansas River Valley home; though I have been here eight years, I am still learning so much about the valley and the variety of people that have called this place home before 130 COLORADO FUN

Photo courtesy of Johnny Hughes

me. Though this area is known for its outdoor appeal with the Collegiate Peaks as a backdrop and the Arkansas River cutting through its heart, the landmark downtowns of Salida and

Opal Boutique in Salida

It is often just as interesting to walk into a store with the purpose of taking in the architecture that exposes the building’s past as it is to explore the local retail. My favorite shopping locale is Opal Boutique, located in Salida’s historic downtown district.

Not only do I favor the on-trend, affordable women’s clothing that Opal has to offer, but I also appreciate that the building itself is full of eyecatching details that spark curiosity about their originality. The owners, PJ and Merrell Bergin, have owned the building for over 20 years. Established more than 120 years ago in 1890, PJ Bergin noted that the business space has held various styles of commerce including a men’s department store,

SALIDA & BUENA VISTA

appeal, I have enjoyed watching the modern movement. Along makeovers and enhancements on with the neutral color Main Street in Buena Vista, with new scheme, variety of textures, businesses offering fun gift ideas and and handmade wall art, eclectic items for the house and home.

Farnsworth has achieved a timeless concept. To One of my go-to destinations for me, Opal Boutique is the Opal Boutique, in Salida’s antiques, plants, and interesting perfect combination of historic downtown district. products that I can only find here architectonic eye candy and is Rock Paper Scissors (RPS). a sewing haberdashery, a fabric store, unique women’s products This store offers an eccentric mix and a restaurant. embedded right into the excitement of apothecary and of downtown. nursery all wrapped “We weren’t looking for an up in an understated investment necessarily, but we “We have found that the building formal appeal, much enjoyed coming to Salida on the truly has a nice vibe and energy for like something I weekends and knew we wanted to get retail, and being on the sunny side of could find in the serious about purchasing a home. the street makes a huge difference. up-and-coming The apartment above the space It is fun being able to live right neighborhood of the needed a lot of work, but the original downtown and share the story of the city. Its storefront is clerestory and amount of space sold building’s history with others,” settled between the us. All of a sudden, we were landlords. added Bergin. staple coffeehouse in The building took a lot to maintain town, Buena Vista but it had a solid structure for its age,” Venturing just 24 easy miles north Roastery Cafe, and she said. along a scenic highway, I find the newly restored myself happily at home in Buena Loft Orpheum “We kept as much of the original Vista. With a claim-to-fame as a Theater, with a material and fixtures as we could. The one-stoplight town, it is haven to a vintage Dutch door tin ceiling tiles in Opal along with much simpler downtown concept: painted green to pop the tin and crown molding are all storefronts are geared toward the among the neutral preserved, and the ghost sign on the river and mountain adventure scene, palette of grays, outside bricks is one of the best kept in and the town center plays host to beiges, and black. The the state!” various exclusive restaurants. More natural light is what recently, the town has branched out The nostalgic charm is evident from in its shopping the outside in; and the boutique, varietal, filling owned by Lizzie Farnsworth, has even more been able to uphold the historical niches for value that is so noteworthy while the seasonal creating an inviting and comfortable tourism ambiance for customers to enjoy. industry. Just The vaulted ceiling styles an open as Salida is and airy feel with the vintage tin and continually crown elements and plenty of natural revamping light throughout, but her fixtures the downtown and reclaimed-wood displays provide area while a more polished rustic chic design maintaining that is on par with today’s mountainits notable Rock Paper Scissors in Buena Vista COLORADO FUN 131

SALIDA & BUENA VISTA

inspires me when I step into RPS. The succulents and greenery throughout the shop encourage a sense of life, while her burning candles and fragrant self-care products invite me into the space with warmth and comfort. However, it is the exposed brick and painted concrete floors that give way to this location’s story.

Owner and creative mind behind RPS, Victoria Hock has been in this space since 2017. Though she is not the owner of the building, she has been granted artistic control. Her shop dog Louie is always relaxed and ready to make your acquaintance as you discover Hock’s personally handmade pieces and as you get to know her through the inspired aesthetic of these four walls.

pallet that we turned into a hanging display for air plants, or the old cable spool we use as a table. I have relied on my taste as far as decorating goes, so the store is very much a reflection of my personal style,” she commented.

