A Traveler's Blog

Do you want to visit Alamosa like you know a local? Here is your chance! Enjoy the following feature articles written by a traveler enjoying some hidden (and not so hidden) treasures around the San Luis Valley.

See Bison at Zapata Ranch

Go on a bison tour on the vast 100,000-acre bison ranch right next to the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.

Explore a Wildlife Refuge

What do ancient camels, elk and 24,000 sandhill cranes have in common? In the San Luis Valley, each were or are dependent on the wetlands in Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge and the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge for survival. Here are six reasons why you should visit the refuges.

The Most Instagrammable Places near Great Sand Dunes

Here are the five best places to take a selfie in or near the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. Looking for the most scenic spots in and near the Great Sand Dunes for your Instagram feed? Here are five places you’ll want to have on your list.

The Michaelanglo of San Luis

Local Sculptor Huberto Maestas is nationally known for his larger-than-life sculptures. Visit his spectacular Stations of the Cross series dotting a hillside in the tiny town of San Luis, Colo.

Nine Best Americana Stops near Great Sands Dunes National Park

Shake the sand out of your shoes after a magical time at Great Sands Dunes National Park and hit the road to uncover the best Americana nearby.

Your Guide to Camping in the San Luis Valley

If you’re planning to get away from the hustle and bustle of city living and want a quiet, nature escape, there’s no place better than the beautiful, affordable and uncrowded San Luis Valley. Covering an approximate 8,000 square mile expanse, this alpine valley has endless opportunities for you to get away are find your “free”. Discover the countless outdoor recreation options during the day under our expansive blue skies, and camp each night under a star-filled night sky (the Great Sand Dunes is now internationally recognized for the quality of its night sky). Don’t know where to begin? Here’s some of our favorite places to camp in the San Luis Valley!

Truly Farm-to-Tap Beer

Colorado Farm Brewery in Alamosa, Colo., takes farm-to-tap to a new level as the only brewery in the world where every ingredient in its estate beers comes from the farm in which they brew.

Best Place in Colorado to Drink A Beer

Looking for that ultimate Rocky Mountain high? Head to Alamosa’s Rails & Ales Brewfest, the country’s most unique beer festival. Here are four reasons why you should attend. It’s held the third Saturday in June.

Why 3 Days Is the Bare Minimum You Should Stay In and Around Great Sand Dunes National Park

“Everyone shines, given the right lighting,” says author Susan Cain. When she wrote those words she could easily have been watching the magical light that appears within the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the southernmost range of the Rockies. At sunrise and sunset, the alpenglow spreads across the dark, layered metamorphic rock forming a scarlet curtain. The glowing peaks create a dramatic backdrop to massive golden sand dunes in the valley below.