Curious Colorado: Five New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions can be such a tired thing. So tired, in fact, that “Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day” in January celebrates those quickly broken promises. Perhaps strict New Year’s resolutions are a thing of the past; the future may lie in a bucket list of healthy, heartfelt and fulfilling adventures and experiences that open the mind, feed the body and nourish the soul. Spice up 2015 with some Colorado creativity—engaging resolutions neatly wrapped in a perfect vacation; roll-up-your-sleeves-and-make-memories kind of resolutions that you will want to keep. Here are five ideas to get you started: learn a craft, get out and about, discover where your food comes from, spend time with someone you love, and try something unusual. How will 2015 be written in your history book?  www.colorado.com

 

Learning something new is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to release dopamine in your brain. Replace an unhealthy vice with a skill that offers a smile-teasing stimulus, a wealth of knowledge, and crafty insights that can be tapped for years to come. Learn to felt a pair of mittens from soft alpaca wool, transform goats’ milk into silky soap or cheese, nurture a hive of bees and harvest the golden honey. How about the rewards of butchering, the skill of hunting and fishing, the craft of blacksmithing, or the art of rustic leather working? Discover the reward of canning vegetables that you harvested from a garden or engage in the science of herbal medicine. From culinary to woodworking, in a few hours or a full day, you can learn a new craft and keep your new year creative.

Improved fitness is perhaps one of the most commonly made, and tossed, New Year’s resolution. Admittedly, it’s a tough one to maintain when early morning visits to the gym are the only choice. In Colorado, diverse options for activity keep people moving and help maintain Colorado’s position as one of the Top 10 fittest states in the US. Colorado is also the only state with an obesity rate below 20% and ties for the nation’s lowest rate of diabetes. While it is easy to shrug off this success by blaming those “mountain and river” outdoorsy types, the variety and accessibility of options is the clear reason for Colorado’s fitness success, and it’s your turn to reap the benefits. From family-friendly strolls to world-class challenges— take a hike in one of Colorado’s 42 state parks or join Awe Struck Adventures and pedal your way to dinner on a farm in Boulder, dip and dine on an overnight raft trip on the Arkansas River, or gather girl friends together for Yoga and Horses. If you prefer to sample along the way, cycle and sip Colorado wines on a bike tour in Palisade or cruise along with culinary tasting tour in Colorado Springs. Getting and staying fit can be disguised as fun!

Food is time sensitive – at least when it comes to getting the most nutrients in every bite. So, it’s no wonder that the closer you are to the source, the better for you, and better tasting, the food is going to be. If you have the chance to pick it straight from the tree, vine or soil, well, you’ve got yourself a gold-mine of nutrients; vitamins C, E, A ad B are just a few of the most time-sensitive. Discover mouthwatering freshness and flavor of freshly harvested fruits and vegetables that you pick directly from an orchard, farm or market. Wander the mountains and valleys and forage for wild plants, mushrooms and herbs. Spend the night at a farm or ranch and wake up to fresh eggs, nickering horses and a glimpse of life on a working farm. Discover a region’s unique culinary specialties: a delicious burger, an artisan cheese, a farm-to-table restaurant, an heirloom or specialty crop, an urban food hall, or a regional cooking method. Chefs and farmers across Colorado are crafting and developing innovative culinary techniques to enhance the nutrition, flavor and experience of eating local foods. They are growing and using some of Colorado’s most creative bounty, wild and farmed, to create world-class dining and food products in small, intimate venues.

There never seems to be enough time for friends and family, and resolutions to shift into a better balance make a regular appearance on New Year’s lists. For 2015, consider a resolution that emphasizes quality over quantity; instead of counting hours, count memories. Time with new friends and old family is essential for every aspect of health. Colorado offers a veritable cornucopia of memory-making opportunities that are sure to bring you closer to those you hold dear: pile into a car and make your way to a historic trail or cruise on one of Colorado’s many scenic byways; engage children on a dig for Jurassic dinosaur bones in a quarry site; enjoy the romantic quiet and novelty of a lesser-known museum, cut-back and simple-up by spending a few days on a dude ranch; play “I spy” with wildlife on a birding trail; gussy up for a show at a renovated historic theatre or discover an old west ghost town.  Spend time with people who matter, in a way that matters.

Mayo Clinic experts have identified 12 Habits of Highly Healthy People; guess what number six is? It’s trying something new – and apparently, it’s one of the most important. Right up there with adequate sleep and strength, stepping out of the comfort zone is empowering; personal growth and discovery result in revived passions, interests, intellect and energy. Colorado is the perfect place to toss routine and dive into the extraordinary; try sleeping in a yurt for some outdoor connection and heritage appreciation; subscribe to an art CSA and become acquainted with aspiring and establish local artists; breath history at a historic guest ranch; test your powers of inquiry during a murder mystery weekend; follow food from field to fork at a farm-to-table dinner; sample and savor views and craft cheese and wine on a Colorado farm; participate in a random and quirky festival; or seek solitude to reflect on the wonders of nature. This is just the beginning – imagine what your brain can do?

Strict New Year’s Resolutions are a thing of the past; what is on your bucket list for healthy, heartfelt and fulfilling adventures and experiences that open the mind, feed the body and nourish the soul? Bring your bucket, your loved ones, your curiosity and your dreams and indulge in the New Year….Colorado style.

 

ABOUT COLORADO
Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 25 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 11 national parks and monuments, and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. 

 

For more information or a copy of the 2014 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800-COLORADO. Follow Colorado on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, Foursquare, Flickr, Tumblr and YouTube. Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room for story ideas, news releases, image gallery, and other resources.