“I’m drawn toward dark colors with pops of light. I try to keep myself inspired The Village and Louie’s Ice Cream Shoppe in Buena Vista to be creative in my pottery, people to look through all that we have jewelry and painting. I feel so lucky to to offer. Our local following comes in have a place that I can express myself knowing that they will see something and create an atmosphere that other new and that things are constantly people enjoy as well.” changing. I hope visitors come in and feel like they found a gem in a small As an artist, Hock was originally town,” Hock said. looking for a pop-up space in 2015 to showcase her own handmade pieces.

“The white brick wall is my favorite However, with the overwhelming part of the building. I’ve always loved support she received, and the timing old brick and the dozens of layers of the space becoming available, she of paint make me think about the “We repainted most was able to expand and stay open history of the building and how many every surface — I did year-round. In my opinion, her store different businesses and people these an abstract mural that is a wonderful asset and addition to walls have seen.” wraps around the walls, our downtown area. The RPS curbside painted the floors, and appeal pops among the rest of the Making my way across Main Street, painted the front door. mountain-town nuanced vibe, so her I come across the original Jacobs As far as displays, I imaginative approach combines the Building, constructed by John Jacobs look for unique pieces fresh with the antique, as well as an of Germany in early 1888 as a saloon to mix in with our urban style with the high-altitude and second-floor residence. Current shelving to add pops landscape, completing an ambiance owners, Johnny and Renata Hughes, of interest. I use lots that is uniquely her own. have used this characteristically of organic material to create displays, ornate building as a center for their such as wood, rock, moss, etc. I love “We take a lot of time to create layers shared community space. The history repurposing found items, like the old within the store, which encourages 132 COLORADO FUN

SALIDA & BUENA VISTA

etched into its walls reminisces of its times as a hotel, an undertaker’s parlor, an antique store, a bed and breakfast, and even a coffee roaster.

The Jacobs Building is home to The Village, a fair trade home and gift store owned by Cheryl Richmond. It also shares an outdoor space with the popular Jailhouse Craft Beer Bar and Louie’s Ice Cream Shoppe.

With seating, play areas, and outdoor games for all ages to appreciate, it is truly a hub for our petite, familycentered society.

Before The Village opened its doors in 2016, significant restoration was required. Although 70 tons of material were removed, the historic details remained intact, preserving the original floors, exposed brick, hotel doors and transom window, hardware fixtures, and even the boiler and radiators.

“I LOVE what John as done to expose, preserve and highlight the original materials used to build this beautiful structure! I was inspired to open my store in this space because of the natural beauty and abundance of light that gives the feeling of home and warmth the minute you walk through the doors. Our fair trade products complement the brick walls and creaking floor with their natural handmade beauty and copious amounts of color. The combination could not be better,” exclaimed Richmond.

This space mirrors the tales of Buena Vista, reminding us of how far we’ve come since the rambunctious Wild West days that made this area so iconic. Hughes added that once the town of Buena Vista became the county seat in the early 1880s, new residents were able to establish lasting businesses funded by the mining profits which resulted in a period of affluence.

“The Jacobs Building is typical of a commercial property located in many developing western towns during the 1880s. The structure was one of these thriving commercial endeavors, with its history of prosperity and evolving commercial enterprises closely paralleling the larger economic development of the town throughout history,” he said.

With The Village already acting as my go-to for household décor, like fun centerpieces or handmade napkins, it is once again the story behind its walls that pulls on my heartstrings and fills me with even more pride for this valley and what it has to offer. Just like the Jacobs Building over 120 years ago, The Village and its building is a true icon for our picturesque river town. I can only dream of what impression these distinguished shopping locales are etching into the valley’s history for decades to come and feel excited to be part of those stories.

Opal Boutique 128 F St., Salida On Facebook Rock Paper Scissors 411 E. Main St., Buena Vista rockpaperscissorscreative.com Buena Vista Roastery Café 409 E. Main St., Buena Vista bvroasterycafe.com Loft Orpheum Theater 413 E. Main St., Buena Vista loftmusicvenue.com The Village 414 E. Main St., Buena Vista thevillagebv.com Jailhouse Craft Beer Bar 412 E. Main St., Buena Vista thejailhousebv.com Louie’s Ice Cream Shoppe 414 E. Main St., Buena Vista On Facebook

“We love that our global impact is given such a grand stage and that we are able to highlight the responsibly sourced practices and contribute to the fight against poverty and economic crisis, all within our charming small town.”

