GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO: A DOWNTOWN THAT'S UPTOWN
Downtown is anchored on one end by Two Rivers Convention Center, the city's main venue for conventions and special events. High-quality hotels are located next door to the convention center, and a variety of restaurants, boutiques, and a supermarket are within easy walking distance. In the early 1960s, Grand Junction's visionary leaders turned the Main Street commercial district into a tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly shopping park. The design earned Grand Junction, Colorado, recognition as an All-American City in 1962, and the downtown area has served as a magnet for community events ever since. In recent years, the appealing design has been extended from Main Street to Seventh Street and neighboring Colorado Avenue,
Other downtown anchors include the Avalon Theatre and the Museum of the West. The Avalon, a performing arts center that opened in 1923, offers a variety of movies, musical performances and other attractions on its stage. The Museum of the West is home to a wide range of historical displays, including Anasazi artifacts and one of the best collections of historical firearms in Colorado and the western United States. Art on the Corner, a free outdoor sculpture display along downtown sidewalks, turns a leisurely stroll into an art-viewing experience. The program, started in 1984, includes more than 100 works. Some of the sculptures are permanent members of the collection, and others are rotated each year. Joining the Art on the Corner sculptures in recent years are bronze likenesses of prominent people in Grand Junction and Colorado history, such as town
Downtown Grand Junction offers a variety of restaurants serving unique and local fare. Diners will discover everything from Italian and Japanese to Nepalese fare. A pizza parlor, a brewpub and other restaurant choices are also available. Many restaurants offer al fresco dining. Shoppers will find clothing stores, jewelry stores, at least one art gallery, a toy store, and bicycle specialty shops that serve the area's booming mountain-biking community. And downtown is home to several banks with access to 24-hour ATMs. Motorcoach parking is available and easily accessible in the downtown Grand Junction area. It is common, especially during the summer months and the holiday season, to find musical entertainment in the downtown area. Bands perform during downtown festivals such as the weekly Farmers' Market, which attracts thousands of people to Main Street on summer evenings, and solo musicians often perform at random locations to the delight of shoppers and diners. Grand Junction, Colorado's beautiful downtown area imparts a charm that is not soon forgotten by those who experience it.
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