A Kids Dream in Denver, Elitch Gardens

Elitch Gardens

A Kids Dream in Denver  

When in Denver the list of family activities is plentiful but there is a fun and historic place to go that the kids will be begging to go back to. Elitch Gardens is located near the Broncos Stadium in downtown Denver and offers fun for all ages. It first opened in 1890 as a botanical garden and zoo and has slowly evolved into the modern day amusement park locals enjoy today. 

What You Need to Know:

-        It’s $15 to park per day.

-        Your ticket purchase covers both the amusement and water park.

-        No outside food or drink is allowed (with the exception of baby food). They will confiscate it at the entrance.

-        They have metal detectors upon entering so make sure to leave pocket knives or anything similar at the hotel.

-        Check the online calendar as there are places in the park where concerts, movies and other performances and festivals are held for your family to enjoy.

-        They sometimes run a Groupon, so double check before you go for some extra savings.

-        You can add a Rapid Ride Pass to each ticket purchased so you can skip the long lines for some of the rides. From what I've read, most people don't think this is a good deal though.

-        There are a couple of different VIP experiences that may be well worth your dollar. Some including credits for the carnival games and other park perks.

Overall, we had a good experience at Elitch Gardens. The most challenging part was the beginning where there are two lines to wait in, one to buy your tickets and one to actually get in the park, both of which can be quite long. We waited about 45 minutes in total so be prepared with little ones. After going through the metal detectors at the entrance, we walked into an adorable little scene of shops. They looked like something straight out of a 1930s movie scene, some of the shops selling funnel cake, some selling souvenirs and some selling hot lunch items. Once we exited that area we came to the fork in the road, if you will, go straight and you go to the water park, take a left and you go to the amusement park. I can only speak to the amusement side as we did not go to the water park…so off we go! I love that the walk to the amusement park area is done up like an old Americana Main Street. There are charming little store fronts - places to eat, grab coffee and shop. The atmosphere is nice as there is music playing to get you hyped and in the mood for some rides! To the left of the centerpiece Ferris wheel is the Kiddie Land, an entire area dedicated to the kids. This was a surprisingly large area for a local amusement park and it was filled with unique rides that I’ve never seen before for children. Our son’s favorite was the motorcycle merry-go-round. With each spin the motorcycles you sit on pop up and do some wheelies. They even have a few thrill rides for the little ones as well as plays on a stage that are fun and educational. We spent a good 2 hours just enjoying the rides in Kiddie Land. After we let our little one enjoy himself it was time for us to go out and feel like kids again! The adult rides are equally fun, although I will say you won’t see anything too different from any other theme parks. The lines for most rides were between 10-40 minutes and while we were there, there were more than a couple of rides down. A couple of which we already waited 20 minutes or so for before they were closed. At one point, all the roller coasters were shut down due to some lightening moving in but it was quickly lifted and we were able to hop on and scream until our hearts were content. I have to say my favorite attraction (although not necessarily a thrill ride) was the Ghost Blasters ride. A journey that takes you through a spooky ghost house with a gun attached to your cart and lets you shoot at little targets pinned onto ghosts and ghouls. Since I love shooting guns in real life I was overly competitive and totally didn’t notice my poor son scared out of his mind…thank God daddy was there to comfort the little man (on the upside, I did score a 1200 which made me an EXPERT ghost hunter…yay me!!). There are carnival games throughout that are an extra cost ($3-$5 per game), face painting, Henna tattoos and photo booths. In my opinion, the food is overpriced and poor in quality (we paid $13 for 3 drinks, YIKES!) and I was disappointed that where we stopped to grab some snacks had no high chairs for my baby. As we were eating, I noticed several security guards and armed Denver police officers walking around and I realized how safe I felt the entire time. After looking into it, the Elitch Gardens website makes a point to say they have worked with Homeland Security and the Denver Police Department to come up with their firearms policy and create a safe and secure environment. I also love that they have a dress code within the amusement park that certain bathing suits are not allowed and cover ups must be worn on the amusement park side. I felt confident that my son wouldn’t be exposed to something inappropriate while enjoying himself.

