Before my wife and I moved from Minnesota to Grand Junction, Colorado, we spent nearly two years researching the area, visiting, and figuring out whether the Grand Valley was the right fit for us.
Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time talking about Grand Junction, whether I’m helping someone relocate, writing for this blog, or explaining to people back in Minnesota why we made the move. And I’ve discovered something:
It’s one thing to tell someone how great a place is.
It’s another thing to help them experience it for themselves.
That’s where an idea started taking shape.
A Challenge I Couldn’t Pass Up
Megan Jirele has known me her entire life. She’s an independent journalist and writer, an excellent observer of people and places, and someone who isn’t necessarily going to agree with me just because I feel strongly about something. Over time, she’d heard plenty about Grand Junction from me. Then, last spring, while I was back in Minnesota visiting, she challenged me to put my money where my mouth was.
“You keep telling me Grand Junction, Colorado, is the hidden gem of America. If I gave you 10 days, how would you prove it?”
Well, I wasn’t going to back down from that one. I sent Megan a plane ticket and invited her to spend ten days here. We call it the 10-Day Grand Junction Challenge. I wanted to give Megan the opportunity to get to know the place I now call home, with Michelle and I as her hosts. But just as importantly, I wanted her to tell the story in her own way, in her own words.
Why I Wanted to Do This
As a REALTOR® with more than 25 years of experience, I spend a lot of time thinking about what makes someone choose one community over another. I specialize in helping people relocate to the Grand Valley, and I’ve always believed people deserve more than a sales pitch traditional agents give.
I’ve also been on the other side of that decision. Moving from Minnesota meant leaving behind familiar places, established routines, and the comfort of knowing how everything worked. Starting over somewhere new takes research, effort, and a willingness to consider possibilities you might not have thought about before.
I can share what I love about Grand Junction. I can point out the advantages of living here, explain the local real estate market, and tell people why Michelle and I chose to make this our home. But I can’t decide what matters most to someone else.
That’s what made Megan’s perspective so interesting to me. She has her own experiences, expectations, and preferences. She would be experiencing Grand Junction without the history I have with it, and I couldn’t script what she would think or feel. Nor would I want to.
For me, this was an opportunity to do something beyond writing another article about relocating to Western Colorado. It was a chance to share the experience through someone else’s eyes and let readers follow along.
Come Along for the Challenge
We documented Megan’s ten days in Grand Junction and the surrounding area, and we’ve organized the experience into a dedicated series here on MoveToGrandJunction.com.
I’m excited to share it because I think there’s value in seeing a place through someone else’s eyes. And, frankly, I’m curious to hear what you think about Megan’s experience, too.
Whether you’ve lived in the Grand Valley for decades, are thinking about moving here, or have never given Western Colorado much consideration, I hope you’ll take some time to explore the challenge.
Follow the 10-Day Grand Junction Challenge →
I started this challenge because I believe Grand Junction deserves a closer look. I invited Megan to experience it for herself, and now I’m inviting you to follow along.
Series: 10-Day Grand Junction Challenge
View the all of the posts and videos on the 10-Day Grand Junction Challenge page.
PAUL ASPELIN
Your Grand Junction Relocation and Listing Expert
REALTOR®, GRI, SRES®, CNE
Call or Text (612) 306-9558 (locally based)
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn or send Paul an email
A retired couple contacted me from Arizona. They wanted to know “What is there to do in Grand Junction Colorado?” They retired to Scottsdale many years earlier. Their children and grandchildren visited them when they first moved there, then the visits waned. They added a swimming pool, which worked for a while. As the grandkids got older, a pool and sunshine were no longer enough. The grandkids complained “there’s nothing to do.” They realized it was time to move to a place where everyone wanted to come visit, any time of the year, not just during spring break.
Text/Call me at 612-306-9558
In the fall of 2021, we drove our second daughter to Arizona to start her college experience. We realized that we didn’t need to hurry back to Minnesota after we got her settled. It was the start of being “empty nesters” for us. We made several stops in small towns on our way back to “check them out”. Might we live in Arizona? Visiting places like Sedona and Flagstaff were terrific. We didn’t realize Arizona had such a diverse environment. It’s not all hot desert in Arizona! We enjoyed the mountains too.
