Bear Creek Lake Park

Bear Creek Lake Park has been my favorite stomping ground this summer. Located in Lakewood, just minutes from Morrison, this park has something for everyone! There are 15 miles of hiking trails, 3 lakes for boating, boat rentals (kayaks, paddle boats, etc.), an area for swimming, campground, horse stables, archery area, picnic spots, and nature programs. So, for a nice family fun day near the water or for a solo nature excursion; check out Bear Creek Lake Park.

*Note: There is an entry fee of $5/vehicle (cash only).

Afterwards, grab a drink or some grub in the cute town of Morrison. Or meander through red rock formations at Red Rocks Ampitheatre.

Beso de arte Bistro Latino

(photo from metromix.com)




Enjoy a "kiss" of culinary art at Beso, located in Morrison, Colorado. The ambiance alone is enough to make you forget the stress of the daily grind. Stone-built walls and soothing waterfalls help clear your mind and prepare your palet for some delicious and exquisite food! Whether you want to grab a bite to eat before catching a concert at Redrocks Ampitheatre (literally just around the corner), or you want to share a meal with a date or drinks with friends; this place is so adorable! You just gotta try it! Come on, you know you want to!

Dinosaur Ridge

I recently visited Dinosaur Ridge, located in Morrison, Colorado. The site is comprised of a visitor center, exhibit hall located off of C-470. Further up from the visitor center is a paved road that you can hike or bike along that has interesting geology and fossils along the road. They say you can "see 80 million years worth of geology in a mile" hike up on the ridge. The very first stegosaurus fossils were found here at Dinosaur Ridge. At one point, Colorado was ocean front property as the Western Interior Seaway covered the middle of present day America. Due to such conditions, various footprints and fossils remain of ancient dinosaurs, plants, and insects. There are signs that interpret the landscape and point out where to look for fossils. This site really opened my eyes to the natural history surrounding us. My favorite stops along the ridge are the dinosaur "track" site and the "bulges" site. You can literally see the REAL footprints of dinosaurs!! And at the bulges site you can see the impact of an actual dinosaur footprint; how it left real bulges in the topography of the landscape. As you meandor along the ridge viewing the sites, follow the path as it meanders through the rock ledge and leads you to where you are literally across the street from the Red Rocks Ampitheatre. This is a 2.75 roundtrip hike for anyone who enjoys geology and natural history. There are $4 dollar per person bus tours of the ridge if you would like a tour guide. So, get out and come walk where the dinosaurs walked!!