Summer traveler 062017

Summer Travel &Festivals

2017 Your Guide to Summer Travel & Festivals Produced by the BEACON’s Advertising Team

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SUMMER 2017

The end of an era:

iconic Parachute gift shop prepares to close doors

By Kevin VanGundy

A family legacy

hen I visited my grandparents in Glenwood Springs as a kid, my favorite place to go was the Sioux Villa Curio gift shop. I could spend hours trying to decide if I should buy a bag of fool’s gold or a whoopee cushion to prank my friends.

On our way to California, we used to pass billboards proclaiming all the fun we would have if we went an hour off course to Big Rock Candy Mountain in Utah. My brother, sister and I salivated at the thought of an entire mountain made of candy. Each summer we would beg our parents to stop. They didn’t.

But one place we stopped by on occasion was the tepee in Parachute, a landmark for a gift shop now known as Old Mountain Gift & Jewelry.

It’s always sad to see places associated with such fond memories disappear.

Old Mountain Gift & Jewelry and its tepee are no exception. The store has a long history. Although its name changed in 2004, not much else has.

In 1976, Dave and Judy Beasley operated the roadside stand out of a tepee, selling furs, rugs and Indian jewelry along the highway before I-70 was completed.

The store moved to its current location at 393 E. Second St. in Parachute in 1985 and became known as Thunder River Trading Post. The original tepee was erected again in 1989.

At one point, the Beasley family operated four gift and jewelry shops: Thunder River, the Gold Mine in Mesa Mall, the Grand Junction Hilton gift shop and the Colorado Monument Trading Company in Fruita.

They retired in 2003, but their son, Chris, and his wife, Amy, decided to spruce up the Parachute store and re-opened its doors in March 2004, changing the name to Old Mountain Gift & Jewelry.

The Beasley family have been merchants in the Grand Valley for more than 40 years. But running the shop hasn’t been easy, and Chris and Amy’s children have no interest in continuing the family business. The Beasleys have decided to close Old Mountain Gift and Jewelry’s doors.

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Old Mountain Gift & Jewelry was one of Western Colorado’s hidden gems. Luckily there are many others that have yet to be discovered. This Summer Travel & Festivals insert will be your guide in helping you uncover summer festivals big and small, exotic summer brews, travel tips and more! ■ Historical information about Old Mountain Gift & Jewelry provided

by Chris Beasley.

SUMMER 2017

SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS

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Do you speak? Neither do I

By Jan Weeks

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love dictionaries, particularly ones that help me get around overseas.

A German Wörterbuch marches side by side with a French dictionnaire and a Spanish diccionario on my bookcase.

I don’t claim to be fluent in any of these languages, but I’ve managed to travel around Europe a couple of times on my own and easily find the three essentials: bed, beer, bathroom. I have no qualms about stopping strangers on the street, in train stations and in restaurants when I’m lost or confused. Inevitably, they read the translation of the English word I’m pointing to and send me on my way with smiles and gestures.

I’ve found that knowing only one phrase—“I don’t speak (fill in the language). Do you speak English?”— makes locals eager to help.

My probably mispronounced “Je ne parle pas français. Parlez vous anglais?” turned a snooty French woman into an anglophile on the spot.

I once spent a rainy night in a small hotel across from the Bordeaux train station. The Turkish desk clerk spoke French and was fluent in German (my best language). He also tended the tiny bar in the lobby. A mustachioed Spaniard with a touch of English sipped wine next to me as I drew a verb conjugation chart on a bar napkin.

With the help of my two new best friends and a second glass of cabernet sauvignon, I was pretty sure I could conjugate the present tense endings for regular French verbs. The next morning I carried on a half-hour conversation with a monolingual nurse with the help of my dictionnaire and some broad gestures.

In Bavaria, my catch-phrase was “Mein Deutsch is nicht so gut,” a

slight mistranslation that raised a few eyebrows. But the hotel clerks, waiters and information officers hid their smiles and answered politely—in English. Still, I persisted in using my Wörterbuch and the grammar I resurrected from a long-ago high school German class to book rooms, order meals and get around the country.

“Hablo un poco de español” carried me across Spain and deposited me at a beach town on the Mediterranean, where, with the aid of a diccionario, I flirted with a tall, dark and handsome Spaniard. Alas, our flirtation didn’t translate into more than a pleasant evening and a lingering adios.

