Treat the ones you love with special care and extra love this season. We’re in the middle of a realignment of the schemas we’ve come to live by. The world is not as it once was, even while so much continues. We wanted to look deeper than toys and trivialities to find ways of giving that can enhance life, make it a bit gentler, more empathic, and more hopeful.

Even as we give, we receive. We often receive from loved ones, but also from ourselves. These are ways we found to give and receive from the world around us, from family and friends, and from our own hearts to ensure our lives are filled, our hearts are bursting, and our homes are helped. We want to be open to all the gifts the universe has for us. Enjoy.

All links open in a new tab.

1. Virtual Cooking Party

More than ever it’s important for families, coworkers and groups of friends to get creative with distanced our safe, socially distanced celebrations. Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas and New Years come, let’s get smart. To get through the holiday season, Cook Street is offering a Virtual Private Event option for groups to participate in a virtual cooking class from the comfort (and safety) of your homes.

Participants will learn new recipes and techniques via a private Zoom lesson with an instructor devoted exclusively to your group, so no timeouts waiting for the teacher to come back from another chat. For a team-bonding activity, groups can challenge each other to a Mystery Box Culinary Competition; time to show the in-laws who’s boss. Cook Street will provide the instruction and ingredients, and teams will deliver their individual creativity.

Those in the Denver and Front Range area have the option to pick up ingredient kits, and those farther away will be provided a grocery list to do their own shopping. Community cooking is the one of the most loving ways to show you love each other.

cookstreet.com/private-events

Up to $140 per person

2. Pop a Waffle

Neige is the owner of Punch Buggy Shave Ice on Main Street in Louisville, Colorado. We chatted with her before, when they first opened, and we still love them. They – like all of us – are navigating through the incredibly strange era of COVID and preparing to open a brand new winter pop-up (make sure to check out Zoey Whitman’s story on Miracle on Main Street, Foodie Nov. 2020), while nailing the safety standards necessary to keep you safe.

They are planning a waffle pop launch with a soft opening from December 10th – 20th, 2020, and a scheduled full reopening January 7th – March 14th, 2021. If you’re wondering what a waffle pop is, we got you covered. It’s a waffle on a stick, as you may have guessed, but these ones are drizzled with your choice of delicious toppings. They have curated options like s’mores, churro, birthday cake and an option to build your own waffle pop. Oh yeah.

The fact is, food is for family, and giving someone the gift of stuffing their face (in a safe way), is always a great idea. Drizzle me, baby. Drizzle me.

Punch Buggy has eGift cards available on their website and physical gift cards in their shop. And any Punch Buggy Shave Ice cards that have a balance can be used at Punch Buggy Waffle Pop.

Punchbuggywafflepop.com

$4-5 on average

3. A Gift of Knowledge

In Iceland they call it a book flood, or Jólabókaflóð in the original Icelandic. Iceland publishes the most books on earth, per capita, and Christmas Eve is spent unwrapping new books and reading with loved ones. We love this idea. So here are a few books we absolutely loved this year. Always give the gift of knowledge.

100 Women in Jewelry. Linda Kozloff-Turner is the author and Hardy Klahold is the photographer for a book and exhibition entitled ‘100 Women of Jewelry’. The “book is an homage to each individual woman, and focuses on her unique story of what she encountered walking the path to her success as a designer, an artist, and a craftsperson.” – womenofjewelry.com

The Anatomy of Fake News. Author Nolan Higdon “offers the first historical examination of fake news that takes as its goal the effective teaching of critical news literacy in the United States. Higdon employs a critical-historical media ecosystems approach to identify the producers, themes, purposes, and influences of fake news.” We love the idea of learning to read news critically. –bit.ly/AnatomyOfFakeNews

Revolution and Renaissance: 1965-1975. Daniel Forbes Hauser writes that, “This is NOT a political rant from the Left or the Right. Rather, it is a compelling and entertaining look at the era of ‘sex, drugs, and rock & roll’ from 1965 to 1975, which was the steepest bell-curve of cultural upheaval in our nation’s history. The book’s year-by-year reflection includes shocking new details of historic events” and all from the seat of Boulder. –revolutionandrenaissance.com

Lastly, did you know reading comic books increases literacy and it’s fun as heck? Go check out our friends at TimeWarp comics and plug into fantastic worlds, universal themes, and incredible reading skills. Keep the kids entertained and keep those brains growing.

4. Art Classes

Arts Hub – one of many amazing arts organizations throughout Boulder County – has a variety of offerings you can make use of. In person, virtual, and art to go are all available. Treat yourself or your loved ones. You can do drop-in aerial dance classes with Tel ($65) or a pack of 5 private classes ($315), to get physical and creative while keeping safe.

