Ten Towns Less Travelled: Part Nine - Grand Junction, Colorado

Grand Junction, Colorado is a sleepy suburb surrounded by soaring mountains near the stunning red-rock Colorado National Monument, four hours southwest of Denver. Quiet, serene, brimming with fantasies of the wild west at every turn. You'll half expect to see a shootout outside the local saloon or John Wayne jumping off his horse.

To get to Grand Junction, fly into the local airport ($300 from New York City or just $230 from LA) and drive a few miles into town. The drive itself is stunning, miles and miles of clear vistas interspersed with jagged buttes and squat, chunky trees. You might even see an eagle soaring above along the way.

Activities here include horseback riding, biking, visiting parks (such as Confluence Park in nearby Delta), mountain biking, and wine tasting. There are many wineries peppering the area including Two Rivers (also an inn), Desert Sun Vineyards, and Ptarmigan Vineyards/Stoney Mason.

I had the joy of watching my younger niece Kristen, now a college graduate, receive her high school diploma in Grand Junction eight years ago. It's always a thrill to see her and her sister, Kara, as evidenced by our big smiles at the airport.

PHOTOS:Top four photos by Laurie Wiegler; bottom two courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Images: 1) A winery in Grand Junction with Colorado National Monument in the background, by WineCountryInn at English Wikivoyage, Jan. 11, 2009.; and 2) Grand Junction, Colorado, by Milan Suvajac, Oct. 27, 2012.

Tomorrow: Part Ten - Montauk, New York

Contact me at www.muckrack.com/laurie-wiegler.com or lauriewiegler@gmail.com.