Colorado Explorer

Buffalo Bill's birthday


By Linda DuVal

> Activities
> Dining
> Lodging
> Shopping
Happy birthday, Buffalo Bill!

Activities

Happy birthday, Buffalo Bill! Western showman William Cody is honored each year at the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave in Golden. This year, the free celebration is March 1 and includes cake, ice cream and a herd of Buffalo Bill look-alikes. If weather permits, there might be a buffalo-chip toss and other games. 303-526-0744.

The Jones-Miller Site near Wray is the largest Paleo-Indian bison kill site in North America. Though the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has most of the booty from the dig, the Wray Museum also has a fine exhibit with bones, Clovis points and other artifacts, mounted with assistance from the Smithsonian and including art and photos courtesy of National Geographic. It's worth a stop. 970-332-5063.

Now you can train year-round for your favorite winter sports at the new Woodward at Copper indoor sport training center at Copper Mountain. This 20,000-square-foot, first-of-its-kind facility includes trampolines and foam pits for soft landings. 970-968-3400. Check out the new ice rink at Jorgensen Park in Gunnison. You can rent skates and take a spin on one of three sheets of ice-two outdoor surfaces and an NHL-sized indoor rink. 970-901-6215.

The hot new attraction in Colorado Springs is the Fire History Museum. Antique horse-drawn fire trucks, old firefighting equipment and memorabilia-most of which was used locally—comprise a good part of the collection. Free admission. 719- 385-5950.

Not to be outdone by the Front Range cities, Snowmass has for the past six years celebrated with its own St. Patrick's Day festivities. On March 17, join in the Lucky Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt, listen to a bagpipe and drum band and watch Irish dancers perform on the Mall. Traditional Irish food and drink are featured, naturally. 800-SNOWMASS.

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Dining

You might not equate a college dining hall with good food, but you might be wrong when it comes to the Aspen Grille at CSU in Fort Collins. The student-run restaurant serves good food and it's one of just two in the state certified as "green"—from the recyclable paper menus to the locally grown products served. Lamb, beef, mushrooms, salad greens and more come from local producers or the restaurant's own greenhouse. Open for lunch during the academic year. 970-491-7006.

Next time you're headed home from a weekend of skiing at Steamboat Springs, stop by the Parshall Inn (locals call it the P.I.) for a burger. Hand-shaped and cooked to order, it'll fill that empty spot in your belly. On weekends, there's live entertainment. It's rustic and homey and you may find you are-pardon the pun-partial to it. 970-725-3215.

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Lodging

Planning a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park? Consider staying at the Black Dog Inn in Estes Park. Accommodations range from pet-free to a cozy cottage that's so pet-friendly it has its own dog run; or choose one of the condo-sized units with kitchens, living rooms, fireplaces and two bedrooms. The spotless property also serves up a hearty breakfast—just what you need before a day of hiking and exploring. 866-786-0374.

Good grades pay off when you and your smart kid stay at The Gant in Aspen, where you can get up to 18% off your lodging in the "Grades that Pay" package. Students (kindergarten through grad school) should bring their report card to receive discounts March 22-April 12. Call for details. 800-549-0530.

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Shopping

The Union Avenue Historic District in Pueblo offers some unusual shops, ranging from antiques stores to fine art galleries, and including a few unique boutiques, such as RazMaTaz and Gotcha Covered. While shopping, check out the 70 or so buildings here on the National Register of Historic Places. 800-233-3446.

The Western Slope isn't the only place in Colorado that has vineyards. Cortez has two up-and-coming wineries: Guy Drew Vineyards and Sutcliffe Vineyards. Next time you're in the southwest corner of the state, stop and pick up a couple of bottles of their best vino to take home. 970-565-4958 and 970-565-0825.

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Linda DuVal is a freelance writer and former travel editor for The Gazette in Colorado Springs.