Located in the San Isabel National Forest, about 3 hours south of Denver, is a pretty spectacular site – a castle rather – and a must see for anyone interested in architecture. 

Mr. Jim Bishop started building this castle, which rests in the forest above Rye Colorado, over 40 years ago.  This amazing structure is open to the daily to the public, yet it is the most fun to visit on weekends to watch the lively Mr. Bishop in action.

As my grandmother has a cabin not far from the castle, I have had the good fortune to visit and watch the progress of construction throughout the years.  To say that Jim Bishop is a “character” is an understatement.  He likes to rant and rave about various and usually political conspiracies along with some other less than tame topics. 

If you are not offended by colorful language or bizarre (yet often hilarious) diatribes, visit on the weekend – If you want to get Mr. Bishop going, just ask him about any politician and watch him go.  Otherwise, visit while he is at his day job.  Oh, and the signs will warn you that entering is at your own risk and donations are appreciated!

Learn about the history and see photos on Wikipedia at Bishop’s Castle.  I took the liberty of enhancing my photos to take on a fairy tale look:

Michelle A. Potter
Denver and Suburban Realtor
303-489-4035

One of the beautiful benefits of living in the Denver area is the plethora of outdoor activities.  Here are five diverse day trips either in Denver or close to Denver sure to appeal to visitors and locals alike.

Rockies Game at Coors Field

As you can see from the Coors Field photo, even the “bad” seats afford a nice look at the diamond.  The surrounding, Ball Park neighborhood, serve up some fun sports bars for before or after a game.  Of course, the stadium fare isn’t bad either.  Learn more about the Rockies at: Colorado Rockies Baseball.

Manitou Springs, located South of Denver outside of Colorado Springs

Andy Newman, penned a wonderful article on Manitou Springs entitled, in Colorado, a “Hippy Mayberry” that can be read here:  New York Times Travel.  This perfectly apt description speaks to the fact that Manitou Springs is probably the sole town in Colorado where the scent (odor?) of patchouli oil mingles in the air with the scent of ice creams and chocolates.

Manitou is nestled above Colorado Springs and close to Garden of the Gods and Cave of the Winds.  It’s proximity to Denver makes it the perfect day trip for families, couples and singles alike.

Additional information can be found here: Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce. 

Denver Botanical Gardens

The gardens at the urban location on York Street are beyond breathtaking.  The addition of the Henry Moore sculptures exhibit, intermingled amongst the gardens, enhances the experience.  The Deer Creek Canyon location in Littleton looks inviting although I have not yet had the pleasure of a visit.

Learn more about Denver Botanical Gardens (both locations) at:  Denver Botanical Gardens.

Chatfield State Park

A short drive from downtown Denver, Chatfield State Park, offers: boating, a place for the dogs to romp, swimming, hiking and camping.

Visit: Chatfield State Park for details.

Elitch Gardens Theme Park

The urban setting makes Elitch Gardens a unique place to visit an amusement park.  Light Rail makes entering and exiting the park a breeze.

For hours and additional information click here: Elitch Gardens Amusement Park.

Highlands Ranch is an outdoor lover’s paradise, boasting a magnificent outdoor community including over 50 miles of trails, 17 parks with amenities, and more than 2,000 acres of open space.

All of these paths connect to parks and schools, so nearly all of Highlands Ranch is accessible by scenic trails. The parks are secluded yet easily accessible, and generally are made up of large, well kept grass fields, playgrounds, and picnic areas with protection from the elements.

In addition, there are skate parks, dog parks, inline skating rinks, tennis courts, and well lit baseball fields. Outdoor life is essential in the community of Highlands Ranch, and while visiting you will most likely see many bikers and joggers spending their free time indulging in the open spaces.

70 miles of trails are located within Highlands Ranch, providing a wide array of options when deciding where to venture, or to take the dog for a walk.

The open areas provide a great escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life- one can explore their adventurous side after a day in the office. In fact, there are 25 acres of park space, per 1,000 residents of Highlands Ranch, providing ample recreational opportunities for everyone.

Michelle A. Potter
Denver Realtor
Re/Max Professionals
303-489-4035

An article in today’s Denver Post reports that the RTD train from Union Station to Denver International Airport will break ground in August of 2010. The 23 mile track is estimated to cost 1.3 billion and will be funded through a public/private initiative.  Also – good news for folks who hold the College Pass, Neighborhood Eco Pass or the Business Pass as RTD will issue “smart facecards” for these passengers.

Michelle A. Potter
Denver Realtor
Re/Max Professionals

Simply click on the arrow labeled “Life in Denver” located on the video for your tour of Denver Colorado:

FYI: I had this Denver video produced while I was a Realtor at Prudential Colorado Real Estate (which no longer exists.) So, please excuse the opening mention of Prudential and rest assured that RE/MAX Professionals has an amazing market share in the Metro Denver area.

Michelle A. Potter
Denver Realtor
(303) 489-4035

With the holiday season fast approaching –  it is none too early to start planning for some great festivities in and around Denver:

Enjoy these wonderful holiday celebrations!

Michelle A. Potter

Join Tattered Cover Bookstore in Highlands Ranch celebrate their 5^th anniversary.  Denver-Metro’s, independent and local bookseller, is hosting this event on Sunday, November 15^th at noon, with cake cutting at 2pm.

Tattered Cover is located in the Town Center in Highlands Ranch:
View Larger Map

By the way, Carlos Ruiz Zafon’s newest read, The Angel’s Game, is phenomenal – and yes I picked it up at Tattered Cover.

