CABIN FEVER Call it a cabin, a cottage, or a hut; there’s something about sleeping in a small wooden dwelling that resonates in the American psyche, especially in winter. Where this cabin fever comes from, I’m not sure. Maybe it’s the cottage-in-a-forest images from fairy tales; think of the refuge Snow White found with the dwarves in their tidy little home. Maybe it’s the Laura Ingalls Wilder effect; her “Little House” books are loaded with idyllic family scenes that take place around the fireplace in pint-sized digs in the woods, on the prairie, or in a tiny town. Read more...

January/February 2012

GRAND BEGINNINGS “Where it all began.” Them’s big words for a very little burg in northwest Colorado, Hot Sulphur Springs. But if the town’s slogan refers to tourism, then the slogan fits – Hot Sulphur Springs played a key role in the early days of Colorado tourism and, later, skiing. Read more...

November/December 2011

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SIGH... My husband and I were married in September 1987, and over the last 24 years, we’ve become well-acquainted with fall anniversary getaways. One of our favorite romantic spots seems improbable at first, a far cry from sun-drenched beaches or exotic, far-flung locales. It’s none other
than Estes Park. Read more...

September/October 2011

TOUR DE SAN JUAN Last summer I walked from Lake City to Silverton with my husband, Brian, and a few friends.  Then we sauntered from Silverton to Telluride, ambled over to Ouray, and finally hoofed it back to Lake City.  We christened this hiking trip the “Tour de San Juan,” named in honor of the mountain range we traversed. Read more...

July/August 2011

STROLLING THROUGH HISTORY To people in the Denver metro area, Trinidad hardly feels like it’s part of Colorado at all. With its Spanish name and proximity to the border, it might as well be part of New Mexico. Or, at least, so I thought, until an eye-opening visit to the Southern part of the state changed my mind. Read more...

May/June 2011

A SPIRITED ADVENTURE The spirits market, a $200 billion industry worldwide, sees its shares of trends. Some, like organic vodka and ultra-premium Scotch, are very good ideas. Others, like 12 ounces of whiskey – that’s eight shots – packaged in a single beer-can-style container, are very bad ideas. Microdistilleries, the hottest new local trend, are a very good idea. And for a spirits-based getaway, Denver is the perfect destination. Read more...

March/April 2011

HOTSPRINGS AND ICICLE HEAVEN IN OURAY If you’re an ice climber, skier, snowboarder or other winter-sport enthusiast, you’re no doubt filled with pleasure and delight at the coming of true winter. But if you’re not one to scramble up the face of a frozen mountain, these long months of snow and ice may fill you with longing for spring – until you head to Ouray, where the water runs both hot and cold in the winter. Read more...

January/February 2011

SOME LIKE IT HOT! - NATURAL HOT SPRINGS AND SIZZLING SKI RUNS For those of you who like to start your winter before Thanksgiving, Colorado has just the place: Wolf Creek Ski Area. It’s usually the first in the state to open on natural snow. For those who prefer to acknowledge winter by watching the snow fly from the comfort of steamy waters, Colorado has just the place for that, too: Pagosa Springs.

Fortunately for everyone, these two spots – one “hot spot” and one “cold spot” – are just 23 miles apart, along Highway 160 in the southern part of the state. Read more...

November/December 2010

HIGH ON HAPPINESS - PEAK EXPERIENCES OF A FAMILY ROAD TRIP My daughter, Renee, turned 15 this summer, and it was time for her first-ever driving lesson. That virginal time behind the wheel is always a peak experience, complete with anticipation, main action, and afterglow.

More specifically, she did her driving on a road trip along the Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway, Highway 119. Car time is talk time for Renee and me, so that day I struck gold. With or without the driving lesson, taking a teen on the road can provide a double dose of happiness. First, this trip (or any other road trip) offers unexpected, low-key pleasures. Second, being with a willing younger companion is a chance to see the world through new eyes. Read more...

September/October 2010

TECHNOLOGY IN TELLURIDE - NERDS, PINHEADS AND GEEKS, THIS IS YOUR TOWN! If the word “Tesla” brings to your mind an elegant, all-electric, zero-emissions sports car, that’s great—you’ve been paying attention to technological advances in environmentally friendly transportation. Take a test drive from Boulder’s show room and then consider “saving” $7,500 with a federal tax credit, plus a similar amount from the state; it’s the government’s way of encouraging us to drive green. But that’s a story for another time.

Now, if the word “Tesla” brings to mind the late 19th century “Battle of the Currents,” you’re in the right place, and you probably already know you’re a technology nerd. This “battle” was between direct current (DC) for the distribution of power, championed by Thomas Edison, and alternating current (AC), with Nikola Tesla as the major developer and proponent. Think back to VHS and Beta in the 1980s; that’s what AC and DC were like in the 1880s. Edison was well-known, well-connected, and stubborn—but ultimately unsuccessful. AC was the superior technology and is now used all over the world. Read more...

July/August 2010

RUN LIKE A LYON - LYONS IS READY NOW FOR RUNNING, HIKING AND BIKING In the spring, most of us Coloradans are eager to start trail-tromping. But some of us – you know who you are – may not be quite ready for the high country. If you’ve allowed watching the Olympics to replace participatory sports over the winter, you’ll need a bit of prep before heading to the high country. And the trails above 10,000 feet aren’t yet ready for foot traffic anyway.

What to do in the meantime? I propose getting your trail legs back in shape by visiting Lyons, on the cusp of the front range in northern Boulder County. Read more...

