Take a long weekend and make your way to Alamosa for a fun filled weekend that will be one for the books! 72 hours can go by fast, but Visit Alamosa wants you to make the most of your time here. With an easy to follow itinerary, your visit will be well spent jam packed with activities and adventures that the whole family will love! Grab your laptop and head over to Alamosa.org to find the itinerary planner to jump into mapping out 72 hours in Alamosa.
Day 1-Friday
First things first, you will need a place to stay! Alamosa is home to both traditional and unique lodging facilities! Whether you choose a traditional stay like The Dunes Inn Downtown, or glamping at The Rustic Rook, or you travel in a converted van or RV and select KOA, there is really accommodations for everyone! Visit our lodging page to view all of your options and find the perfect stay!
Once you have settled into your lodging facility, you are ready to begin your long weekend with a day in our Historic Downtown! Who doesn't love a local craft coffee house?! Alamosa has plenty of options for you to choose from and it is always nice to stroll downtown with your favorite beverage! We recommend grabbing a coffee from one of our delicious craft coffee houses includingMilagros,Roots by Blessed, orThe Roast Coffee and Libationsbefore you start your morning downtown! After you have gotten your drinks, begin the day by familiarizing yourself with the area. A great way to do this is by taking the Art Walk Tour through downtown. View one of a kind art pieces scattered around downtown Alamosa. History is the heart of Alamosa and the SLV Museum is here for all the curious history buffs! Stop in to learn all about Alamosa and view unique displays that you won't find anywhere else. Once you have completed your art tour and taken in all of the Alamosa history, you will probably be ready for lunch. With many local eatery options within walking distance of each other, the only problem you will have is picking where to go! Woodys Q Shack is known for its award winning BBQ. Dine indoors or opt to dine on their patio and take in the small town air! Not feeling BBQ? That's okay! If you are curious about green chili,try one of our many Mexican restaurants, like Emma's Authentic food of the South West. Mid day dessert cannot be missed, especially when Frosted Acres Rolled Ice Cream rolls out some of the best ice cream in town! This frosty delight is just a short drive out of downtown and is close enough for you to turn back around and do some shopping. Some of the most unique shops include Happy Mountain Antiques, White Shell Mountain, and Kreative Kraftworks! Hosting especially unique gifts, keepsakes, and generally quirky and eccentric items you don't see everyday, these are a few must shops in downtown! We all know a clothing fanatic, and downtown is host to some of the cutest boutiques around! Stop into Y&E Dress Code or Wild Boots to find apparel for both men and women. It will be hard to walk out of these locations without a few purchases! Once you are shopped out, it's time for dinner and some good beer. Make your way over to San Luis Valley Brewing Co. for a tasty dinner. Their menu hosts many local ingredients and ranges from wings to burgers to delectable pasta dishes. Did we mention that they are one of our local craft beer breweries? Pair your supper with one of their many delicious brews. They are so good, we know you will want some to take with you, and you are in luck because they sell it by the 6 pack! Grab yours from the cooler located in the restaurant so you can share it with friends when you return home. If you want more Alamosa before you head off to your hotel, swing into Spare Keg Brewerks just a few doors down from the brewery for a night cap! Another one of our renowned local craft breweries, Spare keg brews up some truly tasty beer. Buy it by the glass or grab a 6 pack to enjoy in the comfort of your room, there is truly a brew for all tastes, but you can't go wrong with any of their drinks. Be sure to rest up, because you have a full day of fun ahead of you!
