COME TO LIFE / Great Plains: Lamar to La Junta; Crazy About Longmont GREAT PLAINS: LAMAR TO LA JUNTA The past meets the future in this quiet, relaxed area at the northern portion of the Santa Fe Trail, where progress and preservation live side by side. COLORADO DAY 1 Start at the Colorado Welcome Center in Lamar . The center is a bit of an attraction itself, featuring a train engine, 100-year-old wind-mill and water tank — the only spot in the nation to include all three alongside a historic depot. Afterward, head over to the Great Plains Reservoirs , a collection of seven glassy lakes perfect for boating, fishing and water-skiing. Bring binoculars — the reservoirs and surrounding prairie have hosted almost every bird species ever documented in Colorado. On any given day, you can spot tern, piping plover, lesser sandhill cranes and maybe even a bald or golden eagle. Grab dinner in Lamar before exploring the town’s historic district. Check out the Big Timbers Museum ’s collection of old wagons, fire engines and cars. Or check out the Madonna of the Trail Monument , an homage to the courageous women of the frontier days. If the timing’s right, catch a movie at the Lamar Theater , a chrome-and-mirror art deco wonder built in the 1940s. was the only permanent settle-ment on the trail between Missouri and Mexican settlements. From Bent’s Fort, detour south to the Picketwire Canyonlands along the Purgatoire River in the Comanche National Grassland , where you can spend hours exploring ancient Plains Indian rock art, early Spanish settlements and North America’s largest dino-saur tracksite. Hiking, biking and horseback riding are permitted, and you can also arrange for a guided auto tour through the U.S. Forest Service. Later, continue west to La Junta and take in some of the local culture at the Koshare Indian Museum , home to an astound-ing collection of Western art as well as a massive kiva that hosts the world-famous Koshare 1 Indian Dancers. Another local museum, the Otero Museum , is dedicated to documenting the day-to-day life of early La Junta. The museum’s historic building collection includes a turn-of-the-century grocery and a primitive log schoolhouse. DAY 2 Head west on the Santa Fe Trail to Las Animas and the Boggsville Settlement (1) . Built in the 1860s, it was one of the first areas in Colorado to begin livestock trading and included some 20 structures, including frontiersman Kit Carson’s last home. Two have been restored and can be toured. Continue on to Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site , a re-created buffalo-trading post. For years, it STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Hasty (page 206), La Junta (page 207), Las Animas , Lamar , Rocky Ford CRAZY ABOUT LONGMONT Along the Front Range between Boulder and Loveland, Longmont is a stop-worthy destination for all the reasons visitors love Colora-do — great brews and views, a distinct flavor of local arts and access to the outdoors. You’ll find three spectacular golf courses, beautiful parks and a Certified Colorado Creative District . Survey the work of local artists in galleries and coffee shops — especially during the Second Fridays at the Firehouse events. Explore the recently expanded Longmont Museum & Cultural Center for outdoor summer concerts, exhibits on the history of the region and more. The area’s brewery scene is also noteworthy. Left Hand Brewing Co. and Oskar Blues’ Tasty Weasel Taproom are longtime favorites, while 300 Suns , Longs Peak Pub & Taphouse , Großen Bart , Shoes & Brews , Wibby and SKEYE recently opened their doors. The Brewhop Trolley transports craft-beer lovers to all nine breweries. For a little twist on adult beverages, visit St. Vrain Cidery and one of the town’s five craft-spirits distilleries. Now it’s time for a snack: The Art of Cheese is a local cheese-making school with courses that cover cheesemaking, pairings, tours, cheese tasting and more. For more cheesiness, there’s also Cheese Importers and Haystack COLORADO Mountain Goat Dairy , both with culinary experiences to explore. For those seeking thrills, Mile-Hi Skydiving Center (where the Denver Broncos’ Thunderstorm sky-diving team trains) hosts excursions to Longs Peak for all experience levels. There’s also the Warrior Playground , an outdoor obstacle course and training facility, styled after those on “American Ninja Warrior,” where visitors can hone their ninja skills. For a more relaxing excursion, consider stand-up paddling and kayaking on Union Reservoir or cycling along the St. Vrain Green-way , which links numerous parks and runs along St. Vrain Creek. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Firestone (page 203), Fred-erick (page 204), Longmont (page 208), Lyons QUICK TIP 192 / Just a short drive south, the Celestial Seasonings tea factory tour is one of the cutest things going. If your sinuses survive the infamous mint room, be sure to leave lots of time for the gift shop. COLORADO.COM FROM TOP: BOGGSVILLE SETTLEMENT, MILES/ANNA ZOROMSKI; VISIT LONGMONT.
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2017: Page 192
