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Colorado Explorer
Buena Vista: More than just a pretty view
Once the unpredictable aspens have dropped their autumn leaves, many folks think that's the end of the fall color season in Colorado.
But what about the cottonwoods? They often flaunt their fall foliage long after the aspens are done, and they do it more brilliantly, in a broader palette.
Nowhere in Colorado are they more beautiful than in Buena Vista.
Although Buena Vista may be strongly associated with summertime whitewater rafting, that sport is pretty much done by now. That doesn't mean there isn't still lots to do.
"We're an outdoor recreation destination," says Billie Love, volunteer coordinator for the Buena Vista Chamber of Commerce.
She's right. There is the Buena Vista Heritage Museum and the Historic Turner Farm, but they won't keep you busy for a whole weekend. If you want to visit Buena Vista, you should love being outdoors.
There are dozens of nearby hiking trails, with maps available at the chamber office. Mountain biking and horseback riding are glorious ways to enjoy the fall colors. Fishermen find the Arkansas River a hot spot for catching trout.
Explore several nearby ghost towns. St. Elmo has some of the best preserved buildings of any ghost town in Colorado. Others are Vicksburg and Winfield.
"One of our most popular attractions is the (Mount Princeton) hot springs," Love says. Guests can swim in a pool fed by hot springs, or jump into Chalk Creek to experience them first-hand as they spurt out of the earth into the cold stream.
Rock hounds will revel in the field of aquamarine (the Colorado state gem) at the foot of Mount Antero, one of the ten "fourteeners" surrounding Buena Vista.
Many folks have stopped for a burger and shake at Kay's Dairy Delite on the way through town, but more varied dining is also available. There's Bongo Billy's, the Buffalo Bar & Grill, several Mexican restaurants and a local favorite, Sophie's.
Accommodations include the Best Western Vista Inn, the local Super 8 and several B&Bs, such as Liars' Lodge, with river and mountain views, and Sawatch Vistas, an adobe lodge at the foot of Mount Princeton. There are campgrounds and guest ranches nearby too.
Be sure to check out the lovely McPhelemy Park and its lake, named after an early resident who donated much land to the town. The colorful cottonwoods create a postcard setting in the fall.
"They're just glorious," Love says. For visitor
information, call 719-395-6612.
Eat - Shop - Stay
Time to taste Colorado
Well-known
and worth it
Dinner on a train may seem like a scene out of an old movie, but you can experience it yourself on the Royal Gorge Route out of Cañon City. Champagne, appetizer, salad, an entrée of prime rib or salmon, and dessert are served at a casual pace, so you can enjoy both your meal and the scenery. Take time to step out on the open cars to admire the rushing Arkansas River and examine the canyon walls for wildlife. 888-724-5748 or 303-569-1000.
Enjoy full-size meals or samplings of gourmet foods while being entertained by live performers at the annual Festival of Mountain & Plain: A Taste of Colorado, Sept. 1-4, in Denver. Go early or take the bus — it can take a while to find parking, with half a million people participating. 303-295-6330.
Lesser-known gems
Aspen has some new ultra-luxury accommodations for the upscale traveler — two villas owned by Villazzo out of Miami. VillaHotel Bear's Creek and VillaHotel Georgina are private mansions with the addition of hotel amenities, including maids, butlers, chefs, nannies and chauffeurs. Prices range from $3,500 to $4,200—per day! But what price luxury? 877-845-5299.
Perhaps the single largest place to buy antiques and collectibles in Colorado is American Classics Marketplace in Colorado Springs. More than 400
vendors occupy this 65,000-square-foot former furniture warehouse. Goods include everything from sports collectibles to antique European furniture, delicate crystal and old 78-rpm records. 719-596-8585.
Something different
Stay in an authentic yurt (or your own RV) when you visit Joyful Journey (formerly Mineral Hot Springs) 34 miles south of Salida. You'll sleep well after soaking in the boron and lithium hot mineral springs. No artificial chemicals are added to the water, said to be one of the purest springs in Colorado.
719-256-4328.
They say a moderate amount of wine is good for your health. That's especially true at the Taste of Caring Wine Tasting & Harvest Dinner, Sept. 9, to benefit the Gunnison Valley Hospital. Chef Michael Marchitelli will prepare a seven-course gourmet dinner at his restaurant in Crested Butte, pairing each course with the proper wine. 970-641-7297.
See & Do
Paint Mines showcase nature's art
Well-known
and worth it
Hot DAM! Don't miss the 35-hour Art at All Hours celebration to mark the opening of the new Frederic C. Hamilton Building of
the Denver Art Museum, Oct. 7-8. Admission to the 146,000-square-foot addition will be free on opening weekend, with special events happening around the clock. 720-865-5000.
Or maybe you'd rather see art where it's made. If so, you can find sculptures, paintings, art photos, ceramics and fine woodwork—the wares of 144 of Boulder's best artists — during the Open Studios Tour, Oct. 7-8 and 14-15. You also get to see the artists at work. John Villani, author of "The Best 100 Towns in America," calls the event "one of the best in the nation." 303-444-1862.
Lesser-known gems
On the prairie northeast of Colorado Springs just outside the town of Calhan, the land dips down into canyons of fairytale rock formations known as the Paint Mines. This area, newly designated an El Paso County park, features geological fantasies more often seen in Utah's canyon country or the Badlands of South Dakota. Go early in the day, before it gets hot — and take your camera, and binoculars for bird-watching. 719-520-6375.
Load up your bike and head to Lamar on Sept. 22-23 for the Bike for Pike Party and Century Ride. Friday's party commemorates Zebulon Pike's visit to the region and includes a taste of Bike for Pike Beer. Cyclists will leave Saturday from the John Martin Reservoir visitor's center and end at the River Walk in Pueblo—as a bonus, you'll be there just in time for that city's annual Chile and Frijole Festival. 719-583-8631.
Something different
And speaking of bikes, get your cycling thrills in Keystone, where you can ride the drop zones (ramps that launch bikers into the air), tabletops, ladders, bridges, berms, and rock gardens. Then try the ASX Skills Park, with teeter-totters, bridges and more jumps. You know, just for a change. 800-468-5004.
Not to get too corny, but you really can't help having a good time at the annual Corn Festival, Sept. 30 in the northeastern plains town of Haxtun. They celebrate the harvest with a parade, food booths, a craft fair, games, a demolition derby and an antique tractor pull. What does the tractor pull? Go and find out! 970-774-6118.
Linda DuVal is a freelance writer and former travel
editor for The Gazette in Colorado Springs.
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