I also met a secretary from Barcelona. She had come to heal her torn ankle ligaments by walking in the surf for hours each day. Early one September morning, I sat beside her on the steps of our hostel as she sang the sun up out of the sea in a clear soprano. Though the words were in Spanish, I didn’t need my dictionary to understand the joy she took in living each day as it came.

My pobre español didn’t help much when my pack was stolen, along with all my ID, credit card and lo peor, my dictionaries, in the Barcelona train station. A passing Argentinian who spoke English explained my dilemma to the police; then I was on my own.

With no passport, checking into a hotel was impossible. I took the next train back to the hostel, where they had registered my passport number. Tears seeping, I shoved my suitcase toward the overhead rack.

The train jolted and it slipped, nearly falling on an old lady. The dirty looks she and her companion gave me sure didn’t require translation.

Sinking into my seat, I rested my head against the window and let the tears come.

Then I felt a hand patting my

Jan outside of Rathaus (town hall) in Munich, Germany. knee and heard Spanish words that I’m sure meant, “There, there, it’ll be all right.”

The old lady had gone from disgusted to kind in a heartbeat. She didn’t need a dictionary to know I was devastated. With the few words I’d picked up at the police station, I managed to tell her what had happened, and in minutes everyone within earshot knew just what she thought of the rotten bastards in the big city. At least, I think that’s what she said.

It’s good to have a dictionary or a translation app for your iPhone, but tears, a smile, a simple phrase and the willingness to make a fool of yourself open minds and hearts, no matter what country you’re in. In the end, isn’t that what travel is all about? ■

Learn a language on your own While there are many online language learning tools, I find www.duolingo.com to be invaluable. The site offers free lessons in more than 25 languages.

Progress is self-paced and each begins with tips and notes on that lesson. Rest the cursor on any word to hear the pronunciation and meaning.

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Secret spots: How to find

hidden gems while traveling

By Melanie Wiseman “Travel is part of what makes life interesting,” said travel writer Kent Brown.

Brown, 67, and his wife, Rita, have traveled the U.S. many times and have been to all the Canadian provinces. They head out with a general direction or destination in mind, but let the back roads and unexpected experiences be their guide.

The Browns collaborated on three local travel books, “Hints for the Hurrying Traveler,” with editions on Palisade, Grand Junction and the soon-to-be-released Fruita. They’ve found that writing the books has helped them explore the Grand Valley, where they retired two years ago, with curiosity and enthusiasm.

“Seek authentic experiences, be inquisitive, ask locals for their ideas,

minimize the use of national chains and state facilities, and savor the journey of taking different routes to the same destination,” said Brown.

“Flexibility allows you to take the most interesting route and one you haven’t taken before. Building extra time into a trip’s itinerary allows for spontaneity, to go to places you haven’t seen before.”

He refers to this style of travel as “Zen driving.”

“Follow what feels right without thinking so much,” he said. “You aren’t going to fall off the edge of the world and most likely have a lifeline in your cellphone. Don’t worry about getting lost. You are almost always within minutes of food, water and helpful locals. Follow the dust, sounds and music. If you fall into a local festival by chance, enjoy it!”

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The Heat Moon approach Brown credits many of his experiences to the book “Blue Highways,” written in the early 1980s by William Least Heat Moon.

Getting off high-speed highways and interstates is crucial for true Americana experiences, he said.

He suggests walking around downtowns and bypassing restaurants and hotels right off the interstate.

Head for the older parts of town where the locals go.

Explore places with strange names. There has to be an interesting story and history behind Remote, Oregon; Simplicity, Virginia; Why, Arizona; Whynot, Mississippi; and Igo and Ono, California. The Browns have stopped at intriguing sites with unusual names, such as the Ludlow Massacre in Trinidad, Colorado; Crater of Diamonds in Murfreesboro, Arizona; and The Ratio in Green River, Utah.

Looking for a place to eat? Find “four-calendar cafes,” Brown said.

“Heat Moon felt you could judge a local cafe by the number of calendars in it, because it showed salespeople came by regularly enough to invest in leaving a calendar,” said Brown. “Personally, I also believe if there are a bunch of police cars out front, they must have good food.”

Judy’s Family Restaurant in Fruita is one such place, as well as The Owl Cafe in San Antonio, New Mexico.

