It’s the universal back-to-school essay topic: “What I Did on My Summer Break.”

To contact us Click HERE
It’s the universal back-to-school essay topic: “What I Did on My Summer Break.” What did you write about? In 1976 I wrote about America’s birthday and the most exciting 4th of July of my seven years. I remember this because the experience was so real and multi-dimensional (it seemed the entire summer was red, white and blue – every party, every picnic, every place and thing a declaration of independence and bicentennial celebration) that it actually gave me clarity and context for my place in the world – not a small thing for a soon-to-be 1st-grader. Truly. Cracking a history book was never the same after that summer.

Fast-forwarding a few decades, I’m nowa 21st-century parent watching my children’s summer fly by. We’re well-meaning, awfully silly creatures,we modern parents. I’ve seen so many friends spend many a sleeplessspring thinking up all kinds of ways to keep their school-age kids engaged andchallenged and happy all summer. Howabout Lego Engineering Camp? (“Build anentire city!”) Archaeology Camp? (“Dig up an ancient civilization!”) Mathletes? (“Keep sharp over thesummer!”) Ok, I am that parent. (And I’m not knocking engineering camp – itwas really fun!) But the question is,what can I give them that’s reallymeaningful this summer?

Studies show that the average American household enjoys 40to 60 hours of television a week. Thereare plenty of kids who can play to level gazillion on any number of video gamesor re-program a computer. My sevenyear-old recently showed me how to use CTRL+ALT+DEL to best advantage, but canshe tell me how Colorado came to be? Whodiscovered and mined the gold, entertained the people, designed and built theplaces that makes ours a great, historic state? What if she could, and what if she learnedsomething about herself in the process?

There’s a gift waiting for us this summer in an enchantingplace that’s 45 minutes west of Denver, but a million miles away. A most imaginative, unplugged familyexperience awaits at Central City Opera’s historic adventure weekend, Central City Days. This is a call-out to the modern-minded parent and those wonderinghow a family of four can get the most bang for the least bucks. An experiencethat will make the kind of childhood mark that’s hard to come by thesedays.

Central City Days will celebrate Colorado Day by unfurlingthe roots of the place and digging deep into her past. On July 30th and 31st,come for a day or weekend of outdoor adventuring on foot and on bike through 19th-century streets, stables and gold mines, geocaching history hunts, ghost towntouring and a little taste of family-friendly opera. Together we’ll unlock the secrets ofColorado’s story – and our own – for a weekend that will beat any virtualthrill your television can deliver.

And we hope to be on the tip of many a No. 2 pencil comeSeptember.

A multitude of all-access pass options allow you to custom-craft your adventure:

Two - Day Pass	$25 adults / $15 kids* / $75 family 4-pack**
One - Day Pass	$15 adults / $10 kids* / $45 family 4-pack**
Saturday or Sunday       VIP Pass	$25 per day / includes access to all daily events plus 4 - 6 p.m. beer/wine/mead tasting receptions at historic al fresco venues with live music accompaniment (21 and older)

*Valid for kids ages 4-12; children 3 and under are free.
**Family 4-packs not available online.  Please call the Box Office at 303-292-6700.

View the complete list of events.

Editor's Note: This blog post was written by Heather Lauren Quiroga, Event Planner for Central City Opera's Central City Days.