Our tour target schedule for this literary journey is not merely one of those seeds and stems destinations. No sir, no ma'am. This is a full-tilt boogie Colorado burg with the nurturing spirit of nature, an abundance of ambiance when it comes to art, and heady wines and brews to appease even the most temperamental of gods. Today, our magic bus is heading out to the western quadrant of of the state of Colorado, near Grand Junction to a town called Palisade.The area is surrounded in the north by imposing Roswell-type alien, yet natural geologic formations known as "palisades," hence the name of the town. Palisade occupies geography in a lush, green mountain valley nestled in the shadow of snow capped mountain peaks, which shield the region from the more adverse weather conditions, making the area officially, "the banana belt" of Colorado. In addition to it's tempting temperate climate, the nutrient rich soils are conducive to growing world class grapes for the vintners craft. Good soil for wine making in the parlance of the vintner is call "terroir" and in the Palisade area, the grape growing terroir kicks ass!
Varied varietal laden vineyards line the landscape for miles, as far as the eye can see, disappearing out of view and over the edge of the endless horizon which appears infinite. A luxurious strand of agricultural pearls, grapes...large, juicy grapes perfect for the carnival atmosphere of the annual barrel stomp, which precedes the robust imbibing of vino, with the driving force of Bacchanalia helping you to create your own version of paradise, found, not lost. So, this is paradise? Sort of. It's damn close to it, it's Palisade!
Good wining, comes with a side order of gastronomical delights. Food and wine pairings are an art form in some of the local restaurants, so when the munchies do hit, you can do some bistro bopping, or wander into a world of Mediterranean, Japanese, or Italian eateries to tempt the taste buds. After a meal, you can visit one of the bakeries for some of the Valley's best cookies, breads and cakes for the sweet tooth cravings that can erupt as fast as a volcano can blow and spew hot lava. They may not have "magic" brownies on hand, but who knows, maybe an Alice B. Toklas Bakery will open it's doors someday to cater to the take-out tokers at all hours, day or night.
Palisade wineries have their share of tasting rooms, but, for the brew crowd, there are micro-bars serving up boutique micro brews, or for that rough and tumble he-manly Hemingway hidden away deep in the well of your psyche, you may want to treat yourself, (and the spirit of Ernest!) to the offerings of one of the fine distilleries in Palisade.You can tour as solo pathfinders or take a commercial tour. I prefer to venture alone when blazing a drinking path through a forest of drunkenness. Architecturally, Palisade is as Victorian cheeky as San Francisco. Downtown shopping is an eclectic experience. What about culture? Palisades has it by the bowlful. An exploding local art scene with artisans shops, that produce everything from hand-crafted, colorful, kaleidoscopic stained glass works that Lucy in the Sky herself would be proud of, to potters prevalent practicing their craft, as well as numerous galleries with works of visual framed art adorning their walls. The local Palisade art scene is thriving and growing like our favorite "weed."
When it comes to lodging, you can take a load off in comfort in a quaint bed and breakfast, a local or chain motel, or inn. If you are a tent, backpack, sleeping bag haiku-hobo as I am, fear not, there are rustic, and some not so rustic campgrounds nearby for those of us who like to avoid the commercialism of a cookie cutter motel, and simply pitch a tent and listen to our inner muse as we enjoy a sky full of stars and the crackling of a warm campfire. If you happen to have the gang loaded and loaded up aboard an RV, (the modern day Godzilla version of the V-Dub micro bus of yesteryear,) then head to the RV Ranch pardner as it is one of the best parks to park your mechanical pony in Colorado. If not in an RV, they have cabins available for that naughty knotty pine experience. There are other campgrounds in nearby Fruita and Grand Junction.
The Colorado River cuts through the center of Palisade, and although calm most of the year, the winter-spring mountain snow melt has her racing through the region, a white water junkies fix truckin' through the main artery of high country wine country. Colorado is an outdoor kingdom, and for the outdoor enthusiast there is white water rafting available as well as mountain biking, and a ski resort for that winter downhill adrenalin rush on white powder.You’ve all heard the saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" so when in Colorado, do as the Coloradans do, and set your course for a white water rafting trip, or rent a kayak for a real river run through some of the most awe inspiring scenery you’ll find in a valley framed by picturesque mountains. If you don’t mind getting soaked it’s a great, natural carnival roller coaster of a ride, so dress accordingly, you know, swim suit and that type of thing. They haven't gotten into clothing optional rafting yet, but we can dream!
If you have a little John James Audubon in you, the region is avian abundant, and a treasure trove for bird watchers,. Other wildlife you may run into, as I have on many stops in my journey’s through Colorado, it's not unusual to hear the bugle of an elk or two as they saunter into town.The Colorado River Trail meanders from it’s starting point past small lakes and through forests. You can hike it, or you can bike it as well. Two wheel pedal power to the people! There are scenic spots to take a rest and break out the picnic basket and your personal "survival kit" if the munchies strike. Island Acres, which is an island in the middle of the river, is perfect for fishing, and a lake on the island has a sandy beach for swimming.Festivals and activities are part and parcel of this Rocky Mountain Wine excursion including the Palisade Classic Mountain Bike Race and Fruit Loop (I'm not kidding, Fruit Loop!) Cycling Tour where you can take a self guided two wheeled journey of the Fruit and Wine Trail.
In June it's Blue Grass and Roots Festival held on the banks of Colorado River in the downtown park.The Colorado Rocky Mountain high is addicting and Rocky Mountain junkies relish their time in the state. Biking, hiking, camping, art hopping, wining and dining, Palisade is the paradise of outdoor activity. If you're looking for that real time Rocky Mountain High combined with the twin vixens, Altitude and Attitude, you've come to the right place. It's sometimes called Paradise, but most locals refer to it as Palisade! For more information on visiting Palisade you can trip on over to their website at http://palisadechamber.chambermaster.com/list/QL/sports-recreation.htm