If you want classic, do Gene’s tap dance classes (4 for $52 or 8 for $96). Gene’s Tap classes can be in a class, or virtual, which makes it safe for anyone, any skill level, any place. You can gift dance to loved ones around the world.

Lastly, they have a cornucopia of “art camp kits” so you can create at home. From the “totally texture” to the “fanciful fairy” kit and from “sky’s the limit” to the “day at the beach” kits, you’re ready for any type of art project. These take from 1-3 hours, depending on the kit. They also have kits for ages 6-10 and 10+, should you want to set your young art aficionados to the canvas while you relax.

One suggestion we love is to write up the memories you have that inspired the art, the reason for gifting art, and dreams of future memories you want to have with those persons you gifted. Art, like memories, can last a lifetime.

artshub.org

Various prices

5. Homemade Love

Here’s an idea: don’t really buy anything, except some craft supplies, and make something as a family. A DIY advent calendar with lovely notes and ethically sourced [locally made] chocolates may be just the ticket; we support Chocolaterie Stam. I have a friend that did one that was a self-care/mindfulness advent calendar that included things like “turn off your phone for two hours today and soak in peace and quiet” and “do the thing in your house you’ve been procrastinating on” and “take an extra long shower today and celebrate the feeling of being alive and in your body.”

A favorite of ours is homemade gift cards. Since it’s christmas, we suggest New Years cards. Did you know that people love to receive a card to start their new year, to remind them that they just survived a year and the next one will undoubtedly be the best ever? Of course we don’t know that. No one really sends those cards. We think your loved ones will love them, and your family will love making them for the closest neighbors and distant family and friends who you miss.

You can google DIY advent calendar for any number of ideas. There are thousands available. And cards, well that’s easy: glitter, markers, and a few folds…an address, an envelope, and a stamp. Enjoy.

22 DIY Calendar ideas

6. Subscribe and Support

Let’s consider subscribing to and supporting local news; bonus if it’s a small local news source like Yellow Scene. As the world continues to deteriorate around us, and politicians deride facts, and corporations gobble up our newspapers (yes, Denver Post, Daily Camera, etc are all corporate owned), it’s important to support local. We love Boulder Weekly, too. Donate in honor of the newsie in your house, subscribe, or consider encouraging your fact friendly family to write in. We love letters to the editor, op-eds, and community notes. It’s your world. We’re just covering it.

Also in this area of gifting, for yourself or a loved one, are subscriptions to a Patreon that someone likes. Supporting small creators is always great and we love watching small projects get big, local names become international, and fun ideas become reality.

yellowscene.com/donate

7. Drive Time

With all the recent hoopla around drive throughs, we started thinking about driving in general. We’re spending more time alone, or with our pod groups, and, while the world shuts down, driving is still a Colorado love. Our cars, trucks, and bikes take us all over the country, the countryside, the mountains, and the plains where we love to play. We love to play hard, and we love to play fast. So, whether going for a mountain cruise on your bike, going overlanding, or hitting some slick slopes and in need of the skills to get up and down safe, we got you covered with driving training by Go 4 It Services.

They offer a ton of training programs to get you behind the wheel ready. As a former professional driver, who grew up doing mountain trips in a big rig with my dad, who’s gone cross country from Anchorage to Cancun, MX, and from LA, CA to Key West, FL, I can tell you that the average American driver thinks turning a wheel and pushing pedals = driving. It does not.

Hit this team up for Truck and Trailer training, SuperSafety Street and Track courses, and Road Racing lessons. You can rent their vehicles or bring your own (pro-tip: it’s always best to learn high level skills in the vehicle you’ll be driving).

go4itservices.com

Various prices

8. Christmas Lights Trip

The annual drive-thru “Christmas in Color” light display is about ready to welcome starry eyed kids and other holiday magic enthusiasts at multiple locations in the Denver area. Opening at both Water World (Federal Heights) and Bandimere Speedway (Morrison, CO) on November 20, this experience features a mile-long drive-thru light display consisting of more than one million synchronized lights.

Tickets for the event can be purchased on the company’s website, which is below. One $30 ticket is required per vehicle, which is about $5 per head if you’re bringing a COVID safe friend group or family members at your holiday party.

A holiday favorite, investing in some light (no pun intended) holiday travel, with the intention of being wowed by the displays, watching the kids eyes light up (again, no pun intended), and feeling that cozy heartfelt warmth of the season as classic holiday tunes bump from the stereo, is a must do.

Operating hours are Sunday to Thursday from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. and 5:30-10:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The last day of operation is on January 3. The event is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas night.

christmasincolor.net

$30 per car

9. For the Love of Film

Boulder International Film Festival is a yearly delight, showcasing dozens of amazing films from around the world, curated for our local palate. The next BIFF is in June 2021 but, you’ll be glad to know, you can buy early bird passes and gift packs now!

