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Written by Erin Frustaci, Donovan Henderson, Leah Kientz and Lauren Jaquez
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Thursday, 08 March 2007 |
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Tired of drab sweaters, trekking through the slush and astronomical gas bills?
Though you probably shouldn’t pull out your bikini just yet, spring is on the way. Hang in there, March 21 signifies the first official day of spring.
It won’t be long before the weather heats up, days stay lighter longer and the snow is but a memory.
In honor of the much anticipated season, NEXTnc brings you all things spring. From spry athletes warming up on the mound to green spring cleaning, we’ve got it covered.
By NEXTnc staff
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GET OUT
My kingdom for a beach
 If you weren’t buried by all the snow, now is the time to find some warmth. Spring breaks are not just for the college kid.
Jill Burge, vice president of Destination By Design Travel Co., said that while most people book in November or December, there is still time to take a trip this spring.
“If you are flexible, we can still get you in,” she said.
All you have to figure out is where to go. Burge suggests the following:
1. Mexico — still a top spring break destination. You’ll need a passport, but after an eight hour flight you can be sipping ice tea in the sun. Hot spots include Mayan Riviera, Cozumel, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa and Huatulco.
2. Costa Rica — a really diverse destination. Great place for a high-adventure traveler.
3. Hawaii — a longer flight, but lots of cool sites. Hot spots include Maui Kai, Kauai and Maui.
4. Caribbean Islands — Can be pretty pricey, but worth it if you can afford it. Hot spots include St. Martin, St. John, St. Croix and St. Barts.
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GET OUT
Close to home
 Don’t let The Man get you down. Just because you can’t relax in a hammock on a peaceful beach doesn’t mean you can’t take a break. There are plenty of things to do in our own sunny state that will ease the after-winter blues. And we aren’t suggesting cranking the thermometer to 80 degrees, dumping sand on your carpet and parading around your living room in a swimsuit — though that’s always an option.
1. Visit the mountains. Might as well squeeze in one last ski trip.
2. Take an educational trip. Burge recommends the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Both the park and visitor center are free. The park is open until nine p.m. before Memorial Day. 719.634.6666.
3. Book a couple nights at a local hotel. Bring your favorite movies, lounge by the indoor pool and dine at your favorite restaurants.
4. Take a drive. If you have the time, Santa Fe is not too far and offers great art. (About 460 miles and 7 hours drive time.)
5. Treat yourself to a spa visit. Massages are great getaways, even if it’s only for an hour.
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DRESS DOWN
Ins & outs
 Northern Colorado isn’t exactly the next fashion runway. But, baggy sweatshirts and tennis shoes aside, there’s still a good amount of style. Enough at least that you don’t want to make a big fashion faux pas this season. Chelsea Opperman, Cira Limited store manager in Fort Collins, shares the ins and outs of fashion to keep you lookin’ good.
LOOKIN’ GOOD
- Tube tops
- Skinny jeans
- Espadrilles and peep-toe shoes
- Scarfs
- Headbands (especially ones with scarfs attached)
- Big floral bags
LEAVE IT IN THE CLOSET
- Low-rise jeans that give meaning to the phrase, “I see London, I see France...”
- Huge flare jeans (good-bye Hippie pants)
- Pointy-toed stilettos
- Turtlenecks
- Stirrup pants (never really took off this time around. Thank God!)
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PLAY BALL!
Arizona bound
 Hope spring’s eternal during spring training for all baseball fans. But the hope of a cheap trip to Arizona for spring training doesn’t have to be just a dream.
Consider this:
Temps: Will be in the high 70s and 80s. Beats the cowhide off of late winter temps in northern Colorado that haven’t yet melted off the blizzard snow.
