Summer Fun in Fort Collins

Photo by Joana Godinho on Unsplash.

Get ready for the upcoming summer season in Fort Collins as familiar classics make their return. The historic streetcars, food trucks, and drive-in theater are getting ready to bring back the nostalgic vibes and mark the beginning of a vibrant Fort Collins summer. These iconic elements serve as the early signals that the season is just around the corner, filling the air with anticipation and excitement. Continue reading to find out more about summer fun in Fort Collins. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Ideas for Summer Fun in Fort Collins

Did you know that old town Fort Collins has a streetcar? The beloved Birney Cars 21 and 25 have returned for another exciting season! Also, you can join in on the fun by heading to the City Park Depot at 1501 W. Oak St. During weekends and holidays, from noon to 5 p.m., these charming trolleys will be in operation, taking you on a delightful ride. Departing every 30 minutes, the trolleys will be available for rides until October 1, weather permitting. Don’t miss this opportunity to hop aboard the streetcar experience! The cost of a ride is $2 for adults and $1 for seniors and children, while children under 3 can enjoy the ride for free. Cash, credit cards, and debit cards are all accepted for payment.

Exciting news for music lovers! The free summer concert series have just announced their incredible lineups for the season. Starting on June 1, Thursday Night Live will commence a series of captivating concerts every Thursday in the heart of Old Town, running through September 7. At Colorado State University’s campus, get ready for The Lagoon Summer Concert Series, featuring an enticing new summer lineup. These Wednesday night shows, held twice a month, will begin on June 14 and promise to be a fantastic musical experience. But that’s not all! New Belgium Brewing is back with a bang, bringing their renowned Friday night summer concert series. Prepare for a treat as free live music fills the air from 5-7 p.m. every Friday, continuing until October. Mark your calendars for these unforgettable musical events!

The Colorado Tiny House Festival

Photo by Jed Owen on Unsplash.

Get ready for the grand return of the Colorado Tiny House Festival on June 24 & 25, 2023! This year, the festival promises to be bigger and tinier than ever before! Prepare to be amazed by the incredible variety of small living structures showcased at the event. From charming tiny houses on wheels and innovative container homes to unique conversions like a semi-trailer, skoolies, van conversions, teardrops, yurts, and more, the Festival has it all. Continue reading for more information. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

2023 Tiny House Festival

The event will take place at the sprawling grounds of the Riverdale Regional Park, formerly known as Adams County Fairgrounds. The Colorado Tiny House Festival creates a perfect blend of the tiny living movement’s spirit. Plus, you’ll get the latest information on embracing a minimalist lifestyle. Also, the event will feature the themes of simplifying your life, and living in an environmentally friendly manner.

The 2023 Colorado Tiny House Festival is where attendees can engage with experts and attend informative workshops. You will also hear firsthand experiences from tiny homeowners. This invaluable opportunity offers insights into downsizing and simple living, while touring a variety of real tiny homes, including custom-built houses on wheels, van conversions, yurts, and shipping container homes, showcasing innovative use of space and eco-friendly design. Witnessing these remarkable creations up close provides an authentic understanding of the true essence of tiny living.

Riding in The Weminuche Wilderness

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

With Summer visiting Colorado at last, it’s time to prepare your horse for the warm weather. Looking for places to ride? There are many national parks in Colorado that allow horseback riding. However, during this part of the year these places can quickly become crowded. Weminuche Wilderness is an unexpected gem for riders looking for an area free from tourists. Keep reading for a quick history of this unique Colorado wilderness area. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

About Weminuche Wilderness

The Weminuche Wilderness spans 499,771 acres. Also, it is the largest wilderness area in Colorado, covering an area approximately three quarters the size of Rhode Island. It is a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the area to safeguard a lasting resource of wilderness for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. Congress designated the Weminuche as a wilderness area in 1975. The area was expanded by the Colorado Wilderness Acts of 1980 and 1993.

The Weminuche Wilderness stretches across the Continental Divide, which is the geological spine of North America, with its watersheds flowing to both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Several peaks, including Eolus, Sunlight, and Windom, tower above 14,000 feet, while many others exceed 13,000 feet. Despite its average elevation of 10,000 feet, the Weminuche is a harsh terrain. Its ecosystems are also very delicate. Riders should be careful when disturbing the landscape of local wildlife. Make sure to plan your trip before heading out.

