Colorado Mesa University. CMU Parents Move to Grand Junction, CO by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR with The Christi Reece Group. Text/Call 612-306-9558

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Fruita, Grand Junction, Local or Nearby Attractions, Palisade, Relocating to Grand Junction

Accolades for the Grand Valley

Accolades for Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade and the Grand Valley region of Mesa County, CO

We are lucky to live where there are many accolades for the Grand Valley, Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade and Mesa County. There are so many articles to choose from that support this, but I narrowed it down to one accolade for each community and some for Mesa County. Here are a few highlights of our amazing community starting with the most recent recognition for Grand Junction, CO.

Charming Grand Junction Downtown

Downtown Grand Junction springtime!

Grand Junction’s fabulous downtown is #8 on the 2024 “10 Best” list of Charming Downtowns from USA Today. Here’s what they had to say:

“These 10 places with charming main streets — nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the U.S. — offer more than just a road; these streets are living history, have a vibrant culture, and serve as the hearts of their communities.”

We couldn’t agree more! We were very impressed with the wide and wandering sidewalks, beautiful landscape, multitude of sculptures and art as well as lively dining options, boutiques, summer Farmers Market and so much more. Downtown is easily accessible and a true gem in the Grand Valley.

Here’s how USA Today summarized downtown Grand Junction.

“Celebrated for its vibrant, no-franchise downtown, Main Street in Grand Junction, Colorado boasts trendy art galleries, farm-to-fork dining, and fashionable boutiques. As a dynamic community hub, Main Street fosters a sense of engagement, with the historic Avalon Theatre hosting various events and a variety of street festivals and markets taking place year-round. Visitors enjoy the park-like atmosphere and the unique open-air art gallery of bronze sculptures.”

Here’s the link to the full article. https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-main-street-2024/

I wrote a post about Grand Junction being #1 Best City to Move to in Colorado, so check that out too!

Fruita, CO Awarded the Colorado Downtown Excellence Award

The Christi Reece Group Fruita office is just steps away from the Hot Tomato and the Mulberry Plaza for outdoor dining!

Here’s the press release direct from the City of Fruita. What a great award! This plaza space is right near one of our favorite places to dine in Fruita, the Hot Tomato! Here’s the link to their full article with a great aerial photo of the Mulberry Plaza. https://www.fruita.org/citymanager/page/fruita-co-awarded-colorado-downtown-excellence-award

“On April 4, 2024, the City of Fruita was awarded the Colorado Downtown Excellence Award by Downtown Colorado Inc. (DCI) for the Mulberry Plaza and gathering space. This award celebrates excellence in Colorado downtowns and commercial districts, and the City of Fruita is excited to receive this recognition on a state-wide scale. Downtown Colorado Inc. is a non-profit, membership association committed to building better communities by providing assistance to Colorado downtowns, commercial districts, main streets, rural communities, and town centers.”

Palisade Sunday Farmers Market is a Winner

Can’t get enough peach pie – this time with strawberry rhubarb. Peach with cherry is delicious too!

Here’s another “10 Best” award from USA Today. This time it’s for the Best Farmers Market! Although Palisade’s quaint downtown is certainly worthy of praise too.

Palisade Sunday Farmers Market comes in at #7, and deservedly so. We can’t wait for the Farmers Market season in the Grand Valley and the market in Palisade is tops for several reasons! To find the best farmers markets, they asked a panel of experts for nominations. Then, their readers voted for their favorites over four weeks. Here’s what USA Today had to say…

“Palisade Sunday Farmers Market, sponsored by the town, is open from June to October. It features items from local artisans and crafters as well as local produce and wines. Be sure to check out the live music and spend some downtime on a shaded, comfortable bench nearby.”

While this sounds nice and all, it’s a bit too generic. I wonder if they have really been to Palisade Sunday Farmers Market because it’s about so much more than that. Food trucks, fresh coffee, baked goods while you shop. I’ve tasted wine and got a shot of bourbon at 10am. They don’t even mention the famous Palisade Peaches, a weekly purchase for us. You just gotta go in person. Such a lovely downtown to host the Farmers Market. And the local shops, restaurants and galleries are fantastic too!

