Leadville Ski Joring Festival (annually in March)

The Leadville Ski Joring Festival is one of the truly great annual ski competitions in Colorado. Well maybe not quite up to professional athlete standards, but what professional athlete would ever try this? Skiers are pulled at breakneck speeds by horses and attempt to spear rings that are hanging from the course as they jump over obstacles.

I don't know about you but I couldn't even do one of those things on an ice covered course. Watching athletes bring it all together is absolutely thrilling. The compeition is just as fierce as an x-games and the danger level is as extreme as it gets. The only thing missing is ESPN.

The Leadville Ski Joring Festival is a family oriented festival with many events and activities in addition to the ski joring. It's a 
great way to spend a weekend in the mountains and a must see if you're a ski enthusiast who has seen enough slaloms for one season.

When:
Saturday and Sunday March 1-2, 2014.

Where:
Downtown Leadville, Co.

For more information check the Leadville Ski Joring site: 

Denver Cinco De Mayo Festival (May 3-4, 2014)

One of the best ways to experience Denver's rich Hispanic heritage is to visit the annual free Denver Cinco De Mayo Festival, one of the best things to do in Denver on a May weekend.

Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison (always free)

This park in Morrison, Colorado (southwest of Golden) is really an outdoor museum, where you can hike or ride a shuttle as you examine evidence of Dinosaur activity in Colorado. One of the popular Colorado attractions for kids.

A Taste of Colorado (Labor Day Weekend)

A Taste of Colorado is Colorado's largest Labor Day Weekend festival. This festival highlights diverse cuisine from Colorado restaurants, offering bite size tastes to full meals.

Community Car Show and Drag Race

The annual Community Car Show in Littleton takes place Saturday September 12th, 2015, from 10am to 2pm. Admission is free both for spectators and exhibitors. The car show takes place at Heritage United Methodist Church and will include music, free snacks, and you will vote on the People's Choice winner.

After the car show, a drag race takes place from 4pm - 8pm at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison. Admission is free for spectators, and $30 for racers. 

You are encouraged to bring a canned food item or good condition used winter coat or boots.

When:

Saturday September 12, 2015

Car show runs from 10am to 2pm.

Drag race runs from 4pm to 8pm.

Where:

Car show takes place at Heritage United Methodist Church:
     7077 S. Simms Street
     Littleton, CO 80127
     (next to Chatfield Sr. High)

Drag Race takes place at Bandimere Speedway in Morrison:
    Immediately off the C-470 Morrison exit.

Western Welcome Week, Littleton (Aug 8-17, 2014)

Western Welcome Week is a festival in Littleton Colorado that celebrates our western tradition of community cooperation. This is the premier event in the Denver area for clubs, charities, and other non-profit organizations. Instead of the typical endless line of vendor booths, you will find tents set up to gain your interest and participation in various non-profit organizations. Finding a new hobby or charitable cause to get involved with is one of the rewarding things to do at Western Welcome Week.

Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge | always free

The free Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City, Colorado (near Denver) is a beautiful and pristine National Wildlife Refuge, representing an impressive cleanup and conversion of a former weapons and rocket fuel processing facility. The views of the mountains from this perfect spot on the plains are quite impressive.

Table Mountain Inn (Golden)

Table Mountain Inn in Golden is one of my favorite happy hour restaurants to visit when I'm hungry for traditional pub fare at a decent price. Unlike most Denver happy hours, this menu offers meal size food options in addition to their drink specials. 

Leanin' Tree Museum, Boulder (always free)

Over the years Ed Trumble has assembled what is likely one of the finest collections of western art in America. His collection is housed in the Leanin' Tree Museum and Sculpture Garden of Western Art in Boulder, Colorado.

The free Leanin' Tree Art Museum is one of the best museum values in Colorado. The exhibits are truly amazing and represent many decades and styles of western American art. The museum contains over 250 paintings and 150 sculptures.

Hours:
Monday - Friday 8am to 5 pm.
Saturday, Sunday, Holidays 10am to 5pm.
Closed Easter, July 4, Christmas Day, New Years Day.

Location:
6055 Longbow Drive, Boulder Colorado, 80301.
Located near the free Celestial Seasonings Tour.

Check the Leanin' Tree Museum site for the latest info:

Liftopia Ski Discounts

Check out Liftopia: 

Colorado resorts offering substantial Liftopia ski discounts:
Arapahoe Basin.
Copper Mountain.
Durango.
Loveland.
Monarch Mountain.
Ski Cooper.
Sunlight.
Winter Park.

Some other resorts have discounts on Liftopia that really aren't discounts at all.

Check out Liftopia: 

Rentals
If you need to pick up rentals on your way to the mountain, my favorite super cheap rental shop is Maison De Ski in Idaho Springs.

Denver Restaurant Week 2016 (Feb 26 - March 6)

For 2016, Denver will be celebrating Restaurant Week in February and March. Denver Restaurant Week features top downtown restaurants for a reduced price.

Peterson Air & Space Museum, Colorado Springs (always free)

The Peterson Air and Space Museum has one of the better displays of vintage and historic military aircraft in the western United States.

Colorado State Capitol Free Tours (Weekdays)

The Colorado State Capital is one of the popular Denver Attractions, not only for the well known '5280 step' but also for the free tours inside. 

Why take a Colorado State Capitol tour? I'll give you three reasons:

• The Colorado State Capital building in downtown Denver allows you to watch our state Legislature in action. As more people take an interest in the workings of our government, this is a great opportunity to see firsthand how the system works. The Colorado State Legislature is in session from early January to early May.
• The capitol building itself is awash in history and amazing architecture. It was built using Colorado materials as much as possible, such as Colorado gold for the dome, granite walls from Granite, Colorado, and Colorado's distinctive red onyx throughout the interior.
• The views from the Dome tour are some of the best in Denver!

Location:
Just head for downtown Denver and the 16th Street Mall, you can't miss the gold domed building beyond the southern end of 16th street mall. The steps on the western side are the most popular area to enter as the "1 mile above sea level" markers are there. The civic center park area has become very sketchy, expect to encounter quite a few homeless if you walk through the park.

Visitors to the state capitol are allowed to wander the public areas on their own, or you can take one of several guided tours:

Historical Tours:

All about construction of the building and early Colorado history, as well as some of the more interesting artifacts on display within the building. Reservations are not required unless you have a group of 10 or more. Tours are 45 minutes long and are available weekdays except holidays.

Historical Tour Hours:
10am - 3pm every Monday - Friday

Legislative Tours:

Legislative tours are a popular field trip for Colorado grade school students. When possible, you will make stops in the House and Senate galleries to see the legislature in action. This tour is only for school groups and reservations are required.

Legislative Tour Schedule:
Annually, early January through early May. Reservations are required.
 

Dome Tours (currently closed):

This tour climbs a long spiral staircase to an indoor observation area with amazing views of Denver.

Dome Tour Hours:
Daily from 9am to 2:30pm. Reservations are required.
Dome tours are currently closed until further notice due to dome renovations.

Mr. Brown's Attic:

This exhibit area illustrates Colorado's history and the legislative process, and includes a hands-on children's area. The attic is open 9am to 3pm on weekdays and reservations are not necessary.

For more information about Colorado State Capitol Tours, visit the Colorado Legislative Council Site: 

Aspen Nordic Center (always free)

For vacationers to Aspen, the Aspen Nordic center provides probably the ultimate cross country ski and snowshoe experience in Colorado, and it is entirely free!