Day One:
Morning
Rise and shine ladies! Head on down to Dream Cafe, located on Grand Junction’s Main Street. This uniquely hip breakfast spot is aptly named because you will be dreaming of going back as soon as you take that last bite. After you finish breakfast, get a coffee to-go and meander through Downtown Grand Junction’s many boutique shops. In fact, you won't find a national retail or restaurant chain anywhere in downtown. You will also be surprised and delighted to see over 100 art sculptures framing the wide sidewalks - perfect opportunities to pose with your besties!
Afternoon
After retail therapy, pop into The Hog and The Hen Market & Deli for culinary delights that include specialty sandwiches, hummus, and a wide variety of quality pantry items. Try the Bone-Apple-T, which has turkey, brie spread, bone broth, dried apple, bacon-apple-fig jam, and spring mix all on a thin ciabatta bun. The local favorite is the Tom.
Now that you are properly nourished, it’s time to uncork your creative side. Also located Downtown is The Palette, Grand Junction’s premier sip’n paint studio. Let the brushes and the wine flow while you make plans for the evening ahead. If you are looking for even more fun and creative activities, check out the Candle Kitchen and these other artsy ideas.
Evening
To finish off the day, make plans to dine at Le Rouge. This modern French-American restaurant includes an extensive wine and martini bar, so consider sitting in the back lounge area to relax with an appetizer before dinner. We highly recommend the Beignets de Crabe, made with blackened crab, summer slaw, and comes with smoked jalapeno aioli that is the perfect complement to this unique dish.
Day Two:
Morning
To get day two started, head over to Copeka Coffee where you can get your caffeine fix. This fun little coffee shop is retro chic and offers a variety of delicious breakfast options to choose from. The lemon berry chia parfait will sustain you for the day’s adventures.
Adrenaline Driven Adventure Company’s guided OHV tours are the perfect adventure so that you can take in the views while your professional Polaris guide does all the navigating. Prefer a little OHV but want to hike too? Consider the Rattlesnake Arches trail, which is the second-most arches in the world, after Arches National Park in Moab, UT.
Afternoon
After that thrilling ride, head back Downtown to Ciara’s Cantina, where high design meets upscale street tacos elevated by their signature sauces.
Prefer the beer scene? Ramblebine Brewing Company has you covered. This brewery is fairly new, has an artsy open-air decor and an awesome patio if you didn’t get enough sunshine earlier. Their wide array of house brewed beers and sours are best enjoyed with friends.
Evening
To top off an exhilarating day two, take your gal pals to 626 on Rood - a restaurant with a cool vibe, polished setting, and cuisine that is exceptionally innovative. Try the Blue Cheese Garlic Escargot with crispy baguette. It used to be a “secret menu” item that locals always asked for, but now it’s on the menu!
Day Three:
Morning
After a night of savory food, your tastebuds will be begging for something sweet, and you’ll need some extra energy for your final day in Grand Junction. Be Sweet Cafe & Bakeshop prides itself in using quality ingredients, including real butter and full-fat dairy products. No preservatives or fake ingredients here! There are also delicious gluten free and vegan options. If you are a coffee connoisseur, don’t worry! They partner with local roaster, Colorado Legacy Coffee Company, who specialize in hot air roasting, which delivers a smooth, low acidic coffee.
Afternoon
After treating yourself the past couple of days, we figured you might be craving some healthy greens. Cafe Sol offers fresh, wholesome food that is sourced locally, is organic, and made from high quality ingredients. Don’t believe us? You can watch them make your food yourself in their open-air kitchen. From fresh-tossed salads to hot off the grill paninis, you will leave refreshed and rejuvenated.
Now that you have had a healthy lunch, head over to Two Rivers Winery & Chateau to experience wine tasting and sight seeing. The winery sits right below the Colorado National Monument so the views are unmatched and so is their wine. Try their award-winning Tulip Rose’ and walk through the vineyard to see all the glorious fruit that the winemaker preens over.
Evening
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 who care about sustainability and ocean healthy. They have gone to great lengths to craft each ingredient to enhance the flavor, texture, visual and umami appeal of their dishes.
For a night cap, head over to Highlands Distillery. They have a beautiful outdoor 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.
Before you head home the following morning, stop by Sweet Kiwi Bakery or Kiln Coffee Bar to rev yourself up for the drive or flight home.
For more itineraries and things to do in Grand Junction, check out pages 16-23 of the Official Grand Junction Visitor Guide.
