Glad we Got to Greeley and Weld County

Beautiful Lincoln Park in Downtown Greeley, Colorado

Part 4 of our Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado Love Your Parks Tour Road Trip adventure.

We arrived in Greeley, Colorado on Sunday evening, June 2, where we met our new friends Amy Dugan, Jen Finch and Michelle Kempema. They got us all settled and cozy in the condo we would be staying in for our one week visit, and then took us out to a fun welcome dinner at Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom. Let me tell you, these Greeley Gals put together one jam-packed itinerary for us, and they would have added more to the list if time would have permitted!

Pawnee Buttes at the Pawnee National Grassland

On past Big Blend Radio segments with Nancy and Lisa, Amy and Jenn said that when it comes to exploring all there is to see and do in Greeley and Weld County, well, “You’ve Just Gotta Get Here!” 

It’s true! This northeast Colorado destination has so much to experience, that it’s way beyond me to put it all into one blog post for you! It’s a good thing Nancy and Lisa have two magazines, I swear they have enough footage to cover Greeley and Weld County for at least two years!

Relax a spell at the Platte River Fort 

I really hope you do “Get to Greeley & Weld County” and here’s why:

LOVELY  LANDSCAPE - Just an hour north of Denver, the scenery escapes the city and stretches into a lush valley region dotted with farms, ranches and historic towns. The wide open prairie country, beautiful gardens, rivers and wetlands, and amazing panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains will take your breath away!

St. Vrain State Park

NATURE, WILDLIFE & THE GREAT OUTDOORS - Like most of Colorado, this region is a recreational paradise with plenty of opportunities for those who enjoy hiking, cycling, bird and wildlife watching, photography, fishing and boating, and prairie dog watching...my favorite! Some awesome parks and outdoor spots to visit include the Pawnee National Grassland (awesome bird watching spot), St. Vrain State Park, Poudre River Trail and Poudre Nature Center, and Platte River Fort. Check out our video on Pawnee National Grassland on Youtube.com.

Early morning walk at the Poudre Nature Center

If you love wildlife as much as I do, a visit to the Wild Animal Sanctuary is a must! They rescue animals from horrific captive situations and rehabilitate them so that they can live the rest of their lives in a relaxed and natural habitat.

Two rescued bears having fun together at the Wild Animal Sanctuary. They do such good work for animals!

Don’t forget that Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests are just a short driving distance away! As is Wyoming for that matter!

Yucca Fries at Luna's Tacos & Tequila....they should be their own food group, they're so yummy!

SAVOR THE FOOD - Oh my!! From Mexican fare to Italian cuisine, the food and flavors we experienced in Greeley and Weld County were incredible. Exquisite!

My recommendations: At Cottonwood Square in Greeley, check out Fat Albert’s for a relaxed vibe with homestyle cooking, and My Place Coffee for breakfast or lunch. If you love fresh, authentic Mexican and Southwestern cuisine, go downtown Greeley to Luna’s Tacos & Tequila and Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, or check out Coyote’s Southwestern Grill. Cables Pub & Grill has a fabulous mac and cheese, and burgers.

Downstairs at the Speakeasy at Wholly Stromboli in Fort Lupton

Wholly Stromboli in Fort Lupton is a destination restaurant with a super cool speakeasy downstairs! If you want to enjoy dinner with a view, check out Platte River Fort, it’s a really unique resort and event center in a beautiful natural setting. Last but not least, Doug’s Diner in downtown Greeley serves up the most delicious and hearty breakfast plates!

Fresh flavors and margaritas at Rio Grande in downtown Greeley.

The region rates #9 in regards to agricultural production in America, and you can get a taste of this rich farm history in the food prepared and served at local restaurants, farmers markets and annual events. Oh…did I tell you that Greeley has a number of breweries and distilleries, and, it has the first Go-Cup District in Colorado!

Cha Wa brought the Spirit of New Orleans to Colorado at the Greeley Blues Jam!

