Colorado National Monument

Colorado National Monument is celebrating it's 100th year as a National Park. The 32-square miles contain breath-taking views of colorful deep canyons, towering cliffs and balanced rocks. Enjoy ranger-led programs, hiking, sightseeing and biking through this gorgeous land of plateaus and canyons. Be sure to climb to the 450-foot top of Independence Monument for a magnificent bird's-eye view.

The park's main attraction, Monument Canyon encompasses 20,500 acres and includes unique rock formations such as the Kissing Couple and Coke Ovens. While visiting Colorado National Monument, consider lodging with Best Western hotels in nearby Clifton and Grand Junction. Make the most of your time in northern Colorado.

CPRA Finals

Rodeo fans get their fill of rodeo fun in September. Fans flock to the Mesa County Fairgrounds, on the south side of Grand Junction, for the annual Colorado Professional Rodeo Association Finals. Get ready for three jam-packed days of rodeo excitement. Rodeo events include tie-down roping, mixed-team roping, breakaway roping, open-team roping, ladies barrel racing, bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling and saddle bronc riding.

Enjoy autumn in its finest in Northern Colorado at the Fairgrounds. Not only is it fun to watch, the proceeds from the rodeo benefit the volunteer based Mesa County Sheriff's Posse, a search and rescue group. While in town for the rodeo, check into the Best Western hotel for comfortable accommodations and excellent guest services.

Dinosaur National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument is comprised of 210,000 acres of proposed Colorado wilderness, unique rock formations and dinosaur bones. A team of paleontologists recently discovered the only complete sauropod skull in the Western Hemisphere in the park's 105-million-year-old Cedar Mountain Formation.

Whether you enjoy a float trip down the Green River or Yampa River, go on an afternoon hike or go on a ranger-led hike to view dinosaur bones, there's plenty to do. Take a drive through beautiful northern Colorado to Grand Junction, southeast of the monument, where you'll find exceptional guest amenities and service with Best Western hotels.

Grand Junction Regional Airport

Grand Junction Regional Airport began providing air travel services in 1930, as the Grand Junction Municipal Airport. From 1942 until 2007, it was named Walker Field, after local resident Walter Walker helped gather funding and business support for the airport. The airport encompasses 2,357 acres of land, north of Grand Junction, in Northern Colorado. The majority of the time, the two paved runways are used for general aviation services. The on-site Colorado Flight Center provides charted flights, flight training and an aircraft rental facility.

The airport's fixed base operator provides aircraft sales, aircraft maintenance, avionics, fuel service and aircraft engineering. Travelers in need of a commercial flight can choose one of the five commercial airlines to fly to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth, Salt Lake City, Houston, Denver and Phoenix. While waiting for a flight, enjoy a snack or meal at the Subway Cafe inside the terminal. The convenient parking and rental car agencies are additional conveniences provided by the airport. Stay close to the airport, as a guest of Best Western hotels and enjoy your Northern Colorado visit.

Museum of Western Colorado

Experience a thousand years of Colorado history at the Museum of Western in Grand Junction. The museum features hands-on exhibits allowing visitors to step into history. Try "flying" a 1958 Cessna from Walker Field or "riding" in a stagecoach. Check out one of America's finest Southwest Pottery collections in the adobe dwelling. Climb up the Sterling T. Smith Education Tower to look at the working weather station and to admire the beautiful views.

A wealth of genealogy research is also available at the Loyd Files Research Library. After a day of learning about the real "Wild West", check into the local Best Western hotel, offering wonderful guest amenities and comfortable accommodations. Enjoy your time exploring northern Colorado.

Museum of Western Colorado: Dinosaur Journey

A the Museum of Western Colorado: Dinosaur Journey - a cultural center in Fruita - visitors can dig for dinosaur bones and learn about these extinct creatures that roamed the earth during the Jurassic period, 145 million years ago. The educational interactive exhibits offer a wealth of information. Kids love the 12 animated, full-size dinosaur replicas, the paleontology lab, and variety of hands-on activities.

Whether you join in one of the professionally conducted dinosaur excavations or hike along Dinosaur Hill, you'll enjoy your time in this paleontological center of northern Colorado. For convenient lodging near the center, consider staying with Best Western hotels in Grand Junction, during your Colorado journey.

Plateau Valley Heritage Day