2019-12-09 03:49:43
Once a rough-and-tumble mining town inhabited by cowboys, gold-seekers and infamous ruffians like Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody, modern-day Pueblo is a sunny playground nestled on the banks of the Arkansas River. MORNING Kick off your visit in the colorful Union Avenue Historic District (3), the town’s original city center, which once housed trading posts, gambling saloons and second-story brothels. Today, the area’s beautiful brick and sandstone buildings house a collection of boutiques, art galleries and sidewalk cafes. The neighborhood is one of three that make up Pueblo’s Creative Corridor — hubs of museums, live music, galleries, public sculptures, fountains and more. At Arts Alliance Studios, more than 40 creatives work on their craft. Each month on First Fridays and Second Saturdays, the artists host open houses and events such as raku firings, poetry readings and receptions. Check out the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk (2), a 32-acre water-front plaza with a nature center and outdoor amphitheater, as well as a brand new visitor center to help you plan the rest of your trip. Take a guided river cruise or get your heart pumping on one of the bike trails, many of which connect to nearby Lake Pueblo State Park (1), one of the state’s most popular. Near the riverwalk is Neon Alley, an outdoor museum of refurbished vintage signs and new creations near the historic Union Depot. AFTERNOON If you’re traveling with children, your next stop should be the award-winning Buell Children’s Museum (4), adored for its hands-on exhibits focused on the arts, science and history. Next, head to the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, a World War II Army air base turned museum with more than 30 vintage aircraft, including a massive B-29. Other can’t-miss museums include the El Pueblo History Museum, a re-created 1840s adobe trading post and archaeological excavation site, and The Steelworks Museum, rated in the top-five industrial collections in the nation. EVENING Watch the city melt into shades of gold, red and orange during a sunset gondola ride down the river. Afterward, head into historic Old Town for a bite to eat, making sure to sample the town’s de facto mascot, the chile pepper. This spicy, fire-roasted treat is perhaps best enjoyed in savory pork green chile. Try a Pueblo Slopper, a hamburger patty smothered in green chile and topped with cheese and onions. Many restaurants, including Gray’s Coors Tavern, Sunset Inn and Sancho’s Bar & Grill, serve up their own version of the beloved dish, so you can easily embark on your own Slopper tour — and take the Pueblo Chile Farm Stand Tour along Hwy. 50 east of town in August and September to gather your own ingredients, and soak in the aromas, colors and the hard work of generations of local farmers. Roadside markets also offer dry sausages, cheese, honey, pastries and more throughout the summer. Residents of Italian, Greek, Slovenian, Polish, Irish, German and African-American heritage have also shaped the city’s menus. Stop into one of the longtime local restaurants and shops, like Franks Meat Market, Paleteria Y Neveria Durango, Tortilleria Delicias or Giodone’s Italian Bar and Grill. If there’s still time, find out what’s on stage at the Steel City Theatre Company, Impossible Playhouse and Grupo Folklórico del Pueblo. Motorsports racing fans find plenty to cheer about at the newly reopened Honor Speed-way and the Pueblo Motorsports Park, which each host a variety of competitions through the summer and fall. SIDETRIPS Take a scenic drive west of Pueblo to the towns of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, between the Wet and Sangre de Cristo mountains. The quiet area, home to 200 miles of hiking and biking trails and 54 alpine lakes, has an air of the undiscovered. You’re likely to spot real cowboys and gals herding cattle on horseback and historic one-room school houses to peek into. Stop for a performance or movie at the historic Jones Theater. For fine dining and spectacular views, make a date at Westcliffe’s Alpine Lodge. The communities are also the first in Colorado to be recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association, so stop by for summer star parties and visit the Smokey Jack Observatory. South of Pueblo along I-25, Colorado City anchors the southern leg of the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway. The 104-mile road along the splendid Sangre de Cristos travels through the San Isabel National Forest, by Hardscrabble Canyon and 40-acre Lake Isabel, an ideal spot for fishing, hiking and picnicking. Head west for 24 miles along Hwy. 165 to Bishop’s Castle, a quirky fortress Jim Bishop has been building for more than 40 years and billed as “The Largest One-Man Construction Project in the Country.” STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Colorado City, Pueblo (page 203), Pueblo West, Silver Cliff, Westcliffe QUICK TIP Colorado’s craft-beer industry is booming statewide and Pueblo is no exception. Try the Pueblo American Pale Ale at Shamrock Brewing Co., sip the Pueblo Chile Lager at Walter’s Brewing & Taproom or grab a pint of Leadhead IPA at Brues Alehouse Brewing Co.
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