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Grand Junction is a great place for the outdoor enthusiast. Activities range from rock climbing and whitewater rafting, to skiing, golf, and horseback riding. The Colorado National Monument is only a 15 minute drive from most of the area hotels. Guided tours are available through American Spirit Shuttle. While in the monument tourists can enjoy a leisurely stroll down scenic paths or take long hikes (like Monument Canyon trail) and do technical climbing. Locals have on several occasions scaled Independence Monument to have a wedding on top. It's quite a climb, about 500 feet. But you don't have to get married to do it. There are several tour guides that can take you in. Kris Hjelle is a guide that takes people canyoneering, climbing and repelling.

Another activity that the Grand Junction area is known for is mountain biking. Some of the most appealing single track is between Grand Junction and Fruita on of I70. Kokopelli Trail runs the 142 miles from Grand Junction Colorado to Moab, Utah. Depending on your riding ability it can take 5 to 7 days to complete. There are several sections that can be accessed by country road and 4x4 trail. Parts of the trail are only accessible by bike. The trail is pretty well marked at every 1/2 mile or so. To get there you take I-70 to the Loma exit. That's exit 15. Cross over the interstate to the south. At the access road turn right. Just before you get to the weight station you will turn left onto a gravel road. Follow that for about a half mile and you will find the parking lot.

There is also an area called the Bookcliff Mountain Range nearby. It is about 10 miles east of town. That is an area known for its wild mustang herd. People can go by jeep or car. Take I-70 east to the Cameo exit. Go across the Colorado River and stay on the main road. You will pass the power plant. After about a mile and a half you will find the parking lot. Please respect the seasonal closures for nesting and birthing of wildlife.

Art on the Corner. Local artists display sculpures. They are literaly bolted down to the sidewalks. The art is changed every 6 months or so. Some of the work is absolutely incredible, but some of it is not.

  • Western Colorado Botanical Garden & Butterfly House, 641 Struthers Avenue, (970) 245-3288. Tu-Su, 10AM-5PM summer, 10AM-4:30PM winter.

Amtrak [1] serves Grand Junction with the California Zephyr [2], which runs daily between Emeryville (in the San Francisco Bay Area) and Chicago

For transportation, there is a local bus system called Grand Valley Transit. It will get you downtown and to major points of interest. The schedule is rather limited though. There is also a taxi service. However they are the only taxi service in town. So, they are often very busy. The best way to see everything is to simply take a tour with American Spirit Shuttle. They offer winery and scenic tours around the Grand Junction area, as well as charter transportation from Grand Junction to destinations throughout western Colorado and eastern Utah. Some of the hotels have shuttles available to and from the airport and car rentals.

Grand Junction has a mall with all of the Big City stores. And of course there are two Wal-Marts. However, if you go down to Main Steet, that is the historic shopping park. There are many different shops to choose from. Keep in mind, Main Street is also a step back in time. Everything shuts down about 6PM. Thursday evenings in the summer would be the exception to that rule. That is when they do the farmers market. That is fun for all. It's not just a bunch of vegetable vendors. There are all different kinds of businesses there on Thursdays. And, the stores stay open late. There are even clowns making animals out of balloons for the children.

  • Main Street Bagels. The best bagel place. Awesome atmosphere. Sometimes you will go in for lunch to find local musicians playing banjos and guitars. It is usually very entertaining. It is like something you would have seen on the old TV show "The Waltons" Remember the DO Drop In? It is like stepping back in time.

Grand Junction has most of the national chains for restaurants. The Texas Roadhouse has great steaks.

  • Good Pastures is an old fashioned family style restaurant.
  • Garfield's On Broadway is an unadvertised jewel. Good steaks and expertly prepared seafood. A friendly bar with fabulous hamburgers. A local secret.

Wine tasting in the small farming town of Palisade (10 miles east of Grand Junction)

  • Plum Creek Winery (for their Redstone Reserve Chardonnay), [3].  edit

Amber Ridge Vineyards
Canyon Wind Cellars
Carlson Vineyards
Colorado Cellars Winery
Colorado Wine Room
Confre Cellars
De Beque Canyon Winery
Garfield Estates Winery
Grande River Vineyards
Graystone Winery
Meadery of the Rockies
Mesa Grand Vineyards
Plum Creek Cellars
Ptarmigan Vineyards
Reeder Mesa Vineyards
St. Kathryn Cellars
Two Rivers Winery
Whitewater Hill Vineyards

Excellent guided tours are available through American Spirit Shuttle. Please taste responsibly.