I love this little town set up

The centerpiece Ferris wheel is a must go for everyone

A world all to themselves

This was my favorite ride in Kiddie Land!

Mike's Bikes - where ever kid can feel like a bada** for a few minutes

Free plays for everyone to enjoy

I thought I was going to pass out on this ride, talk about a thriller!

So many cute carnival games set up through out the adult side of the park

Taken as a whole, we had a fun and memorable day and at $36/adult and $32/child (these are ONLINE prices so make sure you buy in advance) for a day of enjoyment is kind of hard to beat. Our son is already begging to go back and the next time we are in Denver we just might treat him to a magical day of fun. 

Happy Travels! 

Shelby American

Shelby American Las Vegas

Experiencing the Legend 

"I'm not an engineer or a designer but I think I know what people like." - Carroll Shelby

The humility of a man who grew to be one of the biggest idols in car history is incredible to me. Prior to visiting the Shelby Heritage Center I thought I knew who Carroll Shelby was, I thought I knew his story and I thought I knew about the Shelby empire but now I see my knowledge was only scratching the surface of this amazing man and his amazing story. 

 

The Story Behind the Prodigy

Carroll Shelby was born on January 11, 1923 in Leesburg, Texas. From the young age of 7 he suffered from a heart valve leakage problem which ultimately forced him to end his racing career in October 1959. Prior to racing, Carroll served in World War II as a flight instructor and test pilot eventually graduating with the rank of staff sergeant pilot. After the war was over, Carroll had a handful of businesses that failed before he began racing cars as an amateur in 1952. Shelby quickly becomes victor race after race and in 1954 Aston Martin team manager, John Wyer, offers him the opportunity to race a car in England for the Aintree race which he finished in second. Between 1954 and 1959 Carroll continued racing in The U.S. and Mexico earning the title in 1957 of Sports Illustrated's "Driver of the Year". In 1960, he completes his last race, Laguna Seca, and in 1961 he is forced to retire from racing due to his heart condition. I was told by a good friend of Carroll's that his response was "If I can't race anymore, I want to build them." and that's what he did. He sent a proposal to AC Cars, based in England, asking them to provide a chassis to him so he could place a Ford V8 engine in it. Once the proper engine was found (a Ford 4.2 liter small block) the two were merged together and, in Febraury 1962, the Cobra was born in Dean Moon's Speed Shop. The original Cobra was painted a pearlescent yellow and then re-painted a new color every time a magazine came to test drive the Cobra so that it would appear they had many cars in production (good marketing move, don't you think?). Shelby American was established and went on to build many cars and win many races which built the name and brand we know today. In June of 1990, Carroll finally received a heart transplant. While in the hospital, Carroll saw how many families were affected by children with heart conditions and that a lot of them couldn't afford treatment so in September 1991, he started what is now known as the Carroll Shelby Foundation which has helped many families receive the medical attention they've needed every since. In the mid-90s the Shelby factory and World Headquarters were established in Las Vegas and is home to a collection of cars, dedicated to producing high quality Shelby vehicles and houses an official Shelby store that offers exclusive merchandise. Several employees told me they couldn't imagine working anywhere else and that they are "excited to be here in the morning and hate to leave at night.". The Senior Designer, Vincent LaViolette, had the privilege of taking Carroll on his last test drive at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway before he passed. In fact, the very car they sat in is displayed in the showroom, a Shelby 1000 proto car. Vincent told me that Carroll was passionate about the company and would come out in 110 degree weather just to watch the newest test drives and make sure they met his expectations. That he would call his employees "hot rodders" and call in every morning to see how everyone was doing. Vincent went on to say how Carroll would never forget a face, even if years would pass since the last time he saw you, he would pick up the conversation where it left off. He loved and cared for his employees as if they were family. Carroll Shelby passed on May 10, 2012 in Dallas at the age of 89. The employees of Shelby American find it a privilege to carry on his legacy daily and bring honor to his name.

