Disc golf can be played year round. Vvaldmann/Shutterstock.com
Disc golf Dawn to dusk daily. Pineland Farms Outdoor Center, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester, $5 per round, $8 all-day play. pinelandfarms.org/events/disc-golf Mark Twain described golf as a “good walk spoiled,” but if he had been playing disc golf, he may have thought otherwise. Using a hard, round plastic disc and caged “holes,” the game requires skill and an appreciation for nature. What’s more, any attire will do. Pineland Farms has two 18-hole courses, the Patriot and Minuteman, with the latter one open all year long. If you arrive when the visitor center is closed, just stuff some cash into the honesty box at the first tee and have at it. Need to rent discs? They’re available for $1 each.
Camden-based health and wellness coach Hester Kohl Brooks. Photo courtesy of Camden Public Library
Yoga Nidra 6 p.m. Thursday. Online on Zoom Camden Public Library, free. librarycamden.org Could you use a little more calm and centeredness in your life? Then register for a free yoga nidra class presented by Camden Public Library. You’ll find relief from post-holiday exhaustion with health and wellness coach Hester Kohl Brooks. Yoga nidra is a sleep-based meditation during which your mind will be guided to a deep state of relaxation and you’ll be led there from the coziness of your own home.
Jennine Cannizzo as Judy garland in “You Made Me Love You.” Photo courtesy of Footlights Theatre
‘You Made Me Love You’ 7 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Through Jan. 22. Footlights Theatre, 190 Route 1, Falmouth, $20. thefootlightstheatre.com If you’re a Judy Garland fan, you won’t want to miss “You Made Me Love You,” starring Jennine Cannizzo as Garland with pianist Charlie Grindle. The show is a cabaret-style tribute that brings to life the singer and actress who shined like few others before or after her 47 years of life. You’ll hear plenty of music and stories and see a 14-minute film about Garland. Follow the yellow brick road or, in this case, the yellow center lines along Route 1 and experience the magic for yourself as you’re led over the rainbow and into the life of a true legend.
Oliver Solmitz, Untitled, 56 1/2 x 34 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches, cardboard, glue, hardware, paint, and wood. Image courtesy of Maine Jewish Museum
Art exhibits opening reception 2-4 p.m. Sunday. Maine Jewish Museum, 267 Congress St., Portland. mainejewishmuseum.org There’s a trio of new exhibits at the Maine Jewish Museum, so carve out some time to feast your eyes on all the art. “Papercuts & Tapestries: A Mother-Daughter Collaboration” features the work of the late Yehudit Shadur and her daughter Tamar Shadur. “Enter the Space” consists of works Oliver Solmitz crafted from found objects. “What We Carry” features paintings of trees, critters, flowers and birds by Hélène Farrar. Shadur, Farrar and Solmitz will all be at the reception on Sunday afternoon to talk about their work. The shows are up through Feb. 25, and the museum is open from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.
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At the February 28 Regular Meeting of the Bluffton Village Council, Mayor Rich Johnson began by asking Council to approve the minutes from the last meeting and pay the Village’s bills, which they did. This information, along with an agenda for the meeting, is attached to this article and is provided by the village upon request.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Mayor Johnson next asked for Committee Reports. Ben Stahl spoke first for Parks and Recreation. Much has been done over the winter preparing the new disc golf course at Village Park. Work is being done by volunteers and private donations have covered the costs for this facility which is–reportedly–already achieving internet acclaim. In new business, Bluffton High School student Sabina Clingerman approached the Committee about the idea of a Bluffton dog park as a Girl Scout Gold Award project. A possible location is the empty Village-owned land off Lake Street, between Board & Brush and John’s Body Shop. Sabina was told to form a committee to determine costs and feasibility.
ORDINANCE
Mitch Kingsley reported for the Ordinance Committee’s early steps in creating a comprehensive plan for the Village. Council’s approval was requested in order to retain the services of Lima Allen County Regional Planning Commission, which offers extensive assistance to municipalities in creating such a plan. Council unanimously approved an expenditure of $4,000, and also approved the creation of a Steering Committee to be made up of diverse Village residents appointed by the Mayor.
LEGISLATION
Only one item of legislation was on the agenda; this was the third reading of the annual appropriations bill for 2022. This was approved unanimously, and one Council member remarked after the vote that he appreciated that the budget process was not done as emergency legislation this year.
ADMINISTRATION
Jesse Blackburn presented the Village administration report with input from Assistant Bryan Lloyd. He began by outlining a significant cost at the sewer plant: a $75,000 ultraviolet light cabinet that’s part of an upgrade to the disinfecting system. The EPA requires this new equipment, which will improve compliance in the future. It shows how the Village can, with careful planning, be “staged” to qualify for considerable federal funding. Blackburn also reported on funding for projects at the Village-owned airport.
