Whether you prefer driving, hiking or biking, the Colorado National Monument is not to be missed. Easily accessible vistas open up to breathtaking views, especially at sunset. Just after a rainstorm, you may catch mist hugging the canyon walls, so remember to bring your camera. Grand Mesa boasts the world's largest flat-topped mountain at an altitude of 10,000 feet. With more than 300 lakes and 350,000 acres located on top of the formation, it offers plenty of opportunities for nature and photography buffs. This is a popular year-round destination, with hiking and fishing in the summer and skiing in the winter.
A treasure trove of entertaining learning awaits the entire family at the John McConnell Math and Science Center, the brainchild of a retired physicist from the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Kids will discover the mysteries of engineering, science, math and technology from the interactive exhibits. Downtown Grand Junction is a must-see for art aficionados. The street corners are lined with art, and frequent music performances are set against the backdrop of quaint shops and restaurants. This is the perfect setting for an after-dinner stroll. For the kids, the next best thing to seeing live dinosaurs is exploring their history at the Dinosaur Journey Museum. Not only will you see robotic facsimiles and enjoy interactive exhibits, but the museum also displays actual skeletal remains and fossils. Many Grand Valley pioneers earned their living in the apple-packing business in the early 1900s, and the Cross Orchards Historic Site brings that era to life. Interpreters dressed in period costumes are on hand to enhance the experience as you tour the grounds and historic buildings.
Choice Hotels in Grand Junction offers the perfect places to rest up before your next day of adventure in Colorado.