Mesa County Libraries National Nomination

We love libraries! You can read our posts about Mesa County Libraries and how we got a Little Free Library in front of our Grand Junction Christi Reece Group office, near the Colorado River and Butterfly Pond.

Libraries do great work, and we are excited about this nomination. We will check back to see if they won! National Medal winners will be announced in late May 2024. Here’s what they posted on the Mesa County Libraries website:

“The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced on March 27, 2024, that Mesa County Libraries is among 30 finalists for the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Mesa County Libraries is the only institution in Colorado to be selected as a finalist for this award. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate significant impact in their communities. For 30 years, the award has honored institutions that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities.”

What an amazing honor to be nominated! We are so proud of our local library system. Here’s the full post on the library’s website: https://mesacountylibraries.org/2024/03/mesa-county-libraries-named-finalist-for-2024-imls-national-medal-for-museum-and-library-service

Best Place to Visit for Adventure

https://www.visitgrandjunction.com/blog/post/the-36-best-places-to-visit-in-the-us-for-adventure

North Fruita Desert Tofel Family

Outside named Grand Junction as one of the “36 Best” places to visit in the US for adventure. Of course, we think it’s #1! The link above takes you to the full article. Here’s a quick summary.

“Grand Junction was honored to be mentioned as the base camp for one of Outside’s 2023 Travel Awards. The Colorado Plateau was awarded the “Public Land Winner” and Grand Junction was highlighted as the top destination for travelers hoping to explore this award-winning area. The Grand Junction area is surrounded by over 1.6 million acres of public land, so it’s no surprise that adventure travelers were encouraged to base their adventure out of Grand Junction.”

Follow the link and learn more about the whole Colorado Plateau area, it’s quite amazing. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful and diverse area. The article even calls out one of our favorites, Camp Eddy, and of course, the Colorado National Monument. A favorite place for adventure right in our backyard! Read our Mountain Biking post too!

Speaking of adventure…the Outdoor Program (OP) at Colorado Mesa University is one of the reasons our daughter chose to attend this fantastic university. They were at the college fair at her high school in Minnesota and we are forever grateful to have discovered this amazing human scale university, as they like to be called. So, I will end with this one amazing accolade for Colorado Mesa University, though there are many things to be proud of when it comes to CMU.

Colorado Mesa University

Zion CMU Outdoor Program Trip

U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges ranks colleges and universities by several different factors and creates many “best of” lists. They have ranked Colorado Mesa University #5 in Top Public Schools and #20 in Regional Colleges West. Their website describes in detail how their rankings are calculated, data sources, eligibility, and the criteria they used.

The article does a great job of highlighting CMU in a way that allows readers to easily compare colleges and universities on things like admissions, cost, academic programs, and campus life. Read More. It’s important to know what the student wants in a college.

CMU is an accredited university that has so much to be proud of. They have amazing academic programs for students of all ages. Their vision: “CMU aspires to be a Human Scale University that serves as a model of the world we want to create —a world where people aspire to love, extend dignity, choose courage, demonstrate humility, develop resiliency, celebrate curiosity, and use power for good.”

Zion Canyoneering CMU Outdoor Program Trip

Their Outdoor Program is outstanding. It’s a way for students to enjoy the weekends and time off outside the classroom. Students can participate in outdoor recreation, take group trips and rent equipment at super low rates. Our daughter climbed her first 14er in the first month of her freshman year! And a memorable group to Zion National Park to learn canyoneering. She has amazing stories and memories.

I encourage you to look at the CMU website first and absorb as much as you can. Then, you have to do a tour in person to fully grasp the welcoming culture at CMU. My daughter got to do an extended “CMU Experience” in 2018 before she decided for sure to attend. Although we knew her mind was made up before she attended this extended tour experience. She just wanted another trip to Colorado! We get it. We fell in love with the area too! That’s why we moved here. Let me give you a quick tour of the campus even if you don’t have students attending college. It’s an amazing asset for the Grand Valley!