“A lot of the fun is being sur-

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rounded by people from the community and hearing them talk about their farms and what’s going on in their town,” Brown said. “If I just want something to eat, I can go through McDonald’s drive-through, but if I want to get a sense of what the community is about, I eat local for a more interesting experience.”

He also suggests talking with locals, whether it’s while you walk downtown, at a cafe, visitor centers or fuel stops. A stop at the Snake River Gorge Visitor Center in Twin Falls, Idaho, led the Browns to check out nearby Minidoka Internment Camp and the Hagerman National Fish Hatchery.

Following a more spontaneous and flexible travel style has given the Browns some very fun experiences they love to share.

In Moab, Utah, they found Harmony Park, an area with outdoor musical instruments for the public to use. They loved the chocolate gravy and biscuits at Bob’s Grill in Conway, Arkansas, and the fantastic food in Las Vegas’ Chinatown.

They toured a fruit candy factory in the Cascades north of Seattle; saw Foam Henge, a life-size replica of Stonehenge found in Natural Bridge, Virginia; and visited the Morrison hogbacks geology site at exit 259 on 1-70.

Tools to help plan your trip Brown said he enjoys the journey but also planning trips. With the help of several websites, all travel-

Kent at Foamhenge in Virginia, a full-scale styrofoam replica of Stonehenge.

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ers can find interesting detours to a traditional trip.

“Google is my launchpad,” said Brown. “Wikipedia, Yelp, TripAdvisor and others will come up if you Google a town. Wikipedia is a nice quick snapshot of a town (history, demographics, economy, education, sports, reference links).

Yelp is heavier into food advice and TripAdvisor tells you about the top 10 things to do there and the best lodging.”

The Browns also make note of places and restaurants suggested on travel or cooking shows, and www. roadfood.com, a guide to authentic regional eating.

Family and friends can also provide recommendations if they have traveled to an area you are looking into.

To learn about classes taught by Kent Brown on traveling with creativity and spontaneity, visit www.newdimensionsgj.org. ■

Kent Brown’s favorite hidden gems on the Western Slope: Grand Valley • Blue Pig Gallery, 101 W. Third St., Palisade An artist cooperative gallery with a different artist onsite every day • Artful Cup, 3090 N. 12th St., Grand Junction Relaxing and friendly coffee shop and gathering place • Canyon View Park, 24 Road and I-70 Horseshoes, playground, dog park, Basque handball court, walking trails • Sprigs & Sprouts, Highway 6, Palisade Lavender farm, oil/vinegar infusions, aquaponic grower • Kokopelli Market, Exit 46, Cameo Local produce, homemade pies and fudge, play area • Dinosaur Hill, two miles south of I-70, Fruita, exit 19 • Mihaela’s Bakery, 150 W. Main St., Grand Junction Eastern European owner, wonderful bread and more • Lithic Bookstore and Gallery, Fruita Art, geology, poetry readings, new and used books

Delta/Montrose • Drost’s Chocolates in Eckert, 12991 CO-65, Eckert How often do you find an artisan chocolatier?

• Route 65, 12912 Hwy 65, Eckert This restaurant, located inside an automotive shop, uses as many local ingredients as possible. Be sure to try their potato ribbon fries!

• Snow Capped Cider in The AppleShed, Cedaredge Tucked in the back of the gallery, this cider bar offers some tasty refreshments.

• Morrow Point Dam Road, Cimarron See an amazing view of the Cimarron fault, which was instrumental in the making of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. At the viewing area for the dam, you can look down into the river and see the plume of sediment from Cimarron Creek merge with the Gunnison River. Aside from a fascinating set of views, it’s also a nice place to picnic.

• Hightower Trading Post & Café in Paonia and Hotchkiss Walleye fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with homemade strudel.

• Rocking W Cheese, Olathe This company uses milk from their dairy to make their own cheese. The shop sells milk, cheese, soft-serve ice cream and cream-top milk by the gallon.

• Colorado Boy Pizzeria & Brewery, 320 E. Main St., Montrose The staff cans beers right in front of you so you can take home your favorites!

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SUMMER 2017

Travel tips for the addled

By Amy Abbott

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ith the kids grown, the dog dead and the mortgage whittled down, older tourists are off to exotic locations. As an unsophisticated traveler, I’ll share experiences from mistakes made and lessons learned.

