Things to Do in Federal Heights

Agates, amethysts, and luminous glass beads come alive in the settings that The Colorado Bead Company’s jewelry instructors help students design— elegant yet whimsical loops of wire, antique-looking chains, earring hoops that recall delicate dreamcatchers. Classes bring out the jewelry artist in kids, adults, and even first-time crafters who get to experience the thrill of walking out clad in the necklaces they've just designed. The shop glistens with strands and packets of such exotic baubles as freshwater pearls, hypoallergenic beads, and Swarovski crystal beads, ready to be incorporated into a new project or used to make a pair of maracas sound classier. Shoppers browse in a bright, open space lined with huge windows, hardwood floors, and airy flower prints.

While bullets streak down the lanes at most shooting ranges, the more than 40 avenues of fire found on Monaco Street host a different projectile: arrows. No Limits Archery features 31 20-yard lanes with paper targets—ideal training grounds for beginners hunting the broad sides of barns. Deep-woods verisimilitude increases across a dozen 40-yard ranges, where arrows glance off the oblique flanks of 3-D faux animals.

The facility rents out compound bows to beginners who don't yet possess their own equipment, and an onsite pro shop provides extra ammo and mid- to high-end compound weapons to more serious practitioners. Each Friday, instructors oust adults from the range to provide targeted instruction to youngsters, and they host tournaments and leagues for pros on weekends.

City Walks began with a signature pub tour, and has since branched out to include walking tours that explore all sides of Saint Augustine. Steeped in cultural heritage and historical preservation, the tours delve deep into Saint Augustine’s past and present, exploring topics such as the city’s savory cuisine, local chocolatiers, and historical pubs and taverns. Lanterns cast shadows on streets as guides lead groups on City Walks’ History, Mystery, Mayhem & Murder tour, while lighter tours include a Bachelorette Crawl and a walk through the Plaza da la Constitución.

240 East Cordova Street used to be the address where Vancouver’s police officers, morticians, judges, and dead converged. The building, which was built in 1932, served as the city’s coroner’s court and morgue until the 1980s and the city analyst’s lab until 1995. Countless toxicology tests and several high-profile investigations have taken place between the building’s walls, including the Castellani Milkshake Murder and Errol Flynn’s autopsy. Fittingly, given the building’s significance to Vancouver's criminal-justice history, it is now home to the Vancouver Police Museum.

To date, the museum staff has curated a selection of approximately 20,000 historical artifacts, including confiscated weapons, counterfeit currency, photographs, paperwork, and vintage police vehicles. Currently, 40 per cent of the collection is on display in the museum’s several exhibits, one of which allows visitors to explore a coroner’s forensic lab. The museum also offers educational programs such as walking tours and a two-hour forensic-science program. During this program, guests scour a faux crime scene for clues and try to prevent the brash, young rookie cop from running off into the night to find the perpetrator.

Three professional sports teams. Five levels. Forty-five acres. More than 200 events per year. Although these numbers don’t define Pepsi Center, they certainly highlight the impact the entertainment emporium has had on the community since it first opened its doors in 1999. Here, visitors can attend a rousing NBA basketball game, watch Disney stars twirl on ice, or sing along as Madonna belts out her greatest hits and imparts the health benefits of drinking glow-stick juice. They can also dine at one of three distinct restaurants, and, during tours of the impressive facilities, marvel at backstage areas and the 2,000-pound statue in the Grand Atrium.

Sprawling across 12,000 square feet of high-flying play areas, Mid-Air Adventures gets adrenaline pumping with a multitude of altitudinous activities. Ziplines span platforms reaching up to 11-feet high, their riders’ eventual descents cushioned by padded landing slopes covered in marshmallow-stuffed comforters. The safety-conscious staff members belay climbers at the 20-foot climbing wall, and a giant swing dangles from the highest ceiling to challenge the most daring of daredevils. Kids navigate a network of rope bridges that snake across the facility, and a toddler play area entertains young ones while keeping them close to Earth.