Lloyd noted that the water main replacement project on the Bluffton University campus was at the pressure-testing phase. He then asked for approval to make surplus a collection of disused chainsaws and sewer pumps, which means he can list them on www.govdeals.com.
Finally, Blackburn stated that delinquent and unpaid Village Income Tax is now going through the Ohio Attorney General’s office, a new approach that is producing good results in the first few months.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Before closing the meeting, Mayor Johnson asked for public comment. South Jackson Street resident Bill Carr stood to “respectfully request that the Village correct the problem… of a large waterhole” that appears on the street in front of his house after heavy rains. The mayor thanked Carr–and his neighbor Bob Amstutz who had addressed the puddle problem at the last meeting of Council–and said that the Village Administrator and his Assistant would make an appointment with the two homeowners to consult on the matter.
If you’re interested in staying close to home this summer while still enjoying outdoor activities at it’s finest, you might want to consider the local Parks and Recreation facilities some of our communities have to offer.
The city of New Martinsville recently received grants for improvements and additions totaling over $271, 000. While they offer a great swimming facility at Lewis/Wetzel Park, along with a paddle boat pond, ball field and children play area, additional upgrades are on the way. A $6,500 grant from the Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley (CFOV) will be used to fund equipment and materials for a disc golf course at the Park.
In addition a $3,340 grant from the foundations impact program will be used to teach life skills to teens, as the Park and Rec. department teams up with other area organizations to offer it and other courses, like baby-sitting, cooking, and self defense classes over the next several months.
It’s no secret that money is available and the easiest way to obtain it is through grants. A recent visit to New Martinsville by U.S. Senator Shelly Capito and U.S. Congressman David McKinley was encouraging for local business and others seeking funding for projects. Both representatives encouraged applying for funding.
New Martisville Parks and Recreation Director said, “we like to look outside the box for unique programs to offer and ways to improve existing facilities. Grants are one way to secure funding for this to happen.”
The City recently received news that they have been awarded a Transportation Alternatives Grant in the amount of $250,000. With this assistance the community will construct an extension to the biking/walking path, that will be located north of the existing path. The new path will run the entire length of the old airport property.
The bike and shared-use path along the Ohio River will be extended by three-eighths of a mile thanks to the grant. New Martinsville owes special thanks to Bev Gibb for her continued hard work in making the park areas of the community better for not only the residents but visitors as well.
New Martinsville offers much more than walking trails and swimming. They have a nice putt-putt golf course, picnic shelters, ball fields and play areas for children. There is plenty to do with several favorite fishing spots, hiking is close by, and there are several locations for people to just sit and relax.
While New Martinsville is excited for the upcoming changes, the town of Hundred is doing big things as well. Hundred Mayor Chip Goff recently announced the community has been awarded $300,000 for new sidewalks. “A lot of hard work went into this grant and a lot of work still to do with design, but here’s to good things to come. We’re keeping our fingers crossed on our dilapidated structures grant,” said Goff.
The community recently received all new pavement on their walking trail and a new sign has been erected near the entrance to town. Both of these communities are actively at work trying to make their communities better for the residents and entice others to bring business to town.
With all the infrastructure and grant money available, it’s hard to use the same old excuse, “we don’t have the money.” Every community should make their parks and recreation facilities a top priority, they are the life blood of every town and city regardless of their size.
Representatives from the Norwood Park and Recreation District (NPRD) attended the Norwood Town Board of Trustees meeting in February to express their disappointment with the lack of communication regarding planning and projects. Then, Daiva Chesonis, Liza Tangua and Nola Svoboda told trustees they’re requesting more collaboration, especially in light of the Community Builders Workshop that took place as the pandemic was starting in 2020 — a three-day event held in Grand Junction designed to bring together local leaders for increased community collaboration. Then, town staff with the library director, a representative from NPRD and others attended.
Park and Rec representatives said they felt slighted after the new year when they were not informed that the 19-acre parcel, where the disc golf course currently sits, may be sold to the Norwood Fire Protection District to make way for a new fire station. They said they should have been included in a conversation and were disappointed to hear the news from town trustee Shawn Fallon, who is also on the NPRD board.
Trustees responded, and Candy Meehan said she has seen much collaboration in the last year, especially concerning water and development.
“I’m sorry this is how Park and Rec sees it,” she said.
Trustee Kerry Welch said she was also surprised at NPRD’s complaint, since everyone seems to be working and volunteering.
“We all have to meet in the center,” Welch said.
