stephanie powell :: articles :: what to do in the rocky mountains

What to do in the Rocky Mountains

Snowmass Village, Colorado
Cowboy Campfires
After a vigorous day on the slopes, kick back and gather ’round the fire pit in Snowmass Village for mountain-top crooning and storytelling. On Mondays, a guitar-wielding cowboy leads a sing-along of campfire songs. Then on Wednesdays, local storytellers spin tall tales and cowboy–and-Indian yarns. Ideal for families, both of these après-ski activities feature complimentary hot chocolate and fixin’s for s’mores. So, wrap up in a blanket, sit back, and listen in as the Wild West is brought to life. 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Mon and Wed; free; off Daly Lane next to the Pokolodi Lodge; www.snowmassvillage.com or 800/SNOWMASS.

Golden, Colorado
Be a Pinball Wizard
Before there was Xbox360 and Sony PlayStation3 with their multi-button controllers and double joysticks, there was good ’ole pinball: two flippers, one steel ball, and the periodic, over-ambitious shove from the hip that caused the game to tilt. Relive your glory days at the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown where all games are set on free play. Compete in tournaments (designed for all skill levels and ages, including a parent-kid tournament), view antique and refurbished pinball machines on display, and attend free seminars on all things pinball. Then watch top-ranked players from across the country compete as they vie for world-ranking status. April 27-29; $30 three-day adult pass, $20 three-day child pass (ages 6-13), ages 5 and under free; Jefferson County Fairgrounds; www.pinballshowdown.com or 303/883-2603.

Aurora, Colorado
Java Nirvana
If you’re planning to root for the thousands of runners racing by during the first segment of the Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon, you’re going to have to get up early – like before sunrise. But the fourth annual Java Fest makes rising before the rooster crows worth it. The festivities, which draw close to 3,000 people and take place along the race route, start at 6:00 a.m. Enjoy an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, poetry readings, handwriting analysis, live music, an art market, and plenty of local and regional brews to kick start your morning and keep you buzzing throughout the day. 6 a.m.–2 p.m. May 20; free; Fletcher Plaza, 9898 E. Colfax Ave.; www.auroragov.org/java or 303/326-8FUN.

Boulder, Colorado
Lucky Duck
Celebrate the unofficial arrival of summer at the Boulder Creek Festival. Spanning five blocks with five stages of live entertainment, you can spend the weekend perusing art, sampling local recipes, getting lost in the labyrinth garden, or enrolling your kids in the fishing derby. Don’t miss Monday afternoon when the revelry culminates with The Great Rubber Duck Race. Purchase a yellow ducky from one of the signature duck booths. Then line the riverbank of Boulder Creek and cheer as thousands of the yellow floaters race toward the finish line. You may be the lucky duck who comes in first. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. May 26 and 27, 11:00 a.m. –7:00 p.m. May 28; free, $5 donation to participate in duck race; downtown Boulder, from 9th Street to 14th Street between Canyon Blvd. & Arapahoe Ave.; http://www.bouldercreekevents.com/BCF_main.html or 303/652-4942.

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