Crystal Valley Blog

There are plenty of fun family activities to check out this weekend! You’ve got your choice of a variety of hikes—including a family campfire hike, a bird-watching guided walk, and a wilderness photography class! There’s even a wilderness survival course just for kids!

TODAY/TONIGHT, January 14

CORAL CONNECTION
If you can’t get to the Butterfly Pavilion, the Butterfly Pavilion can come to you! This favorite Denver nature sanctuary is known for its wonderful family-friendly talks about much more than butterflies, and they’ve taken these talks online. 

Today, the whole family will love learning more about the importance of coral and the oceans in our lives, even here in land-locked Colorado!

Zoom with Butterfly Pavilion
11:00 a.m.
Tickets: $3 donation

BOURBON BEGINNINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR
Join your friends and neighbors in a virtual happy hour that will show you all you ever wanted to know about bourbon! Don’t forget to go shopping first to get all the ingredients you’ll need to mix along with the expert on Zoom. 

Then enjoy the tastings as he describes the unique qualities that will give you the ability to train your palate and take tasting notes so you experiment on your own!

Zoom with HRCA
6:00 p.m.
Register: FREE

Thursday-Sunday, January 14-17

DASH ACROSS THE ICE
You don’t need to go far to enjoy a fun family-friendly activity! Ice skating is a favorite way to get together with friends or let your kids get together with their friends—all at the Rink at the Rock in Castle Rock! New to the sport? You can try it out with skate rentals and even take a lesson or two!

Rink at the Rock, 414 Perry St., Castle Rock
Thurs., 4:00-8:00 p.m.; Fri., 3:00-9:00 p.m.; Sat., 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Sun., 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $8 – $10

CHECK OUT CHATFIELD FARMS
For a fun day out in the country, the entire family will enjoy roaming through the 700-acre Chatfield Farms! Admission is FREE through January, but you need to reserve timed-entry tickets online in advance.

Don’t forget to check out the historic Hildebrand Ranch and its restored 1918 dairy barn.  If you’re a bird-watcher, bring your binoculars along! The area is an exceptional place to see a wide array of bird species!

Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd.
Littleton
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Timed Tickets: FREE

Friday, January 15

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL FOR KIDS
As part of the Nature Homeschool Program, this session will teach kids ages 7-13 survival skills in winter wilderness settings. This half-day experiential learning experience will take place in the Backcountry Wilderness Area so kids can put the concepts to work! 

Nature Homeschool Programs emphasize exploration with a hands-on approach and are built with the Colorado State Education Standards in mind. These programs are open to the public regardless of a student’s learning-style choice (homeschool, eLearning, or hybrid).

Backcountry Wilderness Area, 6005 Ron King Trail, Highlands Ranch
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Register: $25-$35
Phone: 303-471-7052

Friday-Saturday, January 15-16

HOLIDAY TEA EXTENDED
The castle is still decorated and holiday teas are still going on! Now that the New Year is in full swing, take a break and bring the family to this special venue for a festive afternoon tea and tour the castle after! This event is appropriate for kids ages 10 and up, along with their adults.

Cherokee Ranch & Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia
Fri., 12:00 p.m.; Sat., 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $58
Phone: 303-688-5555

Saturday, January 16

GENEALOGY TIPS AND TRICKS
Once you get started researching your roots, it’s easy to get get lost in all the information! Before you are overwhelmed by all the data involved, tune into this ongoing Genealogical Society webinar—today’s talk is all about managing the data. 

You’ll learn how to work “smarter” instead of harder, as a professional genealogist walks you through the steps. You’ll set up your own genealogy project and learn how to track it to completion by using a research log.

Castle Rock Genealogical Society Zoom Webinar
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Information: FREE

DRONES AS A CAREER
If you are a drone fanatic, you’ll be crazy about this showcase of drone demonstrations by local schools and companies! Best of all, you can even find out how to turn your drone hobby into a career—how cool would that be?

You must pre-purchase your tickets online.

Exploration of Flight, 13005 Wings Way, Englewood
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $4-$10
Phone: 303-360-5360

CAMPFIRE HIKE
Are you feeling a hint of cabin fever in your home? Here’s the cure—take the family on a backcountry hike where you can play in the snow, walk through the woods, and relax in the fresh air. When the hike is over, everyone will relax around the campfire where you can roast marshmallows and make s’mores!

Backcountry Wilderness Area, 6005 Ron King Trail, Highlands Ranch
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Register: $7-$10
Phone: 303-471-7052

Saturday-Sunday, January 16-17

TUBING AT THE BREWERY
The whole family can spend a fun winter day outdoors while adults can safely relax and sample craft beers in the outdoor Farm House Beer Garden. There’s plenty of delicious comfort food as well, so treat the family to lunch or dinner! The tubing hill is adjacent to the beer garden, so you can watch the kids zooming down the hill!

Breckenridge Brewery, 2920 Brewery Ln., Littleton
12:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $1 each or in bundles of 10 for $7 or $15 for $10

Sunday, January 17

GUIDED BIRD WALK
Bird enthusiasts will appreciate this guided bird walk with a naturalist! Bring along your bird book and binoculars and be sure to dress warmly. The hike is appropriate for all ability levels, and snowshoes or micro-spikes are recommended. Don’t forget to make your reservation in advance!

​Roxborough State Park, 4751 E. Roxborough Dr., Littleton
8:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Reservation: FREE with $10 gate fee per vehicle
Phone: 303-973-3959

PHOTOGRAPHY HIKE
The beautiful Fountain Valley Trail will be the backdrop of this hike with Naturalist Bob Rabito, an award-winning professional photographer. Photographers of all abilities are welcome. Whether you have a DSLR or a smartphone camera, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to capture the stunning landscapes and wildlife of the park. Dress with the weather in mind and bring micro-spikes or snowshoes, as well as your camera.

​Roxborough State Park, 4751 E. Roxborough Dr., Littleton
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Reservation: FREE with $10 gate fee per vehicle
Phone: 303-973-3959

Family-Centric Fun in Crystal Valley!

There’s always something to do near the family-friendly community of Crystal Valley! Enjoy the  relaxed lifestyle of Castle Rock and surrounding area where cultural and entertainment activities abound! Check out the beautiful model homes from Kauffman Homes, Richmond American Homes, D.R. Horton, and Century Communities, and picture yourself in your very own dream house! With ranch and two-story models available, new homes are priced from the $300s.