If you know someone who’s an absolute film lover, and who would love to have guaranteed early entrance to most BIFF film programs, parties, and events, the Early Bird Pass is for you. Priced at $395, it includes a ton of access, including a private filmmakers reception. Cue the autographs.

BIFF gift packs are available in denominations of $30 (2 films), $60 (4 films), $90 (6 films). The Early Bird Festival Pass can also be gifted upon purchase, making it an amazing gift for the cinephile in your home or for yourself. I personally love to get out and watch films. Festivals make for a great full day of viewing new work.

Importantly, we love that BIFF is planning for the future, even while the future seems so uncertain. They are, however, also ready for restrictions, stating, “BIFF will offer refunds if the festival is cancelled due to public health or other reasons.”

biff1.com

Various prices

10. Flutter

Butterflies: mystical, magical little reminders that evolution is good, that change is beautiful, that we can go from crawling to soaring in the heavens. Lucky for us, we’re living a few miles from one of the great zoos on earth. “Butterfly Pavilion,” their website reads, “is the first stand-alone, Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited non-profit invertebrate zoo in the world and a leader in invertebrate knowledge, inspiration and connection.”

With a mission to “foster an appreciation of invertebrates by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation,” the pavilion is a brilliant gift for animal lovers of any age. It’s also a wonderful date locale, or even a place for silent contemplation and relaxation.

Get a membership or two and enjoy your experience. They have events, exhibits, and even a plant sale. Lift your spirits watching butterflies take flight.

butterflies.org

Priced by age, free for members

11. A bit of Style

At first, when it all began, we ran out for N95 medical grade masks. And then we started using more relaxed cloth masks, which are cool, softer, and slightly more fashionable. That whole situation stepped up and now we have fashion masks and matching accessories.

Get yourself (and maybe your partner, cause who doesn’t love matching partners) some face masks and socks that coordinate so you can look fly while staying safe. Bonus for small artists making the stuff.

We actually wrote about mask fashion back in July (see: The Fashionable Face: Masking Up). We also have friends, like perennial activist Brian Loma, of CO Masker Aid, who are offering cool masks and other accessories, “Made in Colorado by community activists.” Missy Caldwell, of MissfitMissy, told us that she had, “made masks in specific colors to match outfits with two-tone, rainbow, reversible and even McDonald’s colors to match workers’ uniforms. Then she started getting more creative by adding fabric flowers, charms, and nice trim, as well as creating matching accessories like headbands.”

We recommend reaching out to Masker Aid, or any of the names in the article mentioned above, to get some fashion masks to match your various styles. As we were told, “masks aren’t going anywhere.”

comaskeraid.org

12. Of Warmth and Calm

I’m not really a tea person. I prefer coffee. I did. It seems I’m making a hot pot of mullein tea every day now, with a spoon of organic cherry cobbler cbd infused honey, (and sometimes a splash of whiskey, but that’s between us). The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, if you didn’t know – because I didn’t know – doesn’t just offer socially distant tea in their gorgeous tea house, or on their patio. They also have tea pots, tea sets, and teas to go, among other things.

You can celebrate your love for someone (including yourself) with an Afternoon Tea Gift Certificate, some loose leaf tea, tea sachets, or logo laden Dushanbe items. We recommend the Chatsford Teahouse Logo Teapot ($27.95), because we love authentic, yet updated, kitchen supplies and we are newly in love with making tea.

Make sure to dress warm if you pop out for a tea on site, but don’t worry too much. The tea is piping hot and you’ll be filled with warmth and calm in no time.

Boulderteaco.com

Various prices

13. The Snow White Package

If you want to help an animal you love, one of the most supportive and beautiful gifts you can give an animal lover is to make a contribution toward the care of that animal. Contributions support necessary caging, specialized diets, and medications. What do you get, besides the very cool ability to point at a wild animal and tell your friends you sponsor it? You will receive a personalized certificate with your sponsored animal’s name and photo as well as the story of how your animal came to be at Greenwood.

From songbirds like Robins, Jays, and Woodpeckers ($40) to waterfowl like ducks and geese ($80) and all the way to medium-sized mammals like foxes and coyotes ($150) you can pick an animal that speaks to the Snow White in you. Your animal lovers will whistle while they watch their sponsor play. And you get to give – or get – the gift of animal conservation and philanthropy.

Of course, make sure to pop in and have a look around, inquire about animals that need sponsorship, or just enjoy the events they host, from Hang Out and Dine Out for Wildlife, to their virtual offerings.

