Beautiful trail. Great views. There is a trail area and an off leash dog park area. Parking lot is…read moresmall.

Amazing classic view of Boulder, as you arrive by car from Denver metro area. It can be beautiful…read moreon a blue sky day but you can also see to the continental divide. Today the high winds up there swirled snow and clouds almost vertically. To the right in this view is Longs Peak in RMNP. To the left is the Indian Peaks Wilderness area due west of Boulder. You might not use this this approach to Boulder on a weekday commute in when it will likely be bumper to bumper going very slow for several miles. And a bit dangerous with snow and ice and high winds at ground level. But on a beautiful clear dry winter day, it is classic and how so many people see Boulder for the very first time.

The trail was well maintained and the area was beautiful with great views. This park is off leaf…read morefor dogs. Parking lot is small.

Nice open space to walk the dogs, run, fish with the kiddos, or just sit with a to go order of food…read moreand enjoy the views. Unfortunately the parking lot is extra small right now because they're doing construction... 4 standard and 1 accessible space is all they have right now right on the water. Across the street is a larger parking area though and that's got plenty of spaces. Very dog friendly trail so if your pup is extra chaotic around others might want to have that in mind. The piece I traversed didn't have much shade so recommend sunglasses and a hat at the very least. Enjoy!

What a lovely way to spend the morning and support small local businesses. I was able to get some…read moreholiday shopping done and get a little something for myself! Fabulous event!

What a great day! My husband and I just love local art, and supporting these artists. I hadn't…read moreheard of the Jackalope Arts festival, which apparently appears every year just up the street from me in Olde Arvada. We went out on this sunny and warm October day, glad to enjoy some time outdoors in the sun. We were greeted, as well, with an enjoyable stroll through local venue booths sporting everything from beeswax products to locally mixed spices to jewelry made from local stones (think petrified wood and Marble's marble, among many others). I was drawn to the designs at a T-shirt shop, and when I couldn't find my size in the design I wanted, they assured me that I could email them and they would make it for me and send it along to my home. The jewelry maker at Waystone (mywaystone.com) promised that if I could bring her a piece of petrified wood that I had discovered in my backyard, she would make it into something special to display in my home. While she accepts items through mail, since she is just down I-70 just east of Denver, I mean to bring it right to her. I was excited to visit this arts fair, and came away with some nice items, along with the cards of some artisans to whom I will reach out for some custom items. What a great way to spend a glorious fall day outside!

You will find this little nugget right outside of the Residence Inn, in a small alcove. It is the…read morework of Sean O'Meallie who did the sculpture in 2008. It is starting to show signs of wear and is a bit weathered. It also has some graffiti on it. It is 20 feet tall, weighs about 3,000 pounds, and is made from bronze and acrylic paint. It is rumored to have chosen the Residence Inn as the site of the sculpture because the hotel had hosted has a Pajama Party fundraiser benefiting Denver's Road Home program in the past. It is an interesting piece that depicts a cowboy holding up two side arms. The cowboy has heart shaped balloon hat and what looks like a magnet for legs. It is all on a platform. As I mentioned, it is abstract AF. You have to stare at it for a little while to decipher what it is, a cowboy in pajamas. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. Even though I passed it a few times since I was staying at the hotel next door. I recommend making this stop part of a larger itinerary or checking it out if you are in the area and/or on your way somewhere else, to maximize your time.

Unless you know the precise location of this sculpture, you can easily drive right past it! You…read morecan find it on Champa St. between 17th & 18th Streets. It is set next to the Hotel Registration sign leading to the Residence Inn. Drive by viewing! I couldn't find parking, so luckily, traffic came to a stop and I snapped a quick pic. This is definitely a whimsical piece! It's also a sort of abstract since there's basically only a pair of pants and an odd shaped abdomen with a belt in between. What might be perceived at first as arms are actually pistols. There's no face, arms, hands, nor feet. In summary, this is a cowboy with its guns drawn. Cowboy Pajamas is a solid work made from bronze, weighing three tons! It stands at over 20 feet tall. The sculptor is Sean O'Meallie. It was installed in 2008. Why is this sculpture in front of a hotel? This hotel, the Residence Inn at this address, hosts an Annual Pajama Party fundraiser. The fundraiser benefits and raises awareness for the homeless.

This is an amazing collection of kinetic sculptures. It does however, seem to be out of place…read moresitting in the front yard of a residential home. My HOA would have a fit. There is free parking along the street. I just ended up parking across the street in a little dirt area. The sculptures are the work of Starr Kemph, who took his own life in 1995. The home that they sit in front of is his former home. Since it is a home and the sculptures are behind a fence around the yard, you cannot get very close to them. You can still get a decent view of them from outside the fence though. There used to me more of the sculptures in the yard but they were moved to the ENT Center for the Arts on the University of Colorado Campus in Colorado Springs on an extended loan, after complaints from neighbors and some members of Kemph's estate. The three removed sculptures were titled, Sunrise Serenade, Metronome, and Space Needle. I visited on a windy day and the sculptures were in full effect. There are a few birds, and other abstract spire sculptures to view. They do ask that visitors be respectful when visiting the site as to not draw more attention to the sculptures and cause a nuisance that would result in increase calls from neighbors to have more pieces removed. They are a site to see and are beautiful as they move in the wind. These massive pieces of stainless-steel tower into the sky and are hard to ignore, ranging from 30 to 50 feet tall. They demand your attention. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. I recommend making this stop part of a larger itinerary or checking it out if you are in the area and/or on your way somewhere else, to maximize your time. The Figure Skating Hall of fame is just around the corner from here.