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COLORADO SPRINGS COQUETTE’S BISTRO Colorado Springs’ only 100% gluten-free restaurant, serving up food, treats and cocktails at our newly expanded 6,700-squarefoot restaurant, bakery and bar in a sweet, cozy corner in Downtown. Stop by our bakery for takeaway treats and special orders (and grab a cup of coffee to enjoy with your pastry).

Looking for brunch, lunch or dinner — grab a seat outside on our spacious, sunny patio.

INDIA PALACE Offering both delicious in house dining and takeout, India Palace Restaurant and Bar is a cornerstone in the Colorado Springs community and has been recognized for its outstanding Indian cuisine, excellent service and friendly staff. This restaurant is known for its modern interpretation of classic dishes and its insistence on using only fresh and high quality fresh ingredients. Highly regarded by the local community, they offer an affordable daily lunch buffet from 11am-2:30pm with children under six at half price. Evenings, 5-9pm Mon-Thursday. Dinner buffet on Thursday evenings. Open until 10pm on Friday & Saturday. Closed Sunday evening. If you’re new to Indian cuisine, this a wonderful place to start your journey.

616 S Tejon Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903 719-685-2420 CoquettesBistro.com

THE FAMOUS STEAK HOUSE Independently and locally owned since 2002.

Winner of multiple people’s choice and food writers’ awards for steak, service, bar, and lunch. Dine in an elegant, classic steakhouse environment at Colorado Springs’ finest upscale steak house and piano lounge. Easy access from I-25 and Bijou; ample parking in the nearby public garage on Kiowa St. is only $1.00, cash or card, after 2 p.m.

31 N. Tejon St. Colorado Springs 719-227-7333 TheFamousSteakhouse.net

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5644 North Academy Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80918 IndiaPalaceCOS.com 719-535-9196

JOHNNY’S NAVAJO HOGAN Owner, Nicholas Fontecchio built the Navajo Hogan as a roadhouse in 1935. Nicholas had a vision to provide a place for everyone from the region to gather together without affiliations, to meet as individuals and bond as friends and neighbors. In the tradition of Southside Johnny’s and Mr Fontecchio, our vision is to offer great food, service and entertainment. We are open seven days a

week, serving lunch and dinner and providing live music on the weekends.

2817 N. Nevada Ave. Colorado Springs 719-344-9593 JohnnysNavajoHogan.com

N3 TAPHOUSE We preserve character of the original building, built in the early 1900s as a fire station No. 3. It was important to us to stay true to the elements of the structure and to minimize our waste during the renovation by reusing materials whenever possible. At N3 Taphouse we believe an inspired atmosphere, flavorful, indulgent food, craft beverages, and mindful, attentive service, all weave together to create curated moments to be shared.

817 W. Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs 719-444-8487 n3taphouse.com

POOR RICHARD’S Poor Richard’s has provided downtown Colorado Springs with a funky local vibe

for 40+ years. Hand-tossed pizza, great homemade soups/stews, and signature house salad dressing have won Poor Richard’s Restaurant the distinction of “Best Of” in Colorado Springs across several categories year after year. The menu also features wholesome options for many diets, including many vegan and gluten-free choices.

324 1/2 N. Tejon St. Colorado Springs 719-578-5549 PoorRichards.biz

RASTA PASTA Creative Caribbean pasta, fresh and funky salads, and ridiculously good desserts. Our menu is a fusion of Caribbean and Italian flavors that includes vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. We have a full bar featuring Jamaican beer and rums with local beer on tap. We offer free Wi-Fi and a sidewalk patio with plenty of sunshine and downtown atmosphere. Relax, enjoy the reggae music, and let our friendly servers take excellent care of you.

imported ingredients carefully assembled to create Nordic dining excellence.

WESTSIDE / OLD COLORADO CITY 503W

An award-winning restaurant and craft bar since 2014. We specialize in uniquely hand-crafted food and drinks using fresh, natural and local ingredients. Locally-minded. Locally owned.

The Lincoln Center 2727 N. Cascade Ave. 719-634-2727

SPORTIVO PRIMO / THE PICCADILLY BAR / DUCA’S The Antlers Hotel has recently introduced several new restaurants. The Piccadilly Bar, located in the main lobby, features 100 beers, 50 wines by the glass, a robust cocktail selection, and an exquisite small plates menu.

Sportivo Primo, located in the south atrium, is open for lunch and dinner and offers a wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, and fresh, innovative entrées.

