8 Minute Read
Love is always in the air in Grand Junction! Breathtaking views, elegant restaurants and an abundance of romantic activities set the stage for a magical Valentine’s Day weekend. Ride in a horse-drawn carriage, enjoy enchanting dinner dates and take a snow-free hike that hints of spring on the horizon. The temperate climate makes outdoor adventures available year-round, so you can explore Nature’s greatest accomplishments. It’s time to indulge and spoil your loved one with a unique and romantic escape and we’ve made it easy for you with a plethora of ideas from mild to wild excursions.
Romantic Dinner and Drinks
This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday, which is convenient if you’re traveling at the end of the work week, so you can plan for your arrival night and enjoy Grand Junction’s most trendy eateries. A father and son duo, of French descent, operates Bistro 317. Authentic French fare, elaborate cocktails and a wine list that is très chic create the perfect setting for an indulgent dining experience. Bistro’s Valentine’s Special Menu is only $80 per person and includes choices like fondue, beef bourguignon, sparkling wine and many more savory options. Save room for their homemade cheesecake and macaroons – they are heavenly!
Grand Junction’s most awarded chef is Josh Niernberg, owner of Bin 707’s incredible farm-to-table creations and craft cocktails. Chef Niernberg has been recognized for numerous nominations, since 2020, for the prestigious James Beard Awards. Most recently, Chef Niernberg has been named as a James Beard semifinalist for outstanding chef. The entire community is cheering him on! Josh continues to push culinary expectations while executing a unique, thoughtful, and approachable experience that allows everyone to feel special and welcome. Start with the prosciutto pizza made in the woodfired pizza, creating a cloud-like crust that is light and the perfect appetizer. The Lamb Tenderloin is perfectly executed and is served with a cranberry bordelaise, cherry tom, root veg puree, chips and horseradish.
Looking for a room with a view? Enhance your romantic experience while watching the sunset at Devil’s Kitchen. The fourth floor of Hotel Maverick offers breathtaking views of the Book Cliffs, Grand Mesa and Colorado National Monument. When golden hour hits, it’s one of the most scenic restaurants in Grand Junction. Despite the winter season, you can still enjoy the rooftop thanks to the private heated snow globes and gondolas. Devil’s Kitchen offers a Valentine’s Day Four-course Dinner for Two on February 14-16, which includes a four-course dinner. For $160, you can enjoy a French Kiss Oyster Shooter, Lobster Bisque, Chateaubriand Oscar and Bananas Foster.
Looking for a nightcap as a finale to your romantic evening? Tip your glass to these popular spots:
-
Gemini Beer Company is just a five minute walk from an assortment of restaurants on Main Street, offering a diverse and changing beer selection as well as occasional live music. They are located in a refurbished school building, which adds to the character of Gemini.
-
Trail Life Brewing, located Downtown on Main Street, has a selection of their own brews along with guest taps and a fun cocktail list, including “Sloshies,” frozen drinks that you can take to-go.
-
SoCo Social House, located Downtown, is housed in the brick walls of a 1906 Coors warehouse, offering a rustic yet sophisticated ambiance that is perfect for a night out. Enjoy creative cocktails, locally sourced beer and wine, or a specialty mocktail with seasonal flavors. The Abuelita’s Spiked Hot Chocolate is the perfect liquid dessert and can be made as a mocktail. The recipe includes Banhez Mezcal, Centenario Anejo, Abuelita Chocolate, Licor 43 Horchata and Mountain Goat Mole Coloradito Bitters topped with whipped cream and espresso chili powder.
Lodging
Finding an affordable room has never been so easy. Grand Junction offers the most affordable lodging in Colorado with over 250 vacation rooms and 32 hotels to choose from. Check out Hotel Melrose in Downtown Grand Junction for an aesthetic that is both meticulous and functional. The historic hotel has its own swanky cocktail bar with artful drinks, like The Stallion, a spin on the French 75.
Brunch and More
Plan to sleep in and relax on Saturday morning, there’s no reason to start the day early. Many restaurants serve breakfast late into the day. Dream Café serves breakfast through 2:00 p.m. along with other lunch fare. Their cinnamon rolls are a local favorite and are larger than the size of your head, so sharing is a necessity. First Watch is open until 2:30 p.m. and also serves breakfast all day. Try their “million-dollar bacon” baked with brown sugar, black pepper, cayenne and a maple syrup drizzle. For your sweet tooth, indulge in the Raspberry Ricotta French Toast, made with thick-cut custard-dipped challah bread, fresh raspberries, whipped lemon ricotta cream, raspberry purée and spiced gingerbread cookie crumbles, lightly dusted with powdered cinnamon sugar and garnished with mint. Main Street Bagels, in Downtown Grand Junction, is your other late morning dining option, open until 2:30 p.m. Breakfast, pastries, sandwiches, granola and so much more provide you from scratch options complemented by nationally acclaimed Klatch Coffee.
