Mesa Verde Country® Press Room

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Contact:	Lynn Dyer Mesa Verde Country® 800-530-2998 lynnd@mesaverdecountry.com Gaylene Ore Ore Communications 970-887-2536 gaylene@orecommunications.com	IMAGES AVAILABLE www.mesaverdecountry.com

The Vacation Dilemma: What to Do, What to Do...
National Park & Monument Visits "Top 15 Things to Do" in Mesa Verde Country®

CORTEZ, CO So you're going to Colorado on vacation. Southwestern Colorado, to be exact. Ready to explore ancient archaeological sites, hike tall mountains, and experience the real west. But in an area roughly the size of Rhode Island that lays claim to two scenic byways, one national forest, one national park, two national monuments, one tribal park, and 800-year-old cliff dwellings, where to start? Mesa Verde Country® Visitor Information Bureau has compiled a list of the top 15 things to do in the area to help vacationers make the most of their time.

1. Mesa Verde National Park - Selected by National Geographic Traveler as one of "50 Places to Visit in a Lifetime," the park is one of America's greatest archaeological treasures. Be sure to include dinner at the Metate Room, one of Colorado's top 10 restaurants. 2. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument - In a region known for its archaeological wonders, the monument has more than 100 archaeological sites per square mile - and several are accessible for your exploration. 3. Anasazi Heritage Center - The center is the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument's visitor center, as well as a very special museum with archaeological exhibits, introductory videos, and hands-on activities. 4. Hovenweep National Monument - Protecting six prehistoric, Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi) villages spread over a 20-mile expanse of mesa tops and canyons along the Utah-Colorado border, the monument is noted for its solitude and undeveloped, natural character. 5. Ute Tribal Park - The Ute Mountain Utes, one of the seven original Ute bands that inhabited Colorado, operates the park as a primitive area to protect its cultural and environmental resources. Ute tour guides interpret Ute Indian history, pictographs, geological land formations, and Ancestral Pueblo petroglyphs, artifacts, and dwellings. 6. Cortez Cultural Center - A regional center for living culture, the center hosts performances by Native American dancers and musicians, and includes a museum of Anasazi and early pioneer history as well as the Hawkins Preserve, a local archaeological site dedicated to the preservation of native plant and animal life. 7. National Scenic Byways The famous San Juan Skyway drive winds through the historic towns of Telluride, Ouray, Silverton, and Durango, with access to some of the west's most famous attractions: Mesa Verde National Park, Ouray Hot Springs, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum, and four wilderness areas. The 114-mile Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway is an auto trail full of archaeology and culture in the heart of the Colorado Plateau high desert. Arid and mostly uninhabited, the terrain along the Trail encompasses an arid region that includes Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, the Anasazi Heritage Center, Ute Tribal Park, and the Four Corners Monument. 8. San Juan Mountains hiking - The San Juan National Forest, comprising nearly 2 million acres, covers an area from east to west of more than 120 miles and from north to south more than 60 miles. Hundreds of miles of trails take visitors by alpine lakes and meadows, canyons, waterfalls, cataracts, unusual geologic formations, and historic mines. Both the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail pass through the Forest. 9. Dolores River Canyon/McPhee Lake - The Dolores River, with Gold Medal fishing, rafting, and kayaking, runs through the town of Dolores. The Dolores River Canyon is a spectacular red rock area with many recreational options. McPhee Lake is Colorado's second largest body of water and features boating, water skiing, and fishing. 10. Best Motorcycle Rides in the Country - Winding roads and spectacular landscapes make Mesa Verde Country® a must for bikers. Special route maps are available for the best rides. 11. Stagecoach and trail rides - Experience the old west with a ride in an authentic stagecoach or a trail ride into the backcountry followed by a cowboy cookout. 12. Four Corners Monument - The monument is the only place in the United States where you can be in four different states at the same time. 13. Rio Grande Southern Railroad Museum - Honoring the area's rail history, the museum features an exact replica of Dolores' original train depot and the completely restored Galloping Goose #5 Railcar. The Goose carried mail, and nervous passengers, over narrow-gauge track through Southwest Colorado's San Juan Mountains until 1952. 14. Conquistador Golf Course - The championship 18-hole, Par 72 course features sand traps, water hazards, a driving range and putting green. From almost any spot on the course, golfers can view La Plata Peak, Mesa Verde National Park, and Sleeping Ute Mountain. 15. Wineries and microbreweries - Mesa Verde Country® is home to two wineries and three microbreweries. For those visiting in August, the Mesa Verde Country® Wine and Art Festival includes the acclaimed Winemakers' Dinner at the Metate Room, and the festival features Colorado wineries, music, food and art. For information on these and other family-friendly Mesa Verde Country® destinations and events, call 800-530-2998 or visit www.mesaverdecountry.com.

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