School's out and winter break has arrived! With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's important to take a breath, slow down and use this time to reconnect as a family. In addition to the fun baking, decorating and movie nights you might be planning with the kids, here's a list of things to do if you want to get out of the house.
1. Pearl Street Mall
Prance your way down Pearl Street Mall for a fun afternoon of exploring shops, restaurants, playscapes, street performers, and other entertainment. Plus, check out The Pearl Street Scavenger Hunt for a cool way to learn more about this iconic Boulder location. Like to plan ahead? Here's a directory of shops and restaurants.
2. Denver Zoo & Zoo Lights
Lions, tigers, and bears, oh my! With all the animals to look at, this is a great daytime excursion for the whole family. This year, Denver Zoo celebrates 125 Years of Love with new installations and offerings, plus festive favorites including nightly ice-carving. The zoo also offers a night-time event called “Zoo Lights” from November 22 - January 2, 2022 which boasts over two million LED lights on 80 acres.
3. Blossoms of Lights - Denver Botanical Gardens
For more than 30 years, Denver Botanical Gardens has dazzled visitors with their beautiful light display. This year, a 200-foot-long, 17-foot-tall tunnel is the highlight of the event.
4. Hot Chocolate
Sip on a warm, cozy cup of hot chocolate. There is an absolute abundance of coffee shops and beverage brewers here in the Boulder area. Pop into your favorite one, or one that’s brand-new to you, and have yourselves a merry little chocolate! Here is a map of cocoa and coffee shops near Boulder: Hot Chocolate near Boulder
5. Movie Theater
Hit up the movie theater! December is a popular month for new movie releases, not to mention it's a chance to snack on popcorn and other tasty treats!
Some of the new releases are most appropriate for your younger kiddos, primarily the animated seasonal movies. Take a look at Tom & Jerry, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Sing 2, and the like.
The higher-age-rated films might be great for dropping older children off at the show for an hour or two while you run errands. Upcoming, older-rating films include West Side Story, The Matrix, and the newest Spider Man. Here are a few movie theatres nearby with their showing schedules:
6. Hike
Hike one of the many trails of the Front Range! There are tons of trails, and they range in intensity. Choose a few trails that you want to explore this season, and trek out there during the good times to see all the marvelous views of nature. Since it’s winter, you should have very good visibility, due to trees being dormant and the general lack of snow this year. Here is a map of trails in the Flatirons and trails of the Front Range.
One very important note: dress appropriately! Keep in mind that the temperature in sunlight may be pleasant, but in the shade of the mountains, it can drop by as much as 20° Fahrenheit. In winter, you will want the right coats, gloves, boots, and other gear to keep comfortable while you hike. Check out REI's cold-weather hiking tips for more info.
7. Bike Ride
Go out and explore on a family bike ride. Plan ahead and transform it into a picnic date. There are over 300 miles of bikeways in the Boulder Valley area, with 96 miles of dedicated bike lanes, 84 miles of multi-use paths, and 50 miles of designated bike routes. Ride around the 42-acre, natural surface cycling terrain park of Valmont Bike Park.
8. Go Sledding
While it hasn’t snowed much in-town this year, you can still find snowy patches out there at the foot of some mountain passes. It may require a bit of a drive, but that can be part of your adventure for the day. Try out a few different locations and see what funny stories may come from a day out on the sleigh!
(Just remember, take safety precautions appropriate to the age and experience of anyone who is sledding, as well as avalanche considerations.)
9. Trampoline Park
Jump out that energy at a trampoline house! Trampoline houses are great for all ages, from child to teen, and they often have special events for “after dark” nights. The best part for parents/adults? You can watch over the kid(s) as you relax at a table or bench, without worrying about them falling - because that’s exactly what the trampolines are designed for!
10. Rec Center & Gyms
The Front Range has excellent recreation centers and gyms with classes and activities for all ages. Swimming pools, open gyms for different sports, skill clinics and more. Check out “Gyms near Boulder”
11. Rock Climbing
Rock climb indoors or out! This activity scales to the ability of the climber, as you have control over location and route that your choose. Ice climbing can be an added challenge for those ready to put a winter spin on it.
12. Indoor Skiing or Snowboarding
Great for kids just learning to ski or board, those wanting a warm environment to practice skills or a new experience, check out an indoor ski or snowboarding school like Shredder.
13. Gaylord of the Rockies
Ice-skating, snow tubbing, ginger bread decorating, holiday shows and more await you at the magnificent Gaylord of the Rockies.
Whew! That’s a lot of activity for just a couple of weeks. Go out, have fun and make memories you'll always remember.
We at WK Real Estate want to wish you the happiest of times during this season. If there is anything we can help you with, please don't hesitate to contact us.