ITINERARIES & MORE GRAND GETAWAY Using Grand Junction as your home base, take your daytime explorations farther afield in surrounding towns to unpack all the Western Slope has to offer. MORNING: If there’s a better way to kick off a day of cycling than a Biker’s Burrito from Camilla’s Kaffe in Fruita, we haven’t found it. This morning feast of two eggs and golden hash browns wrapped in a flour tortilla, then smothered with house-made pork green chili and topped with cheddar cheese will get you ready to roll. And that’s welcome news, because Fruita’s iconic 18 Road Trails Area offers thrilling mountain biking trails amid the dips and ridges of the vast desert valley floor. Loops, 2 to 28 miles long, range from moderate to difficult. owners John and Marisol both have Spanish heritage, so the menu’s international influences are the real deal. If you happen to be there for lunch on a Thursday, the paella is mandatory. After your meal, take a picturesque float trip through wine country from Palisade to Corn Lake State Park. Palisade River Trips offers guided trips and self-guided rentals. You’ll work up a thirst out there on the water, so your next stop is the Peach Street Distillers tasting room for sips of your favorite spirits — with emphasis on expert infusions made with Palisade’s famous fruit, including peaches, apricots and pears. If a crisp hard cider’s more your speed, hit up Talbott’s Farm Market and Taproom for fruity flavors forged over five generations. Then walk off your buzz amid the creative musings of Palisade Art Vision , a rotating collection of public sculpture installations from local and regional artists. @GEOFFMOBILEJ EVENING: Your night in Fruita starts with an early dinner at Hot Tomato Café & Pizzeria , where daily house-made dough is topped with the freshest ingredients. While the entire menu is mouthwatering, go straight to the seasonal pies, and pick anything topped with Palisade peaches. Then get ready for a brief return to the Old West at the Rimrock Rodeo , where local cowpokes compete in events like barrel racing, bull riding, calf roping, mutton bustin’ and more (Tuesday evenings, June–August). PEACH STREET DISTILLERS AFTERNOON: The Palisade Cafe 11.0 has been nourishing locals and visitors with locally sourced fare since 1930. Current @GIRAFFOSAURUSREX FROM TOP: INSTAGRAM/@GEOFFMOBILEJ; FLICKR/COLORADODISTILLERSFESTIVAL; INSTAGRAM/@GIRAFFOSAURUSREX; INSTAGRAM/@GEOFFMOBILEJ; TALBOTT’S FARM MARKET & TAPROOM; INSTAGRAM/@CHADINGHAM. TALBOTT’S FARM MARKET AND TAPROOM @GEOFFMOBILEJ 18 ROAD TRAILS AREA @CHADINGHAM 970.256.4060 | VisitGrandJunction.com | 23
Grand Junction Official Visitor Guide Grand Junction Colorado Adventure Guide: Page 23
