Conveniently located within easy driving distance from both Salt Lake City and Denver, Grand Junction offers some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the Rocky Mountains. Whether you are aiming for a small get-together with siblings or throwing a large celebration with every extended member of your clan, Grand Junction is an accessible and affordable destination with fun activities the whole gang will enjoy.
For the nature lovers in your family, Grand Junction offers an unprecedented amount of outdoor adventures. Hiking enthusiasts can enjoy the breathtaking views at Colorado National Monument, a vast and spectacular national park boasting deep canyons and red rock expanses but with fewer crowds than nearby Arches and Canyonlands. Grand Junction also features hundreds of miles of world-class mountain biking trails, whitewater rafting on the Colorado River, thousands of rock formations for climbing and some of Colorado’s finest cross-country and downhill skiing. For the golf aficionados in your family, there is a wide array of golf courses—from challenging 18-hole championship courses to casual 9-hole courses. Putting on these manicured greens, situated against Grand Junction’s towering red rock cliffs, is an experience of a lifetime.
Known as Colorado’s Wine Country, this region is also home to more than 20 wineries and vineyards. Enjoy a summer afternoon rekindling family relationships while touring and tasting some of the best wineries and wine Colorado has to offer. If your family affair takes place in September, plan it during the ever-popular Colorado Mountain Winefest at Riverbend Park in Palisade. Grand Junction also features a wealth of art exhibits, live music, dozens of art galleries, the Western Colorado Center for the Arts, and a year-round outdoor sculpture exhibit known as Art on the Corner. After a morning of culture, enjoy shopping in the charming downtown area along Main Street, home to more than 100 independent businesses offering clothing, jewelry, books, gifts and more.
Children will love Grand Junction, too. Situated in the heart of the “Dinosaur Diamond,” this area is rich with exquisite fossils. Spend a day on an archeological dig for dinosaur bones at an authentic paleontology site, enjoy learning ancient history at the Dinosaur Journey Museum, or take hikes on the Dinosaur Hill Interpretive Trail and the Trail Through Time to see dinosaur fossils that remain in their natural setting.
Whether your family books the whole group at a hotel, decides to camp (in tents or RVs) or stays at a charming local B&Bs, they can come together at the Two Rivers Convention Center. This premier meeting facility provides indoor and outdoor spaces for small and large parties and offers a great food service program—from elegant five-course meals to down-home Western barbecue—all at a reasonable rate. Custom menus can be arranged and banquets and events of varying sizes can be accommodated — whether you host an event onsite or want to enjoy a catered meal elsewhere in the area. For more information about bookings and their services, visit tworiversconvention.com.