You can download sponsorship forms from the website, fill ’em out, and send ‘em back.

greenwoodwildlife.org

Various prices

Give the gift of a warm welcome as you and loved ones welcome award-winning Denver Center Theatre Company veterans Jamie Horton, Candy Brown and Gabriella Cavallero to Stories on Stage for this very special holiday show. Music is provided by award-winning composer/pianist David Nehls.

Audience members, we’re told, were asked to submit favorite and fondly remembered stories from past seasons to make up this years’ Greatest Hits version of Making Merry, celebrating the company’s 20th Anniversary. Stories include A Christmas Memory, A Fruitcake Recipe and Who Can Retell, a Hanukkah story.

The Stories on Stage group has teamed up with Nomad Playhouse and Earth Coast Productions to create shows that will be professional multi-camera productions with the actors performing from the stage, direct to you. Some of their performances have been in-person and virtual. This one is only virtual.

They will present renowned local actors performing dynamic and entertaining short stories, beamed right into the comfort of your living room. There you are, cuddling on a couch, cocoa cups in hand, enjoying the loveliness of stagecraft with your family. Making Merry – Greatest Hits will be presented on Sunday, December 13 @1:30pm (early enough for the kids) as a virtual live-streaming performance. This is a

storiesonstage.org

$15 / person

15. Colorado Gives Day

It’s a time-honored tradition, something we’ve done for years here in Colorado and something we love to do. One thing Colorado is good at is taking care of its own. And with that, we remind you that Colorado Gives Day is December 8th. It’s a wonderful day to dig into your past year and see which art organizations, community groups, nonprofits, animal conservation outfits, and other institutions have touched your life, so you can give back.

One organization we love is A Precious Child. This is an organization that does incredible work supporting our needier families and the young people that constitute them. Regardless of the obstacles they face—and this year has thrown us the most significant challenges yet—they hold fast to empowering children.

With community’s support they’ve accomplished a lot this year, including providing over 21,000 backpacks for the school year and supplying over 85,000 diapers throughout the pandemic.

They need the support of our community more than ever before. As do many organizations. Head to the website, look up the organization you want to support, and make a donation. Consider hitting that submit button with family in attendance, and have a conversation about why it matters.

coloradogives.org

16. A Nut to Crack

We love the Nutcracker. No really, we go yearly to see the Colorado Ballet performance. I even wrote an article supporting the #GoFundTheMagic campaign to buy new costumes for the Denver ballet, whose costumes are 25 years old and originally purchased from the San Francisco Ballet.

This year, all the ballets are closed…to in person performances. I’m happy to report that the Colorado Ballet is performing their annual Nutcracker on Rocky Mountain PBS, premiering on Thanksgiving and running through Christmas Day

“The magical spirit of the season comes to life in this acclaimed production and beloved holiday favorite that sells out every year. Tune in to view this special presentation of Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker on Rocky Mountain PBS. Join Clara and her army of toy soldiers as they battle the Mouse King and journey to the legendary land of Sweets.

Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker premieres on Rocky Mountain PBS on Thanksgiving at 7pm.

The Colorado Ballet is also facing a loss of ticket revenue. With the spirit of holiday giving in mind, we ask Colorado Ballet’s patrons and the general arts-loving public to consider a contribution to their Relief & Recovery Fund.

Show dates are Nov. 26 & 27, Dec. 18 & 19, and Dec. 24 & 25.

Coloradoballet.org

bit.ly/COBalletRelief

17. A Time to Travel

If you follow us regularly, you know we love to pack up and head into the wild. We feel very fortunate to be able to do that, and we feel very Colorado as we navigate snowy roads and steep inclines to find magic in the mountains. Give the gift of a getaway. It’s time to pack up the fam and head west, or north, or any direction really. They’re all good.

For a quick hit list of our favorite spots the last couple of years, head to Yellow Scene for the Summer Travel: The Art of Staycation, where we reviewed St. Julien Hotel & Spa, right here in Boulder, The ART, a hotel, in Denver with views of the museum district and world class dining on the 5th floor. We also stayed at the Stanley Hotel, which made headlines feeding firefighters during the Estes Park blaze recently. Great Wolf Lodge, which is a virtual wonderland, and just a few hours south past Denver. And Grand Lake Lodge, one of the greatest stays we’ve ever had, where you can get a private bungalow and lounge on the patio with drinks looking over Grand Lake itself.

In our Winter Travel Loop(Feb. 2020) article we were able to check out Hotel Colorado, in Glenwood Springs, which has amazing hot springs and adventures (still open), before moving on to Ouray – my favorite town in Colorado – where we stayed at Box Canyon Lodge and Hot Springs and hung out in natural springs as a wild fox chilled in the moonlight with us. Finally, in Crested Butte, we stayed at the illustrious Elk Mountain Lodge(pictured), which is a phenomenal place, especially in the winter. It is, as they say, the last great snow town in Colorado.