Chesonis told the town board NPRD has much to offer the community, and they are working to make their district’s voice louder. Svoboda added the district felt “blindsided” with the news about the property sale. She said she was under the assumption that the parcel was public land. She added that if the 19 acres were to be sold, town officials needed to purchase more land to replace it.
Svoboda said the space has the potential to become a great park with a pond, trail connections and more.
“I am asking the town to consider what to purchase to replace that,” she said to the board.
Welch said the property was up for grabs six years ago, but nobody wanted it.
“We went to the fire district, NPRD and the library,” she said. “Nobody took us up on it.”
Last week, on Feb. 22, the town facilitated a work session with various stakeholders regarding the future of the 19 acres. Attending the discussion were representatives from Norwood Fire Protection District, Norwood Public Schools and Park and Rec. Those from NPRD said they again felt disappointed to find out they “aren’t allowed a seat at the table.” That’s because they’re not interested buyers for the property.
Svoboda said while Park and Rec is not looking to buy the 19 acres, and couldn’t afford it anyway, the NPRD board believes that their organization should be included on decisions related to public land and land designated for parks and open space. She said the taxpayers pays taxes on the parcel, and a portion of those taxes go toward the Park and Rec district.
“Don’t NPRD’s constituents live in the Town of Norwood and pay those taxes?” she asked.
Additionally, Park and Rec board members said they were further upset to learn from town that the insurance certificate on the disc golf course had lapsed without their knowledge. For them, it’s another example of bad communication.
Spring thrives in The Woodlands, where the beauty of nature, art, and culture weave effortlessly throughout the community. Here, green spaces are dotted with art installations and trimmed with walking paths. Pine-lined trails hum with the sound of bicycles. Waterways sparkle with the soft wakes of paddle boards and kayaks. It’s no wonder that The Woodlands’ event calendar is filled with marathons, gatherings of outdoor enthusiasts, and music and art festivals.
A Run Through The Pines
Do you have your eye set on the Boston Marathon, or looking to challenge yourself with a half marathon? The Woodlands Marathon is set for early March and has historically qualified close to 11% of its registered runners for the Boston Marathon. The flat course winds through the streets of Town Center and finishes on the scenic Woodlands Waterway—giving every runner a photo-worthy finish. Have a runner in the family? There’s no better place to be a spectator than The Woodlands, find a nice tree to picnic under, or a coffee shop to enjoy to cheer on your hero as they run by.
Speaking of heroes, The Woodlands is proud to host the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas every April. The notoriously grueling race consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run has never looked this tranquil. Athletes get to experience every inch of The Woodlands’ beautiful community. The race kicks off with the swim across Lake Woodlands, and ends with a run along the picturesque Woodlands Waterway across from The Waterway Avenue Bridge.
An Event You Can’t Miss
Set in Town Green Park, along the scenic banks of the waterway, The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival features artwork from nearly 200 juried artists from across the country. This April event—which has been named one of the top five art festivals in the world—offers so much more than beautiful art and a scenic setting. Along with shopping for fine art while enjoying live music, local food, beer and wine, a collection of children’s art activities make The Woodlands Waterway Art Festival a whole-family affair.
Has it been a while since you felt the thrill of a live concert? It’s time to check The Cynthia Wood Mitchell Pavillion event calendar! With concerts covering all genres and eras of music, it’s no wonder The Pavillion has been named one of the “Top 10 Outdoor Amphitheaters in the World,” according to Pollstar magazine. Whatever your taste in music, there’s a perfect concert waiting for you in The Woodlands.
Go Your Own Pace
Adventure is never far away in The Woodlands, and you have countless options to choose from to determine what adventure means to you. It can be as laid back as hopping into a swan-shaped pedal boat for a laughter-filled photo-op, or a quiet morning run along nature-lined paths. You can paddleboard or kayak past restaurants, deciding which of The Woodlands’ chef-driven restaurants you’d like to try next, or escape into nature further south and see the Loch Ness Monster art installation along the banks of Lake Woodlands.
Looking for adventure on dry land? The Woodlands Resort offers two 18-hole courses, featuring rolling fairways lined with towering pines, white sand traps, and sparkling lakes, ready to challenge golfers of every skill level. Leaving the clubs at home? The Woodlands boasts several disc golf courses that offer families a great stroll through nature’s beauty while competing, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company.
Get Out There In The Woodlands
With the weather warming up, and the days lengthening, there’s no better time than spring to escape to The Woodlands. You may know this destination for its world-class shopping and dining options, but it’s what’s in between all of those places that set it apart from other cities around Texas. Nature’s beauty isn’t pushed to the outskirts of town, it’s woven through every part of The Woodlands.
Though more people are taking up the deceptively difficult sport of
disc golf as a hobby, it has long been a way of life for pro disc
golfers, some of the best of whom participated in the recent
season-opening All-Star Weekend in Tucson.