For additional details call Tattered Cover: 303-470-7050

The Museum of Outdoor Arts and the Hudson Gardens & Event Center are gearing up for Holiday 2009.  Here is a mini preview of the glistening lights, whimsical holiday displays, plus old fashioned hay and carriage rides that we can look forward to in Denver:

Hudson Holiday begins on 11-21-09 and continues on selected evenings through 1-3-2010.  The Hudson Garden Event Center is located at 6115 South Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, which make it any easy commute for Denver urbanites and suburbanites. Or better yet, hop on light rail to the Littleton Station and make the short trek to the event center.

For hours, days, pricing, and sponsorship opportunities call 303-797-8565 x 321 or visit Hudson Holiday.

Directions to Hudson Holiday:  View Larger Map

Labor Day weekend is just around the corner so it’s time to explore the offerings for Denver.  Whether you’re looking for activities close to Denver or are interested in a mini-road trip, the choices are plentiful this Labor Day weekend.

In Denver:

A Taste of Colorado begins on Friday and runs through Monday at the Civic Center Park.  The Denver restaurant line-up looks impressively eclectic – from India’s Pearl to Smashburger to Ling and Louie’s – so bring the kid’s for their favorite nibble while you enjoy a more exotic sampling. Plus – there is live music, with the Robert Cray Band playing on Saturday at 7:30pm (my favorite), with additional bands performing throughout the weekend.

Labor Day Metaphysical Fair begins on Friday at 1pm and goes through Sunday at the Denver Merchandise Mart Expo.  Amongst the back-drop of local musicians, one can attend lectures, workshops, have an aura photo taken, or get a reading by one of the attending mediums.

Wow – Check out the Colorado Rockies Labor Day Schedule and you will see there is no rest for the Rockies over the Labor Day weekend.  They have four games at home so what a great time for the rest of us to take in a baseball game or four?

Labor Day Road Trips from Denver:

Colorado Springs Day Trip:

The Colorado Springs Balloon Classic – There is nothing more beautiful than watching the balloons amongst the backdrop of the Rockies.  This balloon festival is celebrating its 33^rd year and runs Saturday through Monday during the Labor Day weekend.  Don’t forget your camera for this perfect family outing.

Glenwood Springs Road Family Road Trip:

Why not take advantage of a relaxing weekend in Glenwood (many of the locals head over to Aspen for the Labor Day Jazz Festival).  Along with hiking and biking another family treat is waiting at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.  Take the gondola ride to the top to visit the caves, ride the mountain roller coaster, or swing over the canyon.  Additionally, the Shoshone (the 10 mile stretch of the Colorado River) is probably quite mellow for river rafting so it’s a nice time to take the whole family.  Call Blue Sky Adventures to find out the conditions and Labor Day Availability.

Steamboat Springs Family Road Trip:

In addition to the usual fun of a leisurely walk along the Yampa River or Fish Creek Falls, Steamboat is hosting the Wild West Air Fest 2009. If not an aviation aficionado, enjoy the many other options such as golfing, biking, hiking and lounging in the downtown hot springs pool.

Aspen/Snowmass Couples and Friends Road Trip:

The Jazz Aspen Snowmass – Labor Day Festival begins on Friday evening and continues through Sunday evening in the Snowmass Town Park.  Citizen Cope leads the Friday line-up with The Allman Brothers Band finishing the festival on Sunday.  (Okay, so it’s not just jazz).  Enjoy the music- set in one of the most luxurious mountain towns in the world.

We are pretty fortunate to live in Denver with so many diverse opportunities for outdoor adventures – and of course, additional adventures continue beyond the Labor Day Weekend.

Michelle A. Potter

Denver Realtor

Remax Professionals

Weatherstone, in Highlands Ranch Colorado, is a lovely neighborhood located about 25 minutes south of Denver and 15 minutes from the Denver Tech Center.  Commuters from Weatherstone to Denver can either zip up Santa Fe Drive to I-25 North or take the light rail at Mineral Station in Littleton.  A convenient RTD commuter bus is located in the Highlands Ranch Town Center that transports to the light rail station.

Weatherstone consists of slightly fewer than 300 homes built in the late 1990’s by builders Sanford/Beazer, Bainbridge/Forest Glen and Virden Homes. Many of the lots are large by traditional Highlands Ranch standards. The western edges of the Weatherstone community include a natural divide complete with a meandering bike trail.  At the eastern edge, is the gated community of Back Country.

Weatherstone’s  Stone Mountain Elementary is on a traditional calendar and is part of the acclaimed Douglas County School District.  Middle school age children attend Ranch View Middle School and teenagers attend Thunder Ridge High School – both of which are minutes from the neighborhood.  For additional information on the test scores of these schools visit: Colorado School Accountability Reports

Weatherstone residents enjoy all the amenities provided through the primary Highlands Ranch Community Association such as pools, recreational centers and numerous trails throughout the community.  Additionally, residents are part of a second, Weatherstone HOA, that includes the neighborhood pool, Pronghorn Park, and community shared grounds maintenance.  Social activities are plentiful thanks to the energetic Weatherstone Block Captains.

Homes in Weatherstone command prices between the high -$400,000 to well over a million.  Lot size, mountain views, the builder, upgrades, and the section of the neighborhood all factor into the price.

To see homes available in Weatherstone, please go to  Weatherstone Homes and type in the WeatherStone (Highlands Ranch not Westminster) filings in the upper left corner.   Or, better yet, contact me and I will set you up to receive e-mail alerts as new Weatherstone listings become available.

Michelle A. Potter

Denver Realtor

Remax Professionals