Grand Junction, Colo., sampler

The possibilities for fun in Grand Junction, Colo., are endless.

This western Colorado town has glorious scenery, of course, such as the deep canyons and soaring cliffs of the Colorado National Monument. Grand Junction also is prime Colorado wine country, and flows with even more for visitors to explore.

Here’s a three-day sampler of things to do in this rugged mountain town located four hours west of Denver.

Day 1 — Explore
The Grand Junction area is home to a unique geographic wonder, the Grand Mesa. It stretches some 40 miles across and is one of the world’s largest flat-top mountains.

The Grand Mesa is covered with lush aspen forests, sunny meadows and 200 sparkling, stream-fed lakes. It’s all waiting to be explored by foot, mountain bike or canoe.

Day 2 — Step into the past
Grand Junction is located in the Colorado/Utah Dinosaur Diamond, so it’s a great place to explore the prehistoric past.

At the Museum of Western Colorado’s Dinosaur Journey, visitors can get a close-up look at dinosaur skeletons, realistic robotic dinosaurs, and a working paleontology lab. For those who want to see dinosaur tracks and bones in the wild, hike the Trail Through Time in the nearby Colorado Canyons Conservation Area. It’s an easy 1.5-mile hike past an active dinosaur quarry.

The Fruita Paleontological Area Trail also offers a short interpretive tour of the landscape of the area 150 million years ago and the animals that lived there.

For a taste of the more recent past, the Cross Orchards Historic Farm, also part of the Museum of Western Colorado, incorporates preserved and reconstructed buildings and the farm’s original orchards. This allows visitors to step back in time, experiencing life in Grand Junction as it was during the early 1900s. For a nighttime escape, attend one of the many theatre options available.

Day 3 — Time to Play
Grand Junction is home to five unique and outstanding golf courses, including Redlands Mesa. In addition to the variety of challenging holes and excellent facilities, the courses of Grand Junction offer some of the most spectacular scenery available on a golf course.

If golf isn’t your thing, most of the orchards and wineries for which the area is famous offer tours and tastings all summer. Summer and early fall is also festival time, so a well-planned visit can coincide with the Mesa County Fair, Palisade Peach Festival or Colorado Mountain Winefest.

The Downtown Farmers Market takes place Thursday evenings in June through September. It features produce from local farms and orchards, as well as crafts and live music.

At an altitude of 4,507 feet, Grand Junction is warm in the summer and moderate in spring, fall and winter with more than 275 days of sunshine each year.

Motorhome travelers, if they arrive at this Junction, won't be disappointed.

Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau
www.visitgrandjunction.com

Colorado National Monument
www.nps.gov/colm

Grand Mesa National Scenic and Historic Byway
www.grandmesabyway.org

Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Byway
www.dinosaurdiamond.org

Colorado Mountain Winefest
www.coloradowinefest.com

Museum of the West Dinosaur Journey
www.dinosaurjourney.org

Mesa County Fair
www.mesacountyfair.com

Palisade Peach Festival
www.palisadepeachfest.com