“Everyone here is amazing,” said Lisa Fajkus, a competitor from Texas
who has earned more than $90,000 on the tour. “All the competitors are
good. Beyond good.”
While the COVID-19 pandemic complicated the sports landscape, it also
inspired some to seek new outdoor options. Disc golf was that for many.
Membership in the Pro Disc Golf Association increased from 53,366 in
2019 to 71,016 in 2020, according to the PDGA. And from 2010 to 2020, total prize money jumped almost $2 million to $4 million.
The sport is similar to golf. Participants start at a launchpad and
throw discs at a metal basket. Each hole is assigned a “par” number.
Opening the season with All-Star Weekend is unique to professional
disc golf. In most sports, the all-star competition typically takes
place midway through the season or near the end. The thinking behind the
placement of the disc golf tour event is that it serves as a kind of
trailer for the season, giving fans a glimpse of what they can expect
from their favorite disc throwers in future matches.
“It kind of gives me spring training vibes,” said Hunter Pickard, a
disc golf amateur. “You have these great players in one city, on one
field, basically, warming up for the season ahead. I think it encourages
more people to get into the sport because they see how competitively
fun it can be. It’s fantastic to watch and be a part of.”
Fans come from all over the country to attend live disc golf events,
including many who travel in renovated vans and buses from tournament to
tournament just like most of the players do.
One at All-Star Weekend was Bodhi, who is described in her Instagram
bio as a “toddler traveler.” She tours full time with her parents,
Stephanie and Taylor, in a “skoolie,” where they live and explore
different parts of the country, all while attending disc golf
tournaments.
Bodhi could be spotted in her plum-colored attire. Her bubbly and
rollicking personality was as hard to miss as her colorful wardrobe. She
held up a “Go Heather” homemade sign as she cheered on one of her
favorite pro disc golfers, Heather Young.
This year, the PDGA made the decision to spice things up and add a
snake draft to the mix for the very first time. The snake draft consists
of captains taking turns picking players to create teams. For the
women, team captains included Paige Pierce and Catrina Allen. Eagle
McMahon and Calvin Heimburg served as captains for the men.
The tournament lasted three days at El Conquistador Resort. Friday
consisted of a skills competition between teams. Doubles matches were
held Saturday, followed by singles matches on Sunday. Each event drew
intrigued fans who stood around and watched.
“You know, these fans are dedicated to watching and coming out each
season and to each tournament,” Disc Golf Pro Tour owner Todd Rainwater
said. “We want to give them the best experience possible. They’ve
traveled from all over to be here, and they deserve to have a good
time.”
Rainwater is banking on the fans returning home and talking to their
friends and families about the event. “That’s how the sport continues to
grow,” he said.
With tournaments all over the United States between February and
October, people have ample opportunities to take in a disc golf event –
either in person or through live streaming. All-Star Weekend was a
perfect example of the different ways to experience the event. Hundreds
of people of all ages surrounded the course and followed the players
from hole to hole. Those not able to physically attend streamed the
tournament online at DGPT.com. With improvements in technology, course
setups, and streaming, attendance is expected to continue to increase in
the coming years.
“We have a nice foundation,” said Rainwater, who added, “These
players put in so much work and are great at what they do. That needs to
be displayed for people to see and enjoy, whether that’s online or
in-person.”
Disc Golf is one of the fastest growing sports, according to Disc
Golf Mentor. With the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacting the sports
world in 2020, people looked for new ways to stay entertained. Suddenly,
disc golf became the new fad.
“It was never something I had even thought about, let alone doing,”
Pickard said. “When the pandemic hit, there was nothing going on.
Nothing was open, and if it was, there were so many safety regulations
and hour changes.
“So, I ventured to a park near my house to get some fresh air and
noticed the disc golf baskets. I figured, ‘Why not try it since I’m not
doing anything else?’”
Pickard is just one example out of the thousands of people who recently got into playing disc golf. According to Sabattus Disc Golf, approximately 50 million rounds were played in 2020, triple the number played the previous year.
All-Star Weekend was a big hit with the fans and competitors alike.
“Getting that text was so cool,” said Rebecca Cox, a pro disc golfer
and president and founder of Diversify Disc Golf. “It was a fun surprise
for me. …I got kind of lucky being an All-Star. I had to take advantage
of this opportunity.”
March 1, 2022 by Patrick Aubyrn in Analysis with comments
Catrina Allen won the 2022 Las Vegas Challenge with a textbook birdie on the final hole in regulation to beat Paige Pierce by one stroke. The 18th hole on the Innova Course was the site of a dramatic finish last year, too, when Pierce emerged victorious, also winning by a single stroke.