Where to Swim This Summer

Photo by Efe Kurnaz on Unsplash

It is summer in Colorado. It’s time to get outside and spend some of your free time in the water! Colorado gets a bad wrap for having a dry climate, but there are many wonderful places to go swimming. In fact, we’ve gotten more rain this summer than usual and some areas have seen an increase in elevation. Continue reading to find out where to swim this summer in Colorado. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Where to Swim This Summer in Colorado

One of the most popular spots for swimming is Colorado is Jackson Lake. Jackson Lake is northeast of Denver, not far from Fort Morgan. Alongside Riverside and Empire, Jackson Lake is one of three reservoirs in the area. There are no lifeguards at the lake, so swim at your own risk. Aside from swimming, Jackson Lake is also an excellent place for boating, hiking, water-skiing, picnicking, and more. Jackson even has a park. The park is dog-friendly; just remember to bring your leash. The lake even offers ice skating and ice fishing during winter.

One of the best hidden swimming spots is the Big Dominguez Canyon. Big Dominguez Canyon is located in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area near Grand Junction, Colorado. The area has stunning scenery and a natural swimming hole with a waterfall. Also, there are petroglyphs on some canyon walls. It is one of the most unique swimming areas in the state. There is a short hike to the area, so make sure you’re up for an adventure when going to this spot.

National Monuments of Colorado

Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Looking to get out of the house this summer? Colorado is full of wondrous parks, museums, and National Monuments. Some of the most visited national monuments in Colorado are Chimney Rock and the Dinosaur National Monument. Continue reading for more information on these amazing locations in the great state of Colorado. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Top National Monuments in Colorado

One of the most popular national monuments in Colorado is Chimney Rock National Monument. Chimney Rock is an archaeological site located at the southern edge of the San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado. This area was the home of ancestral Puebloans of the Chaco clan. Therefore the area is full of archaeological ruins, artifacts, and abundant wildlife. Chimney Rock covers seven square miles. Also, nearly 200 ancient homes and ceremonial buildings stand here. Experts excavated  many for public viewing and exploration. Secondly there’s Dinosaur National Monument.

The famed Dinosaur National Monument depicts the ancient world. On display is the exposed rock layer enclosing dinosaur fossils. Markedly, this old sandstone river bed is the Morrison Formation. It is from the Jurassic Period, some 150 million years old. The river system carried dinosaurs and other ancient animals downstream. The relentless forces of erosion exposed the layers at the surface for people to discover. Overall, this is a great family-friendly area. Also, children enjoy this curious time in our world’s history. Additionally, a town with the same name lies just south. Naturally the monument headquarters is located just east of the town on U.S. Highway 40.

More Things to do at Red Rocks Colorado

Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

The Red Rocks Colorado Amphitheatre is well-known as an amazing music venue with incredible views. And yet is has so much more to offer. Not only can you watch a movie on the rocks, they even have a music-themed hall of fame. Continue reading for some more unique things you can do at Red Rocks. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Red Rocks Colorado Activities

Red Rocks Colorado is a great place for working out. The amphitheater boasts 380 stairs and has a lot of room for exercising. As long as the space is available, so can access the stairs and run as much as you want. Red Rocks allows visitors to access the park one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset on non-event days, and one hour before sunrise until 2pm on event days.

Don’t feel like running up and down stairs? Red Rocks has guided workout sessions too. Each spring and summer, thousands of people gather to practice yoga together on the warm steps of the amphitheater. Yoga on The Rocks is an annual event series that takes place on the sprawling steps of the amphitheater, sometimes drawing thousands of people to participate. Generally sessions last one hour, and cost around twenty dollars per person. Tough it depends on who is running the event.

Hidden Hiking Trails in Colorado

Photo by Jeffrey Keenan on Unsplash

Colorado is one of the biggest and best states for hiking. There are thousands of miles of hiking trails in Colorado. There’s trails of all types of terrain for hikers of any skill level. With hiking being so popular, you might find for favorite trail with a lot of traffic. If you’d rather hike with less passersby, Switzerland Trail is an undiscovered gem for many. Continue reading for more information. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Uncover Secret Hiking Trails in Colorado

Switzerland Trail winds majestically through the wilds outside of Boulder. This trail boasts over nine miles through the picturesque Roosevelt National Forest. The best time to use this trail is from May to October. Switzerland Trail is of course great for hikers, but bikers and off-roaders as well. The paths there are wide but also full of lush trees, shrubs, and rocky cliffs. There’s even a lovely meadow along the way. Switzerland trail has a lot of history as a former railroad line for the Salt Lake & Pacific Railway.

