May is the month for American Craft Beer Week, (15 – 23) providing a perfect reason to visit one of Colorado’s finest breweries that is just a short day trip down the hill from Estes Park; the Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons. In April, 2010 GQ Magazine’s article titled “50 Beers to Try Before You Die”, Oskar Blues Brewery was honored with two of their varieties on the list! A classic American style brew, “Dale’s Pale Ale” and “Old Chub”, a malty, Scottish-style ale. Continue reading
Here in the Rocky Mountains visitors have a lot of options for getting out and about. Hiking and biking are very popular, and guided tours are an excellent way to really experience the high country safely and easily. But carrying heavy backpacks can sometimes be a bit cumbersome, especially at high altitude, not to mention the little ones in the family who start out with so much energy, but peter out at mile five, needing to be carried all the way back to the camp or car. Continue reading
Sometimes visitors who normally live at lower altitudes experience altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness (AMS). The symptoms of high altitude sickness sometime resemble the flu or a hangover and often manifest themselves six to ten hours after ascent and generally subside in one to two days.
The higher you climb above sea level, the less oxygen there is in the air. This can cause a problem with some folks whose bodies aren’t used to working on so little oxygen. If you stay at a high altitude for a week or more, your body gets used to the lower levels and functions properly.
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If you are a first time visitor to Estes Park and the surrounding Rocky Mountain areas it might be wise to think about hiring a guide. Not only does the guide know the “in” places to go, taking you there quickly and directly, but he/she can provide an original, one-of-a-kind experience tailored to your own unique wishes.
Everybody’s gearing up, reservations are being made, and plans are in the final stages. This year the annual Rooftop Rodeo and the world famous Scottish-Irish Highland Festival are going to be bigger than ever with more exciting events and activities scheduled. There will truly be something for everyone.
Also, if you can’t make it to those events there are some fun and unique weekends planned for horse lovers, car aficionados, music and art connoisseurs and lots more.
If you do plan to attend either of these events, it is recommended that you make your reservations now as they tend to sell out early.
June
5 – Fishing Derby
12 – EP Marathon, Kids Fun Run and Festival
12 – Rocky Mountain Brewfest
17-20 – 2010 Quilt Colorado
25-27 – The Best of Estes Wild West Fest
26-27 – Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Continue reading
The newest arrival to the Denver Zoo’s Northern Shores exhibit is a handicapped male sea lion pup named Bismarck. He was rescued by the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) on a pier in Newport Beach, California. Bismarck did not have back flippers and weighed just 24 lbs when he was found, less than 1/2 the weight of what a 6 – 8 mo. old sea lion should weigh. Continue reading
The same cliffs that attract rock climbers to Rocky Mountain National Park are home to a diverse assembly of raptors, or birds of prey. Trails popular with the rock climbing community along Sheep Mountain and Lumpy Ridge are temporarily closed as of March 1 to insure protection of the raptors breeding and nesting there. Continue reading
In Estes Park visitors and residents never run out of fun things to do.
Here are a few of the upcoming events and activities:
March 3 – 7, 12, 13 – Final Curtain, a 1940’s era murder mystery, Hempel Auditorium at the YMCA of the Rockies, 7: 00 pm, 2:00 pm Continue reading
The Foundation for Character Development has named Eagle Rock School of Estes Park the 2010 Colorado State School of Character. Sponsored nationally by the Character Education Partnership (CEP), the State Schools of Character (SSOC) Awards event will be held at the Supreme Court Chambers, in the Colorado State Capitol in Denver this summer, followed by representation at the 17th annual National Forum on Character Education in San Francisco, CA in October. Continue reading