Things To Do
Colorado National Monument
Located 6 miles from Downtown Grand Junction, Colorado National Monument is a hiker’s paradise. The area was designated a national monument in 1911, as part of the National Park Service (NPS), and spans over 20,500 acres of red-rock canyons, desert brush valleys, and spectacular rock formations. This stunning terrain and scenery combine with perfect fall weather to make this an ideal playground for hikers and adventurers. It’s significantly less crowded than other areas like the Grand Canyon and was even included in National Geographic’s list of Top 10 Underappreciated Parks. Colorado National Monument is a rare opportunity to experience nature while remaining relatively undisturbed on your adventure. With 14 trails scattered over 40 miles of land, there’s plenty to choose from for any hiking level. Note: There is a fee for entering the Colorado National Monument: $25 per vehicle, $20 per motorbike, or $15 when entering on foot or on bicycle.
Wine Tasting
With over 30 wineries to explore in Palisade, we hope you'll still find time to attend our nuptials! Make sure to check out our favorite: Restoration Vineyards! Palisade has had grapes growing in the area prior to the prohibition. The natural climate of the high desert valley was conducive to growing grapes. However, the first commercial grapes were planted in the early 1970s. Wineries became established in the 1980s, producing some of the first wines from Colorado. Palisade is also rich in pears, cherries, and peaches; you can find wines made of these delicious fruits as well!
Biking in Fruita
Fruita is considered one of the premier mountain biking destinations in the nation, with the perfect combinations of terrain to challenge riders of all skill levels and abilities. Take a leisurely ride on the BLM 18 Road Trails and just soak up the peaceful Colorado beauty. Or go for it all out—hit the Kokopelli trails, also managed by BLM, with steep climbs, hair-raising switchbacks, intense downhills, and technical challenges that test the best. There are so many choices, true believers will most likely want to experience all the trails, each for its own unique value.
Grand Mesa Scenic Byway
The Grand Mesa is the largest flat-top mountain in the world, bursting with over 300 lakes and encompasses more than 500 square miles. It stands 10,000 feet above sea level with lush aspen forests and groves of pine trees. Wildlife abounds on the Mesa including moose, deer, and elk. The Grand Mesa Scenic Byway is 63 miles through the national forest, providing beautiful vistas of the National Forest’s lakes, wildlife, and geological features.
Palisade Cycle & Shuttle
Palisade Cycle your one-stop shop for adventure in Palisade is open seven days a week for the summer season. The orchards and vineyards are leafing out on the Fruit and Wine Byway. We offer 7-speed cruisers or Electric cruiser bike rentals and maps for self-guided wine and fruit tours. Palisade Plunge Shuttles are opened for the lower plunge, book online or call with questions. If water is your thing we rent inflatable kayaks and paddleboards for the local lakes or if you have experience, float the Colorado River.
Fidel's Cocina & Bar
One of our faves! If you go early, you can probably walk in...but we recommend making a reservation just in case (you don't wanna miss this place)! From their website: The first thing you should know is that Fidel is our dog. And the second thing you should know is that he came with that name when we rescued him. We decided to keep it because, well, he is kind of a terror. So it fits. Now, onto the restaurant: We named the restaurant after Fidel the dog, because he's vibrant and playful. Much like the thoughtfully crafted dishes and drinks you'll find on our menu. From our tacos to our posole, everything at Fidel's is made from scratch with clean, sustainably sourced ingredients. Our handcrafted plates and cocktails mingle heritage ingredients with vibrant, eccentric flavors for an exciting and unabashed culinary experience.
Pêche. Restaurant
Reservations are essential (book at least 1-2 weeks in advance) because this place is phenomenal and everybody wants to get in! Click the link below to book. Review from Denver Post, which perfectly sums this place up: Chef Chasseur cooks out of an open kitchen off little Main Street, wowing a dining room full of locals and visitors at Pêche Restaurant (although the restaurant’s name, technically, is “Pêche. Restaurant,” it’s so good, I’ll forgive them for the unnecessary punctuation.) It’s not often that my head is turned by a restaurant. But at Pêche, it turned, swiveled and whirled, rotating into a hungry pirouette before abandoning my body for that plate of salty, crispy-skin chicken. It would be happy to remain in little Palisade forever, my head, lying on the plate, mouth gaping beside that chicken, tongue eagerly lapping up whatever onion-y juices it generously provided me. Or, to describe the restaurant without using decapitation, I fell in love with Pêche.