The one and only original Cobra

The Heritage Center & Shelby American Tour   

The 10,400 square foot Heritage Center displays a collection of about 30 Shelby cars that have had a prominent role in the company's history. It once housed the original Cobra (yes, the one that was painted about 7 times!), which was recently auctioned. The museum is displayed as a walking timeline, starting with the oldest vehicle and ending with the newest prototype. There is a FREE tour (for hours of showroom & tour schedule click here http://shelby.com/?topic=museum&art=SHC) that is led by a gentleman named Jim who knew Carroll personally and has a wealth of knowledge regarding anything and everything Shelby. He spent some time with me while I was there and I was absolutely mesmerized listening to him. No wonder Shelby has a perfect 5/5 star rating on Yelp and everyone seems to praise Jim and the tour he leads. Jim first did business with Shelby American 51 years ago as a young mustang owner while building his own incredibly fast mustang (so fast, in fact, Jim said he is thankful he is still here!). He would buy performance parts from Carroll and grew to know him well. Jim went on to work for Ford for most of his life until he retired, came to Vegas and was offered a position at Shelby as a historian. In my opinion, I can't imagine anyone more fitted for the job than Jim. I asked him what is one thing you want people to know about Shelby and he replied with a smile, "I want them to know his legacy. I want them to know that when Shelby American was formed it really changed the definition of performance through out North America and the world." and by the end of the tour you will truly understand why that statement is so powerful and authentic. The tour takes about an hour with private tours available for no charge but donations to the Carroll Shelby Foundation are encouraged and appreciated.

Jim leading the FREE tour

The Factory 

This building after all is the Shelby World Headquarters and that means authentic Shelbys are built everyday in the factory. While you can't have direct access to the factory, there is a glass wall in the showroom that overlooks it and you can watch the technicians work on, build and customize vehicles. I was lucky enough to get a private tour and peek inside the factory operations, so I will fill you in on the magic that happens behind that wall. Across the entire front of the factory you will see technicians working on a variety of performance modifications. An ocean of mustangs graduating into the Shelby class. This area is the most visible and you are more than welcomed to hang out and watch for as long as you'd like. In the back of the factory you will find cars being Dyno tuned and tested to achieve maximum performance. Moving across the back wall you will find the body area where fiberglass pieces are made and where custom paint jobs are born. While I was being guided through this area I was informed that all the paint is mixed in house and some custom colors have taken up to a month to achieve the perfect shade (Talk about dedication!). The body and paint technicians work hard back here to shape, mold, paint and create the perfect finished product to make for a happy customer. Once the body work has been performed and is completed the piece is sent to a special light booth where it is meticulously looked over to find any imperfections.While in factory I couldn't help but notice how hard everyone was working and how much they seemed to care to make sure the job was done right. The passion these workers pour into the cars cannot go unnoticed.

A Mustang on the Dyno

  

The light booth where all imperfections are searched for

The Shelby Store & Foundation

At Shelby American you will find the Shelby shop which features a variety of genuine items and exclusive items you can only find at the Las Vegas store. The store manager informed me that one of the biggest purposes of the shop is that "Not everyone can afford an authentic Shelby vehicle but everyone can have a Shelby experience and take home a piece of Shelby," because they offer something in everyone's price range from a key chain to authentic autographed pieces. All the proceeds from the autographed pieces, and a percentage of the proceeds from all items sold, go directly to the Shelby Foundation. (*Mention The WannabeGypsy blog and you will receive a 10% discount on your purchase!) There are kiosks available in the store where you can donate to the Carroll Shelby Foundation. The charity held such a big and special place in Carroll's heart and his staff carries that on today. There have been many cars that were built specifically for auction and 100% of the sale price went to his charity. Carroll would sign his autograph and charge for his signature and 100% of the money collected was donated. Over the years so much has been raised that the foundation was able to expand to care for kids from "their first heartbeat through their education years" providing medical treatment, organ transplant management programs, financial grants for organizations who specialize in organ transplant research and provide scholarships for children who continue their education in the automotive field. A great way that we the fans can honor Carroll Shelby is to take the time to donate and continue his passion and legacy to provide for these amazing causes. 

