DISCOVER COLORADO’S GRAND VALLEY
Big Blend Radio Spotlight on Colorado’s Wine Country
By Lisa D. Smith and Nancy J. Reid
Located in the northwest corner of Colorado, or the “western slope” as the locals call it, the Grand Valley region is part of the dramatic and rugged Colorado Plateau and is home to Colorado National Monument, Mount Garfield and the Book Cliff series of desert cliffs and mountains, and the Grand Mesa which is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world. The Colorado River runs through the region and can be accessed in various state and local parks in the communities of Fruita, Loma, Grand Junction, and Palisade.
This spectacular region is a recreational paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, especially when it comes to cycling, mountain biking, rafting, kayaking, hiking, bird and wildlife watching. There are scenic routes and byways to drive or peddle along like the famous Rim Rock Drive in the Colorado National Monument, and the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway through the Grand Mesa National Forest.
Palisade is known for its juicy peaches, and for being the hub of Colorado’s Wine Country. A popular way to experience the orchards, farms, and award-winning wineries, is to follow the Palisade Fruit & Wine Byway, which also happens to be part of the Barn Quilt Trail. And if it’s art and shopping you seek, historic downtown Grand Junction and Palisade both feature boutique shops and galleries, a fabulous public art scene, and a fantastic selection of restaurants and eateries, breweries, and distilleries.
Offering a peaceful escape from the city, lodging choices range from charming Bed & Breakfast Inns and AirBnBs among the vineyards to riverside RV parks and campgrounds.
As part of our Love Your Parks Tour, this spring we visited the Grand Valley region for just over a week. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic some of the restaurants, wineries, attractions, and businesses were just starting to re-open, but regardless, our days were jam-packed with all kinds of fun activities and delicious discoveries. If you enjoy nature and the outdoors, exceptional food and wine, along with art and culture, this is the destination for you. And when you do visit, you’ll find that the people of Colorado’s Grand Valley are a big part of the experience. They’re a fun, hospitable, and hardworking group of people who work together with a shared love for the region and a deep sense of community spirit.
Enjoy our Big Blend Radio “Colorado Grand Valley” podcast playlist of interviews on SoundCloud.com and YouTube.com, and watch for our upcoming series of articles and videos, and the Love Your Parks Tour “Adventures in Colorado’s Grand Valley” Look Book, a digital coffee table style photo journal.
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