Back in 2018 I stayed at WeeCasa Tiny House Resort in Lyons. That was awesome as well. Cozy, quiet, along a river, and so inviting. Your kids will love the Hobbit House. Go travel. You never regret travel.

18. Engage in Miracles

Bittersweet Cafe is hosting an epic new holiday popup in the alleyway behind their location. I won’t belabor the point, since Zoey Whitman wrote about it for Foodie, but in a world that continuously tries to keep us home, it’s nice that local brilliance shines through. This local restaurant is creating a series of safe, socially distant, regularly disinfected private bubbles for holiday shenanigans.

Yes, it’s mostly 21+, but there are also Gingerbread parties for the little elves (you can bring your own or RSVP for a pod, so you can bring those neighbor kids that are regulars at your place).

“Get those Bad Santa hats and oversized Elf outfits ready, their themed-nights are guaranteed to banish Scrooge and get you in a Yippee Ki Yay mood. Check out [their] calendar of events including Ugly Sweater & Holiday Movie Theme Nights and the best New Years Eve Party around!”

Outdoor Walk-ups available daily but reservations are, of course, suggested; especially if you want access to any of the coolest spaces available. All ages welcome.

miraclecocktails.com

19. CBD Me Please

Or you can, you know, hemp me. Or mari me. See what I did there? Mari…juana? I kill myself.

Ok, but seriously. We live in a world of rampant pollution and trash piles. Hemp is easy to grow and literally replaces every product we make from plastic. We’re in. We can save the world – slowly – if we switch to hemp. Along the way we can enjoy the health benefits of CBD and Marijuana.

We’re in love with our friends at One Planet Hemp, who have all the offerings you could imagine, from strains and vapes to gear and accessories.

The good folks at Starbuds remind us that, “gifting edibles has emerged as an especially popular option for a cozy holiday season. Many people enjoy putting the edibles in the stockings, and you can also have fun by burying the edibles beneath a pile of relatively boring items so your loved one has to dig through the entire stocking before seeing the edibles at the bottom.”

At Elements Boulder you can get all this same amazing stuff, from a woman owned shop, that sources everything from local vendors. Well damn…I’m about to be high and happy.

oneplanethemp.com

starbuds.us/louisville

elementsboulder.com

20. Give Dreams

The only non-local product we’re featuring, because there aren’t many local retailers that make these, are Pluggerz Uni-Fit earplugs. Rated at 27 decibels (gun ranges recommend 28-33 decibels for an indoor range) these are guaranteed to help with your good night’s sleep. If you or your partner is a heroic snorer, odds are one of you needs a good night’s sleep and you’re too embarrassed to address it. Treat yo’ dreams right. These earplugs provide a relief to get a good night’s rest and are also a perfect stocking stuffer to make sure it’s not just sweet treats when you dump that stocking out.

These plugs are dome shaped high-quality earplugs with triple flanges made of hypoallergenic soft silicone material. The dome shape with triple-flanges extends farther into the ear canal. The shape and material make the earplugs reusable and comfortable to wear for long periods. The filter allows communication and prevents sound distortion.They also come with special filters to attenuate ambient noise without blocking out important sounds like alarms or crying babies. They make your sleeping environment more peaceful and allow you to relax more.

14.99+ at your local CVS locations

pluggerz.com

The post Locavore Gift Guide 2020: 20 Ways to Give & Receive appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

It used to be that, at least once a year, I’d leave the country. This past year I spent a few weeks of summer vacation in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. #PuraVida, as they say. Before that I spent two years in Amsterdam, enjoying the small communities of the Netherlands and becoming a bit more International.

But let’s be real, not everybody has the ability, or inclination, to travel abroad. Not everyone can actually afford that kind of travel. Who even has the time, given the American work week. America, as backwards as we are when it comes to workers rights, doesn’t afford vacation time to all of its workers, which means we have to find other ways.

How does one vacay like a pro without jet hopping? Glad you asked. The most popular, the easiest, and quite possibly the most fun way is the staycation. What is a staycation, you ask, already packed up with a babysitter scheduled and Cottonwood Kennel on the phone and you *cough* call in to work sick?

If you’re asking, this article is definitely for you. A staycation is when you leave home, travel to a vacation destination in your local vicinity, and enjoy your weekend, or the week (why not, treat yo’ self), away from the tedium, the drama, the madness, the grind, and – hopefully – the kids. It’s a great way to have a romantic getaway, to get that oh-so-needed refresh and re-energize the spirit, and an amazing way to explore your own region.

