ITINERARIES & MORE GRAND GETAWAY Using Grand Junction as your home base, take your daytime explorations farther afield in surrounding towns to unpack all the area has to offer. MORNING: There’s no better way to kick off a day of cycling than a visit to Cafe Sol in Downtown Grand Junction. Locals love the daily quiche du jour and the dutch baby pancakes. For a heartier option, consider the generously packed breakfast burrito bursting with over a dozen ingredients to choose from. Once you’ve fueled up for the day, take on Grand Junction’s iconic Lunch Loops , which offers thrilling mountain biking trails amid the dips and ridges of the vast canyons near Colorado National Monument. Loops, 2 to 28 miles long, range from moderate to difficult. creative as the artist. Their daily house-made dough is topped with only the freshest ingredients that includes locally sourced products. While the entire menu is mouthwatering, go straight for the seasonal pie creations which are designed by locals. After your meal, take a picturesque float trip through wine country 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 Highlands Distillery’s tasting room for sips of your favorite spirits — with emphasis on expert infusions made with local flavors, including lavender infusions from Belli Fiori Lavender Farms . 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. @PABLOS PIZZA EVENING: Your night starts with an early dinner at Devil’s Kitchen . The Grand Junction sunset reflects off the Book Cliffs unveiling a magical backdrop when dining on the spacious rooftop patio. Try their signature Deviled Kitchen Eggs or their crispy Duck Wings. The regionally inspired menu, combined with the views, make this spot as grand as they come. 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). TALBOTT’S TAPROOM AFTERNOON: Kick off the afternoon with lunch at Pablo’s Pizza . Inspired by Pablo Picasso, their revolutionary, one-of-a-kind pizzas are every bit as @GIRAFFOSAURUSREX FROM TOP: PABLOS PIZZA; TALBOTT’S FARM MARKET AND TAP ROOM; INSTAGRAM/@GIRAFFOSAURUSREX; STEVE TRAUDT; INSTAGRAM/CONFESSIONSOFAKAITLIN; INSTAGRAM/@CHADINGHAM. STEVE TRAUDT 18 ROAD TRAILS AREA @CHADINGHAM HIGHLANDS DISTILLERY @CONFESSIONSOFAKAITLIN 970.256.4060 | VisitGrandJunction.com | 23
Grand Junction Official Visitor Guide Grand Junction Adventure Guide: Page 23