Find this awesome dude by the front door so you can donate to the Carroll Shelby Foundation

 
After spending the day at Shelby American I walk away not only gaining an understanding of how much of an impact Carroll Shelby has had on American culture but the influence he's had across the world. Coming to experience the empire this racing legend built is on the bucket list of many people across the world. The manager told me she has met people from so many different countries who come to the U.S. to visit Shelby American and that it is a dream fulfilled for them. This is one experience you won't soon forget. 

Bonnie Springs Ranch Las Vegas

  Bonnie Springs Ranch

Experiencing the Wild West like never before 

“The Old West is not a certain place in a certain time, it’s a state of mind." – Tom Mix

About 30 minutes off the Las Vegas Strip, tucked away at the base of the Springs Mountains, is a wonderful little gem known as Bonnie Springs. As a girl who grew up in Vegas, Bonnie Springs is definitely keeper of some of my most cherished memories. It always offered a magical experience that took me back to a time of lawlessness, cowboys & offered a true Wild West encounter. This is not something to experience with only 2 hours available, I would encourage you to set at least half a day aside to truly enjoy all that Bonnie Springs has to offer. 

First things first, a little background of the Ranch. Originally the land was home to the Paiute Indians until immigrants took over the land while expanding the Old West, forcing the Indians to dwell in the enclaves located just beyond the Ranch area. This land, which had natural springs, was established in 1843 as the last stop along the Old Spanish Trail for pioneers to refill their water barrels before heading to California. In 1952, Bonnie McGaugh purchased the land which consisted of a house and an old run down bar which she operated without electricity for years. In 1964 she added electricity and expanded the bar to include a restaurant (Fun fact: Bonnie herself laid the floor that is in the restaurant by hand!). In 1974 her husband, Al Levinson, opened the old west style town now known as Old Nevada and in 1986 a 50 room motel was added to the area. Ever since, Bonnie Springs has been a local favorite and a staple of many childhood memories most of us can't imagine being without.

Old Nevada Mining Town 

Old Nevada was built with the vision of an 1880s old west mining town. It is complete with a wedding chapel, various souvenir stores, an antique photo shop (where you and your family can create old west style pictures), a school house, wax museum and a Saloon (which also doubles as a fully stocked bar). The buildings are either a collection of multiple old structures pieced together to create new ones or were transported as a complete building to the town. Some have witnessed paranormal activities and say the buildings are haunted. Ask any of the employees and they will tell you story after story of creepy accounts. This area of Bonnie Springs also has the talent! The wonderful staff put on displays such as a Melodramas, a Hanging and a Posse Show that will engage you and make you laugh until you cry. For a show schedule click here https://bonniesprings.com/activities/old-town/. The town is scattered with authentic mining equipment, wagons and other fun historical objects. Take a stroll with one of the cowboys walking around town and they will be nice enough to tell you all they know about Bonnie Springs and all the displays. The passion that went into building Old Nevada can still be felt. The love that fueled the labor into creating this Western town is seen in all the small details that make you feel as if you have traveled back in time to relive the Wild Wild West.  

The Petting Zoo 

The petting zoo opened in the early 1960s after someone abandoned sheep at the Ranch. Bonnie had such a love for animals she couldn't turn them away, so she took them in. Ever since, the zoo has adopted several species of animals including emus, deer, llamas, wolves and more! Most of these animals were donated, abandoned or injured and nursed back to health thanks to the Bonnie Springs Ranch. Bring your quarters so you can buy animal food from the dispensers and get a hands on experience with some amazing little creatures. 