Notably, Allen has performed considerably better on the Innova Course (rounds 2 & 4) over the past two years than Pierce, averaging a 999.5 rating over four rounds versus 968.74 for Pierce. The par 5, 18th hole in particular is a score separator. Comparing their play on this hole over the last two years is instructive.
Since it was extended from 685 feet to 720 feet, and the green moved to the ridge behind the golf green, Allen has gone 4-5-5-4 (-2 cumulatively) and recorded two OB strokes, one in the final round last year and one in the second round this year. Pierce has gone 6-6-4-5 (+1 cumulatively) and recorded five OB strokes, two in each round last year and one in the final round this year.
Below is an overview of how each woman played the hole in 2021 and 2022.
Catrina Allen
2021, Round 2: 1) center cut fairway short of the cart path, 2) center cut fairway 100’ short of the pin, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 18’ — birdie.
2021, Round 4: 1) cart path left 350’ from the pin, 2) OB cart path right, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 20’ — par.
2022, Round 2: 1) OB pond right, 2) right side of the fairway, 180’ short of the pin, 3) approach to C2, 4) made putt from 36’ — par.
2022, Round 4: 1) center cut fairway short of the cart path, 2) center cut fairway 100’ short of the pin, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 12’ — birdie.
Paige Pierce
2021, Round 2: 1) OB pond right, 2) OB pond left, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 30’ — bogey.
2021, Round 4: 1) center cut fairway short of the cart path, 2) OB pond left, 3) OB greenside pond, 4) made putt from 22’ — bogey.
2022, Round 2: 1) right side fairway short of the cart path, 2) second shot to peninsula in the greenside pond, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 11’ — birdie.
2022, Round 4: 1) center cut fairway short of the cart path, 2) OB greenside pond, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 10’ — par.
Allen’s game plan is to play for birdie. If you compare the tape from all four rounds, her birdies in the second round in 2021 and the fourth round in 2022 are nearly identical. She has only deviated from her game plan once, in the final round of the 2021 LVC when she needed to make up two strokes on Pierce to force a playoff.
Allen’s drive landed on the cart path 350 feet from the pin. While sizing up her lie from afar, she watched Pierce bungle her first approach shot, finding the second pond on the left side of the fairway. Green light for Cat. She misfired.
Allen Misfire on Hole 18
Did the raised curb affect the angle of her run up? Did her plant foot slip ever so slightly? Did she simply lose her disc in the crosswind? Whatever the case, her second shot drifted too far right and out of bounds, skittering along the cart path parallel to the fairway and nearly hooking back in bounds pin high.
Allen’s game is predicated on her command of hyzer flip shots. As a result, she sometimes pulls her throws to the right or overturns them. She has only found OB right on the 18th hole, and both times she went out of play demonstrate this tendency. It was her most common miss this past weekend, in general.
Based on Allen’s experience in 2021 and during the second round this weekend, it appears the best game plan when locked in a close race with Pierce would be to play for birdie and wait for Pierce to make a mistake.
For her part, Pierce tends to miss left. She has never executed a successful second throw on the 18th hole at Wildhorse, finding the left pond twice and the greenside pond twice. While she carded her first birdie on the hole this past Friday, her second shot was poor. Ninety-nine times out of one hundred that approach finds the pond. Miraculously, Pierce found a tiny sliver of land jutting out into the water and was safe by inches.
Pierce Drive to Peninsula
The 18th hole on the Innova Course clearly beguiles Pierce. Did her past struggles influence Allen’s game plan on Sunday?
Pierce’s difficulty approaching the green on the final hole at Wildhorse is reminiscent of another significant ender: hole 18 at The Fort. There, Allen knew Pierce had carded double bogey in rounds one and three. Trailing by one, she knew her chances were good if she could score par or better.
After landing her drive safely in bounds, navigating over the water and through the trees, Allen proceeded to throw the shot of the year: a huge, gutsy anhyzer that hit the green and spun to a stop atop the OB rope, safe, with a birdie look. The rest is history.
Though the stakes were certainly not as high in Vegas as they were in Utah, Allen must have known that a birdie was good and that the pressure was on Pierce to stay error free.
Pierce couldn’t stay clean. She threw a virtual carbon copy of Friday’s errant approach, only luck wasn’t on her side this time as she skipped OB. After her blind, hail Mary hyzer over the palms spiked into the woodchips surrounding the pin, all that was left for Allen to do was knock down a twelve-footer for birdie and the early season win.
If you are looking for the perfect vacation to the Colorado mountains, then look no further than Durango, Colorado. Nature lovers, adventure seekers, and history buffs will all feel right at home when they visit Durango.
