GRAND JUNCTION

Colorado’s largest city on the Western Slope, Grand Junction, is located along the picturesque Colorado River and is only 30 miles from the Utah border. Easily accessible due to the presence of Grand Junction Regional Airport, the community and nearby Palisade are at the heart of the state’s wine country, which offers some of the most memorable meeting and event venues in the Grand Junction area.

There are more than 30 wineries, with several offering tastings, tours, and space for meetings and events. For example, Wine Country Inn in Palisade has 80 guest rooms, a sizeable ballroom and other function space, and 21 acres of vineyards as well as a sister property next door, Grande River Vineyards. There also are several craft breweries, distilleries, and cideries in Grand Junction and Palisade for groups that want variety or other beverage types.

The largest event space in Grand Junction is downtown’s Grand Junction Convention Center with four nearby hotels for easy lodging access. On the other end of downtown is the historic Avalon Theatre with shops, restaurants, and more than 115 sculptures and murals along the way.

Fast becoming a favorite mountain biking destination, the arid Grand Valley is surrounded by the Book Cliffs mountains and Grand Mesa, the biggest flat-top mountain in the world. In addition to ample mountain biking, there are thousands of rock formations for climbers to tackle, several golf courses, and miles of river for rafting, fishing, and kayaking. There is even skiing at nearby Powderhorn Resort.

Consider making a stop at the Museum of the West and Western Colorado Center for the Arts or organizing an afternoon in Gateway to visit the incredible Gateway Auto Museum, located at Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa. Gateway Canyons also offers some of the best event space in the Grand Junction Area, lodging, and a wide range of activities for groups to tap into.