This was our very first trip to a National Park in the U.S. together, and it definitely will not be our last. The drive from Palisade took just under two hours and the scenery of the mountains made the trip go quickly. I had done a lot less research on this trip than I usually do because I knew our friends would be great tour guides, so I really didn’t realize how amazing this stop would be! If you just have a day here, below, you’ll find the best spots to get pictures, hike and take in the beauty!

Arches Stop 1

We first went to the Windows section to see:

• Double Arch

• Turret Arch

• North/South Windows

We were amazed by the size of these and they were a great introduction to what was to come. This was a great place to get pictures and was an easy walk from our parking spot.

Arches Stop 2

Our next stop was Delicate Arch. The hike is worth it. It takes about two hours round trip and is a moderate-level hike (Our friends carried their three-year-old in a pack the whole time and I was very impressed-luckily she had snacks and is a trooper at hikes.) I had seen pictures of Delicate Arch, but let me just say pictures do not do it justice. It is massive. I love the perspective that this one place gives. We look like little ants compared to the arch in the photos and felt that small too. Nature is so great.

Lunch Break

After our hike, we were hungry so decided to make our way to Moab Brewery. We had burgers, sandwiches and fries that were all good after a long hike!

Dead Horse State Park

Our last stop before making our way back to Palisade was Deadhorse Point State Park. We were pretty tired at this point, but this stop was totally worth it. Most of the car (sorry, Zach) took a little snooze on the 45-minute drive there and when we arrived, we had enough energy to finish our exploring for the day. It was just about golden hour so we strolled around taking some pictures, stopping at the visitor’s center and then heading to the main lookout. There were two ways to get there, and since it was the end of our day, we opted for the short walk which took us only 10 minutes from the parking lot. This ended up being one of the highlights of our trip and we got some great pictures looking over towards Canyonlands— yet another place to add to our list! There was also a wedding going on right at the edge. What a cool place to say your vows!

Our second full day was one of my favorite days of traveling ever. We woke up, had a cup of coffee and headed over to the Farmer’s Market to pick up the World-Famous Palisade Peach to enjoy with our breakfast. Then, we were ready for our epic day.

Nate and I needed to rent bikes so we headed to Rapid Creek Cycles | Wine Tours & Bike Rental Grand Junction. They were helpful in finding the perfect bikes for our trek to a lot of wineries.

On our Self-Guided Tour, we hit the following spots:

• Talon Winery - Right on the outskirts of Downtown Palisade, this was our first stop. Each winery offers its own special tasting deal and we tasted some great wines and also a cider. This winery had a great gift shop and we bought the cider spices to use at home with any bottle of red!

• Meadery of the Rockies - This was one of our favorite spots. Mead is such a unique tasting experience.

• Red Fox Cellars - We particularly enjoyed the fun wine-based cocktails here. They had a great outdoor patio so we sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful October day.

• Palisade Brewing Company - For our last stop we headed back towards town and got a great beer and wonderful hearty sandwiches at the brewery. It was a great spot to end our tour.

On our last day, we flew out of Grand Junction later in the afternoon, so after checking out of our hotel, we headed into town and explored a few last spots before our flight.

Grand Junction Highlights

Main Street Bagels - A great spot for breakfast or lunch. Their sandwiches and coffee were amazing!

Kennah Creek Brewing - Breweries are always something we love to try on our travels and we loved the outdoor patio with views of the Colorado National Monument. On our next trip, we will definitely spend some time there!

Strolling along the Main Street Shops-we try to get a sticker at every destination, so we made sure to find one in Grand Junction!

The wine, the weather, and the outdoor adventures with our friends turned out to be one of the most incredible three-day weekends we’ve ever had. This trip would be perfect for a honeymoon, couples getaway, girls’ trip or to spend more time with your family! October was the perfect month and it was a trip we'll never forget!