Located in the southwestern corner of Colorado, Durango is consistently named as one of the best places to visit in Colorado. In winter, people come to Durango to go snow skiing, but don’t worry if that isn’t your thing. There are plenty of things to do in Durango off the slopes!
Boasting a historic downtown, great shops and restaurants, and loads of outdoor activities, Durango is sure to have something for everyone. The former mining town’s most popular attraction is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a scenic train journey through the mountains of Colorado.
Surrounded by majestic mountains and scenic valleys, Durango is the perfect place to enjoy a vacation.
1. Ride The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a must-do attraction when visiting Durango.
Known as “the train,” the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad takes visitors on a scenic journey through the Colorado Mountains on its historic steam-powered locomotives. The 1880s train is listed as a National Historic Landmark, allowing guests to see areas of the Colorado countryside that can only be seen by foot or train.
The winding journey takes you through breathtaking canyons, past glorious waterfalls, and through gorgeous forest land. Routes are offered year-round and vary in length from just over 5 hours to approximately 0 hours.
Be sure to visit the 12,000-square-foot railroad museum in Durango as well to learn all about the history of the railroad system in this area.
Pro Tip: While different classes and styles of carriages are offered, we recommend choosing the open-air carriages for unbeatable views!
2. Drive The San Juan Scenic Byway & The Million Dollar Highway
The 233-mile road known as the San Juan Scenic Byway loops around Southwest Colorado through Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Telluride, and more before making its way back to Durango.
The most scenic stretch of road, known as the Million Dollar Highway, is from Durango to the hidden gem of Ouray. This section of the San Juan Scenic Byway ascends up three mountain passes, the highest one coming in at over 11,000 feet in elevation.
Pro Tip: Drive this road from south to north for the safest route as you are on the opposite side of the cliffs, and read up on 8 Things To Know About Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway before you go!
3. Explore The San Juan National Forest
Durango is fortunate to have the San Juan National Forest as its personal playground.
Located just north of Durango, the San Juan National Forest was established in 1905 by Theodore Roosevelt.
While a ride on the Durango and Silverton Railroad or a drive on the San Juan Scenic Byway will take you through the national forest, there is nothing like exploring it in person.
This 1.8-million-acre wilderness is the perfect place to do some hiking, mountain biking, or camping. There are miles of back roads and thousands of miles of trails waiting for you in the San Juan National Forest.
Pro Tip: If you want to camp in this area, consider camping at one of the best campgrounds in Colorado, Little Molas Lake Campground!
4. Visit The Durango Fish Hatchery & Wildlife Museum
The Durango Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Museum raises over a million fish a year to release into Colorado’s waterways. As the state’s oldest fish hatchery, you can learn all about this process and the conservation efforts when you pay a visit to the hatchery, which is located near 16th Street.
While admission to the hatchery is free, be sure to bring some money to purchase fish food so that you can enjoy feeding the fish during your visit. You can check operating hours for the hatchery here.
5. Walk The Animas River Trail
Enjoy an afternoon out in nature walking the Animas River Trail. The trail, which runs for 7 miles along the Animas River, is lined with interpretive plaques and public art for you to enjoy during your walk.
The trail, which is paved, is perfect for walking, biking, or jogging, and is wheelchair accessible. While walking the Animas River Trail, be on the lookout for fishermen and/or kayakers in the river!
Pro Tip: If you only want to walk a portion of the trail, then choose the section between the Durango Recreation Center and the Highway 160 overpass as this is the most scenic portion.
6. Explore The Historic Downtown
The town of Durango dates back to the 1880s when it was an important mining town. This history is apparent throughout the historic downtown area. You can see the history in the architecture of the buildings, many of which still maintain their grandness today.
The historic downtown area houses some great boutique shops, lovely cafes and restaurants, and excellent art galleries. Exploring the shops and historic landmarks of downtown Durango is a must during your visit.
You definitely don’t want to miss the Strater Hotel and the General Palmer Hotel. Both of these historic hotels were built in 1890, shortly after the founding of Durango.
7. Enjoy Dinner Or A Drink At An 1800s Saloon
Take a step back in time when you visit the Diamond Belle Saloon located inside of the Strater Hotel!
This 1800s saloon will have you thinking you have been transported to the Old West. The wood paneling, long bar, live ragtime music, and costumed waitstaff ensure that you have a truly unique experience during your visit.
The Diamond Belle offers a variety of food to choose from, so you are sure to find something to tickle your tastebuds.
8. Relax In A Hot Spring
There is nothing more relaxing than soaking in a Colorado hot spring. Lucky for you, you can experience this during your time in Durango. Just head 15 minutes north of downtown to the Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa.
