My senior year, my bestie and I decided to get wild for spring break.
No tequila bombs on the beach. No walks of shame down the Vegas strip. No Coyote Ugly bar-top dancing or cameos in “Girls Gone Wild” (remember, this was back when both of those things were things).
We hopped in my old Honda Accord (literally everyone’s first car), which was named The Good (other friends had The Bad and The Ugly) and drove a short distance to Glenwood Springs. We very soberly and rather quietly sat in a stinky hot springs pool with a bunch of elderly folks. We lasted about an hour before we were overheated and then we drove back home.
On the way back, we stopped and got sandwiches.
Needless to say, I know how to party like a boss.
Using my keen experiential expertise, combined with my now-momming skills, entertaining your kids on a spring break vaca in Boulder is what’s on my mind this week.
OK, maybe I’m trying to compensate for my youthful fails.
Regardless, if you find yourself in Boulder County this week, you’re in luck. Other than the regular family-friendly excitement in town (watching buskers on the Pearl Street Mall, going on guided hikes, visiting the Carousel of Happiness in Nederland), there are plenty of special events just for the week off.
Tinker Art Studio, 1300 Yellow Pine Ave. in north Boulder (my 7-year-old daughter’s personal favorite art hub in Boulder), is running a special Spring Break art camp during the morning all week for kids ages 5 to 12.
Even if you can’t commit to that, Tinker always offers drop-in art classes for kids, too; it’s called Tinker Time, when parents can drop off their kids to take a break and maybe try a microbrew or rooftop margarita, or do a peaceful yoga class to recenter. You won’t even suffer Mom Guilt for the time off, because kids have an awesome time exploring different stations with all kinds of materials, from paint to clay to even wire and wood sculpture.
If your kids are more readers than baby Picassos, the Longmont Public Library (about 30 minutes north of Boulder, still in Boulder County) is holding an all-day Spring Break Read-In. Kids are invited to relax in the library all day with a book or pop in for a book break. Snacks, lemonade and pillows provided.
For active kids, the World of Wonder Children’s Museum in Lafayette is everything. This educational, interactive museum features tons of science and art activities (wind tunnels, musical instruments, even a massive pirate ship to play on). As a bonus, at 4 p.m. today (March 29) the museum is holding a Yoga for Kids class that’s free with museum admission. Kids will learn basic poses, presented in an age-appropriate way (no mat necessary), to help them find their zen from an early age. What’s more Boulder spring break than mini yogis?
Also, the Lafayette Public Library (a short drive east from Boulder) is holding a DIY Time Capsule workshop from 3-4 p.m. today (March 29). Kids (and their parents) can learn how to build the perfect, fascinating time capsule to open in the future.
Like, for example, if I had done this during spring break 20 years ago, I would have filled my box with a “Titanic” poster covered in my profuse teardrops, the Beanie Baby I traveled across Germany to procure that was totally supposed to be worth so.much.money some day (still waiting for that day) and a CD single of Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” jam. Which my best friend and I listened to the whole drive to and from the hot springs on repeat.
Like I said, party boss.
Other entertainment highlights this week
Swing dance lessons at Skeye Brewing, 900 S. Hover in Boulder. If you’ve always wanted to learn how to swing dance but you never had the chance or courage to try it, Skeye’s Wednesday evening classes are convenient. And they come with easy access to a pint of liquid courage.
Social Distortion plays at the Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., at 8 p.m. tonight. These shows are notoriously fun, and really, what could be a cooler way to spend your Wednesday night? If you can’t handle that much punk on a school night, this weekend the Boulder Theater brings in comedian Jim Breuer. The show starts 8 p.m. Friday.
Barrel racing at the Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road in Longmont, runs 5-8 p.m. on Thursday. If you didn’t grow up in the West, this is a rodeo event where a person on a horse races through a bunch of barrels. The event is cheap (just $5) and an exciting cowboy tradition for visitors looking for a taste of the west. You can watch — or if you’re experienced and brave enough, sign a waiver to participate.
