With the lure of sandy beaches in Hawaii, Mexico and Florida drawing the winter-weary to distant spring-break locales, it’s easy to forget Colorado’s many opportunities to soak up the sun, explore the outdoors or just go on a hike that offers equal parts spectacular scenery and quads-burning exercise.
For those spending their spring break in the Front Range, we offer some activities to fill the days. Think outside your routine and instead of going to the neighborhood playground, pile everybody in the car and head to the foothills, to state parks and other places within an easy drive.
The weather might not be as warm as in Playa del Carmen or Kauai, but there’s no need to mope around the house.
MONDAY
Superstar playground
It has been a long time since a jungle gym and a sand pit could keep kids occupied. The era of the megaplayground continues with imaginative structures to climb and hide in, and swings, slides, ropes and bars to dangle from.
Whether you’re in charge of toddlers or teens, a place with playgrounds for each group that is worth the gas money to get there is Fort Collins’ Fossil Creek Park. The Tar Pits playground has a woolly mammoth and the “prehistoric” wall to climb, plus there’s a skate park, inline hockey rink, water feature, tennis and basketball courts and ballfields. And don’t forget to bring Rover: a dog park is available, too.
Fossil Creek Park, 5821 S. Lemay Ave., Fort Collins; info: ci.fort-collins.co.us/parks/fossil-creek.php
Other inventive play parks: Westlands Park, with three play areas, 5701 S. Quebec St., Greenwood Village, greenwoodvillage.com; and the wheelchair-accessible Arvada Center playground, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada; arvadacenter.org.
TUESDAY
Back to nature
So many city and state parks are within an hour’s drive of central Denver that it’s hard to know where to begin.
A good place to reconnect with Mother Earth is at the Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Preserve, a 110-acre park owned and managed by Jefferson County Open Space that’s a 10-minute drive off Interstate 70 just west of Denver (take the Lookout Mountain exit). Get oriented to what you’ll see with a visit to the nature center and then hit the trails winding through a Ponderosa pine forest and wildlife habitat featuring Abert’s squirrels (they have tufts of black fur on their ears), foxes, mule deer and elk. This time of year, listen for the songs of nuthatches and chickadees and the stacatto signature of woodpeckers.
Note: The center is closed on Mondays, open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the preserve is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk.
Info: co.jefferson.co.us/openspace/ Phone: 720-497-7600
Nearby, check out Buffalo Bill Memorial Museum and Grave, and the buffalo herd overlook at Genesee.
Other nature options include Castlewood Canyon State Park, which has stunning scenery, according to Metro Region Trails Coordinator Nancy Matchett. “It’s a gorgeous park,and has an interpretive program, too,” she says. Matchett also recommends Cherry Creek and Chatfield parks, which have numerous walking and biking trails, and Roxborough State Park for its “great variety of trails,” and wildlife programs, such as Friday’s story time at 10:30 a.m. for children 2 and up. (call for reservations: 303-973-3959).
Bring binoculars to bird walks scheduled for 8 a.m and noon Saturday at Chatfield State Park (South Platte River parking lot); and at 9 a.m. at Barr Lake Nature Center.
Info: parks.state.co.us
WEDNESDAY
Hit the beach
Leave Cancun to the high school and college kids – there are places to make a splash all over the metro area and you won’t have to worry about the weather forecast or Montezuma’s revenge spoiling the fun.
The Westminster City Park Recreation Center’s three pools have something for everyone, from the tea cups and kiddie slide to the rope swing in the big pool. The steam room and hot tub are therapeutic options for parents who overdid it tossing or catching kids in the water. And fees are reasonable, even for nonresidents. Admission for children 3-12 is $3.50; youths 13-17 are $4.50 and adults are $5.50.
City Park Recreation Center, 10455 Sheridan Blvd., Westminster, 303-460-9690. Info: ci.westminster.co.us/res/recfac/cpr/default.htm
Other options: Lone Tree Recreation Center’s pool has a lazy river, floor geysers and whirlpool, 10249 Ridgegate Circle, Lone Tree, 303-708-3500; info at sspr.org; Arvada’s Apex Center has a 23,000 square-foot indoor water park;, 13150 W. 72nd Ave., 303-424-2739; info at northjeffco.org
THURSDAY
Two-wheeling time
It’s time to pump up the tires and hit the bike trail.
The last off-road section of the Sand Creek Regional Greenway opened last fall, completing this nearly 14-mile public greenway that connects the High Line Canal in Aurora with the South Platte River Greenway in Commerce City. It winds through Denver and the former Stapleton Airport land, offering a chance to experience a little wilderness close to the city.
A good place for parents and kids to access the trail is at the Star K Ranch Natural Area and Morrison Nature Center (take the Chambers Road exit off I-70, go south to Smith Road and east to the nature center). Bring a mountain bike or hybrid to pedal 5 miles roundtrip on the fine gravel path to Sand Creek Park. “You won’t believe you’re in Aurora, just off the highway. You feel like you’re in wilderness,” says Kate Kramer, the greenway partnership’s executive director.
Info: sandcreekgreenway.org
Kids who want more rugged bike action will find it at Lory State Park near Fort Collins, which recently opened the Corral Center Mountain Bike Park. With a variety of jumps, a skill area and pump track, the almost 70,000-square-foot park offers a place to perfect biking skills. And for those who like their outdoor adventures to be less thrilling, the state park has 20 miles of trails and foothills scenery.
Info:
More choices: visit bicyclecolo.org for a list of trails throughout the state and online bike maps.
FRIDAY
Rainy-day doings
There’s bound to be one day during the week when the weather doesn’t cooperate, so take your spring-break plans indoors. These options can get pricey, but some facilities offer specials at various times during the week, so check around.
Family Sports Center has ice skating, laser tag, an indoor climbing wall, and various games and attractions on the menu.
Family Sports Center, 6901 S. Peoria St. in Centennial; 303-708-9500; info: sspr.org
Another place that kids love is Fat City, which has bowling, a skating/obstacle course, a three-story “foam factory,” laser tag, miniature golf, bumper cars and an arcade. The best deal for bowling is 5-9 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, when it costs $1.95 per line and shoe rental is $2.
Fat City, 9670 W. Coal Mine Ave., Littleton, CO 80123; 303-972-4344; fatcityinfo.com
Staff writer Suzanne S. Brown can be reached at sbrown@denverpost.com or at 303-954-1697.
Celebrate spring break with Kids Week in The Denver Post. Coming up:
TUESDAY: Five new board games and five standout kids’ TV shows for rainy-day fun in Play.
WEDNESDAY: See who won the kids cooking contest and get recipes for kid-friendly cuisine in Food.
THURSDAY: Clean your room with tips for keeping kids’ space spick-and-span in Room.
FRIDAY: Learn about some of the best kid-friendly arts activities in 7 Days.