The hot spring waters, believed to have healing properties, have drawn visitors to this area for years. The water reaches the surface at 120 degrees, perfect for melting away the stresses of your day.
The resort offers day passes to enjoy the 12 spring-fed pools that vary in temperature. Please check their website for the most up-to-date hours and fees.
Pro Tip: Bring your own towel as the resort charges a fee to purchase one.
9. Play Golf Or Disc Golf
Durango offers a gorgeous backdrop for a day of golf thanks to its location in the Animas Valley. The gorgeous red San Juan Mountains and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains provide visitors with stunning views to tee off to.
Two popular courses in town are Hillcrest Golf Club and Dalton Ranch Golf Club, both of which offer tee times to visitors.
If you would rather try your hand at disc golf, you can do that during your time in Durango also. Just head to the Fort Lewis College Disc Golf Course, the course at Colorado Timberline Academy, or or Purgatory Resort.
10. Have Fun On The Animas River
Take a float on the Animas River to get a whole new perspective on the area.
If you are visiting in the summer months, people often ride inner tubes down the river when the water is experiencing low-flow times. You can put your tube in starting at 32nd Street. Just be sure to get out prior to 9th Street to avoid the rapids!
Of course, there are other options for floating the river. You can join a whitewater rafting expedition on the Animas if you are feeling adventurous. This will allow you to experience some of the rapids that the Animas has to offer.
Just take note that whitewater rafting requires participants to be able to sit on the side of the raft and help row.
11. Check Out The Animas Museum
The Animas Museum is housed in a 1904 Animas City School Building and is the perfect place to visit if you want to learn about the history of the area.
The displays inside include a replica of an early 20th-century classroom, historic documents, and photographs telling the history of the Animas area. There are also several examples of pottery, basketry, and beadwork on display.
12. Visit A Local Brewery
Craft and microbreweries have become super popular in Colorado, and this holds true for Durango. During your time visiting Durango, why not try a few and find your favorite? Durango is home to several for you to choose from.
Ska Brewing offers guests a modern tasting room to try their seasonal and flagship brews. Steamworks Brewing serves up its award-winning beer alongside some great pub food in a laid-back, fun atmosphere. Lastly, Animas Brewing Co. is a great family-friendly place to enjoy some beer on their lovely patio.
No matter which one you choose, you are sure to enjoy trying these Colorado-produced beers.
Any time of year is a great time to visit Durango. It doesn’t matter if you want to enjoy the snowy winter or the gorgeous sunny summer, Durango always has something great to offer visitors.
During your time here, be sure to take things slow, enjoy the great outdoors, and don’t be shy to make friends with a local or two. They always have the best recommendations and stories!
A rendering shows what Hale Makua’s proposed 76,200-square-foot, two-story rehabilitation center in Kahului would look like. Rendering courtesy of Hale Makua
Hale Makua Health Services is proposing to expand its Kahului care facility to build a “much-needed” skilled nursing and outpatient rehabilitation center in the nearby gateball field, a project that’s been discussed for years amid an expected increase in elderly Maui residents.
The proposed 76,200-square-foot, two-story Hale Makua Rehabilitation Facility would provide services such as physical, occupational and speech therapy; home health and nursing services; and parking.
The nonprofit is taking the next steps toward the project, putting together a draft environmental assessment that was released Thursday in the state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development’s “The Environmental Notice,” which showed an “anticipated finding of no significant impact.”
“The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a much needed rehabilitation facility within the Kahului community,” according to the draft report. “Based on public outreach conducted with the local community, the proposed rehabilitation facility would provide greatly needed health services to Maui’s residents, especially the elderly population.”
The project site would include construction of the commercial building on a 2.8-acre portion of the Kahului Gateball Field, which is managed by the county Department of Parks and Recreation. Nonprofit Hale Makua would lease the land from the county.
A map shows the site plan of Hale Makua’s proposed skilled nursing and outpatient rehabilitation center. Map courtesy of Hale Makua
The Kahului Gateball Field, which is part of the Kahului Community Center Park, would “no longer be available” for recreational users and youth practices, including clubs like Maui Disc Golf Association, Maui Taiko and the American Youth Soccer Organization.
Other alternatives suggested for play include Lihikai Park and Maui High School, and other parks located within the vicinity of the site.
The area is bordered by the Kahului Community Center and Park, the existing Hale Makua Kahului facility and single-family residences and public roadways, according to the report.
Maui County and Hale Makua have spent the past few years paving the way for the planned expansion. In October 2018, before the project had been officially proposed, the Maui County Council passed a resolution that would allow the nonprofit to lease 7.4 acres of the park for future expansion.
In June 2020, the Maui Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the request to amend the Wailuku-Kahului Community Plan land use designation from park to public/quasi-public and to change the zoning from residential district to public/quasi-public district.
