Sightseeing in The Pinery

Children run in trails marked by prehistoric footprints, and fingers run across fossils during each visit to Dinosaur Ridge, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of ancient artifacts. Around every corner of the outdoor museum—which rests on land designated as a national natural landmark—bones and impressions protrude from their earthy abodes as evidence of the area's once larger-than-life inhabitants. Paleontologists of all ages can examine curious tracks on surrounding hiking paths, such as Triceratops Trail, or hop on a guided bus tour to examine fossil sites and valleys where brontosauruses used to question the meaning of life.

Lurking inside the visitor center is the Trek Through Time exhibit, where interactive children's games, replica fossils, and massive murals join forces to lead explorers into different prehistoric eras. In addition to its day-to-day operations, Dinosaur Ridge also plays host to various events during the year, including Boy Scout days, birthday parties, and lectures that explain how T. rex stayed humble despite his large stature.

Arthur Murray Dance Studios has been a leading name in social dance since 1912, when the entrepreneur began selling mail-order dance lessons. Expanding his reach, he enlisted teachers to spread his signature dance lessons on first-class steamships and skyrocketed to fame in the '30s after introducing the public to such dances as the Lambeth Walk and the Big Apple. By the 1950s, Arthur and his wife, Kathryn, were hosting their own highly popular TV show on ABC, the Arthur Murray Dance Party, which ran for 12 years. Today, Arthur Murray's team prepares students for rug cutting at special events and weekend nightclub jaunts. Clients who arrive to lessons partnerless will be paired up with certified instructors. Throughout lessons, instructors teach the foundations of two to four dances from a long list of styles that range from Latin to country-western, helping students to learn basic step patterns, timing, and the ability to lead or follow.

The Plains Conservation Center is an offshoot of the West Arapahoe Conservation District, an organization appointed in 1949 to teach farming and ranching techniques that could help prevent another devastating Dust Bowl. While the PCC's mission has since expanded, the nonprofit organization's main goal remains the same: preserving the health of Colorado's plains. Between its two sites—a main 1,100-acre location in Aurora and more than 10,000 acres spread along West Bijou Creek—the organization maintains several attractions devoted to the history and environmental character of the region. These include more than five miles of hiking trails, a Cheyenne camp from 1837 with four standing tepees, and Wells Crossing, a replica 1887 farm consisting of sod houses, and heirloom gardens. For more modern sites, the Aurora location's visitor center features interactive displays and seasonal events such as Hops for Habitat, an annual fundraiser with beer tastings from local craft brewers.

Over the course of a decade, FastFrame has mushroomed into more than 300 international locations on the strength of their meticulous craftsmanship and lifetime guarantee. To showcase artwork, photos, or the first dollar made in the family counterfeiting machine, the professional framers sort through a treasure trove of materials, such as gold and silver settings, fabric-wrapped mats, and lamination. For light-sensitive items, they apply Preservation Plus framing, which uses acid-free framing accoutrements to protect portraits from fading under the withering gaze of UV rays or laser-eyed art critics.

At the studio, located in Wash Park, you and your gal pals will get schooled in the equipment favored by circus performers and firemen during the 60-minute session. Parties at Tease focus on the needs of your group, from chair flirting (lengthen and strengthen muscles while learning chair choreography) to pin-up pop burlesque (high-energy dance warm-up followed by general sexiness; bring heels). Choose a focus area, from rappy (hip hop) to racy (stripper workout, lap dance), or try a combination.

Colorado's ONLY improvised musical! Based on one or more suggestions from the audience, this internationally touring comedy team creates fully unscripted musicals, complete with live accompaniment. By the end, you'll swear we didn't make it up on the spot... but we did!