COME TO LIFE / Helping of Hot HELPING OF HOT: HISTORIC SITES & FAMILY FUN IN PUEBLO MORNING Kick off your visit in the colorful Union Avenue Historic District (1) , 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 sculpture, fountains and more. Arts Alliance Studios is one of the biggest and most exciting new developments here. More than 40 creatives work out of this studio collective. Each month on First Fridays and COLORADO @balancingthisvessel SIDETRIPS WESTCLIFFE & SILVER CLIFF Take a scenic drive west of Pueblo to the towns of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, between the Wet Mountains and the Sangre de Cristos. The quiet area, home to 200 miles of hiking and biking trails and 54 alpine lakes, has an air of the undis-covered, and you’re likely to spot real cowboys and gals herding cattle on horseback. Peek into the Westcliffe Depot railroad museum and 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 area is also an International Dark Sky Community, so plan for some stargazing and a stop at Smokey Jack Observatory. COLORADO CITY South of Pueblo along I-25, this town anchors the south-ern 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 24 miles along Hwy. 165 to Bishop’s Castle (pictured above), billed as “The Largest One-Man Construction Project in the Country.” Jim Bishop has been building this quirky fortress for more than 40 years. 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. 1 2 Second Saturdays the artists host open houses and events such as raku firings, poetry readings and receptions. Check out the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk , a 32-acre waterfront plaza, a nature center and a new outdoor amphitheater. Enjoy a morning stroll along the picturesque riverwalk, or get your heart pumping on one of the bike trails, many of which connect to nearby Lake Pueblo State Park , one of the state’s most popular. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Colorado City , Pueblo (page 203), Pueblo West , Silver Cliff , Westcliffe QUICK TIP 138 / Pick up maps and information at the Visitor Information Center at the El Pueblo History Museum about the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway, which begins in Pueblo and meanders through the high plains. COLORADO.COM THIS PAGE, FROM TOP: BISHOP’S CASTLE, @BALANCINGTHISVESSEL; UNION AVENUE HISTORIC DISTRICT, MILES/ANDREA BUROLLA; BUELL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, MILES/ANDREA BUROLLA. OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM LEFT: PUEBLO WEISBROD AIRCRAFT MUSEUM, MILES/ANDREA BUROLLA; PUEBLO RIVERWALK, MILES/ANDREA BUROLLA.
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2018: Page 138
