December 20
OKC Thunder vs.
Utah Jazz
Chesapeake Energy
Arena OKC, OK
405-208-4800 or
www.okcthunder.com
EXTRA BUZZ
Colorado bound:
searching for open
ground and avoiding
crowds
December 21
OSU Cowboys vs.
ULM Warhawks
Gallagher-Iba Arena
Stillwater, OK
705-744-5745 or
www.okstate.com
December 22
OKC Thunder vs.
Atlanta Hawks
Chesapeake Energy
Arena OKC, OK
405-208-4800 or www.
chesapeakearena.com
By Joe Mack
December 22
OU Sooners vs.
Northwestern Wildcats
Lloyd Noble Center
Norman, OK
405-325-8200 or
www.soonersports.com
December 22
OSU Cowboys vs.
UT Rio Grande Valley
Gallagher-Iba Arena
Stillwater, OK
705-744-5745 or
www.okstate.com
December 25
OKC Thunder vs.
Houston Rockets
Chesapeake Energy
Arena OKC, OK
405-208-4800 or
www.okcthunder.com
December 25
Momma C’s Soul Food
Christmas Dinner
Oklahoma Music Hall of
Fame; Muskogee, OK
918-687-0800 or
www.omhof.com
December 26
OKC Broadway
Presents: Mannheim
Steamroller Christmas
Civic Center Music Hall
OKC, OK
405-297-2264 or
www.okcbroadway.com
December 27
OKC Thunder vs.
Toronto Raptors
Chesapeake Energy
Arena OKC, OK
405-208-4800 or
www.okcthunder.com
SALIDA, Colo. – Before you buy
your lift tickets and book your
room, allow me to help redirect you
away from the crowds so you can
get a taste of a Colorado back
country winter vacation.
Set your sights on U.S. Highway 24
or 160, you’ll find a wonderland
of wide open country, road side
attractions, and oftentimes shorter
lift lines.
U.S. 24 through Colorado Springs
• Manitou Springs: Stop in tucked
away Manitou Springs just a couple
miles from Colorado Springs to
enjoy natural hot springs, shopping,
lodging, dining and more.
(manitousprings.org)
• Paradox Beer Co.: Seven miles
west of Woodland Park is the
community of Divide, where you’ll
find craft beer haven Paradox
Beer Company. Stop in for
beers, bites, and to-go crowlers.
(paradoxbeercompany.com)
• Pike’s Peak: Perhaps Colorado’s
most accessible 14,000-foot peak
continued on p.34
offers stunning views of the Rocky
Mountains. Hike, drive, or ride the
train to the top! (pikes-peak.com)
• Salida: Situated in a gorgeous
valley surrounded by the “Arkansas
Hills” and the Collegiate Peaks,
plan to visit the historic downtown
for shopping and dining, or on your
way out of town plan a stop at
Elevation Brewing Company. In the
summer, take a raft out near the
headwaters of the Arkansas River.
(salidachamber.org)
• Ski: Monarch (skimonarch.com)
and Montrose (visitmontrose.com),
due west of Salida on U.S. 50, get
plenty of fresh pow and there’s
plenty of room for everyone.
U.S. 160 through Walsenburg
• Get thirsty: Two excellent
micro-breweries are just off the
highway on your way to Wolf
Creek Ski area - Alamosa’s San
Luis Valley Brewing Company
(slvbrewco.com), and Del Norte’s
Three Barrel Brewing Company
(threebarrelbrew.com).
• Pleasin’ the people: Kip’s Grill,
with locations near Wolf Creek in
Creede and Pagosa Springs, has
been doing chef-inspired tacos and
handhelds for over two decades.
Fresh squeezed margaritas, one-
of-a-kind bloodies, and weekly
specials make Kip’s a southern
Colorado staple. (kipsgrill.com)
• Ski: The Wolf Creek Ski Area
situated atop the Continental
Divide can get crowded, but find
yourself there on a weekday
and chances are good you’ll be
able to shred some fresh pow.
(wolfcreekski.com)
www.thecurrentbuzz.net
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