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.

We Love Our National Park Celebration

Updated: 2/16/2022

During the month of April, we're launching a campaign to Celebrate the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve! National Parks Week is April 16-24, and we're extending that celebration all month long. When you visit Alamosa during April 2022, be on the lookout for displays of our love for our favorite National Park. The “We Love Our National Park” campaign will feature flags displayed downtown, posters, stickers, digital promotion, and special events throughout the month.

Free Things To Do In Alamosa, Colorado

Traveling anywhere can get expensive, luckily there’s plenty to do in Alamosa that will cost you nothing at all! Here are some of our favorites.

Three Tips For Sand Dunes Photography

Photographer Erica Robinson shares three secrets to getting the best photos at Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve.

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!