Let’s distinguish between the experienced traveler and the ordinary tourist. Traveler friends have hiked to Machu Picchu, built Habitat for Humanity homes in Tanzania, walked the Way of St. James in Spain and hunted clownfish off Indonesia. They are the brave ones, from their wealth of frequent flyer points to expensive hiking boots and well-made backpacks.

That leaves the rest of us, with our ramshackle borrowed luggage, a tour company lanyard and an ordinary bucket list. I am a tourist.

More cerebral than physical, our

bucket list contains the wish to view paintings in every Western art museum from the Getty to the Hermitage. And every church. And every battlefield, historic site and famous garden.

Those of us with a poor sense of direction love the comfort of a tour.

We love getting one bus with a driver who takes us to the front door of Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We enjoy advancing to the front of the Vatican tour line. We love knowing where dinner is. We like having a few free days, but prefer to be led around like innocent sheep.

Travel hacks for my fellow tourists: • Put everything you think you’ll need in a suitcase. Take half out.

• Plan on how much money you’ll need. Then double it. The exchange rate is like Vegas—usually the house wins.

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• Get foreign cash in advance from your nearest Federal Reserve Bank to avoid a hefty fee from an online company or an airport exchange place.

• Buy a cheap phone or a SIM card that works in the country you’re visiting. I bought a Mobal phone six years ago. I take the batteries out between trips, and it’s still working great.

• Take over-the-counter urinary tract infection pills. How often do friends learn about the European health care system firsthand, courtesy of a UTI? Oh, and drink lots of bottled water. Especially if you are going south. “Turista” isn’t an urban myth.

• Buy your husband a wallet he can fit in his front pocket.

• In many European countries, there are exchange kiosks in public places. If you want cash, choose a well-lighted one for obvious reasons. The ATM will charge a small fee and spit out

cash in the currency of the country where you are. If a thief scans your credit card, the bank will put limits on his purchases, especially if he buys something normally out of your credit card purview.

• Take a good gander at what’s in your giant purse. Take half out. Always be mindful of where your purse is, even if it’s a travel bag with enough metal locks to tie George Clooney to a Como, Italy, bicycle rack. Carrying a heavy purse is foolish. Keep all your makeup except lipstick in your suitcase.

Stick to the basics when away from your hotel. Use the safe in your room if you need. Put a sticky note on the back of your door so you don’t leave something in the safe.

• Screw spontaneity. Will you visit Milan again? Buy “The Last Supper” tickets ahead of time. Don’t extend an Italian vacation only to

SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS

find the treasure is closed. You can order practically anything on Google these days.

• Check with the U.S. State Department’s website prior to leaving to see special warnings and notes about foreign countries: www. state.gov/travel.

All of these tips boil down to the Boy Scout motto: Be prepared.

There’s an old saying about preparation meeting opportunity. When

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you have the opportunity on your trip to be spontaneous, well, you’ll be prepared. While that sounds like an oxymoron, you aren’t 22 and staying in hostels and buying a summer Eurail pass. If you do that, good for you. For myself, I want a western-style bed in a decent hotel. ■

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SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS

Mike the Headless Chicken June 2-3

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Deltarado Days

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Sum FESTI

2017

Fruita Civic Center Pavilion, Fruita, CO 970-858-0360 www.miketheheadlesschicken.org

Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival June 9-11

Riverbend Park 451 Pendelton St., Palisade, CO 970-464-5602 www.palisademusic.com

Country Jam June 15-18

Country Jam Ranch 1065 Highway 6 & 50, Mack, CO 855-821-9210 www.countryjam.com

Telluride Bluegrass Festival June 15-18

Telluride Town Park, Telluride, CO 800-624-2422 www.bluegrass.com/telluride

Strawberry Days June 16-18

Sayre Park 1702 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, CO 970-945-6589

Colorado Mount ain W

inefes t

Colorado Lavender Festival

Montrose County Fair & Rodeo

Riverbend Park, Palisade, CO 800-624-2422 www.coloradolavender.org

Montrose County Fairgrounds 1001 N. Second St., Montrose, CO 970-252-4358 www.montrosecountyfairandrodeo.com

June 7-9

July 21-30

Paonia Cherry Days

Crested Butte Wildflower Festival

Mesa County Fair

Paonia, CO 970-527-3886 www.paoniacherrydays.com

Crested Butte, CO 970-349-2571 www.crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.com