May/June 2010

SPA TIME IN STEAMBOAT - HOT STRAWBERRIES, DRUNKEN ONIONS AND THE DEEP AND STEEP (TEA THAT IS). It’s spa-time in Steamboat Springs just about now. Yes, it’s ski season too, but I don’t care much for skiing, and I do like a good soak and massage. Ditto for my 19-year-old daughter, Audrey. So, when our family went to Steamboat recently, we skipped the slopes and used our time and money creating a self-catered Colorado spa retreat. Read more...

March/April 2010

ASPEN ON A BUDGET - WHERE TO EAT, STAY AND PLAY IN THIS POSH-BUT-PRICEY GETAWAY
My husband, Brian, and I went to Aspen last winter, trying to enjoy this highend ski town on a low-end budget. Brian mentioned this to a fellow skier, who came right back at him: “Well! She must be a humor writer.” Brian’s response? “No—fantasy is her thing.” Read more...

Jan/Feb 2010

A SCULPTURE HUNT IN DENVER - FOLLOW THIS "OUTSIDER'S GUIDE" FOR A PLAYFUL AND MULTI-DIMENSIONAL EXPERIENCE
If you think that spending a day in Denver at this time of year means holiday shopping at Cherry Creek, Park Meadows, or the 16th St. Mall, I completely understand. Let me present
you with a creative – and much cheaper— alternative. Read more...

Nov/Dec 2009

HARVEST TIME IN HOTCHKISS - FRIENDLY FARMERS, FUZZY PEACHES, FAMILY FUN
I was in Hotchkiss, south of Grand Junction, on assignment this summer, planning a harvest-centered fall trip. The idea was that “eating locally” is good for the earth, good for the producer, and good for the consumer. And it’s a darn good excuse for a leisurely weekend in the rural countryside. My job: find farm-fresh food, and figure out what to do with a car full of it back home—all while having a weekend away. Read more...

Sept/Oct 2009

A SINGULAR ADVENTURE - ON A SOLO BACKPACKING TREK, THE ONLY EXTRA BAGGAGE IS YOU.
Northwest Colorado's most important export can't be ordered via the Internet. You can’t mine it, pump it, or sell the rights to it. It’s not natural gas or crude oil, the environmentally controversial resources in the region. Instead, it's peace-and-quiet, vast expanses where you can walk for miles without seeing another human – a more rare commodity these days than gas or oil. I got my dose of peace and quiet in the Flat Tops Wilderness Area last summer, on a solo backpack trip. Read more...

July/Aug 2009

BIKING IN FRUITA
I've been hearing about mountain biking in Fruita for at least 10 years. It’s said that the “F” in Fruita stands for “fun” So, last fall, I went to see what all the fuss is about, even though I’m not a mountain biker. 

Now that I’ve done it, I am clear that I’ll never have to do it again. . Read more...

May/June 09

PUTTING THE 'TREAT' IN RETREATS
It seems like everybody’s going on spiritual retreats these days. One of my friends, for example, heard a Vipassana teacher on the radio, and immediately signed up for a 22-day silent retreat. That’s a pretty extreme approach, and one that I wouldn’t recommend. Most people choose a more moderate path: exploring one of the hundreds of Colorado-based retreats, each with its own flavor and program. Others (the iconoclasts, introverts, and individualist, perhaps) choose locations that encourage you to make your own plans. I’ll focus on the DIY crowd - but first, what’s all the fuss about? Why is everyone so eager to embark on a retreat, anyway? Read more...

March/April 09

A GHOST SKI AREA
There I was last winter, nervously making small talk with the man who was to create my headshot for this magazine. When he learned that I write about odd places in Colorado, he mentioned that we have more closed ski areas than open ones—and some of them are still ski-able, if you don't mind hiking to the top. Read more...

Jan/Feb 09

GLITTERING IN GOLDEN
Golden proclaims its image to all the world with its downtown banner: “Howdy Folks! Welcome to Golden – Where the West Lives.” Okey-dokey; it's hokey, but who am I to judge? Read more...

Nov/Dec 08

BREW-BIKING IN FORT COLLINS
Fort Collins is frequently listed in "best place to live" articles in national magazines. For those of us who don't live there, you can still visit, and here's a great excuse to make the trip: Fort Collins takes biking very seriously. Ditto, beer. Taa daa! Brewiking! Read more...

Sept/Oct 2008

ASPEN TO CRESTED BUTTE, AND BACK AGAIN
Last year I turned 50, and that meant it was time to celebrate with an adventure splurge. Everyone gets to set her own threshold for what constitutes an “adventure,” as opposed to an “outing” or a “wild-eyed, crazy-ass bad idea.” For me, an adventure implies a physical challenge, some serious planning, and yet not a huge amount of risk taking. Read more...

July/August 2008

WAY BEYOND THE BEATEN PATH
Ready for some adventure? Forget Mesa Verde. Embark on a tour that will have you following in the footsteps of the ancients (sensible shoes recommended). Read more...

May/June 2008

RITZY RUSTIC SPAS
Let me start by telling you that I’ve always been leery of spas. So when I received the assignment to review a few, it was with some wariness. First, they’re expensive, and it was beyond me why any sane adult would pay what it costs for a four-course meal or a used laptop to spend a day there. In spas, you have to bare your body—often substantial portions of it—to strangers. Many of the “menu” items involve bad chemical smells, sharp instruments or painful procedures, like pouring hot wax on your nether regions, then yanking it off. And I’m not letting anyone without a DDS after their name perform an “extraction” on me. Besides, why would I want to spend a full day lolling around when I could be hiking or reading? Read more...

March/April 2008