Gals' Getaway in Grand Junction, Colorado

Day One:

Morning

Rise and shine ladies! Kick off a glorious girls’ trip with some early morning nutrition from Dream Cafe, located on Main Street in Downtown Grand Junction. Celebrate getting together with mimosas or bloody marys and cheers to the fun day ahead. Fuel up with breakfast tacos, quiche, or go all in with biscuits and gravy. On the sweeter side, the banana bread French toast is a crowd favorite.

Photo: @ladytaskinen

After you finish breakfast, head next door and grab a coffee to go from Kiln Coffee Bar before meandering into many of Downtown Grand Junction’s boutique shops. In fact, you won't find a national retail or restaurant chain anywhere Downtown. As you wander from each shop, discover over 115 art sculptures and murals that frame the wide sidewalks on Main Street – making for perfect opportunities to pose with your besties!

Afternoon

Photo: @VisitGrandJunction

After a little retail therapy, pop into The Hog and The Hen Market & Deli for culinary delights that includes specialty sandwiches, hummus, cocktail mixes, high-quality pantry items and a liquor store. They also have a walk-up deli with unique sandwich offerings including the Fowl Play - turkey, brie, apple chips, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pickled red onion and cranberry aioli, all served on a thin ciabatta bun. Some of the local favorites include the Truffle Shuffle and the Tom. The front of this charming bodega is filled with candy from your childhood and specialty chocolates including truffles.

Photo: @thepalettegj

Now that you are properly nourished, it’s time to uncork your creative side. The Palette is also located Downtown so you don’t have to go far for your next activity. As Grand Junction’s premier sip’n paint studio, the Palette offers a variety of paintings for you and your gal pals to choose from. Check out their art calendar to get inspired. Let the brushes and the wine flow while you make plans for the evening ahead. If you are looking for more fun and creative activities, check out the Candle Kitchen and these other artsy DIY ideas.

Evening

Photo: @bistro.317

Finish off the day by dining at Bistro 317. This modern French-American restaurant includes an extensive wine and martini menu, so consider sitting in the back lounge area to relax with an appetizer before dinner. We highly recommend finishing off your meal with one of their famous macaroons.

Day Two:

Morning

Start day two by heading over to Copeka Coffee to get your caffeine fix for the day. Sip on their popular Liquid Gold Latte. We promise you will not be disappointed! This fun little coffee shop is retro chic and offers a variety of delicious breakfast options to choose from. The Lemon Berry Chia Parfait is highly recommended and the avocado toast is to die for. If you want to play a game, count how many giraffes are in the shop – it’s a lot!

Photo: @grandjunctionadventures

Put your balance and yoga skills to the test with one of Grand Junction Adventures' stand-up paddleboard (SUP) yoga classes. The class starts with land SUP instruction and paddling techniques before taking you out on the water to challenge your core muscles, balance and body awareness in a unique way. The floating aspect of the class releases stress while enhancing focus and motivation.

Afternoon

Photo: @edgewaterbrew

After you’ve become a stand-up paddleboard master, it’s time to refuel. Take the girls to nearby Edgewater Brewery and soak up some sunshine in their spacious outdoor seating area. Order the Edgewater Sampler to share among the group. Complete with cheese curds, pretzel bites, pickle spears, fried green beans, sweet potato fries and fresh veggies with assorted dipping sauces, so everyone can enjoy a savory starter before their entree. Socialize over a refreshing Strawberry Mule or one of Edgewater’s award-winning beers like the Standing Wave Pale Ale and the Lands End Amber.

Photo: Julia Saul, Camp Eddy

End the afternoon with a leisure walk along the Colorado Riverfront Trail, which is conveniently located behind Edgewater Brewery. If you’re looking for a relaxing experience along the trail, stop into the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens, which is just 0.2 miles west of Edgewater Brewery, and discover several specialty gardens like cactus and antique rose gardens. Be sure to also check out the butterfly house as it showcases tropical rainforest plants as well as koi fish and turtles.

Evening

Photo: @626onrood

To top off an exhilarating day two, take your gal pals to 626 on Rood - a restaurant with a cool vibe, polished setting, and exceptionally innovative cuisine. Try the Blue Cheese Garlic Escargot with a crispy baguette. This used to be a “secret menu” item that locals always requested, but now it’s officially on the menu! Treat yourself to the sake-poached Skuna Bay Salmon

Day Three:

Morning

Photo: @besweetbakeshop

After a night of savory food, your tastebuds will be begging for something sweet. Plus, you’ll need some extra energy for your final day in Grand Junction, so check out Be Sweet Cafe & Bakeshop. They pride themselves on using quality ingredients, like real butter and full-fat dairy products. You won’t find any preservatives or fake ingredients here! There are also delicious gluten-free and vegan options available. If you are a coffee connoisseur, you’re also in luck! They partner with a local roaster, Colorado Legacy Coffee Company. They specialize in hot air roasting, which results in smooth, low-acidic coffee.

Photo: @kate.outdoors

After you fill up on sweets and baked goods, hit the road for one of the most scenic drives in Colorado. The Grand Mesa Scenic Byway is a 2.5-hour drive and takes you to the top of the world’s largest flat-top mountain, the Grand Mesa. Standing tall at over 10,000 feet in elevation, the Grand Mesa is bursting with more than 300 alpine lakes, thick aspen and pine tree-filled forests and an abundance of scenic overlooks that make for the perfect backdrops. For a truly unique experience, visit Land’s End Observatory and overlook the entire Grand Junction area. We promise you will be greeted by some very cute creatures, but please remember not to feed them – no matter how tempting it can be!

Afternoon

Photo: @cafesolgj

After treating yourself over the past couple of days, we figured you might be craving some healthy greens. Cafe Sol offers fresh, wholesome food sourced locally, organic and made from high-quality ingredients. Don’t believe us? You can watch them make your food in their open-air kitchen. From fresh-tossed salads to hot off-the-grill paninis, you will leave refreshed and rejuvenated.

Photo: @VisitGrandJunction

Now that you have had a healthy lunch, head over to Two Rivers Winery & Chateau to experience wine tasting and sightseeing. The winery sits at the base of the Colorado National Monument, so the views are unmatched, and so is the wine. Try their award-winning Tulip Rosé and walk through the vineyard to see all the glorious fruit that the winemaker preens over.

Evening

Photo: @no_coast_sushi

If you’ve ever thought that Colorado and sushi don’t go together, No Coast Sushi is here to prove you wrong. No Coast is a hip spot that champions modern Japanese cuisine with quality ingredients. They purchase their fish from companies that care about sustainability and ocean health. They have gone to great lengths in crafting each ingredient to enhance the flavor, texture, visual and umami appeal of their dishes.

Photo: @highlandsdistillery

To polish off the night, head over to Highlands Distillery. Their beautiful outdoor setting and cool yert make for the perfect setting to get those last few laughs and memories in. Surrounded by dozens of beautiful red umbrellas above you, offering shade and swaying in the wind, sip on their Elevated Blueberry Lemonade and breathe in Grand Junction’s crisp mountain air.