503 W. Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs 719-471-3370 503w.co

FRONT RANGE BBQ Front Range Barbeque, located in Old Colorado City, serves up true Southern BBQ and home-style cooking. Original live music venue on our outdoor patio. Full bar with a large selection of craft beers. Generations of family recipes along with some friendly Southern hospitality create a truly unique dining experience. Recently shown on Diner’s, Drive-In’s, and Dive’s for our “Sloppy Pig” sandwich. Locally owned and operated since 2000.

Inside the Antlers Hotel 4 S Cascade Ave. 719-955-5600

SPRINGS ORLEANS

405 N. Tejon St. Colorado Springs 719-481-6888 RastaPastaCS.com

Authentic Cajun & Creole in the heart of downtown. Enjoy shrimp étouffée, gumbo, and beignets plus some of the finest steaks and pastas in town. Winner of several reader’s choice awards for Best Cajun/Southern restaurant and perennial winner of the Manitou Gumbo Cookoff. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, as well as Sunday brunch.

2330 W. Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs 719-632-2596 FRBBQ.com

Springs Orleans

SMORBROD Smorbrod, a Scandinavian bistro within Lincoln Center features a menu of 20 hearty, open-faced sandwiches on local rugbrod rye bread. The dish, traditionally known by the same name, will be topped with fresh local and

123 E Pikes Peak Ave. Colorado Springs 719-520-0123 SpringsOrleans.com

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JAKE & TELLY’S GREEK TAVERNA We have a large, creative menu with many vegetarian and gluten-free options, daily specials, extensive Wine Spectator awardwinning wine list, specialty cocktail and beer lists, happy hour specials, huge patio with views of Pikes Peak, monthly wine tasting dinners, accommodations for private parties, and professional catering.

2616 W. Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs 719-633-0406 JakeAndTellys.com

PARAVICINI’S ITALIAN BISTRO Paravicini’s is a bustling Italian restaurant located in historic Old Colorado City. Chef Franco Pisani offers the city’s best Italian, bar none! Lofty claim, yes, but the award-winning food and service backs it up! A Gold Medalist for Best Italian by the Colorado Springs reader’s poll for over 10 years in a row!

2802 W. Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs 719-471-8200 paravicinis.com

PIZZERIA RUSTICA 5-stars: “As Good As It Gets”— Gazette. One of twenty 4-Star Certified Green Restaurants® in the world. TripAdvisor Award of Excellence 2013-2017. Named Best Pizzeria in Colorado

by Tripping.com. Huge dog-friendly heated garden patio. Exceptional hand-stretched Neapolitan pizzas using local farmer/rancher products paired with choice imported and artisanal ingredients, including house-

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made mozzarella daily. Wood-fired pizzas, antipasti, and tasty desserts. Wine bar Enoteca Rustica located upstairs. Reservations highly recommended. VISA, MC, Amex, and Discover accepted.

2527 W. Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs 719-632-8121 PizzeriaRustica.com

TAPATERIA Authentic Barcelona tapas and wine/cocktail bar in historic 1889 building in Old Colorado City. Voted Best in Colorado Springs 20132015. Trip Advisor Award of Excellence 2013-2017. Over 36 tapas to pair with 50+ wines, sherries, ports, and vermouths as well as signature cocktails and reserve wines. 100% gluten-free menu with 50% vegetarian and 25% vegan specialties. Spanish deli with meats and cheeses to enjoy in-house or take away for your picnic. Large dog-friendly covered and heated garden patio. VISA, MC, Amex, and Discover accepted.

2607 W. Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs 719-471-TAPA (8272) TAPAteria.com

WILD GINGER Authentic Thai food made as spicy as you like!

Incredible pad thai and chicken panang curry bring our loyal customers back for more.

The eggplant tofu is a hit with vegetarians.

Don’t forget a Thai iced tea to cool down the Thai hot!

2628 W. Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs 719-634-5025 Facebook.com/ WildGingerThaiRestaurant

MANITOU SPRINGS

ADAM’S MOUNTAIN CAFE

Serving global cuisine based on slow food principles, the Café emphasizes unique recipes prepared in-house using local and organic products whenever possible. The walls are adorned with original artwork by artist Charles H. Rockey which depict pastoral scenes of Manitou Springs. The wine list is hand selected to complement the menu and the bar offers craft cocktails and Colorado beers on tap. Reservations encouraged/walkins welcomed.

