Things to Do in Longmont

Inspired by the idea that creativity should be not only about expression but also about having fun in the process, the staff at Whimsy Paint and Sip Art Studio shows groups how to make colorful works of art with easy-to-follow steps. Layering colorful paints on canvases provided by the studio, students build compositions ranging from re-creations of modern masterpieces to landscapes and still lifes. During painting events, guests can sip on signature martinis mixed behind the 40-foot stainless-steel bar or a variety of Colorado wines available by the glass or bottle. Beyond the weekly events, the staff maintains a selection of canvases and frames in their boutique and also hosts birthday parties where children have fun playing with paint and parents can figure out if the tuition to that preschool of the arts is paying off.

Teammates skirt the abandoned RV, dart through the open door of a downed helicopter, and duck for cover behind a concrete bunker. After a pause, a player stands to check for enemies on the landscape of dusty huts and fences—only to have paint splatter across his chest. On Blitz Paintball's five recreational paintball fields, players immerse themselves in the thrill of paint-based combat through a range of scenarios. The staff designs regularly changing games for each field, including the traditional Capture the Flag or UN treaty signing, and also allows players to create their own styles of play.

Players rent standard semi-automatic, Tippmann A5, or high-end markers, pressurized tanks, and masks, and they prep for combat in a 5,000-square-foot shaded staging area. They're then turned loose to compete on the football-field-size Hyperball field, the Spool field, or themed Urban Combat, Fort, and Black Hawk Down fields, upon which elevated fortresses allow players to duck for cover from the aggressive native pigeon population. Projectiles whisper through the air in a two-story, 7,000-square-foot castle, where warriors work their way into an interior courtyard and massive throne room. Two regulation PSP tournament fields host more competitive play with astroturf and padded barriers.