South Platte Park & Carson Nature Center
Shhhh! – Don’t tell all those dealing with frigid temperatures, knee-deep snow, ice storms and power outages that Denver recovered from its cold snap earlier in the week. The last couple of days have seen sunny blue skies and temps in the 60s. The Denver area experiences a “Storm of the Century” about every decade and faces snow and cold each winter but between storms we bask in beautiful clear days perfect for outdoor recreation.
Friday was one of those days that called for getting outside. After -2° Tuesday morning it was pure joy to walk in the park in shirt sleeves and soak up at least our 20 minutes of vitamin D. We headed to South Platte Park and the Carson Nature Center in Littleton. The park extends along the South Platte River approximately 2.5 miles north of C-470. The riparian zone of cottonwood forests and wetlands provides habitat for a diversity of wildlife – song birds to bald eagles, cicadas to coyotes.
The paved Mary Carter Greenway Trail was busy with bicyclists, in-line skaters and walkers. The trail is part of the South Platte River Trail that covers 28.05 miles from Chatfield Dam to 104th Avenue in Northglenn and links to a half dozen urban trails that criss cross the Metro Area. Four miles of natural surface trails lead to lakes and a wildlife viewing blind. Five lakes and the 2.5-mile stretch of the river are open to fishing. There’s limited access to two other lakes within the park that provide water storage and wildlife habitat.
Exhibits and live animals in the Carson Nature Center provide a good orientation for budding naturalists. The water table room attracts all ages. A river channel flows through the sandy “ground,” visitors can place rocks, block houses and scrubs along the banks and watch the affects of flood waters. Some of us are old enough to remember the 1965 devastating flood along the South Platte. Rental “Explorer Packs” filled with supplies and activities are a fun way to add discovery and learning to a park visit.
The center offers a calendar of programs, some specifically for kids, some adults only and family focused activites for all ages. Naturalist guided moonrise walks, winter scavenger hunt, Native American stories are a few offered during the winter months.
When You Go: The park and nature center are free, a modest fee and registration is required for programs. South Platte Park is located north of Mineral Avenue and west of Santa Fe Drive. Park open daily from sunrise to sunset, Carson Nature Center open Tuesday – Friday 12-4:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 9:30am – 4:30pm.
Our first day in Jupiter usually finds us at Schooner’s Restaurant for a late lunch. The casual, relaxed atmosphere proves to be a necessary respite after several hours at Mother’s assisted living facility. The patio beckons us to sit back and enjoy an icy drink while lunch is prepared.
Service is almost always friendly and attentive. During our last visit on Martin Luther King Day they were obviously slammed but the staff worked together to get everyone served and keep drinks refreshed. Our only complaint over the years has been that they don’t automatically serve a roll, crackers or bread with our favorite salad. We’ve learned to ask for a roll when we order and the request is always met.
Mother is 97-years-old, blind, in a wheelchair and living in an assisted living facility. Her condo, where we stay during our visits, is a 45-60 minute drive from the ALF. The most direct route, I95, tests the sanest and safest of drivers. Driving the middle lane at 10 miles over the speed limit creates speedways on either side of you as cars and semis zip by in a blur of motion and noise. Add to the mix a newly arrived senior fearful of any speed over 40 mph. We sense it’s almost a daily death defying act to approach the on ramp.
From now through April 
A bonus to current DIA visitors are kiosks with free postcards, take a moment to write a message to your favorite Valentine(s), address the card and place it in the special Valentine drop box. The Denver International Airport’s Art Program will pay the postage and deliver your postcard to the Loveland Post Office to receive the 2009 Loveland cancellations and Valentine cachet.
Colterra Restaurant
The risotto with mushrooms and Parmesan was topped with a grilled chicken breast. The rice the perfect texture and balance of flavors. I’m easily bored with chicken breast, however this was excellent quality, cooked just right. I soon decided I was eating the entire entree, nothing was going home for later. Pat reported her bolognese delightful, “I could go in the kitchen and lick the pan.”
Outside the visitors center, in the Peace Plaza, stands Behold by sculptor Patrick Morelli. The ancient African ritual of lifting a newborn child to the heavens and reciting the words, “Behold the only thing greater than yourself,” inspired the monumental sculpture.
Where To Go - Travel USA 