On bright spring days when the weather is warm and there are few clouds in the sky, Hallie Wastell sits on the bench in front of her Arvada business to catch a few rays.
For some Jeffco residents, it’s a matter of using the lunch hour creatively to get the most out of the spring breeze.
Wastell, co-owner of Lovely clothing store, said she tries to get outside for at least a few minutes each day even if she doesn’t have time to take a proper lunch.
“You don’t have to run 13 miles, just get outside,” she said. “My husband is an electrician, and he and his friends take their unicycles to work and ride them in the parking lot during lunch.”
Whether there is half an hour, a full hour or just a few minutes to spare for lunch, Jefferson County has plenty of opportunities to enjoy the sun.
You work in: Lakewood
You have half an hour:
Seek out an eatery with plenty of outdoor seating.
“I love to eat outside. It’s probably my main criteria when my friends and I go out to lunch,” said Cristi Benavides, a Lakewood resident. Benavides, who was sitting near the fountain in the Belmar shopping center, said she often finds herself at Belmar-area restaurants. The shopping center, located near Wadsworth and Alameda, has about 14 different eateries.
Take a longer lunch: Head to Belmar Park, 801 S. Wadsworth Blvd., for jogging or walking on dirt trails. Have a sandwich by Kountze Lake, where herons and ducks make their home.
You work in: Arvada
You have half an hour:
Swing by an Olde Town Arvada eatery for a quick bite to enjoy at the gazebo in McIlvoy Park, where students from Shrine of St Anne’s School run and play during recess. If there isn’t time for a full meal, pop into Namaste, a new Olde Town convenience store at 5757 Old Wadsworth Blvd, for a quick snack.
Take a longer lunch: May is Bike to Work Month, so why not take a quick spin down the Ralston Creek Trail, which passes through 16 Arvada parks and spans from Olde Town Arvada to the West Woods area. Find a map to the most nearby trail connection at www.arvada.org.
You work in: Wheat Ridge
You have half an hour: Assemble a short picnic with fresh local fruits, veggies and snacks from Heinie’s Market, 11801 W 44th Ave. The market also carries sacks of kettle corn and fresh juice.
“We’re going to start getting cherries and apricots in July from Grand Junction, and the tomatoes we’re getting are just excellent,” said store manager Daniel Silz.
Take the picnic down the street to Prospect Park, 11600 W 44th Ave. Catch a daytime baseball game at the baseball field or take a short jog on one of Prospect Park’s paved trails.
Take a longer lunch: Continue along Prospect Park’s trails through the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt, which spans 300 acres along Clear Creek.
You work in: Golden
You have half an hour: Take a seat along Clear Creek, where ample benches and picnic tables provide a view of kayakers and springtime swimmers. Lions Park, 1300 Tenth St., offers the best view of kayakers rolling through the rapids.
Take a longer lunch: Sneak in a hike on one of Mount Galbraith Park’s three hiker-only trails. Located a mile west of Highway 93 on Golden Gate Canyon Road, hikers can eat a sack lunch near the entrance to the park, then head off over the stream to finish one to two-mile hikes. Maps and trail information is located at the trailhead, or visit http://openspace.co.jefferson.co.us.