Day 2-Saturday
Gear up and get ready for a Saturday well spent in our glorious town! You knew you were coming this way, so you booked your Rugged Air Tour well in advance and we know you are excited to grab a birds eye view of the Mystic San Luis Valley. Fly through the sky and enjoy some of the most breathtaking views! The company has different tour options ranging from 30 minutes to an hour. This option is a unique Alamosa find that you have to experience. When your airplane adventure has come to an end and you have been teased by some of the sites, its time to dive into a few of them. Pack your sand gear and head out to The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Be sure to do your research and bring all of the essentials for this stop. You can find a sand dunes itinerary and more information on what you may need here. Spend a few hours on North America's tallest dunes! Splash and cool off in the infamous Medano Creek or hike up the dunes to do some sand boarding and sand sledding. The park offers multiple hiking trails for all of the avid hikers. Be sure to check out our Hike Alamosa blog for more information. Did you bring a birder with you? The dunes are home to more than 200 species of birds and there will be no short in supply of spotting them. This adventure is also perfect to bring your furry friend on as the park is pet friendly! We know that this stop will use up a lot of your energy, so your next stop is all about R&R. Hop in your car and head on over to Sand Dunes Recreation to unwind from your long day of adventures. The facility offers a family friendly pool area as well as a 21+ only green house facility. Have dinner in the main pool area hosting a more traditional menu including burgers and chicken tenders or enjoy upscale dining in the Green House. If you just haven't had enough of Alamosa for the day, dry off and drive on out to the Colorado Farm Brewery for a farm to table experience like no other! Not to brag, but this is yet another one of Alamosa's local craft breweries. Enjoy fresh brews, oftentimes live music, games, and a wholesome experience that is not only great for adults, but children alike! Sit around the campfire and take in the surrounding farmland. You will be hard pressed to find another brewery of this kind! When the party's over, head back to your hotel to get some much needed rest before you take on day 3 of your Alamosa adventure.
Day 3-Sunday
Sunday fun day has arrived on your long weekend in Alamosa. Though we know you are sad that your stay is coming to an end, we still have a jam packed day of exploring for you to do! Take the morning and sleep in....but just a little because you won't want to miss out on having breakfast at one of our delicious restaurants! Whether you choose Campus Cafe, Ef's, Crazy Corner, or All Valley Cafe, there is bound to be a menu item that will steal your heart! Ranging from traditional, to traditional Mexican comfort dishes, to cinnamon rolls the size of your head....literally, there is sure to be something to suit even the pickiest of eaters. After your meal, this is the perfect time to relax a little and take in some fresh air before you hit the highway to find the coolest roadside attraction: Colorado Gators. This unique park is home to hundreds of rescue reptiles. With the opportunity to feed the turtles and gators, hold a baby gator, see a giant snapping turtle, and gaze upon rare albino alligators, and even fish, this attraction is enough to peak the whole family's curiosity! Once you have wandered the gator farm and picked up your photos in the gift shop, it's time to head back into town to paddle board at Blanca Vista Park. Paddle board rentals can be secured through the Colorado Welcome Center or Kristi Mountain Sports. This serene location will put your soul at ease. Gaze at the towering mountains while you paddle across the calm lake in the warm afternoon sun. There is no doubt that you are hungry after your busy day. Dine at a James Beard nominated Italian restaurant inside of a renovated church originally built in 1926. The Friar's Fork and Sanctuary is the perfect place for your last dinner in Alamosa. Offering top tier service, high end Italian food, and crafted cocktails that are out of this world, you will not be disappointed by this local dining establishment! Once you have dined to your heart's content, there should be plenty of time for you to catch a movie at the Ski Hi 6 Movie Theater. This is the perfect way to unwind from your busy day and prime you for a restful night before you head on home from beautiful Alamosa Colorado.
If you are looking for a more laid back adventure for your last day, you can rise and shine to still have a delicious breakfast and then take a short 30 minute drive over to Antonito to experience the Cumbres and Toltec Rail Road. The rail road company offers several train ride tour options that begin between 8:30 am and 10:00 am and returns between 4:15 pm and 6:15 pm. This scenic railroad ride is truly one of a kind in its views! You will travel 64 miles by rail between Chama New Mexico and Antonito Colorado. Do keep in mind that you will arrive back in Antonito via a bus ride that takes about an hour. You will have 4 ride accommodation options: Parlor Car (only for travelers 21+), Delux Car, Coach Car, or a Gondola Car. Tickets vary in price depending on your train car selection,passenger age, and route selected. Lunch is included for all passengers as part of your ticket as well. This ride will take up most of your day, but there will still be time to grab dinner at one of our local eateries and you might even have time to catch that movie!
All of us here at Visit Alamosa wish you well in planning your trip. As always, our team is just a quick call or email away if you happen to have any questions or need some more ideas to best enjoy your time in the Mystic San Luis Valley!
