Declan LaSean’s Colorado Favorites: Four multifaceted locations, attractions and events across Colorado

Aug. 22, 2024

Note: Direct quotes were edited for typos, to observe AP style guidelines and to fit the listicle structure.

Declan LaSean is always seeking opportunities that allow him to explore what life has to offer and do what he loves, and his favorite Colorado experiences support that pursuit.

In an interview, LaSean shared four of his favorite attractions, experiences and places to spend time throughout the state.

1.     Mercs Jiu-Jitsu MMA Fitness Training

According to their website, Mercs is a Jiu-jitsu gym created in 2021; they offer classes and training in several forms of Mixed Martial Arts for all ages, which LaSean appreciates.

“I like that place just because of the atmosphere. The people there are really nice and it's like, whether you're a beginner or whether you're a pro, they're accommodating to everyone.”

2.     Parks with a mountain view

Colorado’s natural features make LaSean want to spend time outdoors in any weather, which is why he and his friends plan activities in the state’s outdoor spaces.

“I guess just the whole aspect of Colorado being outdoorsy and nature-y makes me attracted to just parks and the outdoor spaces. Whether we’re going to host a BBQ or something with my friends, or I'll take my girlfriend to the park and have picnics and stuff like that. It's always beautiful outside, whether it's raining, or thundering, or shiny or rainbows. Especially with the view of the mountains and everything, being outside never hurts.”

3.     Ice castles in the mountains

LeSean said he and his loved ones had a great time seeing Cripple Creek’s ice castles. According to their website, the pure ice structures are full of tunnels and caverns to explore as well as ice sculptures to see.

“Colorado has ice castles. They go on every year, and that's just super cool. Like, you don't see really anything like that anywhere else.”

LeSean described how he felt seeing them for the first time.

“It was just super cool. It’s like a whole different world. Everything is ice, and they’ve got ice slides. All the furniture is made of ice, the doors and everything, and you're like, ‘wow, that is crazy.’”

He noted that the castles reminded him of Nintendo’s Mario games.

“If you ever play Mario, you know when they have those worlds and you're in the ice world? I literally felt like that.”

4.     Car shows in Colorado Springs

LeSean said some of his friends are interested in cars and have passed that interest on to him. He thinks car shows have been a good way for him and his friends to spend time together.

“They have a lot of car… like, a big car community here in the Springs, at least; I’m not sure about Denver, and a lot of my friends are really active in that community. Whether it's just parked shows, or doing races or whatnot. My friends have taught me a lot about cars. And through that, I’ve met a lot of different people inside these different car shows, and I've found a little bit of interest in cars. I actually was able to buy my first car through meeting some people in the car shows, but it's just, like, something to do. It's a good place to have food, and we talk, and hang out and we'll show off the cars. And I don't know, maybe it's just a friend-specific thing, but I really like doing those things around the city.”