Mesa County Fairgrounds 2785 US 50, Grand Junction, CO 970-255-7107 www.mesacountyfair.com

June 30-July 4

July 7-16

July 25-29

Deltarado Days July 27-30

Delta, CO 970-874-8616 www.deltacolorado.org www.facebook.com/DeltaChamber

Carbondale Mountain Fair July 28-30

Carbondale, CO 970-963-1680 www.carbondalearts.com/mountain-fair

Colorado Lavender Fes tival

Garfield County Fair July 31-August 6

Garfield County Fairgrounds 1001 Railroad Ave., Rifle, CO 970-625-2514 www.garfieldcountyfair.com

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SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS

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mmer IVALS

Palisade Peach Festival

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Fruita Fall Festival September 22-24

Downtown Fruita 970-858-3894 www.fruitafallfestival.com

AppleFest October 7-8

Town Park, Cedaredge, CO 970-856-6961 www.cedaredgechamber.com/applefest

Palisade Peach Festival August 17-20

Riverbend Park, Palisade, CO 970-464-7458 www.palisadepeachfest.com

heepdog Meeker Classic S ls Championship Tria

Olathe Sweet Corn Festival August 5

Olathe, CO 970-765-0481 www.olathesweetcornfest.com

Delta County Fair August 5-12

Delta County Fairgrounds 403 S. 4th St., Hotchkiss, CO 970-872-2161 www.deltacountyfair.com

Telluride Jazz Festival August 4-6

Telluride Town Park, Telluride, CO 970-728-8037 www.telluridejazz.org

Ridgway Rendezvous Arts & Crafts Festival August 12-13

Ridgway, CO 970-318-8506 www.ridgwayrendezvous.com

Meeker Classic Sheepdog Championship Trials September 6-10 Meeker, CO 970-878-0111 www.meekersheepdog.com

Colorado Mountain Winefest September 14-17

Riverbend Park, Palisade 970-464-0111 www.coloradowinefest.com

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Mountain Harvest Festival September 21-24

Town Park, Paonia, CO 970-778-9072 www.mountainharvestfestival.org

Sneffels Fiber Festival September 23-24

Ridgway Town Park, Ridgway, CO 970-318-0150 www.sneffelsfiberfest.com

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK! @FRUITAFARMERSMARKET CONTACT US:

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SUMMER 2017

Summer beers in the Grand Valley: Drink outside the box Story and photos by Kristian Hartter

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eer drinkers, rejoice! Summer is here, and all of the Grand Valley’s local breweries are offering special beverages for the next few months. From light lagers to funky farmhouse ales, this wide variety of beers is one more reason to love summer.

Copper Club Brewing Company We’ll start our beer tour on the west side of the valley at Copper Club in Fruita. Here, customers will find Oar’s Light, a riff on a river beer. This light lager has very low bitterness and a low alcohol by volume (ABV).

Visitors can also look forward to the return of Hammock Time, Copper’s take on a light, well-balanced English summer ale. Hammock Time departs from common builds of this beer with the addition of unrefined piloncillo sugar to lighten up the body while adding just a bit of maple-like character.

Later this year, head brewer Daniel Collins will offer an India Pale Lager, a hybrid style embodying the assertive hoppy character of an India Pale Ale (IPA) but the light mouthfeel and clean fermentation of a lager.

Suds Brothers

Rockslide brewer Zorba Proteau checks the sugar content of Hop Mess before fermentation.

Just up the road at Suds Brothers Brewery, Nate Sitterud has brewed a raspberry honey wheat beer.

True to a traditionalists’ methods, Suds used real raspberries, lending a subtle fruit flavor and aroma to the beer. He also created a Czech

Michele and Daniel Collins serve customers at the bar at Copper Club Brewing in Fruita.

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pilsner that will be released later in the season. Pilsner malts, exclusively Sazz hops, and cold storage should ensure that this beer is light, clean and balanced toward the spicy, floral, hoppy side of the scale.

The Rockslide At The Rockslide Brewery and Restaurant in downtown Grand Junction, head brewer Zorba Proteau looks forward to offering beers ranging from traditional to avant-garde. The 2 Bit Wit is a largely traditionally styled Belgian witbier, a 400-year-old style that uses orange peel, coriander and chamomile along with a large percentage of wheat, making for a light-colored and medium-bodied ale with hints of orange and spice. The Rockslide’s version includes locally sourced lavender, too.

