Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In truth, Grand Junction is as utilitarian as its name suggests. Near two major rivers, its in-
tersecting highways are built over centuries-old trading routes. It's admittedly not much to
look at. Amid one of Colorado's most fertile agricultural zones, Grand Junction is a cow
town at heart - despite being western Colorado's main urban hub. It's worth browsing
downtown Main St, revamped into a pleasant pedestrian mall with fountains, benches and
sculptures that capture some small-town atmosphere away from the sprawl.
Sights
Most of the banner sights of the area are actually outside city limits. The sightseeing ac-
tion in the town itself is concentrated in the pleasant downtown. The self- explanatory Art
on the Corner program makes for a enjoyable stroll along Main St.
Museum of Western Colorado
( 970-242-0971;
www.museumofwesternco.com
; 462 Ute Ave; adult/child/senior $6.50/3.75/5.50; 9am-5pm
Tue-Sat; )
The most impressive of Grand Junction's sites, this well-arranged museum is
the largest in the region, featuring impressive multidisciplinary displays on regional his-
tory (such as the awesome Thrailkill Collection of firearms) and special exhibits. Look for
the modern bell tower downtown, the most central of the museum's three facilities.
MUSEUM
Western Colorado Botanic Gardens
( 970-248-3288;
www.wcbotanic.org
; 655 Struthers Ave; adult/child/student & senior $5/3/4; 10am-5pm Tue-
Sun; )
The Orchid Display is the jewel in the crown of this small community botanic gar-
dens, which takes an hour to leisurely stroll through.
GARDENS
Activities
Mountain Biking
Some of Colorado's finest mountain biking is to be had around Grand Junction, and trav-
elers with even a cursory interest in it would be remiss not to spend a couple of hours ex-
ploring.
Major trails include the 142-mile Grand Junction to Montrose Tabegauche Trail (pro-
nounced 'tab-a-watch'), and the 128-mile Kokopelli Trail, which stretches from nearby
Fruita to Moab in Utah. The latter is an epic, requiring multiday planning, and traversing
