Colorado Wine Country: Grand Junction, Palisade & Fruita / COME TO LIFE DAY 2 Start your morning in downtown Grand Junction , where locally owned brunch hotspots’ outdoor seating areas let you bask in the morning air. Work off that extra helping of hash browns by strolling walkable streets lined with galleries, outdoor sculptures and gift shops, as well as a Thursday farmers’ market and other fun events. See if the Grand Junction Rockies have a home game. The minor-league affiliate of Denver’s Colorado Rockies plays at the city’s scenic Suplizio Field. Or head to Three Sisters Park located just minutes from downtown Grand Junction for 130 acres of gentle hiking and biking terrain. West of Grand Junction, the stunning red-rock canyonlands of Colorado National Monument (2) threaten to fill up a digital camera’s memory card in a blink. Drive the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive or take part in a ranger-led program that explores everything from geology to wildlife. A drive farther west will take you to McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area , where trails trace stunning formations for hikers prepared to make a long trek. The truly serious biker may want to add another day to the itinerary in order to explore the mountain-biking trails around nearby Fruita , arguably the finest network of singletrack in Colo-rado. The town is also a popular destination for ATVers who love desert trails, and rock crawlers find vast and varied terrain in the North Fruita Desert area. Golfers experience year-round bliss, canyon-country views and 27 holes at Adobe Creek National Golf Course . COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT, TIM KEMPLE. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Clifton (page 199), Collbran (page 199), Fruita (page 204), Grand Junction (page 206), Loma (page 208), Mesa , Palisade (page 210), Parachute (page 211), Rangely (page 211) 2 Grand Junction is a different side of Colorado, a land where you can be exhilarated. Where you can mountain bike from a desert trail into any of the 23 wineries…wine and dine next to majestic rivers…explore the Grand Mesa, the Colorado National Monument and end in charming downtown Grand Junction. So come, stay awhile, and enjoy the dramatic difference of Colorado’s Wine Country. visitgrandjunction.com or call 800-962-2547 COLORADO.COM / 163
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