Grand Junction was featured in an article in the New York Times on Thursday, written by Basalt-based journalist Cindy Hirschfeld.
The article, titled “36 Hours in Grand Junction,” goes over the keys to a successful trip to the Grand Valley, with key stops including Grand Mesa, Colorado National Monument, and Bin 707 Foodbar, which was named to the Times’ list of the nation’s 50 best restaurants last year.
The article lists regional attractions such as local hikes and parks, venues such as restaurants and bars and live music, notable stores, and top places to stay (including the Hotel Melrose, Hotel Maverick and Camp Eddy).
Hirschfeld provides a 36-hour itinerary, which includes the following:
Friday at 3 p.m.: “Hoof it to see wild horses” at the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range;
Friday at 5:30 p.m.: “Quaff a peach” at the orchards around Palisade and grab a drink at one of the town’s distilleries;
Friday at 7 p.m.: “Feast on simple elegance” at Pêche in downtown Palisade with offerings like fresh pasta with wild mushrooms or seared lamb chops accompanied by an eggplant relish, toasted focaccia and creamy ricotta;
Saturday at 7:30 a.m.: “Seek birds and breakfast” by looking for birds at the Connected Lakes area of the James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park, followed by breakfast at the Dream Cafe;
Saturday at 9 a.m.: “Explore the desert by bike or on foot” by visiting one of the roughly 300 miles of maintained trails in the Grand Valley area, such as the Lunch Loops, Devil’s Canyon or the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area;
Saturday at 12:30 p.m.: “Enjoy lunch, microbrew samples and a river view” at WestCo Brewing by the Colorado River;
Saturday at 2 p.m.: “Go to a rock show” via a visit to Colorado National Monument;
Saturday at 4 p.m.: “See the sculptures and the shops” on Main Street in Grand Junction, with shout-outs to the West Winds Gallery, Sauvage Spectrum, the Hog and the Hen, Triple Play Records, Grand Valley Books and Carlson Vineyards;
Saturday at 6: 30 p.m.: “Eat seasonal” at Bin 707 Foodbar;
Saturday at 8 p.m.: “Choose live music or craft cocktails” by seeing what’s going on at the Mesa Theater or the Avalon, or head to SoCo Social House, Enstrom Candies and Melrose Spirit Co.;
Sunday at 8 a.m.: “Ski or snowshoe along a mesa” by visiting Grand Mesa for some hiking or to go skiing at Powderhorn Mountain Resort.
Comments on the story provided other accounts of visits to Grand Junction. Restaurants and businesses that were recognized in the comments include a Robin’s Nest of Antiques and Treasures, Guru’s Kitchen, Tacoparty, Roots Gastrohub, Trail Life Brewing, and Thai Number 9.
To read the New York Times story, visit tinyurl.com/bdek5z9b.