Day 17 | Summer Outdoor Concert in Heritage Park – Highlands Ranch

This evening, 7/29, is the last scheduled concert of the Highlands Ranch Summer Concert Series for 2010 in Heritage Park.

I have to admit that is seems much to early to be saying “…the last” when it comes to this summer.  Didn’t the summer just begin?

In any case, here we are at the last of the Thursday night concerts.  Many that live in Highlands Ranch attend these popular summer concerts, but it is not unusual to see folks from all over the Denver suburbs.

Tonight is featuring Blake Marvin Band. I can’t say that I have ever heard the Blake Marvin Band play, but according to their website they were a contestant on American Idol that made it through the initial eliminations.

The concert begins at 6:30 as always and generally wraps up around 8pm.  Bring a picnic (no glass though & leave the dogs at home) and the family and get out to this last Thursday night Highlands Ranch tradition of 2010.

Want To Find this page on Facebook to share with your friends & family? Click on over to the Face book page 365 Things to Do In South Denver Suburbs “Like” it and share!

Other Things to Do in the South Denver Suburbs you may like:

Day 13 Daniels Park – Douglas County CO

Day 14 Murdoch’s- Littleton / Highlands Ranch CO

Day 15 Cantina Laredo – Centennial Colorado

Day 16 Climb a Colorado 14er

Steve Scheer – Denver Realtor®
Denver Real Estate
Highlands Ranch Real Estate
Littleton Real Estate

Day 16 | Climb a Colorado 14er

On Day 16 of 365 Things To Do in South Denver Suburbs I suggest you take a ROADTRIP and then a hike – to a specific mountain – a 14er to be exact.

There are 58 14ers in Colorado and there are some that are easier than others.  Many folks throughout Colorado have made it a mission to hike 14ers and it is quite an accomplishment to keep track of.  Some hike and climb 1 a year, others more, some see how many they can do in a short amount of time.  Late July and August are prime 14er climbing months, but there are some that climb year round.

A 14er?

And if you are new to Colorado and are unsure of what a 14er is – it is a mountain peak that is at least 14,000 feet high  There are other qualifications as well, but that is the easiest explanation.

Where to begin?

There are some 14ers all over Colorado, but some are relatively short trips from the Denver metro area and can be made as day trips IF you get an early start.  So of the 14ers that people climb for their first ones include Torreys Peak, Grays Peak, Mount Massive, Mount Bierstadt, and Quandary Peak.

*Note – Many resources on line and guide books suggest arriving at Bierstadt by way of Georgetown off of I70 to Guanella Pass.  To my knowledge, part of the road of this pass is still closed and will remain so through the rest of this summer.  You must get there from the south part of this pass from 285.  The closed section of Guanella Pass is tentatively scheduled to open mid-September but check Clear Creek County resources for details.

Kids?

You certainly will see families with children and youth hiking groups, especially on the trails of the mountains listed above.  Climbing 14ers often becomes a treasured family summer activity.

Prepare & Stay Safe!

I am no 14er expert by any means. If you plan on climbing a  Colorado 14er you need to do your research.  Make sure you have completed thorough research on what  14ers is right for you.  There are many Climbing, Hiking and Alpine groups throughout the Denver area and beyond – seek them out.  A guide book that many recommend is “Colorado’s 14ers” by Roach.  Two good resources are: Colorado Mountain Club and American Alpine Club

Make sure you have all the equipment you need, water, food, clothing, headlamps, shoes, etc.  Prepare for the weather, prepare for the altitude, just prepare.  Many resources will tell you how important it is to get an early start – and when they say early they mean it.  Depending on where you plan to climb, it is not unusual for folks to start well before 4 am and it also is not unusual to hear stories from folks that had  to turn around for one reason or another.  The weather is likely to turn on you in Colorado, you must be prepared.

Have fun!

Climbing a 14er is a favorite pastime from folks that live in the Denver area.  If you have recently moved to Denver, there is definitely still time to take this up, specifically the “easier” ones.

Another route that doesn’t involve Climbing?

Climbing a 14er is not for everyone.  If you are determined to summit a 14er but time or other circumstance do not permit a climb, there are other ways.