The draft assessment reports that the existing Hale Makua Kahului Facility is zoned as public/quasi public.
The proposed rehabilitation facility is part of the Hale Makua Master Plan, which also includes renovations to the existing Hale Makua facility in Kahului and relocation of the Wailuku facility services to the Kahului campus.
Estimated costs for Phase 1, which would include the skilled nursing/outpatient rehabilitation center, are $64.2 million, and construction is slated to take 18 months to complete.
According to the document, this would increase “self-reliance and self-determination” for the community by providing health and wellness services locally, rather than having to move or commute to Oahu in order to receive these services.
Phase 2 would include additional kupuna health and social services facilities on 4.6 acres. Both are located in a corner of the park next to the Kokua Pool and Hale Makua and bordered by Uhu and Kaulana streets; they do not include the adjacent soccer fields.
Comments on the proposed rehabilitation facility are due by March 28 and can be sent to [email protected].
The approving agency for the project is the Maui County Department of Parks and Recreation; for more information, contact Samual Marvel at (808) 270-7230, at [email protected] or at 700 Halia Nakoa St., Unit 2, Wailuku, HI 96793.
To review the full draft EA, visit files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/erp/Doc_Library/2022-02-23-MA-DEA-Hale-Makua-Expansion-Rehabilitation-Facility.pdf.
Pune, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Researcher’s, “Disc Golf Market 2022” report provides comprehensive insights about top companies and main competitors in Disc Golf. Report covers the segmentation, including applications and product type, regions. This report provides a detailed analysis of the market, including its dynamics, characteristics, main players, structure, growth and demand drivers, etc. as a complete study report, it covers all details inside analysis and opinion in Disc Golf industry.
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The Disc Golf industry can be broken down into several segments, Distance Drivers, Fairway Drivers, Midrange Drivers, Putt & Approach, Mini Discs, Others, etc.
Across the world, the major players cover MVP Disc Sports, Streamline Discs, Dynamic Discs, Prodigy Disc, Axiom Discs, Prodiscus, Gateway Disc Sports, Innova Disc Golf, Legacy Discs, Discmania, etc.
Market Analysis and Insights: Global Disc Golf Market
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the global Disc Golf market size is estimated to be worth USD 205.7 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 538.5 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 17.4% during the review period.
The major players in global Disc Golf market include Innova Disc Golf, Discraft, Dynamic Discs, etc. The top 3 players occupy about 60% shares of the global market. North America is the main market, and occupies over 70% shares of the global market. Distance Drivers is the main type, with a share about 30%. Pros is the main application, which holds a share about 45%.
The Major Players in the Disc Golf Market Are:
MVP Disc Sports
Streamline Discs
Dynamic Discs
Prodigy Disc
Axiom Discs
Prodiscus
Gateway Disc Sports
Innova Disc Golf
Legacy Discs
Discmania
Kastaplast
Latitude 64°
Discraft
Westside Discs
DGA
RPM Discs
Viking Discs
Yikun Discs
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The report examines the Disc Golf market drivers and restraints, along with the impact of Covid-19 are influencing the market growth in detail. The study covers & includes emerging market trend, market developments, market opportunities, market size, sales, market analysis, market revenue, market dynamics, and challenges in the industry. This report also covers extensively researched competitive landscape sections with profiles of major companies, including their market share and projects.
On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of Disc Golf Market types split into:
Distance Drivers
Fairway Drivers
Midrange Drivers
Putt & Approach
Mini Discs
Others
On the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate of Disc Golf Market applications, includes:
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Some Points Covered from TOC:
1 Study Coverage
2 Executive Summary
3 Competition by Manufacturers
4 Market Size by Type
5 Market Size by Application
6 North America
7 Europe
8 Asia Pacific
9 Latin America
10 Middle East and Africa
11 Company Profiles
12 Industry Chain and Sales Channels Analysis
13 Market Drivers, Opportunities, Challenges and Risks Factors Analysis
14 Key Findings in The Global Disc Golf Study
15 Appendix
Reasons to Buy Disc Golf Market Report:
The new players in the Disc Golf Market and the potential entrants into this market can use this report to understand the key market trends that are expected to shape the market in the next few years.
The key technologies that could impact the global Disc Golf market have been covered in detail.
The report can be used by the sales and marketing team to formulate their medium- and long-term strategies and to reconfirm their short-term plans.
The report would help the sales and the marketing team to understand the key segments across the top countries which have been analyzed in the report.
The opportunity analysis chapter identifies the key hot spots within the Global Disc Golf Market.
The company profiles include company overview, products & services offered by the company, recent news updates, and SWOT analysis for companies.
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About Absolute Reports:
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