Colorado Explorer

Titanic Exhibit

By Linda Duval

Activities

Set sail on a trip through time when you visit "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition," at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, through Jan. 6, 2008. When you "board" the exhibit, you get the name of a passenger. At the end of the tour, you find out if that person lived or died. Eerie. 303-322-7009. The sheer walls of Black Canyon of the Gunnison, now a national park, draw hotshot rock climbers from all over. Check out the Painted Wall, the tallest vertical wall in the state (2,250 feet). If you're an experienced climber yourself, you can get a permit at the North Ranger Station. 970-641-2337.

There's not much there, but the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site near Eads is a good place to stop and reflect on one of the darkest days in Colorado's history. If you're in the area, pay your respects to the 150 Native Americans—mostly women, children and the elderly—who were killed here by soldiers in 1864. 719-438-5916.

Hot air balloons rise high above the backdrop of the Elk Mountains during the Snowmass Balloon Festival and Wine & Jazz Festival (starring 50 vintners and regional chefs), Sept. 14-16 in Snowmass. It's a spectacular time for leaf-peeping-especially from above! 970-379-6577 or 970-704-2628.

Every dog has its day. If you're a sheepdog, your day is coming up: from Sept. 5-9, top dogs from all over the country will compete at the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials. Bagpipe music, spinning demonstrations, pancake breakfasts and an appearance by Team Ghost Rider-monkeys riding on dogs to herd sheep-round out the event. 970-878-5510.

Military buffs might enjoy the U.S. Military Historical Museum in Fort Morgan. It features such gems as a restored Nazi BMW motorcycle with sidecar, an all-terrain Weasel used by the 10th Mountain Division, and military uniforms dating back to the Revolutionary War. By appointment. 970-867-5520.