Whether you're a local or visiting from out of town, you'll love the gorgeous scenery and gourmet tastes of southern Colorado. Check out my favorite sites, and see how many points you can get in this Southern Colorado Things to Do Challenge!
Southern Colorado Things to Do: How many points can you get?
Climb to the top of the world (10 points)
OK, maybe it's just to the top of the Sand Dunes. Become a bonafide local by climbing to the top of the dunes.
Find the heart & the Eagle (10 Points)
At Sand Dunes Pool, you can sit in the hot springs and have a clear view of the Sangre De Cristo Mountain range. It's a challenge for every local to be able to see the heart and eagle. 10 points if you find it!
Eat local food (10 points)
At Locavores in Alamosa, enjoy freshly grown Colorado roasted fingerling potatoes. Visit this fast-casual eatery at 2209 Main Street in Alamosa.
Shop Colorado (10 points)
At Wendi's Good things market, right next door to Locavores, you can pick up Colorado flavors like salsa, jam, and pickles or shop Colorado home goods to take home. The shop is located at 2209 Main Street in Alamosa–and all the products are available online from anywhere in the US!
Visit the Farm (10 Points)
The San Luis Valley is full of family farms. Typical crops in this area are potatoes, canola, barley, and alfalfa. Drive west of Alamosa or South, and you will begin to see farms. Get out, look around and talk to a farmer. Farmers love what they do and love to talk about it. 10 points if you talk to a farmer!
Hike or Rock Climb Penitente Canyon (10 Points)
The canyon, which geologists believe was created by eruptions over 30 million years ago, was home to a Spanish religious sect in the 1880s. There still remains relics in this area, such as rock paintings and even ruts from ox carts from the Old Spanish Trail. Locate the Virgin of Guadalupe for 10 points! (located west of US Hwy 285 off of road G)
Drink a beer on the farm (10 Points)
Located off the beaten path in the middle of farm country is a farm to tap brewery called The Colorado Farm Brewery. The owners are farmers by day and brewmasters by night. The Cody family grows all the barley used in the beer. The coolest thing about this place is that you'll be hanging around mostly locals who have stopped in when you show up. You can look over the barley fields while you sip. and be able to look out over barley fields while you sip. https://www.cofarmbeer.com/
Raft or Kayak the Rio Grande (10 Points)
Unlike the Arkansas River that runs through the Salida area, The Rio Grande is a calmer, less intense river. It's also much less commercialized. Meaning, you can literally rent a raft in South Fork, Co, and find a spot to put your raft in the river immediately after. Respect the river –it's much colder than you might think, even in the middle of summer! Although there are still some occasional minor rapids, it is a wonderful experience to casually take in the beautiful scenery without the fear of getting dumped out all the time! 🙂
Watch a Drive-in Movie from Your Hotel Room (10 Points)
There are few places in the country where nostalgic Americana still exists. The Best Western movie manor hotel features a big movie screen like the old days–the kicker is, you can open your hotel room blinds to watch it in addition to watching from your car.
Mountain Bike (10 Points)
The trails of the San Luis Valley are some of the coolest high desert terrains you can experience. Exciting developments are happening in the trails in this area. Here is a link to the Del Norte trails organization for more info. Ride a mountain bike trail 10 points!
Have you enjoyed any of these Southern Colorado things to do? Tag me on Instagram @WendiSeger when you get some points!