Mount Evans, easily accessible from Denver, has the highest paved road in North America and is open through the summer months. You can drive right to the top of 14,240 feet.  It generally closes Labor Day, but check ahead before making the trip.

Pikes Peak is also drive-able (Colorado Springs area) and is open year round, weather permitting. or you can reserve seats on the famous Cogs Railway.  So there truly is something for everyone!

photo courtesy of  my son,  taken on his hike to Chasm Lake on the Long’s Peak trail last week.  He did not summit Long’s, nor did he intend to, this was a sunrise hike that began at 2 am. I was incredibly proud of him, and wowed by the photos that he brought home.

Want To Find this page on Facebook to share with your friends & family? Click on over to the Face book page 365 Things to Do In South Denver Suburbs “Like” it and share!

Other Things to Do in the South Denver Suburbs you may like:
Day 12 H2OBrien Pool – Parker, Colorado

Day 13 Daniels Park – Douglas County CO

Day 14 Murdochs- Littleton / Highlands Ranch CO

Day 15 Cantina Laredo – Centennial Colorado

Steve Scheer – Denver Realtor®
Denver Real Estate
Highlands Ranch Real Estate
Littleton Real Estate

Day 12  | H2O’Brien Pool, Parker CO

Day 12 of 365 Things To Do in the South Denver Suburbs is going to be a pool day at one of my own kid’s favorites.

H2O’Brien Pool in Parker, Colorado is conveniently located at Parker Rd and Main Street on Victorian Drive.  It is a community pool maintained and run by the Parker Recreation Department and is open all summer Monday – Friday from 10 am – 6pm and on the weekends 10 am – 9pm.

The very first time we saw H2O’Brien several years ago, we were headed (with the family) to a friend’s house that lived in the Canterberry neighborhood in Parker.  My kids caught sight of the H2O’Brien pool as we drove by and the very next day we returned to spend the day.

There is a little bit for all types at this great Parker pool.  My own kids love the water slides – there are 2 giant slides (officially 182 feet long) and for the most part they just go down them over and over pretty much all day.  There is also a play structures, spray fun, and zero entry area – which is great for the little ones.  Speaking of the little ones, I notice on the H2O’Brien site that toddlers have a little ones play time from 9 – 10 on weekdays without big kids.  Very nice.  And for the exercising types – A lap pool rounds the pool out with truly something for everyone.

There are discounted rates for Parker residents and it is a tad more expensive, but still very reasonable,  if you do not live in Parker.  There are also options for Seasons passes and a 10 visit punch card.

Pack  up a cooler (or stop at the snack bar) and head over to H2O’Brien for a great day in the south Denver suburbs!  If you have recently relocated to Denver or just haven’t been yet, I highly recommend checking it out!

Want To Find this page on Facebook to share with your friends & family? Click on over to the Face book page 365 Things to Do In South Denver Suburbs “Like” it and share!

Other Things to Do in the South Denver Suburbs you may like:

Day 8 South Platte Park – Littleton CO

Day 10 Merles – Littleton Colorado

Day 11 Attend a Community Festival – Golden’s Buffalo Bill Days & Arapahoe County Fair

Steve Scheer – Denver Realtor®
Denver Real Estate

Parker Real Estate

Highlands Ranch Real Estate

Day 6 Civic Green Fountains, Highlands Ranch

With record breaking heat in Denver, CO on Saturday 7/16 and more to come today – here is another way to cool off.  Yesterday we went ice skating, today head to the fountains.

There are fountains all over the south Denver metro area and suburbs – one in particular my family likes are the fountains at Civic Green Park in Highlands Ranch.

At this Highlands Ranch park, there is a large fountain play area at the bottom of the park, which is next to a large covered picnic shelter on the stage – perfect those that want to sit & watch and get some relief from the sun.

Further up the hill toward the playground is a smaller fountain area, but just as fun my own children find.  And if you continue to walk past the playground you will find a play area in a shallow stream that kids wade in all summer long.

Civic Green Park is the home to many Highlands ranch community events such as concerts and also has a wonderful playground and is managed by the Highlands Ranch Metro Districts.  It is the home to the Highlands Ranch Veterans Monument and is located between the Highlands Ranch Library behind Town Center and next to the Town Center Brownstones town homes.