Move to Grand Junction. We’ve been waiting for you!

Text/Call 612-306-9558

PAUL ASPELIN, Realtor®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
The Christi Reece Group

Connect with me on LinkedIn or send me an email.
Learn more about my experience and how I serve my clients
https://paul.christireece.com

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

Fruita, Grand Junction, Local or Nearby Attractions, Palisade

Two-Day Itinerary for Grand Junction Visit

Charm and outdoor adventures. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a foodie, or someone seeking a laid-back weekend getaway, Grand Junction has it all. I’ve curated this itinerary for you based on my experiences. It’s for an unforgettable long weekend in the Grand Valley, exploring the cities of Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade and more. Knowing what I know, this is how I would plan out the perfect weekend for first-time visitors coming to the Grand Valley.

Day 1: Arrival and Grand Valley Exploration

Accommodations

Your Grand Valley adventure begins with choosing the perfect place to stay. Whether you prefer a familiar chain hotel near the airport or downtown, a cozy Airbnb in Fruita, or a romantic bed and breakfast in Palisade, the Grand Valley welcomes you with diverse options. Each city offers its unique charm, and accessibility is never an issue. You can even stay in a tiny house or Airstream right on the Colorado River at Camp Eddy RV Park! Beautiful views and peaceful location.

Morning Energizer at Kiln Coffee

Start your first day with a visit to Kiln Coffee on Main Street, between 3^rd and 4^th street in downtown Grand Junction. Immerse yourself in the local vibe and savor a cup of expertly brewed coffee. If you’re a fan of old-school donuts, grab your coffee to go and head over to Homestyle Bakery on 7th Street for a nostalgic treat.

“Moon Rock” on The Ribbon Trail in Bangs Canyon. Overlooking Grand Junction and Palisade. You can see Mount Garfield in the distance, the Book Cliff Mountains

Hiking Adventure to “Moon Rock”

For an active start, hike just the beginning 15-20 minutes of the Ribbon Trail in Bangs Canyon Management Area to witness the panoramic views from what locals affectionately call “Moon Rock.” The short hike offers not only stunning vistas overlooking the city but also a glimpse of the valley’s diverse landscapes. It’s popular with mountain bikers. You won’t believe what you see as the trail opens. Don’t hike the full trail, it’s 7 miles and strenuous. To get there from Grand Junction, take Broadway over the Colorado River to Monument Road then D Road and a few more turns to the trailhead. See The Ribbon Trail trailhead for info and complete directions.

Palisade Sunday Farmers Market and Winery Trail

If you are here on a Sunday in the summer, head to downtown Palisade for the legendary Farmers Market. It is voted one of the top markets in the country. If it’s peach season (July/August), you’re in for a treat. Explore the downtown shops and consider renting a mountain bike for the Palisade Plunge if you are a risk taker. Alternatively, follow the Scenic Fruit & Wine Byway and indulge in the region’s emerging reputation as the next Napa Valley. Palisade and East Orchard Mesa offer 26+ wineries and the renowned Palisade peaches. Learn more by reading my post about Palisade. Palisade has many agritourism opportunities too. Visit the farms, orchards and vineyards for unique experiences.

Late Lunch in Downtown Grand Junction

Return to Grand Junction for a late lunch at Main Street Bagels. Order the peach smoothie when in season – a true local delight. Experience the charm of one of the cutest downtowns you’ll ever shop in. Afterward, head to Los Colonias Park for a zipline adventure, a stroll on the bridge over the Colorado River, and a visit to The Christi Reece Group world headquarters right next to Butterfly Pond.

Main Street Bagels Springtime

Rim Rock Drive at the Colorado National Monument

As the afternoon turns into evening, embark on a 23-mile adventure along Rim Rock Drive in the Colorado National Monument. You’ll need a National Parks pass or can purchase a day pass at the entrance. The drive is particularly enchanting just before dusk, with big horn sheep making an appearance near Fruita. Allow 90 minutes for the average visit to truly experience the monument, including short hikes at pull-offs like Grand View, Monument Canyon Overlook, and Cold Shivers Point. I recommend starting at the East Entrance in Grand Junction off Monument Drive, about 10 minutes out of town. Drive towards Fruita. The Visitor Center is in Fruita, near the West Entrance.

