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Mesa Verde: Sights and Places of Interest |
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Leah
has put together some suggested itineraries for you. |
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1st Day
Tour |
Mesa
Verde Tour: At 9am leave for
Mesa
Verde. It's a 45 minute drive from Durango. Should
take 5-6 hours to tour ruins, museum and the scenic drive around the
Mesa Verde loop. It gets mighty hot in the summer afternoons so be there
bright and early in the morning when the park opens. Check this site
www.mesa.verde.national-park.com
for time, directions and other information. Bring your own lunch (food
there is cafeteria food and expensive) and a good supply of water. Wear
a hat and good walking shoes and don't forget your camera. Don't forget
to check out our
Cortez
Coupons for savings on hotels, restaurants, etc.
See the information on Mesa Verde below for detailed information on
Tours. In the early evening take a stage coach dinner ride with
Mancos Valley Stage Line - it's a once in a lifetime experience. The
dinner ride is 3.5 hours long from 4pm to 7:30pm. For more information and
reservations, visit their website at
http://www.thestagecoach.com/ |
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2nd Day
Tour |
Ute
Mountain Tribal Park: The Ute Tribal Park offers an opportunity to
view sites in a more remote setting than Mesa Verde National Park. Tours
of both parks provide an excellent contrast for visitors.
Tribal Park tours are led by Ute Indian guides who interpret the
archaeology of the park and the history of the Ute people. Reservations
are necessary for these tours. Both half and full day tours are offered,
but the full day tour is the only way to visit the cliff dwellings. Tours
cost $20 Half Day, $40 Full Day, $60 Full Day Remote Location, and $100
Private Tour. Tours operate year-round. Reservations for these tours may
be made by calling 1 800 847 5485. |
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3rd Day
Tour |
Anasazi Heritage Center:
This day's odyssey begins with the
Anasazi Heritage Center, the southwest's state-of-the-art
museum. It is a large research and artifact storage facility for the study
and interpretation of the Ancestral Puebloan culture, making it a "must see" for Mesa
Verde Country visitors. After a half day at the center you can take a
drive to the
Four Corners Monument. On your way back, stop at the Ute
Mountain Casino to test your luck at Blackjack or the Slots. You can
dine at the casino. |
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4th
Day Tour
Click Here
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San
Juan Skyway - Million
Dollar Highway Tour. If
You Have 3 Days, spend the first 2 days as
outlined above.
On the third day, drive the San Juan Skyway, a 235 mile loop drive through the dramatic mountains
and forests of the San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forests. Arguably
'the' great drive in Colorado, the San Juan Skyway is a drive to the top
of the world. The best time to do the loop
is in the fall, between
September 15 to October 15, when you will be able to see Aspens changing to
brilliant yellows and florescent oranges. Begin your drive at 9am in Cortez and take 550 North to Durango (allow 45 min). Stop for breakfast at Christina's in Durango. Then continue on 550N to Silverton (allow 1.5 hour). Stop at the lookout at Molas Pass for a Kodak moment. In Silverton you can walk around notorious Blair Street and Green Street and visit the many unique shops that offer everything from minerals to hummingbird feed. A visit to the cemetery on the north side of town is a window to the hardships of mining life and should not be missed if you have the time. From Silverton to Ouray (allow 1 hour) you will have a few miles of very challenging driving - but you will be on the inside edge of the road, so relax and enjoy the most beautiful part of the drive. Drive toward Ouray and take the turn off on the left to Box Canyon Falls (allow 1 hour). Onto Ouray a very pretty small town built in a box canyon. In town, go to the Ouray Museum (allow 30 min). If you have time, stop at the Ouray Hot Springs (allow 2 hours) for a soak, or you can shop in the small shops in town. From Ouray to Telluride (allow 1.5 hour), as you drive through to Ridgeway, pay attention to the wooden fence on your left side that surrounds one of the most beautiful views in the world - this is Ralph Lauren's ranch - it's huge! What did he pay for that fence?! There is a lookout there on the right where you can stop to take photos. Drive straight through to Telluride. Walk around Telluride, take the free gondola to the mountain village. At the very top you can rest and enjoy the view at the top of the world! This last leg of the trip, from Telluride to Cortez (allow 1.5 hour) offers some beautiful views, but not much else. Stop at Trout Lake right after Telluride for a beautiful view. You will drive through Rico, Dolores to end up back in Cortez. It is a straight drive with no stops but go slowly through Rico as in the fall this one of the most beautiful parts of the trip. |
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Mesa
Verde |
Mesa Verde National Park has the finest examples of Ancestral Puebloan
structures and cliff dwellings in the world, dating from about 550AD to
about 1300AD. Mesa Verde has been designated a World Cultural Heritage
Site by the United Nations. It was also rated the #1 “Historical Hot