THUNDER & BUTTONS Thunder & Buttons food is prepared fresh inhouse daily. We have daily food specials, drink specials, Happy Hour, trivia, an outdoor patio, and Karaoke four nights a week. Happy Hour is ALL day Sunday! Voted Best of Karaoke & Westside Bar 2014, 2015, 2016, & 2017 and 2015 & 2017 Best Wait Staff!

26 Manitou Ave. Manitou Springs 719-685-1430 AdamsMountain.com

MANITOU BREWING CO.

2415 W. Colorado Ave. Colorado Springs 719-447-9888 ThunderAndButtons.com

The only brewery in Manitou Springs with beer brewed on-site, featuring our flagship Manitou Common and High Ground IPA. Pouring 18 taps, including guest beers and ciders from Colorado and around the country, also offering spirits and wine. All-day menu includes sandwiches, burgers, small bites,

and GF options. One of the only dog-friendly patios in Manitou.

and more. Cozy up to the kiva fireplace only at Baja Billy’s.

SALIDA

SOULCRAFT BREWING

725 Manitou Ave. Manitou Springs 719-282-7709 Manitou-Brewing.com

PUEBLO PAPA JOSE’S

Offering inspiration to Pueblo’s historic downtown since 1998, this labor of love brings delicious Mexican food at great prices. Stop by to hear a good story or to try our even better green chili. Featuring Mexican food, burgers & fries, chicken fried steak, chicken planks, and corn dogs Monday through Saturday.

PAPA JOSE’S UNION CAFE

Mon - Sat 11 am - 8 pm 320 South Union Avenue Pueblo 719-545-7476 Facebook.com/PapaJoses

CRIPPLE CREEK

233 E Bennett Ave. Cripple Creek BroncoBillysCasino.com

THE STEAKHOUSE Fine dining in a relaxed environment is an understatement. You’ll see why this is the #1 rated steakhouse in Southern Colorado and why people drive up from the Springs to enjoy! You’ll get to choose from bone-in rib-eyes, stuffed lobster tail, fresh salmon, pasta and more! Reservations are strongly recommended but not required.

233 E. Bennett Ave. Cripple Creek 719-689-2909 BroncoBillysCasino.com

THE CRIPPLED COW Enjoy wood-fired pizza, Peet’s Coffee, tasty pastry or a BierWerks Craft brew! Come see what all of Cripple Creek are raving about!

A full-service brewery located in the outdoor mecca of Salida, Colorado. Our focus is producing a wide array of fresh, craft beer.

Our expansive taproom and outdoor beer garden provide a welcome space for enjoying the company of friends and family. Dine at our yummy food container for lunch and dinner. Open 7 days a week. Come join the rumpus!

248 W. Hwy 50, Salida 719-539-5428 SoulcraftBeer.com

BROWN DOG COFFEE Our coffee beans are roasted in-house daily!

Homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, quiches, & baked goods. We make a wide variety of gourmet coffee drinks & smoothies, and offer vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options. Catering available.

HOME CAFE

The Home Café has been here since the beginning and there’s a reason why… Made famous for our $5.99 steak and eggs, juicy hamburgers, delicious sandwiches, and budget friendly and very tasty 49-cent breakfast menu!

233 E. Bennett Ave. Cripple Creek BroncoBillysCasino.com

RUDY’S DINER Mon-Thurs 6 am-Midnight 233 E Bennett Ave. Cripple Creek BroncoBillysCasino.com

Tasty Burgers, Delicious Dawgs & Creamy Shakes all made fresh! Now featuring a Holiday Turkey Dip that really hits the spot if you’re looking for Holiday fare! Fill up with these great classics at Rudy’s located in the Christmas Casino.

Buena Vista 713 S. U.S. Hwy 24 719-395-2634 Salida 105 F. St. 719-539-4337 browndogcoffee.com

BAJA BILLY’S CANTINA No need to go south of the border to get fresh Mexican food — you’re sure to enjoy the fresh-made fajitas, burritos, fish tacos, beans

233 E. Bennett Ave. Cripple Creek BroncoBillysCasino.com COLORADO FUN 137

KEVIN LESNIEWSKI

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Kevin started his photography journey in 2015, capturing interesting landscapes around Colorado. Today, he is working on portrait photography, inspired by Dutch Golden Age painters such as Vermeer and Rembrandt.

Location: Helen Hunt Falls in North Cheyenne CaĂąon Park, Colorado Springs Website: kevinlesniewski.format.com Instagram: @kevin_lesniewski