CELEBRATE MUSIC & THE ARTS - If you ever get the chance to experience the Greeley Blues Jam, do it! We’re talking top acts performing on two stages (just twirl your chair around for each act) in a relaxed hometown setting. The whole event kicks off at Friday Fest, a free summer concert series in downtown Greeley. This year’s Blues Jam featured performances by Shemekia Copeland, Larkin Poe, Mr. Sipp “The Mississippi Blues Child,” Cha Wa, Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings, Watermelon Slim, Kara Grainger, Taylor Scott Band, and Mojomama. We had a blast!

Mural in downtown Greeley

Downtown Greeley is a hub for the arts with galleries, concert and performing arts venues, murals, sculptures, and even a musical mural alley and a piano keys pedestrian crossing!

James A. Michener Exhibit at the University of Northern Colorado

Be sure to see the James A. Michener Collection at the University of Northern Colorado…. did you know that a lot of his book “Centennial” was based on Greeley and Weld County?

Centennial Village Museum in Greeley

 STEP BACK IN TIME - Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, popularized the phrase, “Go West young man, go West,” but it was his visionary agricultural editor, Nathan C. Meeker, who spearheaded one of the most successful colonization experiments ever attempted in the “Great American Desert.”

Inside the Fort at the South Platte Valley Historical Society in Fort Lupton

You can learn about the founding of Greeley and the historic pioneer and agricultural communities, and their railroad history at these various museums and historic sites: Centennial Village Museum (they have docents dressed in period costume on weekends), Meeker Home Museum and Greeley History Museum. The South Platte Valley Historical Society in Fort Lupton has recreated the original Fort - it’s really cool - and hosts all kinds of annual events.

Listen to our Big Blend Radio interview with Peggy Ford Waldo of the City of Greeley History Museums on YouTube.com

Fun at the Colorado Model Railroad Museum

FAMILY FUN - Greeley and Weld County care about their youth. It’s especially evident on Monster Days, an event that celebrates all things ‘monster’ and promotes not being a bully! It was so much fun to meet the Greeley Gremlins and visit the event founders “Monster Makers” at Distortions Unlimited! You can hear our Big Blend Radio interview about Monster Day on YouTube.com.

Another awesome attraction is the Colorado Model Railroad Museum. Wow, what fun! This 5,500 square foot model train playground is known for being one of the finest, one of a kind miniature accomplishments in the world! You can hear our Colorado Model Railroad Museum interview on YouTube.com.

I sure had fun at Distortions...the "Monster Makers" of Monster Days!

And this is all just from one visit….there’s so much more to experience! So you see, “You’ve Just Gotta Get to Greeley & Weld County!”

Next time, I’ll tell you all about our experience in Rocky Mountain National Park and Florence, Colorado!

Miss. P!

Northwest New Mexico to Northeast Colorado

Just outside Farmington, New Mexico

Part 3 of our current Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado Love Your Parks Tour Road Trip adventure.

In the early morning hour of Sunday, June 2 we checked out of the historic El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico and headed north on Hwy. 491 towards Aztec Ruins National Monument. Our ultimate goal for the day was to reach Greeley in northeast Colorado, for an early dinner with our new friends Amy, Jenn and Michelle. Of course, we had some interesting detours along the way….

Giant Volcanic Rock Formations on the way to Shiprock

It was a scenic drive up Hwy. 491, and as we neared the legendary community of Shiprock, our jaws dropped as giant and dramatic rock formations took over the landscape. From Shiprock we headed east towards Farmington and Aztec Ruins National Monument. Somehow we ended up on an extended scenic detour that put us behind schedule a bit, but hey....you can't rush a road trip!

We took the self-guided tour of the ruins at Aztec Ruins National Monument

We finally reached the astounding Aztec Ruins, a tightly clustered Chacoan complex made up of a Pueblo, a reconstructed Great Kiva and plaza, and several close-by ceremonial ruins. Pueblo tradition claims this settlement as an important waypoint in the ancient settlement of the Rio Grande Valley. If you visit Chaco Canyon, I highly recommend a visit to Aztec Ruins and vice versa.

You can see the Great Kiva....it's pretty magical and mysterious when you go inside...

From Aztec Ruins, it was time to cross into Colorado, and boy, here came another big landscape change. Massive mountains with snow capped peaks, and lush green meadows with wildflowers along the roadside. 