The Restaurant & Bar

While you're out visiting the old west you're bound to get hungry for some food, food fit for a cowboy in fact. Good news is you won't have to travel far. The Ranch has an awesome restaurant on site with a beautiful view of a man made pond where ducks and turtles abound. This affordable little place was essentially where all of Bonnie Springs started and history lives on, in fact some of Bonnie's original recipes are still served and adored at the restaurant. For hours of operations click here https://bonniesprings.com/

The bar is also a great destination for motorcycle riders to head out to. Hop on your Harley, ride through the scenic mountains and enjoy a nice cold drink and some delicious food with your friends. You'll notice from the ceiling of the bar hang hundreds if not thousands of dollar bills. It was a tradition that started many years ago and on the day after 9/11 they took down all the money that was collected over the years (totaling almost $19,000!) and donated it to the local fire department. Since then, every couple of years they pull down all the dollars hung from the ceiling and continue to donate them to various non-profits.

Events

If your child's birthday is coming up, company party or if your signing the dotted line on that marriage license soon, Bonnie Springs wants to help you celebrate! They offer in house catering & various locations available on site to accommodate any size gathering. The events manager will guide you through the planning of your event and help you customize your special occasion to bring your vision into a reality. By understanding your specific needs he will be able to provide you and your guests with an experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else. For more information, call the main office at (702) 875-4194

While out at the Ranch you can also enjoy horseback riding, pony rides, a train ride and on the last Saturday of every month you can shoot live zombies (talk about an oxymoron!) with paintball guns for the ultimate Walking Dead experience. For information regarding all of these activities click here https://bonniesprings.com/   

The Wild West is still alive and well in the back mountains of the Las Vegas area. Only a short drive from The Strip it will offer you memories to last a lifetime. 

Bonnie Springs Ranch

Phone: (702) 875-4194

16395 Bonnie Springs Road

Las Vegas, NV 89124

www.bonniesprings.com 

Wild West Cowboy Show, they love interacting with the folks!

Bonnie Springs will take you to an entirely different world

My son being deputized, receiving his badge and taking his oath

This little guy can't wait to get some treats!

The Bonnie Springs restaurant serves up some delicious food

Talk about a beautiful backdrop

Las Margs: A Foodie Hot Spot for Your Mexican Craving 

Downtown Denver 

Recently, while in Denver, my family & I got a craving for some tacos. So, I took to Yelp to find a high rated restaurant in the area so we could indulge ourselves until we were content. Up popped Las Margs. With a 4.5/5 star rating we figured we found the spot. Las Margs did not disappoint! We ordered some Chips & Salsa, Guacamole, Nachos, the "Poblano", Tinga Chicken Street Tacos & Churros and OMG it was heavenly. I don't think I've ever had better Salsas. They weren't just "hot" - they had flavor & depth. The "Poblano" was my absolute favorite thing on the menu and I highly recommend you try it. It is a roasted Poblano pepper that has been stuffed with their signature Tinga chicken, topped with green tomatillo salsa, crema & queso. It has a bit of a crunchy top, a well balanced center and the perfect roast so it's not too soggy. The entire experience was so amazing that I asked the waitress if the manager was available because I had to tell him how much I loved the food. She did one better and brought the owner himself, Octavio. Octavio was as much of a delight as his food. I had to ask him if I could come back within the next few days to interview him so I could write about his restaurant and share this little gem of a place with the world - and here we are. 

Octavio has been in the food industry since 1972 and has incorporated some old time family recipes into Las Margs with some dating back 80 years. The Chicken Tinga recipe belonged to his wife's grandmother and the (amazing) Salsa Verde belonged to his grandma. The family inclusion doesn't stop there. His son-in-law, Zachary has been there for 25 years & is now Octavio's partner. Emmanuel, his nephew, is head Chef along with a lovely woman named Virginia. Both of whom are passionate about cooking and it is shown by the time and effort they put into Las Margs to make sure your food is delicious every time. 

