





| A Grand Canyon by Any Other Name |  | The Colorado National Monument, an unsung treasure in far western Colorado, typifies Colorado Plateau's distinct and dramatic mesa-and-canyon topography.... |
| | | | | A Hometown Homerun |  | Celebrating over 50 years of competitive collegiate baseball, the JUCO World Series is one of the country's longest running... |
| | Rocky Mountain Reds |  | Browse any list of awards that Colorado wineries have won for their products in recent years, and you'll find... |
| | |  | The Palisade Peach Festival and Colorado Mountain Winefest, held are two of the Grand Junction area's most distinctive events.... |
| | | | Harvest, Seasons and Blooms |  | Bushel baskets piled high with red-cheeked peaches, bins of Gala apples, boxes of Bartlett pears – I can't resist... |
| | Mountain Bike Heaven |  | Normally, my brother, Bill, is fairly civilized – a hard-working real estate broker who rarely lets his wild side... |
| | | | | Take a Hike! |  | "Take a hike," isn't a blow-off in Grand Junction, but sage advice for a healthy, pleasurable activity. From high... |
| | Jolly Grand Junction |  | Each holiday season, the store sells helpings of its signature "Polar Express Hot Chocolate," which shop owner Mark Smith... |
| | Rock and a Hard Place |  | In Grand Junction, the arid desert landscape is the ideal environment for outdoor adventure, and its towering red rocks,... |
| | Summer Sizzles with Sound |  | My idea of heaven? Spread out a blanket under the stars, put a glass of chilled, well, anything in... |
| | | Into the Drink |  | Cool off this summer with adventures of the liquid kind, from tubing and canoeing to whitewater rafting. ... |
| | | | | | Crag Crest Trail |  | The spectacular Crag Crest Trail is literally atop the spine of Colorado's Grand Mesa. The Mesa, as locals call... |
| | | Downtown Grand Junction |  | Downtown Grand Junction offers a variety of options for filling your hungry belly at dinnertime and then making an... |
| | The '-Ings' Have It |  | Spring in Grand Junction means time for hiking, biking, floating and dining downtown. ... |
| | A Day at the Monument |  | In a region known for vast, spectacular national parks, such as Arches and Canyonlands, Colorado National Monument near Grand... |
| | | Culinary and Wine |  | When evening plans in Grand Junction call for savory cuisine, a bottle of Grand Valley wine and attentive service,... |
| | | | Three Quick Getaways |  | With a cluster of top-notch wineries, a vibrant downtown and stunning natural wonders, including the Grand Mesa, Colorado River... |
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By Amiee White Beazley
 | Fun for your little ones
| If you have a family of early birds and night owls, their habits will be satisfied in Grand Junction, where there's always something fun and safe to do day or night. Check out the following locations anytime:
Go Bananas!
Bananas Fun Park has everything a kid would want to get them dizzy with excitement – mini golf, batting cages, go-karts, bumper boats, lazer tag, an arcade and the always wild Congo Café. It's a perfect location for kids' birthday parties or group events. The best part is Bananas Fun Park is open all year round, so no one is ever left out of the fun. Be sure to check out Bananas' newest special on their website, www.bananasfunpark.com
Pool Party
In the heat of summer, there is no better place to cool off than outdoors at the Lincoln Park-Moyer Swimming Pool and Waterslide. From Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend make a  | Go Bananas, Go-karts
| splash at this cool complex's 50-meter outdoor pool, waterslide, diving boards, splash pad water playground, or the shallow-water instructional tank. Don't care to swim? The pool has an extensive grass area, concessions, shade shelters and enough pool deck furniture to keep your entire family loungin' happily.
Climbing the Walls?
Kids love to climb. So why not hook them up with an instructor at Core Elements and set them free on any one of the climbing walls. Meanwhile, parents can indulge in the abundant wellness and personal training activities.
Score Big
You must explore GJ Scores' 48,000-square-foot bowling-based entertainment center this summer. Why? Thirty-six bowling lanes, six big-screen TVs, 10 full-size, tournament-grade billiard tables, 30-plus arcade games and the one and only GJ Scores Restaurant – a great spot for pizza and burgers. Why would you ever need to leave?
If You Go:
Bananas Fun Park: 970-243-0070, www.bananasfunpark.com
Lincoln Park-Moyer Swimming Pool: 970-254-FUNN, www.gjcity.org
Core Elements: 970-241-7622
GJ Scores Entertainment Center: 970-245-1115 (Center), 970-248-0777, www.gjscores.com
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