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Rocks, Candy & InsectsJun 17, 2008
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Red Rocks Park
From Cherry Creek State Park – Aurora, CO
Sorry for no entry yesterday, but the Braves game at Coors Field did not happen. During the day yesterday while listening to a local radio station, the weather prediction was for “strong late afternoon thunderstorms with possible hail”. Well, we did not want to get rained out of a rain out make up game, so we elected not to go. But guess what…..not a drop of rain let alone any hail. Another missed forecast – weathermen are like baseball players; if you get a hit just 1 out of 3 times, you’re considered to be “All Star” status!
Oh well, we may still get in a game later this week or at least get close enough for a photo opportunity! Nice thing about this lifestyle is that if you miss something this time through, more likely than not your travels will bring you back through the area a second time.
We did however travel the local attraction route today and found three very different, but individually interesting places to visit. As the journal title hinted at, we started the day at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, then went to a factory where candy has been handmade since 1920 and ended our day at The Butterfly Pavilion which is an insect zoo.
Just 15 miles west of Denver nestled in the Rocky Mountain Foothills stands a symbol of nature’s majesty. This geologically formed, open-air amphitheatre sits at an elevation of 6,500 feet. With Mother Nature as the architect, the design consists of two 300 ft monoliths; Ship Rock and Creation Rock, providing acoustic perfection for any performance.
This area was originally known as the Garden of Angels and has attracted musical performers since before the turn of the century. However it was in 1927 the city of Denver purchased the Red Rocks area and enlisted the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps to construct an amphitheatre designed by Burnham Hoyt.
It was dedicated in 1941 and held its first Easter Sunrise Service in 1947 and this continues as an annual event to this date. There are 70 rows with seating for an audience of 9,645. The performer that has appeared more than any other is Grateful Dead with Willie Nelson not far behind. John Denver stated this was the greatest place he had ever performed.
Our next stop of the day was Hammond’s Candies located close to downtown Denver. This factory has been hand-pulling and hand-twisting candy in small batches since 1920. Each day 2,000 pounds of candy is made “the old fashioned way”. Original equipment is still used today as well as an 1890 machine that makes the ribbon candy. However, every piece of candy is hand wrapped and hand labeled before it leave the factory.
They started with just 10 flavors and 15 colors and today this has grown to 70 flavors and 45 colors. Their candies have been featured in many national catalogs and magazines as well as national network programs such as “The Travel Channel”, “HGTV” and “Food Network” and they ship to such businesses as Cracker Barrel and William-Sonoma as well as overseas.
The final stop of the day was The Butterfly Pavilion & Insect Center. This is a non-profit insect zoo dedicated to science education and conservation. You can get eye-to-eye with scorpions, beetles, giant millipedes or hold “Rosie” the friendly Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula. You are also able to touch and learn about life along the water’s edge such as sea stars, salt water fish and other aquatic invertebrates from both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean tide pools.
However, the largest exhibit is the tropical conservatory which is home to more than 1,200 live butterflies from rainforests around the world. You can even witness butterflies emerging from their chrysalides and see them released into the conservatory twice daily.
As usual, my traveling photographer got some great photos from each of our adventures today. The ones from Red Rocks showing the beauty of this magnificent geological wonder and the close-up shots from The Butterfly Pavilion are just awesome. We hope you enjoyed today’s travels and will join us again down the road.
Till Later……..