Octavio's theory is to make everything as fresh as possible. A lot of local produce is used and he brings red & green chiles in from New Mexico (he informed me this is where you will find the BEST red & green chiles). The Tamales, Salsas and Beans are made fresh daily and the Churros are cooked to order from a fresh batch of dough. The Flan is the best Flan I've ever had (and let me tell you, I've had my fair share). It is house-made with a special recipe that is more than 30 years old. Octavio told me the secret to a good Flan is to check it frequently to make sure it does not overcook. His passion & the passion of the Chefs shine on each plate that leaves the kitchen. I always say you can tell the difference between a cook & a chef in one bite because the love they have for their food will come out on the plate and this proves true at Las Margs. Octavio is very picky as far as what is served at his restaurant, he says "If it's not right, it will be done over." 

Look at these beautiful peppers being roasted for the Salsa

The Flan cooking in a water bath, no frozen desserts here!

The decadent finished Flan, I'm craving it now!

The staff is a direct reflection of the leadership in any restaurant and everyone we encountered at Las Margs was friendly, cheerful & fun. Octavio informed me most of his employees have been there for a while and a few who had left came back and have now been there for several years. 

The building brings so much character to the atmosphere. I learned it is a historic building and used to be a car garage as is seen in the roll up door on one of the walls that must always remain due to a grandfather clause to mark the building in it's original state. 

Overall, Las Margs will be a memory that we will keep for a long time. I'm still craving the Poblano dish! Anytime we are in the Denver area we will be making a point to stop and get our Mexican fix at the much loved Las Margs and I recommend you make a point to try it out!

Las Margs

1521 Marion Street 

Denver, CO 80218

720-366-4160

http://www.lasmargsdenver.com/

Octavio, the owner, what a sweet guy!

 

Contact me at thewannabegypsy@yahoo.com with questions and comments.

 

The Louvre Museum

Address: Very hard to find an accurate one...so I'll post the map!
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Louvre+Museum/@48.860611,2.337644,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x47e671d877937b0f:0xb975fcfa192f84d4
Cost: 16 Euro per Adult; children 18 and under are FREE
Hours: Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Friday: from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.
Closed on Tuesdays
Website: http://www.louvre.fr/en

Wow, the Louvre has so much history in it I couldn't help but fall head over heels for her. Originally built as a fortress in the 12th century, it once served as a Palace to the royals but fell to the common people during the Revolution and in 1793 the Revolutionary government opened the first portion of the museum to the people. Upon it's public opening date it housed 537 paintings that were mostly confiscated property from the royals and churches during the Revolution. The collection has certainly grown in the last 200 years to house more than 35,000 pieces of art and more than 380,000 objects displayed in this 652,000 square foot building! There are several collections to view including Egyptian Antiques, Sculptures and my favorite The Greek, Etruscan, and Roman collection.

The Louvre has several iconic pieces it has acquired over the years such as the Venus de Milo, The Winged Victory of Samothrace and the beloved Mona Lisa (which let me burst your bubble now...the original Mona is only 30 in × 21 in - yea, I was shocked when I saw it).

The Louvre provides maps upon entering that give information on the displays and their locations in the museum but here is a link for an interactive floor plan so you can plan ahead and make sure your "must see" things are made priority http://www.louvre.fr/en/plan. 

There are places to eat inside as well and enough rooms and collections to easily fill a complete day or two. For parents with young kids, it's a little hard to maneuver a stroller around and paranoia is all but contained as you watch your little ones walk by these priceless objects but it is well worth it - just plan to move a little slower than most and keep a close eye on the kiddos. This is a wonderful chance to educate tweens and teens on art, culture and history. Here is a link for a book to help kids get educated on the pieces in The Louvre before your big trip http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811855104?ie=UTF8&tag=parmus-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0811855104 

 For the latest exhibitions & events click here http://www.louvre.fr/en/evenements