Two Day Itinerary for Grand Junction Visit includes the Colorado National Monument - East Entrance sign

Colorado National Monument East Entrance in Grand Junction, Colorado

Dinner in Quaint Fruita

Time your exit from Rim Rock Drive to coincide with dinner in Fruita. Fruita, CO is a charming town, often considered the mountain biking capital of the world. We discovered The Hot Tomato restaurant on one of our first trips to the area and highly recommend it! Legendary pizza, great calzones and salads and an impressive craft beer selection. Despite the likely wait, locals will tell you it’s well worth it. Outside dining available. Learn more about Fruita.

Day 2: Campus Stroll, Grand Mesa Exploration, and Evening Indulgence

Morning at Dream Cafe in Downtown Grand Junction

On your second day, bypass the hotel breakfast and head to Dream Cafe in downtown Grand Junction. If you’re lucky enough to secure an outdoor table, savor a delicious breakfast against the backdrop of the perfect Grand Valley mornings we are known for.

Self-Guided Tour of Colorado Mesa University

After breakfast, head down North Avenue to 12^th Street to the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) campus. Take a self-guided stroll through the breathtaking campus. The University buildings are unique, many with rooftop seating for study time or gatherings. The state-of-the-art Hamilton Rec Center is a good place to see. The Maverick Bookstore in the University Center is a great stop to shop and there’s dining options, a Starbucks and a student game room with a bar called The Point. Locals value having this institution at the heart of Grand Junction. You can stay at the Hotel Maverick and dine at Devil’s Kitchen located on the top floor that overlooks campus and provides incredible views of the Monument. Both offer opportunities for hospitality students studying at CMU.

Lunch Options

Lunch choices near CMU Campus include Kannah Creek Brewing Company or the Ale House.
For downtown Grand Junction options consider Trail Life Brewery, Rockslide Brewery, or Pour Fellows.

Two Day Itinerary from Grand Junction includes the Grand Mesa

The second pull-off, after Powderhorn Mountain Resort and before the Grand Mesa Visitor Center

Grand Mesa Adventure

Next, hop on I-70 East to Exit 49 past Palisade to get on CO-65 and explore the Grand Mesa. “The Mesa” is the world’s largest flat-top mountain with 300+ lakes and beautiful forests. A stop at Powderhorn Mountain Resort offers spectacular views. In the warmer months mountain bikers utilize the chair lifts. If visiting in September/October, witness the breathtaking fall colors. Plan on 3 hours of drive time if you do the loop that brings you thorough Cedaredge and Delta. If you don’t have that much time, you can drive to the Grand Mesa Visitor Center just past Powderhorn and turn around. That will make sure you get to one of the most breathtaking pull-offs. However, read my post about Living in Grand Junction – What I learned in the First Three Months. The Visitor Center isn’t always open, and it may not have toilet paper, so be prepared. Learned this from experience.

Cattlemen’s Bar and Grill in Loma

Wrap up your Grand Mesa adventure with a meal at Cattlemen’s Bar and Grill in Loma. Take I-70 West just past Fruita, it’s worth the drive! Voted Best of the West Steakhouse and Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant in 2021, this place offers hand-cut steaks, prime rib, hearty burgers, a large salad bar, warm rolls, and a well-stocked bar. The restaurant’s commitment to serving ranchers, cowboys, soldiers, and anyone with a healthy appetite ensures a satisfying end to your day. It’s delicious and reasonably priced. There are options besides steak, including vegetarian entrees.

Petroglyphs on “Wall Street” in Moab, Utah

Day Trips

If you’ve never seen dinosaur tracks out in the open, petroglyphs, or a quintessential mountain town, then please read my post Top Day Trips from Grand Junction. There’s a lot to do in the region surrounding Grand Junction. And if you are flying here, read my tips in the Grand Junction Airport experience post.