We would recommend staycations across the state, as there are incredible places to visit from the Four Corners region of Southwest Colorado, through the Front Range and the entire Rocky Mountains, and here across Boulder County. In this humble little travel article we will look at a few of our favorite places to stop in for a couple of days of soft slippers, excellent eats, room service, and local fun. Follow us along as we staycation from Boulder to Denver to Grand Lake and a few places in between. It’s summertime, BOCO; time to get out and enjoy your world. Check these places out for a quick break in the middle of your busy life.

St. Julien Hotel
900 Walnut St, Boulder  |  stjulien.com

The St. Julien Hotel is located in downtown Boulder at the base of Boulder Canyon Drive. It fronts Walnut, but includes views of Boulder’s famed Flatirons (from some rooms) as well as that small winding road that heads up into the canyon where one can find all the beauty of Boulder outdoors in areas like Whispering Pine, Nederland, Boulder Creek and Mt. Sanitas trailhead, and even the internationally sought out Adventure Lodge. The St. Julien puts it succinctly: casual elegance with hiking on the left and shopping on the right.

With amazing restaurants like Jill’s, the T-Zero Lounge in the lobby, and the Redgarden Terrace (with some of the best Flatiron views in Boulder), you’re always ready to be wined and dined as you staycation right in the heart of Boulder. If stepping out for a quick bite or a drink is more your style, St. Julien is an actual stones throw from a number of excellent Boulder hot spots, including The Met (literally next door), the Chophouse, Arcana, the Bitter Bar, Brasserie Ten Ten, and Rio Grande (which is glorious after their recent renovations: See our recent article, The Rio Rides Again for more on that).

St. Julien also has, in most estimations, the best spa in the entirety of the Boulder County region. Just thinking of it makes us want to go back for a scrub, rub, and sip in absolute luxury. St. Julien is a standout location – in our own backyard – for your well earned staycation.

Our short stay was absolutely decadent, with a charcuterie board that included chocolate dipped strawberries waiting for us upon arrival, gorgeous little slippers for navigating the luxury of the room, a lobby that beckons you to bring out the cocktail you grabbed from the lobby bar to relax, and staff ready to make every moment perfect. It would be impossible to recommend a better staycation location in Boulder, even if you could find older ones, like Boulderado, in the area. Stop in and let the world keep spinning without you.

The ART, a hotel
1201 Broadway, Denver  |  Thearthotel.com

Denver is the big city next door for BOCO locals, and we all know it. While we love our local tranquility, the trails, the general calm, and the less crowded streets, getting out to Denver on the regular is a must and – this is true – a staycation in the big city is oftentimes just what the doctor ordered. Not all vacations are created equal, and not all need to be had in a quiet beachside resort or tropical getaway. Denver has so much to offer – including excellent places to hide from the kids – like The Art, a hotel.

The Art, a hotel is, quite possibly, the most interesting hotel in Denver (no, we haven’t been to them all, but give us time. We’re working on it). This is a hotel bought by a group of friends with the idea of making a living museum of every floor, every hallway, every public room, from meeting spaces to the gorgeous restaurant, and even the exterior. The entirety of the hotel is adorned with unique, commissioned art (and a few standouts on loan). From the moment you drive in to the valet bay where you’ll be wowed by Leo Villareal’s undulating and never-repeating art installation created from 22,000 LED lights, to the moment you fall back onto the softness of a bed meant for the best sleep of your life, the Art is sharing their art with you.

In a world with hotels full of canned art and replicas, it is truly invigorating to stay in the warmth and goodness of fresh imagination, from splash canvases to textiles to sculpture. With a rooftop patio that can be used as a wedding venue or gathering space, and even a wedding portraitist on site for unique art to commemorate your big day, you’ll never be in need of things to do. Additionally, the level of culinary expertise in their on site restaurant, Fire, which also has a living room lounge and terrace, is beyond good. Eating over the bustle of downtown Denver is another gorgeous perk.

They’re located right in the heart of the Cultural District and minutes away from the Central Business District, in addition to being walking distance from the Denver Art Museum, the Denver History Museum, and numerous other local amenities. Our favorite perk? The coloring book and tube of colored pencils in the room, nailing the art vibe and reminding us to play a little bit. The Art, a hotel is a definite go-to for those looking to staycation in Denver for the weekend.

The Stanley Hotel

333 E Wonderview Ave, Estes Park

stanleyhotel.com

The Stanley was originally built to bring European hunting lodge luxury to Colorado. This place is glorious, and also extremely famous because of its role in inspiring the infamous Stephen King thriller The Shining. The Stanley offers four different Estes Park accommodation experiences including historic rooms, modern apartment-style residences for extended stays, and expansive condominiums on the legendary grounds overlooking Rocky Mountain National Park. If you’ve never been to Estes Park, downtown is cute and kitsch, Estes Park Brewery is around the corner for local brews, and Snowy Peaks Winery is the kind of winery that makes us wanna drive up for an afternoon sipping.

