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GRAND JUNCTION |
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GRAND JUNCTION , 246 miles west of Denver on I-70, is often
neglected as a destination, even though its immediate environs abound
with outdoor opportunities, and within a fifty-mile stretch you can
trace the transition from fertile valley to full-blown desert. Another
town that sprang into life in the 1880s with the arrival of the
railroads, it now makes its living primarily through the oil and gas
industries. Although initial impressions are bound to be unfavorable -
an unsightly sprawl of factory units and sales yards lines the I-70
Business Loop - downtown is much better, with leafy boulevards
encircling a small, tree-lined, historic and retail district.
Although the Colorado section of Dinosaur National Monument is ninety
miles north of Grand Junction along Hwy-139, the town itself holds the
superb Dinosaur Valley Museum , 362 Main St (summer daily 9am-5pm; rest
of year Tues-Sat 10am-4.30pm; $4.50), which houses a collection of
reconstructed reptiles and giant bones excavated in the region.
But the main local attraction around town is the splendid local network
of trails, many through parched, rugged and spectacular desert country.
Especially enticing for hikers is the remarkable scenery of the Colorado
National Monument , while mountain bikers flock to the smooth rolling
single-track trails around Fruita . Both activities are possible year-round,
and are in fact generally more pleasant in the winter months. Trail
information and rental bikes (front suspension $28 per day) are to be
had from Over the Edge Sports, 202 E Aspen Ave (tel 970/858-7220), a
block east of the roundabout at the center of Fruita or from several
shops in Grand Junction including Bicycle Outfitters, 248 Ute Ave (tel
970/245-2699). The area is also a rock climber's dream; Summit Canyon
Mountaineering, 549 Main St (tel 970/243-2847), can supply you with the
necessary information and gear.
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Vacation Rentals in Grand
Junction |
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from $89.00
USD