Just like Switzerland trail, most people haven’t heard of the Salt Lake & Pacific Railway. This is due to the fact that the line died out after a devastating flood in 1894. An attempt was made to rebuild the line to help miners travel to the boulder area. However the bid to rebuild never came to fruition. Though it was a blow to the area at the time, it paved the way for this amazing hiking trail. Many hikers pack a lunch and take a quick rest in the meadow. It is truly a magical place.

Wild West Walking Tour

Photo by Matthew Pablico on Unsplash

Golden’s Wild West Walking tour ended this past week. For $15-$25 per person, participants enjoyed an education walk for 1-2 hours around town. The 1-1.5 mile trek began outside the Golden Visitor’s Center at 10th and Washington. Continue reading for more on what this tour offered. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Wild West Walking Tour in Golden

Golden Colorado is a beautiful place to live and visit, but do you know anything about it’s history? Golden was a prime location of the Colorado Gold Rush. It was established early in the state’s history and boasts some of Colorado’s oldest continually running businesses. Golden once had cobblestone armories, territorial capital buildings, and unique bowling saloons. Golden was even a hotspot for wild west shootouts just like in the movies! Mark your calendars for next year’s tour to find out where these things actually took place.

One of the best parts about this particular walking tour is that it is an easy one. Though there are a few grades on incline on the tour, it is not a hike. This opens the event up to more people including kids and older participants. Everyone is welcome! It also takes frequent stops, so there will be plenty of time for photos. Public restrooms and water fountains are accessible along the route, but to keep things moving along.

The Great Bear Rainforest

Photo by Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash

Trying to find something that you and your kids will both enjoy watching can be chore. Kids want bright colors, animals, and simple story while adults are typically looking for something more cerebral. This inspiring film series is the best of both worlds. It is a lot like the popular Discovery series Planet Earth. However this film focuses specifically on northern British Columbia. Continue reading to find out more about The Great Bear Rainforest film. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

The Great Bear Rainforest Experience

First of all, Ryan Reynolds voices the movie. Kids will recognize the voice from The Adam Project and adults will recognize it from films like Deadpool. This film takes you on a journey to a land of grizzlies, coastal wolves, sea otters and the all-white spirit bear. The spirit bear from First Nations lore, is the rarest bear on earth. Because of its climate and location, the Great Bear Rainforest has been cut off from the rest of the world. Also, it is protected by the region’s indigenous people.

The rainforest itself is a global treasure that covers 6.4 million hectares on British Columbia’s north and central coast. That is roughly the size of the entire island of Ireland. All British Columbians have a stake in protecting it. The historic agreement that secures the future of the Great Bear Rainforest means more old- and second-growth forest will be protected, while still ensuring opportunities for economic development and jobs for local First Nations. For more information, check out their website.

The Butterfly Quest

Photo by Calvin Mano on Unsplash

Looking for something fun to do with the entire family? The Butterfly Pavilion’s Butterfly Quest Event is ongoing until March 30th and is exactly what you’re looking for. The event is, “a search to discover, track and monitor butterflies in the butterfly conservatory, capturing important data that contributes to our scientists’ research.” Continue reading for information an this Colorado adventure. Also, if you are looking for a horse property for sale in Colorado, contact Colorado Horse Property today and speak with one of our horse-person realtors.

Westminster Butterfly Quest

The cool thing about Butterfly Quest is that you’re just looking at butterflies, which is fun by itself. But you will also be helping scientists and their studies at the same time. As you observe tagged butterflies, you can record what you see on your phone. This meaningful data helps scientists shape animal welfare in zoos around the country. Here are some of the things you’ll help the experts keep track of. Also, check out their website for more details.

In order to understand and observe the lifespan of different butterfly species, there are a few things they need to know. You will record how long the butterflies live and how they behave. To collect this data, the butterflies are tagged upon emergence from their chrysalides. The scientists want to know how the butterflies spend their time in their home. This work can be very time consuming for them, which is why your help is so valuable. Of course you need to have fun with your family at the same time. It’s a win-win! The information you gather will help the experts discover new ways to improve animal care.