Do you want to visit Alamosa like you know a local? Here is your chance! Enjoy the following feature articles writtten by a traveler enjoying some hidden (and not so hidden) treasures around the San Luis Valley.
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.
“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.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and the International Dark-Sky Association are pleased to announce the designation of Great Sand Dunes as an International Dark Sky Park. This designation recognizes Great Sand Dunes for the exceptional quality of its dark night skies and for the park’s commitment to preserving and educating about the night sky.
So, how many "chuggas" do you say before "Choo choo"?
Thanks for voting!
You can see the poll results in our next email. Stay tuned!
In the meantime...
If you want to discover for yourself, climb aboard one of our historical railroads and count exactly how many chuggas you say before choo choo.
When you set foot in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, you enter a landscape unlike any other in the country. Two mountain ranges with 14,000-foot peaks tower over a valley filled with giant sand dunes, rushing rivers and waterfalls, and wetlands teeming with wildlife. Sitting at an elevation of 7,500 feet, the vast valley measures 65 miles wide and 100 miles long. Its size and special blend of natural wonders enable adventures that travelers won’t find in other places. From sandboarding to backpacking among massive dunes, here are 11 epic adventures that celebrate the unique nature of the San Luis Valley.
In 1978, home brewing was legalized in the United States, and one year later the first microbrewery opened in Colorado. Decades later, the state continues to pioneer the art of craft brewing and boasts one of the country’s—and the world’s—most impressive craft beer cultures, with hundreds of independent beer makers (and growing).
When you travel to Southern Colorado, you’ll find that same pioneering spirit in Alamosa, where beer is ingrained in the culture. For years, local farms have supplied barley and hops to large and small breweries, and the town is home to a handful of craft breweries. Plus, Alamosa was the birthplace of one of the state’s first craft malting operations.
If you also have a passion for craft beer, you’ll feel right at home in Alamosa. Here, we raise a glass to three breweries and their diverse selections of ales, lagers, stouts, porters, and malts.
Sometimes, the journey is the destination, and that certainly is true when you're traveling to Alamosa, Colorado. When you're traveling from Denver to Alamosa, you have two options ahead of you: traveling via I-25 and US-160 W or traveling via US Hwy 285 S. Each has its own adventures to offer you, and we've outlined them in this handy guide. So, choose your route, load up the car and enjoy the ride!
Reaching a height of 750 feet, the sand dunes in Colorado’s San Luis Valley are the largest dunes in North America, and they attract thousands of travelers each year. But, something equally impressive lies beyond these mountains of sand. Looking like massive shark teeth, a collection of ten 14,000-foot peaks pierce the sky and tower over the valley. These mountains in the Sangre de Cristo Range not only provide a dramatic backdrop to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, but they also offer the chance to experience amazing hikes and other adventures beyond the park’s boundaries.
Outside of the park, you’ll not only encounter rugged mountains, but also several other ecosystems, including wetlands, grasslands, and the Riparian area where cottonwoods, aspens, and alders thrive along lively creeks.
With such a rich landscape surrounding the park, there’s plenty do after you’ve slid down the dunes, like hiking to waterfalls, fishing, biking, and viewing bison. Before you head to the sand dunes or the surrounding area, check out these eight amazing things to experience beyond the boundaries of the national park.
