Eight Reasons to Spend Your Holiday in Sterling, Colorado
Northeast Colorado offers a Hallmark holiday setting with its quaint, lit-up towns, seasonal decor, and specialty local shops. For birding, hunting, and wildlife enthusiasts, this corner of Colorado offers a snow-free environment to keep you outside longer. Here are eight reasons to visit Logan County this winter.
1. Have A Hallmark Christmas
Sterling is the perfect Hallmark-style town to visit over the holidays. With the Historical Logan County Courthouse as the centerpiece in the quaint downtown area, amble among the lighted trees, street lamps and seasonally decorated storefronts. Browse and shop at the many unique boutiques and specialty stores. Stop for a bite to eat at a heated patio, or enjoy in-door dining with a handmade beer. The two-story-tall Christmas tree inside the rotunda of the Logan County Courthouse will be decorated with handmade ornaments from local organizations and individuals.
2. Drive Through A Winter Wonderland
Photo Courtesy of Tami Brown
Drive through an extraordinary lights display at Riverview Golf Course and be awed by the many colorful illuminated decorations arranged into tunnels, stars, trees, snowmen, and even a penguin skating on a “lake” of lights. The display is available for viewing Thursday-Sunday nights. Admission is free, but there is a donation box at the entrance if you’d like to support the new tradition!
Enjoy “Christmas on the Prairie” at the Overland Trail Museum in Sterling throughout the month of December for twinkling lights, roasted chestnuts, festive entertainment, cookies, caroling, hot cider, cozy fires and memories that last a lifetime.
Experience the delightful Parade of Trees at the Sterling Public Library at the Sterling Public Library on Tuesday, December 21, 5-8 pm. The lights will be turned down to allow the beautifully decorated trees to shine. The evening features refreshments and live music, too.
5. Shop for Locally-Made Gifts
Many of Sterling’s merchants are open for extended hours during the month of December for your holiday shopping. Shop for Sterling-made goodies and gifts at Colorado Popcorn Company, High Plains Spice Company, Mike’s Meat Market, Parts & Labor Brewing Company, Red’s Wine Boutique, Rideau Organics, Sterling Creatives Art Co-Op and Gallery, Sweetly Vintage, or Wickedly Good Treats, just to name a few.
With mild winter weather in northeast Colorado, golfing is a sport you can enjoy year-round. Take your pick from Logan County’s three golf courses with affordable tee times that are easy to book or disc golf fans can enjoy the scenic Pioneer Park Disc Golf Course in Sterling.
7. Birding
The northeast corner of the state offers some of the highest quality birding experiences in the US Great Plains. Species you can anticipate seeing include: Golden Eagle, Swainson's Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, Mountain Plover (can be hard to find), Burrowing Owl, Prairie Falcon, Say's Phoebe, Horned Lark, among many others.
Photo Courtesy of North Sterling State Park
Prewitt State Wildlife Area has over 3,000 acres which are managed primarily for fishing and hunting. Camp, picnic, fish, boat or just sit on the shore of Prewitt Reservoir and watch hundreds of pelicans gather. Anglers can expect excellent fishing for walleye and crappie, and quality fishing for channel catfish and bluegill on the reservoir at Jumbo State Wildlife Area or North Sterling State Park.