The Hop Mess, a hop-bursted IPA created in tandem with Casey Brewing and Blending from Glenwood Springs, takes drinkers a little farther off the beaten path. The beer is made at The Rockslide in one batch, then split between the companies so they can each ferment the ale their own way. Proteau uses the controlled fermentation most often seen in modern brewing, while Troy Casey uses old-world techniques and microorganisms to create a funky version of the same beer. Both are limited but will be available at The Rockslide for a short time.

Kannah Creek Kannah Creek is brewing beer aplenty for the summer.

Two of these are purpose-built to raise money for worthy causes.

The Philanthropy Ale is based on the kölsch style, a light German ale, and created to help raise money for multiple sclerosis research. The 300 Watt Ale is a light American blonde ale with the slightly floral and subtly spicy characteristics of its Mt. Hood and Willamette hops.

This beer will raise funds for 88.1 KAFM. It will be featured at the Radio Daze event on August 12 at Kannah Creek’s Edgewater location.

Before either of those beers are available, customers can enjoy Kannah’s pilsner. This lager displays less influence in its flavors from the action of the yeast. Colder fermentation temperatures and an extended cold storage period create beer that emphasizes the malt and hop flavors themselves, as opposed to yeast phenols and esters.

You can bet more innovative brews will be coming out of the brewhouse on 12th Street, where new drinks are created as inspiration strikes.

Palisade Brewing Company No place in the valley brews beer according to schedule better than Palisade Brewing Company.

Right now, visitors can enjoy the Zoso Pale Ale, which is brewed in the hazy New England style that exclusively uses Zoso hops, a cultivar proprietary to Misty Mountain Hop Farm in Olathe. Hop-bursted but not strongly bitter, it displays the tangerine and tropical fruit notes of its namesake hop, and has a slightly creamy mouthfeel.

On June 3, the company will release Love Potion #7 for the brewery’s seventh anniversary. This farmhouse ale is for the more adventurous palate, fermented partially with Brettanomyces yeast and dryhopped with Citra hops.

Those wanting something on the more accessible side should wait until the following weekend, when the company will be pouring its Picker’s Delight during the Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival. Made specifically for the event, it won’t last long in the brewery taproom. “[It’s a] built-to-drink, refreshingly crushable beer with enough flavor to keep you happy,” said head brewer Danny Wilson.

There will be more from Palisade throughout the season, including the summer iteration of a rotating double IPA they call Let It Grow, which will be released on June 20.

The sunny season makes for thirsty people, and the valley’s breweries make a summer beer for every taste. Drink up! ■

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SUMMER 2017

Colorado Lavender Festival Presented by Hummel Real Estate

By Paige Slaughter

T

he Lavender Association of Western Colorado has worked to promote lavender as an alternative cash crop on the Western Slope. Each July, hundreds enjoy a weekend full of this sweet-smelling purple flower.

The seventh annual Colorado Lavender Festival, presented by Hummel Real Estate, takes place July 7-9. As visitors learn, there’s much more to lavender than meets the eye.

Lavender is a beautiful and profitable crop for farmers wishing to diversify. Distilled, it transforms into potent medicine, a therapeutic oil that relaxes or invigorates, depending on the variety used in the distillation process. Dried bundles become aromatic bouquets and wreaths, and another variety is used as an exquisite culinary herb.

Local winemakers create tasty lavender wines, while bakers and chefs incorporate it into their menus. Lavender is a low-water cash crop that grows well in our climate.

This dynamic herb’s benefits are explored here in western Colorado to the delight of gardeners, florists, foodies, healers and shoppers alike.

The festival kicks off on Friday with the educational Sweet and Savory Culinary Half-Day Motor Coach Tour presented by Absolute Prestige Limousine. This bus tour offers participants the chance to mosey through fields and taste treats along the way. Use lavender in pastries at Belli Fiori Lavender Farm, taste handcrafted lavender-infused gin, discover spices and rubs at A Pinch of Lavender Farm and sample an assortment of goodies at Sprigs and Sprouts. Dine on a laven-

der-inspired lunch at Il Bistro Italiano in downtown Grand Junction.