The Stanley’s new Pavilions is open, which is an amazing event and wedding venue. While we were there we saw the famed East LA Chicano funk band Ozomatli, who were as badass as expected. The hotel offers numerous other amenities, including day and night tours (for the less faint of heart), and seasonal adventures; they work with Kent Mountain Adventure Center to curate epic Rocky Mountain National Park Adventure activity packages, which means you can staycation and adventure at the same time.

The Stanley is located in Estes Park, right up the 36 from Boulder past Lyons, less than two hours drive. They are also home to the world famous Cascades restaurant, which will almost definitely require reservations, but you’ll be treated to excellent once you’re in there. The whiskey bar is another amazing perk of this hotel, with absolutely unparalleled luxury to relax in.

Let me be clear: the place was a little spooky, to be honest, but I’m pretty sure that’s just the lore that follows after the Shining. Of course, it was creepy enough for Stephen King to inspire the horror that became the Shining, so maybe there’s something to it? Either way, we ain’t afraid of no ghosts, and we absolutely live for a staycation. Pop in here for the rustic elegance, stay for the adventure.

Great Wolf Lodge

9494 Federal Drive, Colorado Springs

greatwolf.com/colorado-springs

Embark on adventure and fantasy as you build and gain power while enjoying magical quests.  MagiQuest is fun for all ages, letting you take a magical journey to befriend treetop pixies and battle an evil dragon. With Multiple levels of difficulty and several quests to choose from, MagiQuest is a great way to keep everyone in your group active and engaged.

If this doesn’t sound like your thing, head over to the indoor water park to swim, slide, and splash your way to fun. The Wolf Tail, Howlin’ Tornado, and Fort Mackenzie are just a few of the slides and attractions that await you inside the 50,000+ square foot facility. Yes, that’s big.

If you don’t know by now, you have ventured into the Great Wolf Lodge in Colorado Springs. We enjoyed 3 days and 2 nights at the resort during spring break and were not disappointed.   

Upon checking in, every member of your party receives a RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) wristband. This special wristband is used to open the door to your suite, purchase food or beverages, access the water park, and even check out towels. The best part: you can decide who in your group is allowed to use it for purchases. If you choose to bring the kids (this is probably the most family friendly place we stacationed in, you can rest easy that the little ones won’t load up your credit cards).

Great Wolf Lodges are known for their indoor water parks and the Colorado Springs location is no exception; yes, this is a chain, but everything can’t be boutique hotels, can it? The water park has several areas that appeal to all ages. Our favorite was the Mountain Edge Raceway, where four people race head first on mats through twists and turns to the final drop and long straightaway. Make sure to check out your time after you finish. For the really adventurous, try the Wolf Tail. This is where you will stand in the “launch pod”, wait for the floor to drop beneath you, and then go plummeting 20 feet straight down and into a 360 degree loop. We’re still dizzy.

Don’t worry, there are several areas of the water park for the younger (or less adventrous) members of your pack to relax. The Cub Paw Pool has a zero depth entry with a “deep” end of only 18 inches. It has tiny slides and other interactive water toys to play with. Fort Mackenzie is a water fort tree house with multiple levels of water splashing fun and small body slides for the little ones to enjoy.

Feeling a little water logged at this point? Dry off and head to the Great Wolf Adventure Park. There are quite possibly more opportunities to play and have fun here than there are in the water park. Seriously.  Oliver’s Mining Company lets you search for minerals and gemstones. Ten Paw Alley is a small bowling alley where even the toddlers can easily roll the ball. Howl In One Mini Golf will test the putting abilities of even the most advanced golfers. You also have the Rustic Ridge Climbing Wall and the Howlers Peak Ropes Course. Other fun areas include the Northern Lights Arcade and a Build-A-Bear Workshop

Most of these attractions are included when you purchase a “Paw Pass”. There are different versions with different price points. Make sure to look at all of the options based on your preferences. No matter what way you choose, there are still loads of free activities every day.  Character appearances occur throughout the day around the lodge. You can even collect “trading cards” of the different characters.  Yoga Tails allows kids to enjoy a yoga class tailored just to them. Can you say stand like a tree or flutter like a butterfly? Other activities include Story Time, Wolfercise, and the Forest Friends Show.

The lodge has several dining options from buffets to sit down restaurants.  There are quick serve counters to get your burgers, hot dogs, or pizza from.  Oh, I can’t forget Dunkin’ Donuts, Ben & Jerry’s, and the Great Wolf Candy Company. You can head to the Iron Horse Fitness Center; weight training and cardio equipment can be used while you catch up on your favorite shows on the flat screen tv’s.

