Bodies: The Science Within

Disclaimer: Our visit to Bodies: The Science Within was hosted, however all opinions and photography are my own.

Have you ever wondered just how the human body works? 

Thanks to a new exhibition in Denver, you can learn all about how our bodies function.

Bodies: The Science Within recently opened at Denver Pavilions, and let me tell you, this is like no exhibition you've seen before. 

What makes Bodies: The Science Within so special, I hear you ask? All those bodies on display - they're real! Every organ, muscle, bone, ligament... they're all real and perfectly preserved through a process known as plastination. 

Wondering just what plastination is? Read on to learn more about this fascinating process and the exhibition it has made possible.

A word of warning first... If you're a little squeamish when it comes to seeing blood and guts, this may not be the post for you, but if you're fascinated by human anatomy, read on!

Denver Chalk Art Festival 2026

This past weekend, Denver's streets were awash with color thanks to the annual Denver Chalk Art Festival.

On Saturday and Sunday, more than 200 artists decorated the streets in Denver's Golden Triangle Creative District with the most amazing chalk art creations. Yes, right on the streets.

This year I attended the festival on the Saturday evening. This means that most of the chalk art works were not finished, but as you can see, they were still pretty spectacular to see. It also meant that, unlike last year when I went late on the Sunday, I actually got to see a lot more of the artists working. While it's nice to see the finished product, seeing the artists bringing their creations to life is pretty amazing. 

Let's take a look at some of this year's art works...  

50 Before 50

In just a few weeks I turn 49.

Eek! Wasn’t I just in my 20s yesterday?

In the lead up to the big 5-0, I’ve been thinking about things I want to do for myself, because let’s face it, as women, and especially as mums, we’re almost always putting everyone else’s needs and wants first. I try to do things for myself, but inevitably, something else always pops up that gets pushed to the top of my priority list, and I get pushed back to the bottom.

It’s time for that to change!

But, I know that to make change I need something to hold myself accountable, which is why I’ve come up with a challenge for myself:

Doing FIFTY things that I have been wanting to do before I turn fifty.

I'll be starting this series very soon (mostly on Instagram, with the odd post featured here on the blog as well), but in the mean time I wanted to share my full list in case anyone else is thinking of doing something similar. Plus, you guys might have suggestions for me that I hadn't thought of, or recommendations on where I can actually do some of these activities. Some I have worked out, but for the most part I'm still very much in the early planning stages. 

For now, the list includes more than 50 items, but I know that I will need to cut quite a few due to cost. A lot of those classes and physical activities I have listed are rather pricey. I'll likely not be able to achieve them all, but I'm going to give it my best shot.

I've broken these activities/goals down into rough categories to help me keep on top of them, and I've added check boxes so I can mark off items as I cross them off my list.

Let's take a look...

Longmont Street Art

Recently I've been spending a bit of time in Longmont, and one of the things I love about this northern Colorado city is the abundance of street art.

You guys know I'm a sucker for a good mural, and Longmont has a lot of them, so today I'm sharing my favorites with you. I've also put together a handy map to help you find all of these murals, so make sure to read to the end for the link.

Erie's Canary Loop Sculptures

Getting outside and checking out public art is one of my favorite things, so when I recently discovered that there's a trail in nearby Erie that features decorative canary sculptures along the route I just knew that I had to go check it out.

This trail is called the Canary Loop, and it's a two mile paved trail around historic Old Town Erie. Along the route, you'll find six canary sculptures designed by artist Gregory Fields in 2025. Each steel sculpture depicts a ceramic mosaic design featuring an aspect of life in Erie today and in the past.

Why canaries, I hear you ask? Well, like many towns in Northern Colorado, Erie was originally founded as a coal mining town. Canaries have a long history being used in coal mines to detect dangerous gases. It's dark, I know, but those little song birds saved the lives of many coal miners around the world, and Erie has paid tribute to them through these sculptures.

Let's take a look... 

Dinosaur Ridge

Did you know that Colorado is home to the BEST dinosaur track site in the entire country?

A site where you can see where raptors, therapods, and giant sauropods left their mark on the prehistoric landscape millions of years ago. A site where you can touch real dinosaur bones both in situ and in the museum. A site with stunning views over the rocky Colorado landscape. Sign me up, please!

Recently I visited Dinosaur Ridge to check out the dinosaur tracks and prehistoric fossils, and today I'm sharing it all with you.

Located in Morrison, just 20 minutes west of Denver, Dinosaur Ridge is a must see for Colorado families and visitors alike, especially if you love dinosaurs. And let's face it, don't we all?