Participants can also choose Absolute Prestige’s North Fork Culinary and Artisan Half-Day Craft Tour to visit farms and orchards in Hotchkiss and Paonia. Enjoy culinary lavender demonstrations including lemonade- and sugar cookie-making at Connor Orchards. Sample teas and soaps, and create a facial mask at Lamborn Mountain Farmstead.

Complete the day with a farm-to-table lunch at Delicious Orchards.

Saturday’s events take place at Palisade’s Veterans Memorial Park.

Buzzing with lavender enthusiasts and experts, the park will be full of vendors showcasing their unique goods, ranging from edible to fashionable, aesthetic to therapeutic. A day of music, food and workshops presented by Grand Junction Pipe and Supply is wrapped up by an evening of Hummel Real Estate’s Lavender Under the Stars at Peachfork Orchards.

On Sunday, visitors may enjoy self-guided tours of lavender farms throughout the Grand Valley and the North Fork Valley. Farms and businesses host unique, fun-filled events, providing a taste of what makes each of them special.

All in all, this celebration of lavender offers locals and tourists a chance to discover and rediscover a loveable plant that’s making a name for itself in the Grand Valley. ■

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Get the world-class treatment in Denver

D

enver is an outdoor city filled with urban adventures. The Mile High City is known for its world-class cultural attractions, thriving restaurants and famous music scene, all within easy reach of the Rocky Mountains. It’s very much a “maker culture,” where anything is possible.

Vibrant neighborhoods If you really want to discover Denver, delve into its diverse neighborhoods. Street art depicts urban stories all over town, bursting with color on alleyways, garage doors and storefronts. Uptown has a long stretch of cafés, bistros and pubs with outdoor patios near the city’s largest green space, City Park. The Art District on Santa Fe is a haven for art lovers with more than 60 art galleries and colorful murals, highlighting the neighborhood’s Hispanic roots.

The Highlands neighborhood is a great destination for visitors with its Victorian-era homes and buildings, lush gardens and parks, hip independently owned shops, art galleries and restaurants. The River North Art District (RiNo) is “where art is made,” riding a wave of industrial revival with art galleries, brewpubs and restaurants. And in Five Points, the music of jazz legends transcends local clubs. Now it’s a

fusion of old and new with coffeehouses, craft breweries, museums and beloved barbecue institutions.

Innovative dining Denver is a hub for chef-owned restaurants. Stroll among the Victorian buildings and boutique shops of Larimer Square and take your pick of culinary talent, then be wowed by the offerings from locally sourced products. Whether you’re downtown on the 16th Street Mall or looking for a unique spot in Cherry Creek, visitors have a variety of great options to choose from.

Western history For the history buff, Denver has plenty of fascinating museums and landmarks.

The History Colorado Center features exhibits and programs that tell the stories of Colorado and engage visitors in the past, present and future of the Rocky Mountain West. Enjoy interactive exhibits like a virtual ride in a real Model T, test your skills on a ski-jump simulator or set off dynamite in an 1880s hard-rock mine.

A true Western icon, the late Jack A. Weil invented the first cowboy shirt with snaps and helped popularize Western wear as legitimate American fashion. Many of his Rockmount designs are worn by movie stars and music legends, all with the signature diamond snaps and sawtooth pockets. His grandson, Steve Weil, continues the tradition today.

The store is located in the heart of downtown.

Located in a 1930s-era former Air Force hangar, Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum is heaven for the aerospace enthusiast. The museum is home to more than three dozen

historic airplanes and space vehicles, including a massive B-52 Stratofortress, a 1926 Eaglerock long wing and even an X-Wing fighter from the “Star Wars” movie fame.

A famous music scene On any given night, you’ll find talented artists playing a vast array of genres in clubs throughout the metro area. And at the top of every music lover’s bucket list is Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Legendary musicians like the Beatles and U2 have performed here, and today, the summer concert series presents the best artists in jazz, rock, pop, bluegrass and more. Seeing a concert under the stars is a magical experience.

Go to www.visitdenver.com to plan your trip. ■

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SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

SUMMER 2017

Summer wine tasting travelogue

By Christine Feller

Colorado is a visual treat in any season, but in the summer our mountains, rivers, deserts and cliffs beckon us to adventure.

Coloradans are explorers, and that can extend to our palates, too. This summer, take the time to explore our state’s tastier events, all just a quick jaunt from your front door.