Prefer to stay under the covers and enjoy a Netflix romance breakfast while sipping a quality brew (we know hotel coffee is nothing to rave about). Roastiva and Great Harvest Bread Company to the rescue! Great Harvest offers a breakfast menu all day (via Uber Eats or Door Dash) with either brewed coffee or order a bag of 8 oz. Roastiva grounds to take home for a taste of Grand Junction.
Nature and Culture Dates in Grand Junction
Maximize your romantic getaway with an adrenaline-filled outdoor activity, a relaxing hike or a dip into the local culture and experience the “love-ly” Downtown.
Nature Adventures
Grand Junction has a remarkable natural landscape and offers a variety of outdoor activities no matter the weather. From slopes to dry trails, there is an amazing adventure spreading across Nature’s Trifecta that makes any date spectacular.
For snowy activities, head to the Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-top mountain, only a 45-minute drive away for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or an afternoon of snowmobiling if you’re seeking speed. Need to rent equipment? Check out Adrenaline Driven Adventures for snowmobile rentals! The Board & Buckle and Colorado Mesa University’s Outdoor Program rent snowshoes and other ski equipment, so there is no need to travel with all of your equipment.
If you’re itching for a spring-like date, hiking in Colorado National Monument is an unforgettable experience that is only a 10-minute drive from Downtown. Thanks to the high desert climate, trails stay mostly dry year-round, so you can lace up your sneakers and hike through what is known as the “mini-Grand Canyon” without the crowds. Serpents Trail, 3.5 miles roundtrip, is a great option for you and your partner to walk side by side while still seeing the stunning views of the red rock canyons and even snapping some photos with Colorado National Monument in the background.
Lastly, Rattlesnake Arches is the second largest concentration of natural arches in the world, making it a perfect spot for those insta-worthy pics! Bonus: winter is the best time to hike Rattlesnake Arches because of the temperate weather. This hike is 15.5 miles long, so pack plenty of water, snacks, bandaids, and layers of clothing. Be prepared for this extra-long hike and be mindful of Leave No Trace Principles.
Cultural Exploration
Downtown Grand Junction is an experience in and of itself. Experience over 115 sculptures and murals, local lore, DIY activities, bookstores, wine tasting and filled to the brim with cool cafes. Experience the region’s local history and hop aboard a stagecoach, explore the “local saloon,” and step back in time together at the Museum of the West.
Shop independent stores like Sunflower & Rose Vintage and Out West Books. You can even stop into a coffee shop like Kiln Coffee Bar and order a warm drink to accompany you on the rest of your stroll or stop in and have a relaxing coffee date. Looking for a good read while you take a break and sip on your java? Out West Books and Grand Valley Books are cozy bookstores on Main Street filled with the most popular reads and Western history.
Art on the Corner is an award-winning outdoor art collection featuring over 115 stunning sculptures and murals, allowing you to enjoy art without ever having to step inside. If you and your partner want to create your own art, check out Candle Kitchen to create your own custom-scented candle together, or plan a date night at The Palette and paint a couples’ canvas while sipping on your favorite beverage – including wine and beer!
Tea lovers can pop into Willow Creek Herbs & Teas to make their own custom blend and peruse local art for souvenir shopping. The Zesty Moose & Shiras Winery offers all sorts of goodies to take home and make a romantic dinner from their custom olive oils, pastas and seasonings to bring a pop of flavor to every meal. They offer wine tasting as well.
For a movie-like romantic experience, ride in a horse-drawn carriage from JR’s Carriage Service. They also offer horseback rides in the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area. This 36,000-acre preserve is one of only three wild horse sanctuaries in the entire country that is designated to protect wild horses.
Grand Junction’s theaters and cinemas offer engaging and lively entertainment. The BANFF Mountain Film Festival is in town at the historic Avalon Theater, located Downtown, on February 13 and 14. Award-winning films will be shown. If you are seeking an existentialist drama brought to life on stage, rich with emotion, theater students at Colorado Mesa University are performing Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit on February 14 and 15 at the Moss Performing Arts Center. The play is a depiction of the afterlife in which two women and one man are locked up together for eternity.
Start planning your Valentine’s weekend now, and let Grand Junction’s natural beauty and romantic atmosphere sweep you off your feet! To discover even more things to do in Grand Junction, take a look at the Official Grand Junction Visitor Guide. You will appreciate that this helpful guide has no ads!