Visit and Play Like a Local

You will see a lot of language in tourism content about “leave no trace”. It means to respect the land and waterways, put all trash where it belongs, leave things the way you found them in nature, etc. In the Grand Valley, we also ask that you “play like a local” and help us keep our vast array of amenities clean and ready for the next person. Respect the local residents as well as the land and water when you travel through our beautiful Grand Valley. Care for Colorado Leave No Trace Principles

That’s a Wrap

Grand Junction is a destination that seamlessly blends natural wonders, historical charm, and outdoor adventures. The itinerary I laid out for you ensures you experience some of the best that the Grand Valley has to offer. Come with an open heart and leave with unforgettable memories of the Grand Valley’s unique charm and warmth. Whether you’re an avid hiker, a food enthusiast, or someone seeking a peaceful retreat, the Grand Valley has something for everyone.

Once you’ve fallen in love with the Grand Valley and it’s time to consider relocation, just give me a call. I would be happy to create a personal itinerary that includes touring homes and some other special sights if you are considering living in Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade or anywhere in Mesa County.

Move to Grand Junction…. We’ve been waiting for you!

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Text/call me with your questions! 612-306-9558

Paul Aspelin, Realtor®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
The Christi Reece Group
Hot Property Listings and MLS Search: paul.christireece.com

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

Grand Junction, Grand Junction Real Estate, Local or Nearby Attractions, Relocating to Grand Junction

Why Move to Grand Junction?

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

More to Know, Relocating to Grand Junction

Wealth is Where Your Friends Are

Guest Post by Michelle Aspelin

Have you heard the phrase “wealth is where your friends are”? I first read about it in a book called How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free by Canadian author Ernie J. Selinski. The author didn’t focus on retirement finances and investments in his book but more on happiness and lifestyle. He describes retirement, or pre-retirement, as a time to become much more than you have ever been. He explains how important it is to discover the world around you while you still have your health and physical capabilities to explore all you want to see and do.

Mailbox painted by Emma Aspelin close up

Your friends will send you mail!

Chapter 6 is titled “Your Wealth is Where Your Friends Are”. I think it applies to the concepts on this website about moving to Grand Junction, or Mesa County in general. Above all, friends make life complete. For some, moving to the Grand Valley means they are moving towards family or friends, and that’s fabulous! But for others, it means you are moving away from family and friends. To a place where you know very few people, if anyone at all. Let’s talk about that.

Moving away from your home town

When Paul and I moved to Grand Junction it was a little of both. Of course, we were leaving our friends in Minnesota, and my parents, sister, brother-in-law and nephews along with Paul’s mom. Our parents are in their early 80s and it was tough to move away from them. However, we were also moving towards our children. Our oldest daughter graduated from Colorado Mesa University in 2022 and she still lives in this area. As of 2023, our youngest daughter lives in Tempe, AZ while she’s finishing up her degree at Arizona State University. They both chose the southwest. We were in Minnesota. When they said they were not planning to move back to Minnesota after they got their degrees, we were shocked at first. We always thought we would grow old with lots of family around us.

Now, you are probably familiar with the fact that Minnesota winters are cold. Maybe you’ve even heard of a polar vortex. Minnesota winters are also long and dreary with lots of cloudy skies and don’t get me started about wind chill factors. You can google it if you aren’t familiar. Let’s just say it gets so cold your face hurts on your way to the mailbox at the end of the driveway. So, we understood why our kids didn’t want to settle in Minnesota after living in the southwest and we started to ask ourselves why we were staying too. It took us a long time to come to the decision to move, and lots and lots of research until we finally chose Grand Junction.

In retirement, as well as in life in general, being near friends and family is important for our happiness and wellbeing. If you are moving to Grand Junction because of a job relocation or other opportunities, and you don’t know anyone here except the contact with your employer, I want to say, don’t worry.