CRESTED BUTTE WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

TELLURIDE WINE FESTIVAL

July 26-30

June 22-25

www.cbwineandfood.com

www.telluridewinefestival.com

Charming festivities include educational picnics, tasting bashes, a progressive in-town nibble-and-sip promenade, a speakeasy and a cannabis pairing for the more experimental.

The wildflower capital of Colorado, Crested Butte displays its full colors during this festival. It all starts with an opening dinner, cooking classes, a golf tournament and a wine and music pairing. Sharpen your senses with a blind tasting, meet your match in the Speed

A Taste of History along the Montrose History Trail…

970.249.2085

Preservation, Heritage, Authenticity The Mission of the Montrose County Historical Societyand Museum is to preserve, display and interpret thehistoric and cultural legacy of Montrose County and its surrounding region.

Open May to October Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturdays, 10:00 am-2:00 pm Open by appointment for research

21 N Rio Grande Avenue Montrose, CO 81401

970.249.3098

970.240.3400

Where History Comes Alive!

Group Tours of 15+ available by Reservation. You will experience what it was like to live in western Colorado in the 1880’s to the 1940’s. Guided Tours, Concerts, School Groups, Weddings, Anniversaries, Parties, Seminars, Reunions and more.

Grand Reopening

June 10th @ 10 am – 3 pm Scanned by CamScanner

68169 E Miami Rd Montrose, CO 81401 970.240.3400 Open Monday-Saturday 8:30-4:30

Guided Tours, Concerts, School Groups, Weddings, Anniversaries, Parties, Seminars, Reunions and more!

MuseumOfTheMountainWest.org

Open for Guided Tours Monday-Saturday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Last tour starts at 2:30 pm Entrance Fees: Adults $10 / Children $5 68169 East Miami Road Montrose, CO 81401 (Hwy 50 East towards Gunnison)

Innovative Ute Exhibits New & Improved Gift Shop Ute Tribal Presentations Free Buffalo Lunch @ noon Shuttle from Target running all day 9 am – 4 pm Open Daily Mon – Sat 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Sun 11:00 am to 4:30 pm 17253 Chipeta Road Montrose, CO 81403

(3 miles south of downtown at US 550 and Chipeta Rd.)

SUMMER 2017

www.BeaconSeniorNews.com

Dating with Pinot Noir seminar, enjoy a farm-to-table dinner, attend a grand tasting and more.

COLORADO MOUNTAIN WINEFEST

MESA COUNTY FAIR WINE TASTING

www.coloradowinefest.com

July 27 www.mesacountyfair.com

We live in the heart of Colorado’s wine country. Tasters can discover exciting wines produced with local grapes from eight wineries.

STEAMBOAT WINE FESTIVAL August 9-13 www.steamboatwinefestival.com

If you’ve been atop Mount Werner, you know what a breathtaking vista it is.

Imagine being there for Wine on the Mountain, the signature event of the Steamboat Wine Festival. You’ll certainly be looking at the world through rosé-colored glasses! Enjoy more than 200 wines from all over the globe during The Stroll, an event that winds through downtown Steamboat and also features spirits and craft beers.

September 14-17 Now in its 26th year, this Palisade wine festival features beverages from more than 50 Colorado wineries. Events kick off Thursday with a painting class taught by Vinje Lawson, the artist behind this year’s Winefest poster. Tour wine country by bus on Friday, then learn about glasses and chocolate pairings. In the evenings, enjoy wine-centric meals hosted by local restaurants. At Riverbend Park on Saturday, take part in chef demonstrations and educational seminars, and listen to live music. VIP passholders can try culinary delights prepared by student chefs from Western Colorado Community College. ■

GEARS & BEERS AT POWDERHORN August 26 www.powderhorn.com/events

This event includes live music, mountain biking, camping and craft beers, all on Grand Mesa. Cheers!

COME ENJOY THE AMBIENCE ON THE PATIO

AMY’S COURTYARD SCHEDULING WEDDINGS & EVENTS

10% off wine for locals OPEN DAILY

SUMMER HOURS Sunday-Thursday 11 to 5 and Friday & Saturday 11 to 6 Hours Might Differ.

ASK ABOUT OUR

Charcuterie board, elegant cheese & meats.

970.464.4959 3575 G Rd, Palisade, CO 81526

SUMMER TRAVEL & FESTIVALS

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