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  GRAND JUNCTION HAS ALL YOU NEED FOR A TRUE GUYS ADVENTURE By Bob Kretschman You've lost count of the number of chick flicks you've seen lately with your wife or girlfriend. You're tired of wandering around malls with her, checking out the latest fashions and stopping at every boutique.It's time to call your buddies and head to Grand Junction. You can hike, fish, camp, bike, raft, and relax the way guys should. As you're leaving, explain to your significant other that Dr. Phil might call it “male bonding," and that's a good thing. She'll understand. Really, she will.
Colorado National Monument, just west of Grand Junction, offers plenty of trails. Guys looking for a workout can hike to picturesque Independence Monument, a striking rock formation that stands on the floor of Monument Canyon. Although there are two ways to reach Independence Monument, the best approach is from the lower trailhead on the Redlands. To get there, take Broadway west from Grand Junction for about eight miles to a small parking lot at the end of Fawn Lane. The trail climbs into the canyon, past magnificent red sandstone walls hundreds of feet tall, and eventually reaches the base of the monument. This is desert hiking: Take plenty of water (at least a gallon per person in summertime), sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent. More hiking is available at McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, which borders Colorado National Monument.
What's a guys getaway without fishing? Grand Mesa, an alpine plateau just east of Grand Junction, rises more than 10,000 feet above sea level and has countless lakes where anglers can fish for trout and kokanee salmon. Pick up gear, fishing licenses and recommendations about specific lakes at any of several local sporting goods stores. (Gene Taylor's Sporting Goods, 445 W. Gunnison Ave., and Sportsman's Warehouse, 2464 Highway 6 & 50, are good starting points.) Grand Mesa also has several campgrounds where you can pitch a tent, build a campfire (unless dry weather makes fire restrictions necessary), and fall asleep to the scent of spruce, the rush of wind through the trees and the occasional coyote's song.
Cars Like You've Never Seen 'Em You thought the cars in American Graffiti were awesome? Wait until you see the 40-plus car collection at the Gateway Colorado Car Museum. The museum guides visitors through the history of the automobile's influence on American culture, but the stars are the cars themselves – among them a 1906 Cadillac Model H Coupe, a 1913 Pierce Arrow and a one-of-a-kind 1954 Oldsmobile F-88 dream car. The museum is part of the Gateway Canyons resort, located about an hour's drive south of Grand Junction.
There's no better bond among men than the one forged while smacking golf balls around a challenging course. The crown jewel of the area's courses is Redlands Mesa, a championship-caliber course set among hills and canyons at the base of Colorado National Monument. Other courses in the area include Chipeta, Adobe Creek, Tiara Rado, and the nine-hole Lincoln Park course. Biking and Rafting Want to work up a sweat? Hop on a mountain bike and ride the Kokopelli Trail toward Moab or the Tabeguache Trail south of Grand Junction. Both take riders through stunningly beautiful canyon landscapes. If paved roads are your preference, take a road bike up and over Rimrock Drive on Colorado National Monument, one of the most scenic rides in the country. But beware of the brutal climb up the Monument; only riders in great shape will make it. For more information about biking opportunities, just pop in a local bike shop. The lure of the Colorado River can be hard to resist, especially when the water is running high on a hot summer day. Several commercial rafting companies operate guided trips through the canyons west of Grand Junction, ranging from day trips to multi-night expeditions. Jam at an Outdoor Music Festival Grand Junction will be rocking August 27-28, 2010 with the annual Rock Jam concert. This year's lineup should be announced soon. Attend just one show, a day's worth of performances or the entire event. For an ultimate experience, camp out overnight on the festival grounds. Kick Back with a Cold Brew No matter what you do on your guys' getaway, you need to wind down at the end of each adventure. Grand Junction has several good brewpubs that serve dinner and a variety of beers, including the Rockslide, 401 Main St., and the Kannah Creek Brewing Co., 1960 N. 12th St. The Palisade Brewery, 200 Peach Ave. in Palisade, doesn't serve dinner, but you can taste and buy several high-quality beers there. When you get home and the only thing on your mind is the great time you and your buddies had in Grand Junction, tell your significant other that you thought about her every minute of every day that you were apart. She'll believe you. Really, she will. For more about things to do in Grand Junction, watch our Activities Video here. |
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