You’ll see one video in the upper right corner here, but here is one more from the top of the park. (If you are reading on the blog’s home page & do not see the top video, click into the post to see it.)

Here are a few other fountains throughout the Denver suburbs that I know of.  Feel free to share in the comments if you know of others!

Littleton/Englewood – Cornerstone Park
Englewood Civic Center
Greenwood Village – Westlands Park

And if you want to head downtown, there are the Electric Fountain and H2Odyssey Interactive Fountains in City Park in Denver. Maybe double it up with a trip to Museum of Nature & Science or Denver Zoo and cool off in the fountains after.

Want To Find this page on Facebook to share with your friends & family? Click on over to the Face book page 365 Things to Do In South Denver Suburbs “Like” it and share!

Other Things to Do in the South Denver Suburbs you may like:

Day 3 – Savory Spice Shop – Littleton CO

Day 1 Redstone Park – Highlands Ranch

Day 5 Ice Skating to Beat the Denver Heat – Denver & South Suburbs

Steve Scheer – Denver Realtor®
Denver Real Estate

Highlands Ranch Real Estate

Day 5 – Escape the Denver Heat – Lace Up The Skates At An Ice Arena

Day 5 of 365 Things To Do in South Denver Suburbs isn’t going to be one place, but an idea in general.  Some are looking forward to the 100 degree day we are about to have here in Colorado.  Some are not.  Instead of heading to the neighborhood pool, you can head indoors to the ice arena would beat the heat, for a bit anyway.

Back in 2007, I wrote a piece in the summer during a very hot week about escaping the heat at an ice arena. The landscape has changed a little since then in the Denver ice arena availability -but here are your options. some time.  Here are a few of the places you can do that here in Denver & the South Suburbs.

South Suburban Ice Arena
South Suburban Ice Arena in Centennial is on Vine, just west of University and North of Arapahoe.  It is run by the South Suburban Parks & Recreation for its open skate and has a wide availability of open skate times. They have many lessons available for all ages and abilities and also have a great Learn to Hockey skate program, even for adults.  Their open skate times are generally 90 minutes each and are very easy on the budget whether you live in district or out.  They also have skate rentals available, cheap.

Family Sports Ice Arena
There is also the Family Sports Ice Center in Centennial just south of Arapahoe & Peoria.  Also run by SSPRD there are great options there as well.  This is the location where the Av’s practice, so even though we are in the off season, you never know who you may run into.  The lobby of family sports is a kids arcade and on the property you will also find laser tag, the Sports Dome (indoor turf field for soccer/lacrosse, etc) and the SSPRD golf course & driving range.

DU – Joy Burns Arena
On the south side of Denver, there is the University of Denver at Joy Burns Arena located at University just south of I25.  Home of the DU Pioneers next door at Magness Arena, Joy Burns Arena has a great community for open skating year round.

The Edge
At Foothills – The Edge in Littleton you will find an arena and open skate schedule managed by the Foothills Parks & Rec.  Looking at the schedule, The Edge ice arena definitely has open skate times today, 7/17 in the mid afternoon – when you know it is going to be really hot.  The Edge is on Ward Street in Littleton and sits high on the hill – you can’t miss it.

The Ice Ranch
The Ice Ranch may be the newest facility on the ice arena landscape in Denver & the south suburbs, it is not really new anymore. Located in Littleton just over the Highlands Ranch line, you will be as likely to find a drop-in open hockey time that works for you as an open skate.

If you need a change of pace from the pools from escaping the Denver heat, try skating. And as I said on that first post back in 2007,  you may want to even bring your mittens.

Want To Find this page on Facebook to share with your friends & family? “Like” it and check it out here. 365 Things to Do In South Denver Suburbs

My Blog Series – 365 Things to Do in South Denver CO Suburbs

Day 1 Redstone Park – Highlands Ranch

Day 3 – Savory Spice Shop – Littleton CO

Steve Scheer – Denver Realtor®
Denver Real Estate

Highlands Ranch Real Estate