May/110
Think Golden, Colorado when Planning this Summer
The circumstances of the current economy have caused the average resident to work more and/or be in a situation to watch one's money more closely. Hence, choosing activities to fill one's leisure time has become a more involved, planned-out process, as opposed to perhaps the more casual approach of years past. Additionally, if you have less days off, you may not have the time for a customary vacation, instead opting for a day trip (or even morning/afternoon) that won't require an extensive drive. Also, because of limited funds, planning such a short excursion must still be cost-effective.
This doesn't have to be bad, though. The new circumstances we're living with are leading to discoveries, one of which is, particularly in the warm-weather months, there are a wealth of weekend activities not just in Denver but in many, many towns and cities along the Front Range. From festivals and events to robust shopping and dining options, that one city you drive through only to get to another city might just have an event this weekend that will please you, the spouse and the children. If you don't fall into the family category, fear not, as many of these towns also cater to you, perhaps offering an ideal venue for a date without the parking and expenses of LoDo.
The common resistance to this suggestion usually comes in form of the complaint about having no way to know what's going on in these towns. While it's true that up until now Denver events (or the ski towns) often get the most ink, the ease of establishing a website means that many of these smaller, lower-profile metro cities offer users a comprehensive medium for finding out what's going on this weekend, or perhaps several weeks from now, when the in-laws are coming to visit. These cities' websites not only offer a calendar format of events, but also feature photos of places to shop, eat or just kick back. What's more, many of the websites offer special money-saving deals not found elsewhere.
It's important to consider that the towns not only offer permanent, ongoing entertainment options, but most all sport an annual festival of some kind, often even including a fairway and rides. If friends or family are coming in from out-of-town, it would be easy to plan their trip around one of these festivals, entertaining them mightily and not breaking your wallet. Take, for instance, Golden's Buffalo Bill Days, occurring this year July 27 to 31. The five-day festival features live music, parades, a golf tourney, kiddie trains, mutton-bustin' and assorted booths and merchants - all of this set up along Washington Avenue, which hosts myriad dining and shopping options any time of the year.
So, apart from keeping it inexpensive, keep it local this summer when looking for entertainment options. Visitors are apt to notice that the smaller cities are grateful for their tourists, and show it through a friendly and accommodating attitude.
Vacation planning gets more complicated when considering the price of fuel. Still, some great values are available for those looking for things to do in Colorado. For those looking to stretch their vacation dollars, Golden, CO offers some truly outstanding values. Visit our website today for a complete calendar of summer information and a list of great places to dine and stay.