These are some pretty enormous whimsical kinetic sculptures!…read more The sculptures are on the private property at the corner of Pine Grove Ave & Evans Ave. On the front lawn you can see a number of the steel wind sculptures. Since this is a residence, you will view them from the street. There is no parking available that I saw. There is a parking lot for hiking trails that I parked in. Then I walked across Evans Ave. very carefully. People like to speed on that road. Starr Kempf was an architect, engineer, welder, teacher and artist. He died in 1995 by taking his own life. In an interview I saw, he said he wanted all his sculptures to remain on his lawn for all to see. Some time after Kempf's dath, his daughter gave tours. Due to a lot of people coming to view these sculptures, some of the other wards of the artist's estate and neighbors were not happy about it. The city came and removed some of the sculptures with the permission of one of Kempf's relatives, although his daughter protested. Three of these sculptures are: Sunrise Serenade, Metronome, and Space Needle. They are on display at the ENT Center for the Arts (5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, Colorado) on the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs campus. I should have driven over there to view them! They will be on display there until 2034. I had come to Manitou Springs from Denver and made a quick detour. This is just south of CO Springs. Some of the sculptures in the yard are a little hard to see with the trees obstructing the view! You can still see well enough because they are between 30-50 feet tall! It's worth the drive out if you are somewhat nearby.

What a gem!! My husband and I visited the museum last Saturday. The attention to detail and the…read morelevel of craftsmanship in creating each scene was amazing. Even if you are not a "train person" you'll find this place fascinating. Each train is run by a volunteer and managed by a dispatcher. You can really get a sense of how trains were used and managed in 1975. They also have a real caboose from the C&S Railroad that you can go in. The best part of the museum are the friendly volunteers who love trains and love sharing their knowledge. Go, take a friend, ask questions and spread the word. It's a treasure.

Impressive model railroad that is laid out very well so that you can see all parts of it,…read more including a view of the whole thing from above. Definitely do the treasure hunt, no matter your age, it really makes you appreciate the level of detail! There is also a working Thomas model (much smaller layout but bigger train), and a wooden train table for the kids to play with. Allow a couple of hours.

What a gem in the heart of downtown Denver! We came here on a spectacular weather day and…read morethroughly enjoyed watching an NFL game in the big screen in the Adirondack chairs while drinking a beer or High Noon. The service was great and there were several beers on tap to choose from. I like they offered a water station and clean port o potties. The rooftop umbrellas are so fun for pics! We did try out the putt putt course and loved the themed Denver holes but found it to not be in great shape- wrinkles in the mats but it was free!

Hiking Blodgett Peak is an ideal early-season outing. Perfect to shake off winter, a steady ascent…read morehelps you find rhythm quickly, making it a great warm-up. It is not gentle. The grade is no joke. Sections hit a 20 to 30% incline, with sustained pitches requiring sharp focus. As you climb, the trail steepens further, offering a solid test of fitness right out of the gate. The summit over Colorado Springs is well-earned.

Trail Series, Part 15 Ex*hil*a*ra*tion: uncontrolled…read morefeelings of euphoria or elation. I'm sure there's many ways to arrive at this destination. One of them is running, and running in the snow just takes things to a whole new level for me. With that in mind, imagine my exhilaration when a Review Team Member suggested we seize the opportunity to run in a snow storm today! Blodgett Open Space can be found on West Woodmen Road (just North of Orchard Valley Road) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When we arrived it was snowing, 11 degrees, and it would have taken an legion to wipe the smile off my face! Rejoining our Review Team for this adventure was Jasper "The Mountain Dog", so our confidence for survival was high. On several portions of our adventure we enjoyed making "first tracks" in the snow and we basically felt like we had the mountain to ourselves. We reached a peak elevation of 7,500 feet and discovered that your phone will actually turn itself off as a defense mechanism when it gets too cold. While our experience was euphoric, we are sadden to report that not all of our Review Team Members returned safely to Base Camp with us (not true, and yes Jasper is fine. Check the pics and you'll understand. ). There are multiple trails to explore, so you can tailor your adventure to just how much glee you are prepared for. While not required for this journey, I found the use of snow micro spikes quite useful (they can be a fitted over your running shoes). And that's...Henry's Take. #snowrunning #blogettopenspace #coloradosprings Trail Series, Part 15 Ex*hil*a*ra*tion: uncontrolled feelings of euphoria or elation. I'm sure there's many ways to arrive at this destination. One of them is running, and running in the snow just takes things to a whole new level for me. With that in mind, imagine my exhilaration when a Review Team Member suggested we seize the opportunity to run in a snow storm today! Blodgett Open Space can be found on West Woodmen Road (just North of Orchard Valley Road) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When we arrived it was snowing, 11 degrees, and it would have taken an legion to wipe the smile off my face! Rejoining our Review Team for this adventure was Jasper "The Mountain Dog", so our confidence for survival was high. On several portions of our adventure we enjoyed making "first tracks" in the snow and we basically felt like we had the mountain to ourselves. We reached a peak elevation of 7,500 feet and discovered that your phone will actually turn itself off as a defense mechanism when it gets too cold. While our experience was euphoric, we are sadden to report that not all of our Review Team Members returned safely to Base Camp with us (not true, and yes Jasper is fine. Check the pics and you'll understand. ). There are multiple trails to explore, so you can tailor your adventure to just how much glee you are prepared for. While not required for this journey, I found the use of snow micro spikes quite useful (they can be a fitted over your running shoes). And that's...Henry's Take. #snowrunning #blogettopenspace #coloradosprings