Snow along Wolf Creek Pass

The road started to wind around the mountains as we headed east through the Rio Grande National Forest towards Pagosa Springs. Then it started to climb...and I mean really climb...way up over 10,000 feet on the Wolf Creek Pass! Yikes! And, there was snow on the side of the road. Burrrr! 

San Juan River at the bottom of Wolf Creek Pass

The rest of the drive was a little easier, though we still had to tackle some more grand mountain passes and a little stormy weather. One of the impromptu stops we made to stretch our legs was Russell Lakes State Wildlife Area. A great waterfowl and bird habitat, this beautiful National Natural Landmark has a spring creek, wetlands and a little boardwalk you can walk along. 

Russell Lakes State Wildlife Area

Eventually we made it to Greeley, and though we were a little late, we still made it in time to have a wonderful welcome dinner with our friends. We spent a week exploring Greeley and Weld County and what an amazing experience that was. Stay tuned for my post on that next week!

Today, we're wrapping up our lovely visit to Santa Fe, The City Different, and heading back to Florence, Colorado.

Happy Summer!
Miss P.

Gallup and Chaco Canyon

Entrance to Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Part 2 of our current Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado Love Your Parks Tour Road Trip adventure.

The month of June started with an early early morning drive from the Historic El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico to Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The scenery was stunning with rugged rocks and cliffs contrasted by a lush palette of green vegetation, colorful sprinkles of wildflowers and a big, bright blue sky. The road got a little bit rocky at one point, but us gals love dirt roads! Besides, there were cows and horses to visit with on the way.

What a view he has! 

Pueblo Bonita....do you see the face in this picture or is it just me?!

Along with being a Dark Skies certified location and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chaco Culture NHP was founded as an Antiquities Monument in 1907, and was operated for most of the 20th century as an anthropological storehouse of knowledge and evidence of the Chacoan Culture. Let me tell you, this park is one big mind and soul blowing experience! 

Park Ranger GB Cornucopia teaches us about Hungo Pavi 

The park preserves eleven hand built pueblos, also known as ceremonial structures. They’re a historical trace of the sacred ancestral Chacoan culture, which is part of many of the existing pueblos of the Southwest. After a quick stop at the Visitors Center, we joined the amazing Park Ranger GB Cornucopia on a group tour of Hungo Pavi, an unexcavated Chacoan great house that once had over 150 rooms, a great kiva, and an enclosed plaza. 

Pueblo Bonita

How did the Chacoans build these structures? Especially the circular structures. The epicenter of the Chacoan world, Pueblo Bonita was planned and constructed in stages by ancestral Puebloan peoples between AD 850 to AD 1150.

Picnic Time! 

After more exploring we ended our time at Chaco with a nice picnic lunch, and then stopped by the Visitors Center again to get our Park Passport Book stamped. Of course, the adventure didn't end here....we managed to get turned around on our way out of the park! Getting lost has its rewards though - we saw more spectacular scenery, horses and cows!

The "Giddy Up" Detour Route to Gallup

Once back in Gallup we spent a little time at the We The People Park that had all kinds of fun sculptures and a nice walking / jogging trail.

Rock Concert Sculpture!

Then it was time to explore Downtown Gallup to see the murals and then experience the famous Summer Indian Dances at the Courthouse Plaza. They played such beautiful music, taught us all about Native American culture and the different dances. I'll never forget our visit to Gallup and Chaco.

If you want to hear more about our Chaco and Gallup experience, listen to this recent Big Blend Radio interview on BlogTalkRadio.com featuring Tanya Ortega - National Parks Arts Foundation, Park Ranger Nathan Hatfield, Hollywood Historian Steve Schneickert, and visual artist Dawnja Burris.

See our Chaco Culture Video on YouTube.

Today we're in beautiful and historic Florence, Colorado known as the "Antique Capital of Colorado." We leave for Santa Fe, New Mexico on Monday.

Giddy Up,
Miss P.

Hi Jolly, Dick Wick Hall, Captain O’Neill, The Eagles and Robert Taylor

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