Photo by Allen Ivy
San Luis Lakes
San Luis Lakes is the most popular place for water sports in the San Luis Valley. Water sport activities such as water-skiing, motor boating, sailing, and windsurfing are widely enjoyed. Catch the breeze and glide through deep blue waters against the backdrop of the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The lake shoreline is accessible to many watercraft because of the shallow center and gradual sloping sides. A wide ramp and calm water also make it easy for visitors to load and unload their boats. All Colorado boating statutes and regulations are enforced by the park rangers. Consult San Luis Lakes State Park for more information: 719.738.2376
Sandhill Cranes
In the spring, sandhill cranes, waterfowl, and other migrating birds stop at Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge to refuel on their journey to northern breeding grounds. The Valley celebrates with an annual Sandhill Crane Festival. As they migrate to southern wintering grounds in the fall, the cranes also make a stop at the Refuge. The best birding opportunities are from March-May in the spring, and from September-November in the fall. Find out more about cranes from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: 1.800.344.9453
Penitente Canyon
Penitente Canyon
Penitente Canyon is an excellent climbing area, known for incredible routes, easy access, and great camping. The canyon once served as a place of worship for Los Hermanos Penitente – a small but robust sect of the Catholic Church. Today Penitente Canyon, along with surrounding Rock Garden, Sidewinder, and Witches Canyons, serves as a recreation mecca for climbing sports. A campground is also available just south of the canyon for those who want to stay and soak up the experience a little longer.
n Colorado Gator Farm – The Colorado Gator Farm is home to more than 400 alligators. But that’s not all. They also house a variety of live turtles, tortoises, snakes, and lizards. Educational programs are offered for school children, and daring adults can sign up for alligator wrestling classes. It’s a short 17-mile drive north of Alamosa on highway 17.
Call 719.378.2612 for more information.
Crestfest
Crestfest is designed to be a small to medium size festival with over-the-top quality at under-the-table prices. We try to foster loyalty with a super cool festival in a pristine location with groovy folks! The 14th Crestone Music Festival will take place August 3-5, 2012. CrestFest is a three-day, two-stage, multi-genre, multi-cultural event featuring international, national, regional and local performers as well as global cuisine, wine, micro-brews and mojitos. There are arts, crafts and activities for children and adults. Activities include men’s and women’s wood chopping contests, limbo and pie-eating contests, drumming workshops for all ages and even a chicken clucking contest! For kids we have the Salida Circus, Singing Circles, frisbee dog demonstrations, puppet making, hula-hoops and beach balls. The Colorado Gators visit each year with their very cool pets. We have a climbing wall, EuroBungy jump machine as well as a bouncy house. There are many things that go on each year such as a fabulous raffle, free door prizes, live band art and surprise auctions. We have great on-site camping, delicious food and libations and generally speaking, a good ‘ole time is had by all!
Click here for more information about Crestfest.