Most of us know that Colorado Springs offers many exciting opportunities for families to enjoy.  Now you know that you can get everything a family needs in one location: the Great Wolf Lodge.

Grand Lake Lodge

Half the fun in going somewhere is the adventure of getting there. It’s even better when the destination is an adventure as well. When I drove up the Grand Lake Lodge, the only historic registered Lodge a few hundred feet above the West shore of Grand Lake Lodge, from which you can see the glory of Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Lake, and Granby Reservoir, Trail Ridge Road was still closed. This meant a longer drive South through Denver and up the 70, then on to Grand County. The drive is beautiful in and of itself.

One of the great things about Colorado is the ability to drive places just for the drive and just to enjoy the views from the window. I come from a driving family and that, I can assure you, is something many Americans love to do. Shout-out our history of appreciation of road trips.

Arriving at Grand Lake Lodge was a little confusing because you have to drive past the town of Grand Lake, up around the bend of Trail Ridge Road, before you get to the lodge entrance. That extra few minutes in the car is totally worth it because when you pull out onto the overlook and see the sun shining down on Grand Lake, the majesty of Shadow Mountain and the surrounding Peaks, and pull up to the antique cars parked out front of the lodge, you know you’ve just arrived at exactly the right place for a real Colorado #staycation.

As beckoning as the surroundings are, with all new refurbished rooms and cabins – we stayed in Owl 1 – you’re sure to figure out that it’s much more difficult to get out to enjoy the beauty of Grand Lake when you’re sleeping in a place like this. Laying down for a little relaxation and concrete plans to get out and explore, we definitely dozed off and woke up at 1 in the afternoon the next day. The comfort is real.

The lodge itself is the central hub for activity at Grand Lake Lodge. When I first arrived and checked in there were people playing pool and ping pong, drinking at the very excellent and glorious bar that backs up to glass windows overlooking the lake, and enjoying dinner in the restaurant. It’s important to note that Grand Lake Lodge is only open part of the year, because winter travel up there is pretty sticky, and the restaurant had only been open a few days when we arrived. We never would have guessed because the food was excellent – and we’ve never even had elk chops – and the service was perfection: kind, attentive, personable, and as quick as an elegant eatery in a mountain lodge should be. I was even talked into a skillet cooked brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that absolutely made my night.

Adventuring down into the town of Grand Lake, you find that houses scattered about and lots of regular businesses, though most of the activity – and yes, this is a tourist town – is on the main drag. I was able to stop into several very excellent local places including Sagebrush BBQ and Grill, El Pacifico, which offered very excellent Mexican food and will, if you ask just right, provide even hotter hot sauce than their table salsa. We like it spicy.

We also stopped by Miyauchi’s snack bar for a cup of coffee and we were given one for free because, as the owner put it, “if I don’t get rid of this coffee I’m going to drink it all myself”; a woman after our own heart. She also threw a dab of soft serve in the bottom of the cup, which is now my preferred method of sugar and cream for coffee. These folks are so nice, so make sure to stop in for a hello and a snack. They’re located right across from Headwaters Marina, where we went later for a boat toar.

Speaking of which, while the weather was a bit testy on the way up and chilly while we were there, including a few sprinkles, our boat tour out of Headwaters Marina with Captain John T Hall featured perfect weather (note that cruising along under Shadow Mountain side of the lake is colder and more windy than the rest). Let us just say this: the beauty of Grand Lake can really only be experienced from on Grand Lake.

The boat tour was $20 for an adult and our boat was full. We learned about the history of the lake, the first pioneers, saw the original (and still in use) cabin and boat house, and heard about the current competition for biggest house on the lake. Did you know that there are eleven families that live on the lake year-round while there are over 200 homes on the lake itself? Such an interesting history. We are already considering going up for the 4th of July when they light off fireworks from the GLS Doris barge; it’s named after the woman who operated the fireworks barge for over 30 years. Legend tells that her ashes were used in the fireworks and shot up in the sky over the lake when she passed away.

Grand Lake also has multiple entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park as well as views of Arapaho National Park, the Never Summer mountain range, Mount Cairn, and a whole host of elk, a pack of five beers that regularly “terrorize the town” according to Hall, and moose aplenty. Apparently there’s a very large moose named Bruce who is a regular visitor and goes wherever he wants because of his size. We didn’t get a chance to meet Bruce, or any of the other wildlife, but we still enjoyed our visit.

Grand Lake Lodge is a wondrous place to get out of the city, enjoy the mountains, enjoy nature, and enjoy small town life. The town of Grand Lake has refused, thus far, to put in concrete sidewalks and is instead still using boardwalk. That’s epic. Head up while it’s nice out. We highly recommend this staycation.

The post Summer Travel: The Art of Staycation – Yellow Scene Magazine appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.