Discovering the Grand Valley

I took this photo of Grand Junction from the Colorado National Monument

What we discovered is that everyone in the Grand Valley is very helpful, friendly, and more than willing to share their experiences with you. We moved here in the month of September, which was the perfect time for hiking. There are many short trails for us beginners and we met people along the way as we started to hike in the area. We discovered that many people have a story about when they moved to Grand Junction too. It’s fun to learn about where they lived before and what brought them here. Paul even has past clients he served in Minnesota that now live in Fruita.

Here’s the best part. Because there is so much to do in western Colorado and eastern Utah, we have friends and family already making plans to visit us here from other states. We made sure our new place had a guest room to encourage visitors and we’ve hosted three different couples in the first three months we were here, with the promise of more to come! Read my post about what I learned in the first three months of living in Grand Junction.

Why Live in Grand Junction, Fruit or Palisade?

Another advantage of living in Grand Junction, Fruita, or Palisade is that they all have very active Chambers of Commerce, business groups and clubs, events and nonprofits. Once you start to follow their Facebook pages, browse their websites, or follow them on LinkedIn, you’ll see there are so many opportunities to become a part of the community. You can attend events, volunteer, join groups or clubs or just hang out at popular local establishments and parks.

Paul and I are on LinkedIn, and we find it a very useful tool for connecting with other local business owners and professionals, learning about local events, and staying in touch with our network connections back in the Twin Cities too. Connect with Paul on LinkedIn. One of our first connections was with our local banker when we opened up our new bank accounts here in Grand Junction. Ask Paul about our new local, community-focused bank! Read our post about Why Move to Grand Junction.

Take Advantage of Local Rental Shops

Paul on a 4 wheeler (ATV) in Moab, Utah near Canyonlands National Park

There are plenty of rental shops for bikes, ATVs, RVs, etc. so don’t feel like you need to buy a lot of stuff to experience the outdoors when you get here. I like the phrase “try before you buy” and there are a lot of choices here for that. Even the Outdoor Program (OP) at Colorado Mesa University offers equipment rentals to the public at very low rental rates. The OP is CMU’s headquarters for outdoor adventure and education. That’s how our daughter got started as a CMU student with camping, backpacking and climbing equipment. And after she graduated, she and her friends went back to “the OP” to rent canoes and larger coolers for a weeklong trip down the Green River in Utah. Colorado Mesa University students, staff, faculty, and alumni receive discounted prices! Might be a great place to work when you move here!

So, please don’t worry about leaving your friends and family when you move to Fruita, Palisade or Grand Junction. It’s a very welcoming community with so much to see and do locally and within a few hours’ drive of the Grand Valley. You too will soon have a wealth of friends around you and who knows, some may even follow in your footsteps and move here too after they hear you talking about all the wonderful things you are experiencing in Grand Junction and western Colorado!

Learn about the local area

Below are a few links to local TV stations you can follow as well as see the local news topics and weather report. Ahh, the weather, that’s a whole other blog post about this “high desert” climate. Let me just say, we are very happy to leave the humidity and excessive mosquito population behind in Minnesota. Hardly any bugs here and the mild climate is absolutely wonderful. Something we are thankful for every day we are here. And most of those days boast a brilliant blue sky and maybe some white puffy clouds.

KKCO is a television station in Grand Junction, Colorado, affiliated with NBC and Telemundo.

KREX-TV is a television station in Grand Junction, Colorado, serving as the CBS affiliate for Colorado’s Western Slope region.

KJCT-LP is a low-power television station in Grand Junction, Colorado, serving Colorado’s Western Slope region as an affiliate of ABC and The CW Plus. Owned by Gray Television, it is a sister station to dual NBC/Telemundo affiliate KKCO.

Get Started

Ready to take the first step toward your move to Grand Junction? Visit the Get Started page or learn more about Paul Aspelin and why he chose the Christi Reece team first, then give him a call! He would love to tell you about the area and share our research and experience when we decided it was time for us to move to a warmer climate.

P.S. Chapter 8 in this book is called “Relocate to Where Retirement Living is Best” Uhhh, Check! And Chapter 9 is “Happiness Doesn’t Care How You Get There” Check again! Grand Junction checks a lot of boxes as a wonderful place to live, work and explore!