THIS SUMMER

By Brittany Anas

You’ve mastered your summer-in-Boulder bucket list: Visiting the farmers market, watching street performers on Pearl Street, hiking in Chautauqua Park and enjoying happy hour snacks at Corrida (perhaps with a gin and tonic from the roving cart?). All of these Boulder traditions are worthy of a repeat this year. But what other adventures should you embark upon this summer?

From soaking in a hot spring that will transport you to Iceland to spending the night at a drive-in movie theater and visiting a throwback media museum, here are 10 unique things to do in Colorado this summer.

Sandboard the Great Sand Dunes

The chairlifts have stopped running for the season, but you can still go boarding. Rent a sandboard (or a sand sled) from an outdoor retailer near Great Sand Dunes National Park and shred down the golden slopes of this massive sandbox. Pro tip: Go early, otherwise the sand can scorch your feet. Located near Alamosa, the sand dunes are so out of this world that NASA scientists have tested rovers on the undulating hills. Up the quirk on this trip by taking a slight detour to the UFO Watchtower just north of Hooper (follow the little aliens on Highway 17). One of the best times to go to the Sand Dunes is late May through early June, when the surge flow in Medano Creek creates a beach in our landlocked state. nps.gov/grsa

Spend the Night at a Drive-In Movie Theater

One of Colorado’s most unique overnight stays is at the new Frontier Drive-Inn, a restored mid-century drive-in movie theater that opened last summer in the San Luis Valley. For an epic movie night, book a room at one of the on-site Steelmaster sheds or glamping yurts. The property shows films on a restored movie screen, and the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges in the backdrop provide extra drama. The theater originally opened in May 1955, and it was one of the few places where people could see Spanish-language films in the 1960s and ‘70s. Beyond the Hollywood stars on the screen, you can also spot stars (of the celestial variety) from open-air adobe observatories. frontierdriveinn.com

Soak In an ‘International’ Hot Spring

When describing Colorado’s hot spring scene, superlatives rule. We’re home to the deepest spring (Pagosa Springs) and the largest hot spring pool (Glenwood Hot Springs Resort). Now, add “otherworldly” to our soaking lexicon. Overlooking the Colorado River, Iron Mountain Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs’ soaking pools vary by size and temperature. The popular “Experience Pool” is a standout because of a rotating formula of minerals that mimic other famous hot springs around the world, like the Blue Lagoon in Iceland and Kinosaki, Japan. The hot spring plans to open a 21 and up section, with more pools with even more mineral blends from around the world. ironmountainhotsprings.com

Dine Al Fresco on a Boulder County Farm

The hottest Boulder County dinner reservation this summer is … on an idyllic farm. Farow, a restaurant in Niwot that sources 90 percent of ingredients from within a 10-mile radius, will host monthly farm dinners from June to October. The evening starts with a farm tour, then segues into a welcome cocktail and seating at a communal table for a hyperlocal four-course dinner with wine pairings that highlight Boulder County’s bounty. So far, host farms include Buckner Ranch, Speedwell and Modern Farmsteads. farowrestaurant.com

Hunt for Sasquatch

The number of Bigfoot believers is on the rise, with 13 percent of Americans thinking he (or she) is a real creature. Learn all about Bigfoot research and sightings in Colorado at the Sasquatch Outpost in Bailey, which has a museum and retail shop dedicated to the larger-than-life creature. The outpost also hosts events so people can swap stories of Bigfoot encounters. After a visit to this museum southwest of Denver, you’ll never look at tree breaks the same. sasquatchoutpost.com