ARCHIVE - 2009 PRESS TRIPS

Colorado’s activities are as varied as the landscape itself, and the dawning of each day sheds new light on a place that may seem as familiar as your Sunday slippers. Ancient archaeology, arts and culture, cowboy adventures, and endless outdoor activities are all on tap for this year’s press trips, which truly offer something for everyone. Let us know if you are interested in recreating a past press trip!

May 22 - 26, 2009 :: Fort Collins and Grand County “Girls’ Getaway Adventure Weekend”
Trip includes:
     • Brewery tours
     • Whitewater Rafting
     • Nights in Fort Collins and at Bar Lazy J in Grand County

May 28 - June 1, 2009 :: Mesa Verde “Trail of the Ancients”
Explore the 116-mile Trail of the Ancients (www.mesaverdecountry.com). We’ll follow the route as it winds through the archaeological wonders of Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, Ute Mountain Tribal Park, Lowry Pueblo and the Anasazi Heritage Center.

June 4 - 7, 2009 :: Telluride “A Heritage and Culture Experience”
Located on the scenic San Juan Skyway in southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountain, this designated National Historic Landmark District (since 1964), offers town walking tours, local storytellers, free gondola rides to Mountain Village, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, historic jeep tours and the most incredible mountain vistas.
Trip includes:
     • Transportation and lodging
     • Weekend pass to the 33nd Annual Jazz Celebration (www.telluridejazz.org) featuring a Hot-Air         Balloon Rally. The mountains of Telluride will come alive with bright balloons and world-class
        music. Ozomatli and the Bill Frisell Trio to headline the 2009 event.
     • Your choice of historic walking tour and/or jeep tour into Tomboy Mine Basin
     • Complimentary tour of the Telluride Historic Museum
     • Dining in some of Telluride’s famous restaurants
     • Your choice of outdoor fun from hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, whitewater rafting, and more         (conditions permitting)

June 11 - 14, 2009 :: Grand Junction “Colorado’s Wine Country” (www.visitgrandjunction.com)
In a state known for its rugged mountains, glorious scenery, and unlimited recreational opportunities, Grand Junction has all that and more! A three-day summer visit is the perfect “sampler” for some of Colorado’s best summer fun. Grand Junction is home to five unique and outstanding golf courses. As well as a variety of challenging holes and excellent facilities, the courses of Grand Junction offer the most spectacular scenery! If golf isn’t your thing, most of the orchards and wineries for which the area is famous offer tours and tastings all summer. Summer and early fall is also festival time, so a well-planned visit can coincide with the Mesa County Fair, Palisade Peach Festival, or Colorado Mountain Winefest. The Downtown Farmers Market takes place Thursday evenings starting from June through September and features produce from local farms and orchards, crafts and live music.
Trip includes visits:
     • Dino Dig
     • Tour of Colorado National Monument
     • Wine tasting
     • Thursday night farmers market

July 30 - August 2, 2009 :: Grand County “History, Culture, Art with some Colorado Adventure”
Located just 67 miles west of Denver, the six towns of Grand County each offer a variety of mountain scenery, from lush grassy meadows to pictorial peaks.

The six towns of Grand County are:
• Grand Lake – water is the name of this western charming western town was with the largest natural lake in the state of Colorado and the headwaters to the Colorado Rivers. The quaint boardwalk leads visitors into locally owned stores and galleries. The town is home to the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, a park which was created in 1915 to preserve the mountain tundra.
• Granby – located in the heart of the county, this town offers six dude and guest ranches, two notable golf courses and access to Granby Lake – the states second largest reservoir.
• Hot Sulphur Springs – the county seat and home to the healing natural hot springs resort, where you can soak in one of the 22 pools or private baths.
• Winter Park and Fraser – offer everything from an extensive 600-mile trail system for biking and hiking to an authentic Western rodeo every Saturday night.
• Kremmling – this old west town is the county’s base for hunting, fishing, kayaking, rafting and numerous outdoor adventures.

September 17 - 19, 2009 :: Ouray “Switzerland of America’s Fall Glory”
Located at 7,700 feet above sea level in southwest Colorado, the National Historic District of Ouray is surrounded on three sides by 13,000-foot peaks, earning it the nickname “The Switzerland of America.” Autumn is a superb time to visit Ouray, when the area’s foliage is dressed in its fall best.
Trip includes:
     • Hiking, jeep tours, rock climbing
     • Historic mine tour
     • Driving the Million Dollar Highway
     • Visiting area hot springs, including the Ouray Hot Springs Pool
     • Historic walking tour of downtown and the Ouray County Historical Museum

The following one-on-one trips are also available,
please contact us to schedule and plan your personal tour.

Grand County (www.grand-county.com)
Nearly everything Colorado has to offer is bundled up within the boarders of Grand County, just 67 miles from Denver. This area is home to four golf courses, two of which are nationally acclaimed. Winter Park/Fraser Valley offers 600 miles of hiking and biking trails. The Old West town of Kremmling serves as a base for world-class fly-fishing. A natural hot springs resort bubbles up in Hot Sulphur Springs. And cultural and historical activities abound throughout the county.

Grand County Dude and Guest Ranches (www.dude-ranch.com)
Experience the West the way it used to be at one of the six world-class dude and guest ranches that has earned this area the title “Dude Ranch Capital of the U.S.” You select your experience that can include everything from horseback riding, square dancing and hayrides to authentic cowboy cuisine.

Delta County “Colorado’s Agricultural Hub” (www.westerncolorado.org)
Delta County consists of the towns of Cedaredge, Crawford, Delta, Hotchkiss, Orchard City and Paonia. These towns come alive in the summer with fresh produce stands, wine rooms and activities to boot. Join us for Paonia Cherry Days (July 4th weekend), Mountain Harvest Fest (Sept. 25-27) or Cedaredge Applefest (Oct. 2-4).

Southwest Travel Region (www.swcolotravel.org)
The Southwest Travel Region is made up of seven counties and stretches from Grand Junction to Pagosa Springs, so you can pick and choose from a wealth of activities and sights. The region includes the communities of Ouray, Cortez, Durango and Telluride, just to name a few. Southwest Colorado boasts numerous national parks and monuments, scenic byways, archaeological ruins and cliff dwellings, and the 125-year-old Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

For more information, call Gaylene Ore at 970-887-2536 or email: Gaylene@orecommunications.com