Spot” by Historic Traveler magazine. Hours: Open daily, year-round. Chapin Mesa Museum is open from 8AM to 6:30AM mid-April to mid-October; 8AM to 5PM the rest of the year. Far View Visitor Center is open from 8AM to 5PM mid-April to mid-October. Ranger-guided tours and self-guided tours are available in Spring, Summer, and Fall. Limited services are available in Winter. Park Fees: Park Entrance Fee for Private Vehicles is $10.00 You can also purchase an annual National Parks Pass for $50, or Seniors 62 years or older can get a Golden Age Passport with a one time processing charge of $10. You must purchase a Golden Age Passport in person (it is not available by mail or telephone). This can be done at any NPS facility that charges an entrance fee. At time of purchase you must show proof of age (62 years or older) and be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. For information about these and other passes visit http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm Guided Tours: Half Day and Full Day Tours are available. More than 4,000 cliff dwellings are hidden in the area. Guided tours help you unlock the mysteries of the Ancestral Puebloans. Experience the world of those early Mesa Verdeans with Park-Service trained guides. Tours are conducted in a Mesa Verde Company vehicle by professional, ranger-approved guides. These are fully interpretive and interactive tours relating significance of flora and fauna, artifacts and use of resources in day to day survival. Tours run late May through late October. Reservations are highly recommended or obtain a ticket for the tours on first come first served basis at the Far West View Visitor Center. For reservations call 1 800 449 2288 or (970) 533 1944. HALF DAY TOURS (MORNING & AFTERNOON) SPRUCE TREE AND MESA LOOP ROAD Explore Mesa Verde's early occupation-the first 600 years. Visit excavated sites called pit houses and other early sites. The tour will conclude with a walking tour of Spruce Tree Cliff Dwelling and the museum. ADA accessible. Cost Adult $34/Child $23.
BALCONY HOUSE AND MESA LOOP ROAD FULL DAY TOUR CLIFF PALACE, SPRUCE TREE HOUSE, MESA
LOOP ROAD AND MUSEUM LONG HOUSE, STEP HOUSE & WETHERILL MESA PRIVATE
TOURS: (reservation required 14 days in advance) |
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The
Anasazi Heritage Center is a federal museum, research center, and
curation facility that introduces visitors to Four Corners prehistory.
Approximately three million records, samples, and artifacts from public
lands throughout southwestern Colorado form the Center's holdings. The
Heritage Center is also the visitor center for the new Canyons of the
Ancients National Monument. Adjacent to the Center are the 12th century archaeological sites named after the Spanish Franciscan friars who were the first to record prehistoric sites in Colorado. The Dominguez site is located right outside the Museum building and consists of four rooms with low stone walls--all that remains of the structure constructed around A.D. 1123. Escalante Pueblo, located a half-mile walk up the hill from the Museum, experienced three periods of habitation. The main complex constructed in A.D. 1129 was a Chacoan outlier, part of the vast trading network with the people at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. After a short abandonment the pueblo was reoccupied about A.D. 1150. A final occupation of very short duration occurred sometime around A.D. 1200. Two kivas were part of the Pueblo, but only one has been excavated. Escalante Pueblo offers a panoramic view of the Four Corners Area. The trail to Escalante also provides an opportunity to learn about native plants. A guidebook is available at the base of the trail. The Heritage Center is located on State Highway 184, three miles from Dolores, CO. The Center is open year-round except for New Year's, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. An admission fee is charged. In order to view all the exhibits and take the hike to Escalante, plan to spend at least a half day at the Center. Restrooms and water are available. Restaurants are available in nearby communities. You may want to combine your visit with a half-day trip to Lowry Pueblo for a full day of archaeological activities. The Museum and the trail to Escalante Pueblo are handicapped accessible. For more information, visit their website at www.co.blm.gov/ahc/index.htm |
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The Four Corners Monument
is the actual
point where the four states meet -
Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah - is marked by a monument
which can be accessed by a clearly marked short spur road from US160.
The spot lies within a Native American reservation, and a small entrance
fee is made for visitors - a Dollar or two per car. There is a small
Native American market and trading post adjacent to the monument.
For more information call (520) 871 6647.
Hours: October 1 to April 30: 8am to 5pm May 1 to September 30: 7am to 7pm http://www.aztecnm.com/ |
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| Crow Canyon Archeological Center:is a dynamic organization that offers individuals, just like yourself, the opportunity to become involved in archaeology. A wide variety of programs for adults, youths, and school groups are available. Visit their website for a schedule of classes and more information http://www.crowcanyon.org/ | |
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Hiking & Biking |
FOR HIKING & MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS
CLICK
HERE. |
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Mesa Verde/Cortez FAQs,
Insider Tips and Links Great Travel Tips Our Favorite Travel Links |
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| If
you have any questions, comments or if you have any full or half day
trips you would like to add, we would be very happy to share them with
the world! Send all the details to Leah, your Travel Guide, at info@destinationcoupons.com |
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