COME TO LIFE / Historic Sites & Family Fun HISTORIC SITES & FAMILY FUN IN PUEBLO COLORADO 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 undiscov-ered, and you’re likely to spot real cowboys and gals herding cattle on horseback. Peek into the All Aboard Westcliffe railroad museum (open Saturdays, Memorial Day through mid-September) and stop for a perfor-mance or movie at the historic Jones Theater. For fine dining and spectacu-lar 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 plan for some stargazing and a stop at 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.” 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 (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 sculptures, fountains and more. Arts Alliance Studios is one of the biggest and most exciting developments here. More than 40 creatives work out of this studio collective. Each month on First Fridays 1 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. 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 , one of the state’s most popular. AFTERNOON STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Colorado City , Pueblo (page 203), Pueblo West , Silver Cliff , Westcliffe 2 If you’re traveling with children, your next stop should be the QUICK TIP 156 / Colorado’s craft-beer industry is booming statewide and Pueblo is no exception. Try the Pueblo American Pale Ale at Shamrock Brewing , sip the Pueblo Chile Lager at Walter’s Brewing Company or grab a pint of Leadhead IPA at Brues Alehouse Brewing Co. 1-800-COLORADO FROM TOP: UNION AVENUE HISTORIC DISTRICT, MILES/ANDREA BUROLLA; HISTORIC ARKANSAS RIVERWALK, MILES/ANDREA BUROLLA. OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM LEFT: BUELL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, MILES/ANDREA BUROLLA; CHILE & FRIJOLES FESTIVAL, GREATER PUEBLO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2019: Page 156