Ballgames: Most parks have lawn seating for $5-$6, which is better than any seat you’ll get at the team’s home fields. At some parks, the lawn seating is so close to the bullpens, you get a front-row seat to the heat and zip of a Major League fast ball. Try a game or two in the regular seats, which go for about 15 bucks. (Watch five games in various seating = $45)
 Room: Most hotels comp you breakfast. Take two buddies, split the cost of the room three ways, and you’ll get by. ($250)
Board: Free cocktail hours at most places are from 5-6:30 p.m. Get a room with a kitchenette so you can keep the food costs down. ($150)
Transportation: You can drive to the Grand Canyon state for $240-$300, depending on how much you kick your gas guzzler into overdrive. (Split three ways, $100 a piece)
Fun on the side: If you do a little homework, you can get in a few golf games for as little as $40 a round. (Go three times = $120)
Nightlife: You have a good chance of catching a glimpse of big leaguers at bars like Duffy’s in Tempe and Cooperstown in downtown Phoenix.
Gambling: Indian casinos in Tucson and Phoenix. And Vegas isn’t that far.
Total: $665. Not bad.
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ALL WOUND UP
Spring away
 Have you wondered about who comes up with inventions like the spring or coil? Ever wonder how that led to other inventions like the Slinky? What is a spring coil for? What person pondered away at a better form to store mechanical energy?
For all you trivia enthusiasts, the coil is the response to a better way to store mechanical energy.
The inventor of the spring coil is Nikola Tesla. The mechanical and electrical engineer invented the spring in 1894. He was born July 10, 1856, in the Austrian empire and later became an American citizen.
Spring coils are used in air conditioners and water heaters and are the prototype to the spiral staircase. Without Nikola Tesla, we would have cold winters, hot summers and not-so-steamy showers.
Tesla was also the namesake for the ’80s rock band that gave us hits like “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Signs.” And David Bowie played the scientist in “The Prestige.”
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FORECAST
Unseasonable doesn’t apply
Nolan Doesken doesn’t have any special weather predicting powers. No one really does. However, as the climatologist for Colorado at Colorado State University, he knows a thing or two about Mother Nature.
“Typically on the Front Range, spring is a pretty wild roller coaster of changeable weather, varying from very cold and windy and occasionally snowy to very warm, sunny and delightful — then there’s everything in between.”
After such a snowy winter, many worry that March will be a monster.
Doesken said though March on average tends to be the snowiest month, chances are small that the snowfall will match or beat that of December.
At a weather station in Greeley, the average March snowfall is 8.1 inches, with that varying slightly throughout northern Colorado. In 2000, we received 11.8 inches, and in 2006 only a half an inch.
“Every year tells its own story,” he said. “There will be more wind. Hopefully not as biting cold as last week. March tends to be the windiest, so hang on to your hats. We will be in for a fun ride.”
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HIT THE TRAIL
Spring Creek
 Spring Creek Trail is one of the most popular recreation spots in Fort Collins.
The creek and accompanying trail flow through several parks in mid Fort Collins and extends from West Drake Road to the Poudre River, totaling about 6.6 miles.
There, you can hook into the Poudre River Trail.
Spring Creek has a tragic past. It has flooded at least four times, the most devastating of which was in 1997.
More than 14.5 inches of rain fell in 31 hours, which led to five deaths, a building that exploded and a train that derailed because of the rainwater. Damages totaled more than $200 million for the city, and the high water marks for the flood are posted on metal signs along the bike trail.
Still, the Spring Creek Trail is a popular destination for bikers, runners, walkers and those looking for somewhere to go on a warm day.
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GREEN CLEANING
Eco friendly
As you tackle the dust bunnies under your refrigerator, you might decide to clean out your cleaning products as well. With everything from organic peanut butter to organic clothing, it’s no surprise that household cleaning product manufacturers have caught on to the trend.
The idea behind green cleaning is to remove chemicals found in cleaning products and replace them with natural ingredients.
Jennifer Shea, 26, of Fort Collins was introduced to toxic-free cleaning products by a co-worker and has used them in her home for the last two months.
“They seem to clean really well,” she said. “After a couple months, I would swear by Tea Tree Oil for much more than cleaning. I have it in everything in my house now.”
Shea said the cost is not much different from standard products and likes that the items are delivered to her home. For about $200 she completely converted her house to toxic free products. She orders from the online store Melaleuca at www.melaleuca.com.
The down side is she has to be picky when grocery shopping.
“I can not just grab the cheapest tub/tile cleaner that is marked down anymore,” she said.
Check out: rmbarry.com, saferforyourhome.com and toxicawareness.com
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|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
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|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
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