59 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | SHOPPING & SERVICES | SPORTS & RECREATION | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD & DRINK | MUSIC & VENUES | VAIL, CO . JUNE 5-8 MOUNTAINGAMES.COM abandoned 1910 Looff carousel in Utah and spent 26 years hand-carving more than fi fty one-of-a-kind animals to bring it back to life. Today it’s a happy addition to the small mountain town, and a major draw — even if there’s no frozen dead guy in sight. Best New Playground Nature Play Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado Boulevard 303-370-6000 dmns.org/about/strategic-plan/nature-play The four-acre Nature Play, which opened at the Museum of Nature & Science last September, is designed for immersive play and education, with a purposely unstruc- tured design for creativity and problem- solving. Suitable for all ages, the grounds are designed around the museum’s third- fl oor dioramas of all eight of Colorado’s ecosystems, and also include water features like a mountain stream and beaver dam. The water makes it to the playground via the underground “big ditch,” which began operating in 1867 and is Denver’s oldest in- frastructure. There are also tunnels, ropes, swings, slides and hiding places. And where else will you fi nd a twenty-foot climbable bighorn sheep, or wooden benches carved by local artist “Chainsaw Mama”? Best Place to Learn Where Food Comes From The Urban Farm 10200 Smith Road 720 414-6141 theurbanfarm.org Located out east on Smith Road, the non- profi t Urban Farm is designed for urban youth to learn about agriculture. Kids can get up close to 150 well-cared-for live- stock, including horses, goats, sheep and poultry, as well as gardens and beehives. Participants in the TUF Club collectively raise animals and learn about feeding, nu- trition, breeding and general care of their charges, and the facility offers workshops in soap-making and felting. There are ac- commodations for fi eld trips to the farm, which also hosts birthday parties, tours and equine and summer camps. Best Perk for Kids MY Denver Card denvergov.org In addition to serving as a library card, the MY Denver Card provides kids ages fi ve to eighteen with free access to the city’s recre- ation centers and swimming pools, as well as many cultural facilities. The rec centers offer drop-in and scheduled activities such as urban arts and culture and group recre- ation. Additionally, the card provides free admission to programs offered by the Bo- tanic Gardens, the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Center for Performing Arts, History Colorado Center and the Museum of Nature & Science. Apply at any rec center or online. Best Gym Membership Denver Parks & Recreation denvergov.org As the rest of the country goes on a shop- ping spree after Thanksgiving, Mile High gym-goers and weekend warriors may have already taken advantage of the year’s best deal. Offered every November by Denver Parks & Recreation, this price cut on an- nual recreation center visits saves serious coin on an already affordable membership. In 2024, Denver adults could sign up for a year-long membership to all of the city’s rec centers and pools for $221.40, nearly $150 less than the normal $369 per year. That’s less than $20 a month on average, and local passes with access to fewer rec centers cost even less. The promotion, a 40 percent price cut, offered slightly lower savings than 2023’s version, and there’s no guarantee that the annual deal will return in 2025 as the city faces budgetary cuts. For the sake of our love handles, we sure hope it does. Best Rec Center Class Zumba Denver Recreation Centers denvergov.org If you’ve ever wished someone could invent a way to go clubbing continued on page 60
