Cool Colorado Family Adventures

The days are getting shorter, temperatures are falling, and hibernation might sound intriguing. Fight through the urge to retreat indoors because winter doesn’t mean your adventures have to stop. On the contrary, bundle up, get outside and enjoy activities that no other season offers or in quite the same way. Maybe your kids are on winter break or maybe you’re looking for something fun to do with your family on the weekend. Why not try one of these activities everyone in the family can enjoy? Flurries of activity

• Feel like going for a bike ride, but there’s snow on the ground? Why not give snow biking (also known as fat bikes) a try? Head to beautiful Mud Lake Open Space in Nederland and have a blast riding where all-terrain bikes can’t go and in conditions like ice, snow and mud. Don’t try this with your regular bike though. Stop by the Tin Shed for a rental.

• Want to go skiing, but you’re not in the mood to sit in traffic or fight crowds? Golden Gate Canyon State Park in Golden offers easy, scenic trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Rentals are not available at the park, so be sure to bring your own equipment or stop by a local sports shop to get your gear.

• Miss summer geocaching adventures? Don’t let winter stop you from being an adventure seeker and exploring new areas. Treasures are waiting for high-tech hunters of all ages at several state parks, including Castlewood Canyon State Park in Franktown and Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs.

• Make memories ice skating or ice fishing at picturesque Lake Evergreen in Evergreen. When you want to warm up, grab a snack and soak in the beauty of this gem in the lake house. Skate rentals are available, but be sure to check the web site before your visit because ice conditions can change daily.

• Have you ever looked at a waterfall and thought, “Wow, I’d love to climb that when it freezes”? You’re in luck because Ouray is considered by some to be the ice climbing capital of the world. Learn how to scale an ice wall — and “Yes,” even kids can do it — at one of the ice festival clinics. Techniques, safety courses and programs for all levels await thrill seekers at the Ouray Ice Park!

• Work on your snowboarding skills at Ruby Hill Rail Yard, which is Denver’s free urban terrain park. Seven rails are available in beginner, intermediate and advanced configurations. The terrain park is open during normal park hours, and free snowboard rentals are available for kids between the ages of 8 and 17, starting in January.

In between exploring adventures, get outside for an old-fashioned snowball fight. Be together, laugh and stay active throughout the winter. It’s an amazing season to enjoy the excitement, beauty and serenity Colorado has to offer! Summer is not far off, and making plans for camp is also a winter activity. Visit www.avid-staging.iuuourn3-liquidwebsites.com to learn about our early bird promotions. Be sure to like us on Facebook to get the latest Avid4 Adventure news! About our Writer: Lynne Marsala Basche spent most of her career on the island of Manhattan at two New York publishing companies. A multi-year Avid4 Adventure mom and a new contributor to the their website, Lynne’s writing adventures also take her to championing volunteerism and regional recreation stories as a staff writer for the Castle Pines Connection newspaper, as well as supporting separate large corporate communications programs. By trying to keep pace with her mountain biking, rock climbing, snowboarding, lacrosse playing, unicycling, tae kwon do-loving 11-year old son, she, like most Avid4 parents, loves sharing the value of outdoor recreation and its positive influence on children’s health and confidence development. Lynne lives in Castle Pines, Colorado and regularly immerses herself in outdoor activities with her family where she also runs her freelance writing company, Blue Spruce Creative

Tagged: Colorado Family Adventures, family winter activities, Ice Climbing in Colorado, Skiing in Colorado, Snowboarding, summer camp