A REMARKABLE PLACE
GRAND JUNCTION

There’s a good reason they call Grand Junction “grand,” which you’ll discover the moment your plane begins to descend, and you get your first glimpse of the Grand Mesa that overlooks that Western Colorado city.

That massive flat-top mountain is the largest in the world, rising to 10,000 feet and encompassing over 500 square miles, with over three million acres protected as part of the Grand Mesa National Forest. That huge, forested mesa also boasts over 300 lakes. Looking down on it from the sky is breathtaking on a sunny day.

And sunny days are a part of Grand Junction’s many appealing qualities, as it averages 250 of those each year because of its high desert ecosystem, which is a distinct contrast to the mesa’s alpine climate, where plenty of snow falls in the winter months. It’s a fascinating contrast, with the alpine mesa to the east of the city and the desert-like Colorado Plateau to the west, and a microclimate in between where Colorado’s wine country is thriving.

And we haven’t even gotten to the grandness of that Colorado Plateau, which marks the beginning of that vast arid expanse that defines much of Utah and Arizona’s magical landscapes. Just an hour east of Moab and the famed national parks of Arches and Canyonlands are the Rattlesnake Arches and the Colorado National Monument, which are just outside of Grand Junction.

It’s the eastern edge of the Colorado Plateau, and a place filled with incredible rock formations, arches and incredible vistas. And the best part about it? No crowds! So while you’re hiking in through the serene gorgeousness of the Rattlesnake Arches, think of the hordes of tourists an hour away, waiting for hours in a literally endless line of cars just to get into Arches. 

In the words of the latest hip travel trend, Grand Junction, the Colorado National Monument, Rattlesnake Arches and Grand Mesa are “dupes” for the overcrowded spots just off to the west – gorgeous places that allow you to truly feel like you’ve left the world behind. Plus, without the crowds, you just might see a pack of wild horses here, a lone bighorn sheep or even a luxuriously coated fox racing past.

These can be rugged places, where scampering over rocks, climbing up and down shale-covered hills and peeking into caves and arch formations take some fortitude. Campsites are dotted throughout both the monument and up on the mesa, but hotels are also plentiful in Grand Junction and lovely secluded lodges are found across the Grand Mesa, so roughing it isn’t necessary if it isn’t your idea of fun.  

Choose an expert tour guide like Greg Gnesios, an ex-National Park Service ranger-manager, who will drive you through the monument and fill your head with lots of interesting history about the region with plenty of stops along the way. Or perhaps join an Adrenaline Driven Adventure Tour and jump into an RZR for a bumpy ride to the trailhead of the Rattlesnake Arches, and then hike into the incredible landscape that unfolds before you, as the birds sing, the blue lizards sun themselves on rocks and the whole world seems like a beautiful place. 

Up on Grand Mesa, find an outdoor paradise in every season, from spring and summer’s hiking, biking, fishing, rafting and wildlife encounters (think moose, deer, elk and more) to winter’s skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing in a winter wonderland. Less adventurous? Then drive the spectacular, 63-mile Grand Mesa Scenic Byway that wends you through four different eco-zones in one road trip.  

Be sure to go outside when full darkness comes upon Grand Junction, and get away from the city lights, where you’ll discover that the dark skies in this region are bursting with stars, planets and other observable phenomenon out in the solar system. If you’re really serious about astronomy and astrophotography faraway, the Grand Mesa Observatory has professional remote imaging equipment available for rent, as well as powerful telescopes. 

WINE, DINE, BREWS AND BOOZE, PLUS ENSTROM’S
All this natural scenery and adventuring naturally works up an appetite, and Grand Junction is well up to the task of satisfying your culinary needs. The lively and sophisticated foodie scene here ranges from cozy breakfast spots to a perennially James Beard-nominated restaurant, while the drinking scene is first-rate, with over 30 wineries, eight breweries and three distilleries ready to serve up the libations you love. 

Try out Main Street Bagels for a hearty breakfast in a place very popular with locals, or hit Roots Gastrohub to fuel up for the day, or stop in there for lunch after a morning of outdoor adventures.  

Bin 707 Foodbar, helmed by Josh Niernberg, is the James Beard honoree, an easygoing dinner place on Main Street that serves up seasonal dishes (many which are locally sourced) that are both beautiful and delicious. Taste the Elk Tartare if it is on the menu, and don’t miss having one of their elevated pizzas, that give a whole new meaning to baked dough topped with wonderful things. And be certain to have a piece of sweet pie for dessert there, too.  

Helping to serve this college town’s need for beer is Trail Life Brewing, which combines house-brewed beers with an eclectic choice of foods, from burgers to curries to Bahn-mi sandwiches, while the quirky and fun scene at Highlands Distillery includes their gin, vodka, rum and whiskey house-created spirits, served up by outdoor fireplaces, inside a yurt and in a more traditional bar setting. Try their Whipped Painkiller and the Blarney Stone cocktails, and make sure to have a designated driver.  

And then there’s Enstrom Candies, that little slice of heaven on earth, where the family-owned factory and store have been creating toffee perfection since 1960. If you’ve never tasted their famous Almond Toffee (we’re partial to the dark chocolate version), you’ve got to stop by for a sample. But be warned, you’re probably going to be carrying at least a pound of that incomparable sweet treat home in your carry on. 

Do remember to look out the plane’s window again as you go, for the views are even more spectacular once you’ve been immersed in this Western Colorado wonderland and understand just how great it truly is.  

For more information about Grand Junction and Grand Mesa, please go to: visitgrandjunction.com