Tag Archive for: Fruita

Fruita, Grand Junction, Local or Nearby Attractions, More to Know, Palisade

What is the Grand Valley?

Embracing the term “Grand Valley” as you consider a move to Grand Junction, Fruita, or Palisade

As you embark on the adventure of moving to Grand Junction, Colorado like I did, you’ll quickly become familiar with the locals’ affectionate term for the area – the Grand Valley. Comprising the charming cities of Grand Junction, Palisade, and Fruita, the Grand Valley is a region unlike any other. It’s defined by its unique geographical features, rich agricultural heritage, and a vibrant community spirit.

Geographical Marvels

The Grand Valley owes its title to its strategic geographical location. Bounded by the Grand Mesa (elevation: 11,332′), the Colorado National Monument (4,000-7,000’ elevation), and the Book Cliff Mountains (starting at 5,500’ elevation). This three-sided valley is a natural wonder. The Book Cliffs continue into Utah and rise to over 8,500’.

The Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-top mountain, stretches over 500 square miles and has over 300 lakes and a variety of lodges and cabins. Conversely, the Colorado National Monument showcases stunning red rock monoliths and breathtaking canyon views. A great place to go for a drive or take advantage of the many hiking trials. The Book Cliff Mountains complete the panorama, extending over 250 miles into Utah. I am constantly in awe at the diversity of eco systems and opportunities to enjoy so much in the Grand Valley.

You can learn more about the geology and paleontology of the area by visiting the Museums of Western Colorado.

Colorado River Connection

The lifeblood of the valley, the Colorado River, weaves through this picturesque landscape, contributing to its geographical and recreational significance. The term “Grand” in Grand Valley and Grand Junction itself stems from the Colorado River, formerly known as the Grand River, and the confluence with the Gunnison River at the heart of the valley.

Agricultural Abundance

Fertile soil is the heartbeat of the Grand Valley, making it an agricultural haven. Orchards, vineyards, and vegetable farms thrive here, producing some of the finest fruits and vegetables. Literally some of the best fruit and produce you have ever tasted comes out of the Grand Valley. The farm-to-table dining scene, especially the renowned Palisade peaches, adds a delightful flavor to the culinary experience. Don’t get me started on the Palisade peaches, oh my! Learn more by reading our Palisade post.

Scenic Diversity

The valley is a visual feast, offering a diverse landscape within a short drive. From the high desert red rock monolith formations to the alpine feel of the Grand Mesa and the classic Colorado mountains. The region captivates with its varied beauty, all within a 45-minute radius. You can literally ski at Powderhorn Mountain Resort in the morning and drive back down into the Grand Valley for a game of afternoon golf. How cool is that! The change in elevation makes a big difference. Check out my post on how to avoid altitude sickness.

Taken from the airplane as we left GJT airport

Grand Junction’s Central Role

Grand Junction, the largest urban center in the Grand Valley, serves as a hub and reference point for the entire region. Described as the “biggest small town.” Grand Junction seamlessly blends big city amenities with small-town charm, creating a unique and welcoming atmosphere. Many of the Mesa County service offices are in Grand Junction, Colorado.

The Happy Valley

I met a gentleman at the downtown Grand Junction Farmers Market and told him my relocation story from Minnesota. He said, “Welcome to the Happy Valley”. I said, “isn’t it welcome to the Grand Valley?” He responded with “only until you truly understand how special this place is”.

Historical Roots

The term “Grand Valley” has deep historical roots, dating back to the late 19th century when the area witnessed significant settlement and development. Shaping its identity and character. According to Wikipedia, “George Addison Crawford (1827–91) purchased a plot of land. On July 22, 1882, he incorporated the town of Grand Junction. He planted Colorado’s first vineyard near Palisade, Colorado, causing the area to become known as the Colorado Wine Country.” The name “Grand Valley” has been associated with the area since the mid-nineteenth century.

Cultural Emblem

Over time, “Grand Valley” has evolved into more than just a geographical term; it embodies the cultural identity of the region. The name reflects the unique combination of geography, history, and community that defines this hidden gem in Colorado.

As you immerse yourself in the Grand Valley’s wonders, from its geographical marvels to its agricultural bounty and vibrant community, you’ll come to understand why locals cherish it and proudly call it home.

Welcome to the Grand Valley, where every corner tells a story, and every day is an opportunity to embrace the grandeur that surrounds you. If you’re planning a trip to the Grand Valley to consider a possible relocation, I’d love to help you make the most of your time while you’re in town. Call me for a tour!

Grand Valley Overlooks

Photo taken from a McInnis Canyons trail overlooking Fruita

The first place that comes to mind to see much of the Grand Valley is to drive Rim Rock Drive in the Colorado National Monument. You can stop along the way at the pullouts and get spectacular views of the canyons and the whole valley as you look East towards the Book Cliff Mountains. The Palisade Rim Trail provides a wonderful elevated view of Palisade. Or if you are brave, climb Mount Garfield!

You can start at the trailhead for Dinosaur Hill in Fruita. There’s a picnic spot at the top with panoramic views of the Grand Valley and interpretive signs along the way about the dinosaurs found on that site along the Colorado River.

Learn more about the area by visiting our posts about Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade. Plus monthly average temps in our weather post!

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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!