Winter Checklist '24-'25

Despite living in Colorado nearly my entire life, there are a good number of things I have not done. So this year, around the holiday season I finally decided I was going to cross some of those things off of my bucket list (though not really on my bucket list) and experience some of the great things that make the winter and holiday season.

Disclaimer: Yes I am in Colorado. Yes Colorado is famous for its mountains and the skiing and snowboarding you can do in those mountains, but neither of those made the cut for my winter list this year, but I have done them before and would not rule them out in the future.

1. Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo

   The Denver Zoo has their zoo light game down. When purchasing tickets, there is timed entry to spread out the crowds, but it does not go by without asking you to consider a handful of add ons. Then as you pull into the parking lot, extra staff have been hired to flag you into the next available parking spot (though some people still think they know better and circle around for the best spot). People of all ages line up just before their designated entry time ready to go. There are young children, multigenerational family, adults just out for a night, friends getting together and people seeking tradition.

   
   

   While the night I went it was "warm" for December in Colorado and there was little to n snow on the ground, I still needed a coat, double pants, a hat and gloves because once the sun was gone it cooled off quickly.

   
   

   The preparation and work of the team at the Denver Zoo continued to be on display upon entering the gate. Lights in the trees and along the rails light the one way intended path through the zoo to see all of the animal themed lights. The animal lights generally correspond with the animals enclosed in that area and the accent lights build the environment the animals naturally live in. Unfortunately, being at night, and in the winter no less, many of the actual animals are inside asleep so guests only see their likeness in two-dimensional light form. Some lights move. Some are stationary. Some sections of the zoo have music, others are meant to embrace the natural sounds. All of the lights and music and other elements of grandeur light up the faces of guests.

   
   

   (unfortunately there was an issue with a memory card so no photos from this event)

   
   

2. Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanical Gardens

   Similar to the lights at the Zoo, lights have been artfully strung, propped and anchored throughout the Gardens. There is also a designated path the wind guests through all of the displays. It is a relaxing evening activity to stroll through the lights and envy what will likely never be achievable at one's home display. There is great variety in the lights on display that seem to be placed more with the intention to accent the nature and manmade structures already in the Botanical Gardens rather than add to them with more flowers and plants in light form. Coats and layers are still very much needed on winter nights to be walking outdoors for at least an hour. Again this event is for all ages.

   
   

   

   
   

3. Christkindl Market

   Christkindl markets, German Christmas markets, seemed to have really grown in recent years and my interest for it grew both from researching my German heritage as well as going to Germany and Austria a few years ago. On an unseasonable warm afternoon I wandered into the Denver Christkindl Market in Civic Center. Wooden booth filled with gifts, food and drinks created aisles packed with people and a large tent at one end of the park space houses the biergarten. I got a hot chocolate with whipped cream because why not to sip on while admiring the glass ornaments, wooden figures, cheese, baked goods. It was a bit of a shock to see some of the prices of the items in the booths, but acknowledged that these items were most likely handcrafted by artisans rather than mass produced by a factory.

   
   

4. cooking class

   Cooking is not just a winter thing or just a holiday thing, but cooking a home is cozy and comforting and the winter holidays are centered around food to bring people together.

   
   

   I have been scouting out different cooking classes for awhile and finally made the jump to pick one and do it. I landed on a pasta making class at Sur La Table. I have been wanting to learn how to make pasta for a long time, but even more so after I went to Italy a couple of years ago. Since Italy I have been looking for pasta as good as what I had there, but have not been able to find anything comparable to it in US stores and markets. So when premade is not an option, homemade it the way to go (homemade is actually the best way to go for most things, but store-bought, premade is very convenient).

   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   

   Anyways, the class was great. There were about 12 people in the class, broken up into four smaller groups to follow the instructed recipes. The recipes walked us through basic pasta dough to be shaped two different ways, a pesto sauce and a tomato sauce to accompany it, all the while the instructor is giving an overview of pasta, cooking basics and making gelato. And of course, if all of the food is being made, what else are you going to do with it when it is done other than eat it?

   
   

   Everything we made was delicious. There were so many flavors and the pasta was just the right texture that can only be achieved with fresh pasta.

   
   

   Now the one thing about doing a cooking class at store for cooking products is there is a little bit of an undertone that is trying to sell attendees the products used in class with a special discount. So while my family and I now own a pasta maker, it has been a part of making delicious pasta for us at home several times and an even better experience of making the pasta together and enjoying it together. I hope to take other cooking and baking classes in the future to expand my culinary skills and venture into new flavors I am normally to scared to try.

   
   

5. Warren Miller movie (did not get to this year, but have seen films from previous years)

   
   

6. see The Nutcracker (did not get to this year, could not decide where to see it performed)

   
   

7. see A Christmas Carol or Scrooge (did not get to this year, limited showings)

   
   

8. Cirque du Soliel CRYSTAL

   For starters, Cirque du Soliel is a global phenomenon and its traveling shows share the joys of circus and the theater with communities around the world, bringing magic close to home. This would come to be my third Cirque or Cirque inspired shows. Through all of them I have come to appreciate dedication and artistry of everyone involved in creating the dream that so many of us use to make life decisions.

   
   

   

   Acrobatics, dancing and skating create the story of CRYSTAL

   CRYSTAL follows the same dream-like journey as a girl seeks to discover her place in the world, but with a wintery twist. Cirque du Soliel has ventured from traditional circus platforms to water for a number of shows, but CRYSTAL is the first to venture onto ice, despite having a show called Ice. The show combined the expected acrobatics and dancing of a show with elements of figure skating and hockey. I was most surprised by the incorporation of modern pop covers to be the soundtrack of multiple scenes. My favorite part was the swinging poles that were carried on and off the ice, mounted to the rafters to hang down to about a foot off the ground and then serve as a pendulum swing for acrobats to climb and jump off of before being caught be other performers or sticking the landing on an air mattress.

   
   

9. ice skating (late addition)

   I am comfortable skating around in circles, but this year, since I went more than ever before in one year, I started to slowly add turns, spins and crossovers.

   
   

10. watch lots of hockey (this was going to happen anyway, so may as well make it count on the list)

    
    
    
    
    

    

    

    

    
    
    

    I am a big fan of the Colorado Avalanche and the Colorado Eagles, so I try to catch as many games as I can in person or on TV. I was also fortunate to attend one of the games the weekend that Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog October to April is filled with hockey. I also caught a PWHL during their Takeover Tour when it came through Denver and created a buzz for women's sports.

TRAVEL BONUS: Boat light parade and fireworks in Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville light parade on the water