Apple Picking at Roger's Grove

Where: Roger's Grove Park, 220 S Hover Street

This was a great year for apples, and the orchard at Roger's Grove Park is overflowing with fruit. Even better, the apples are free for the picking, so grab your tote bags and start harvesting. Be prepared: many of the best specimens can be found on the highest limbs, and a step stool will come in handy. (Bug spray is a good idea, too.) Kids will love climbing the trees and unlimited apples.

Union Reservoir

Where: 461 County Road 26
Web: http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/parks/park_list/overview/union.htm
When: March 1 - April 30, 6am-8pm; May 1 - Sept 1 (Labor day), 6am-9pm; Sept 2 - Sept 30, 7am-8pm; Oct 1 - Oct 31, 7am-7pm
Fee: Vehicle, $8; Walk/Bike-in, $2 (see website for other fees and annual passes)

Let's face it: you don't have a whole lot of options in Longmont when it comes to a day at the beach. In fact, your options pretty much begin and end with Union Reservoir. Fortunately, Union is a lovely spot in which to soak up the summer sun. Located on the east side of town, the 736-acre reservoir offers visitors a wide array of outdoor recreation options in a picturesque setting.

Union is a wakeless lake, providing a perfect spot for sail boats, canoes, wind surfers and paddle boats to glide across the water without concerns about loud motors and disruptive waves. On the sandy beaches (yes, there really is sand!) families frolic and swim while friendly, well-behaved dogs can splash happily nearby in a designated off-leash area (note: the dog beach is not fenced in). There are also campgrounds, a playground, grills, a volleyball court and more.

Union reservoir is also home to the Union Sailing Club, an active sailing club with weekly races, and the Longmont Sculling Club which caters to both new and experienced scullers.

End of Summer Dog Swim

(Updated for 2014)

Every year the summer draws to a close, and the kids' activity pools close their doors in anticipation of children returning to school. A few days later, the doors open again - for just a few hours - letting in the water-loving canines of Longmont. The pool is full of wagging tails and bobbing tennis balls, and the owners look on, soaking wet, from the sidelines. Labs and goldens are the majority here, but all friendly pooches are welcome. Bring your 3 dollars, the city provides balls and bags.

This year there is only one kids' activity pool because the Kanemoto pool was destroyed in the 2013 flood.


2014 dates:
Tuesday, August 19 and Wednesday, August 20, 4-7pm at Roosevelt Activity Pool, $3

Field Notes: Red Rocks Loop, Boulder

Centennial Park Trailhead, Boulder, 16 miles from Longmont

Drive past the bustling and overflowing Sanitas Trailhead and arrive at the active but less frenetic Centennial Park Trailhead. Follow signs toward the Red Rocks Loop trail, a .5 mi trail that loops around a beautiful jutting rock formation with gorgeous views of the surrounding foothills and Boulder below. While the hike isn't long, it is steep at times with sandy, crumbling rocks. There are many other trails around this area, so you could extend your outing.

For more local hikes see here and here.

This is a late March day... Sunny and 70 degrees!

Discovery Days

Where: Longmont Museum & Cultural Center, 400 Quail Road

Web: http://www.longmontmuseum.org/education/discovery-days/

When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 9:00 to 10:15 am, 10:15 to 11:30, and 12:30 to 2 pm (Discovery Days is open when school is in session, and closed during all breaks and holidays)

Looking for something to do to get out of the house with your little one? Discovery Days at the Longmont Museum & Cultural Center is the perfect rainy day activity. Geared for the 2 to 5-year-old set, Discovery Days offers many tables of hands-on activities based around a theme. If your preschooler likes to get messy with paint, glitter, and glue, this is the place to do it!

There are also permanent play stations such as a play castle that our 4-year-old can't resist, a table full of beans and cups for pouring fun, and a puppet theater. Discovery Days is $4 for residents and $4.50 for non-residents (fee is per child), and each drop-in session is 45 minutes.

Check the Discovery Days calender to see what the weekly theme is. We unwittingly showed up for Super Heroes week which, while popular with many kids, was not too exciting for our girly girl. Fortunately we decorated our super hero cape to be an Elsa cape, and all was well.

Sledding in Longmont

A few days of snowfall has left Longmont looking quite picturesque. If you are wondering where to take the kids, there are three spots around town that are the go-to sledding locations.

In Old Town, there are a few rolling hills in Sunset Golf Course (where all these photos were taken). Head to the area right behind the pool. 1900 Longs Peaks Avenue.

Our friends rave about the sledding hill in the new Dry Creek Community Park, near the corner of Clover Basin Drive and Grandview Meadows Drive.

In the southern part of the town, check out the big hill at Sunset Middle School, 1300 S Sunset St.

In the eastern part of town, go to Skyline High School, 600 E. Mountain View Ave.

Any other suggestions? Please share!

CyclHOPS Bike Cantina

Where: 600 S. Airport Rd 

Web: http://eat.oskarblues.com/cyclhops/

Hours: 11am-midnight, seven days a week

The geniuses at Oskar Blues Brewing continue their takeover of Longmont with this inspired blend of a taco joint and bike shop. And I for one, welcome our new craft beer overlords. After all, they haven't let us down yet, from CHUBurger to the Tasty Weasel, from Homemade Liquids and Solids to the Bonewagon. CyclHOPS, located in the western part of town, doesn't break OB's streak. The tacos are extremely fresh and flavorful (the carnitas option with pickled onions was the clear winner the first time around), there's a wide array of tequilas to choose from and the Dia de los Muertos-inspired decor is fun and unique. And perhaps it goes without saying, but there are great beers on tap, too (both from Oskar Blues' arsenal and elsewhere).

The interior is spacious and family friendly with plenty of natural light pouring in. And it'll be even more appealing in the warmer months, thanks to its very inviting patio. Then you've got the bike part of the equation -- CyclHOPS is the official retail location for Oskar Blues' line of very cool, very customized REEB mountain bikes and offers a full-service bike shop to boot. Tacos, tequila, craft beer, and bikes? It's about as Colorado as it gets.