Alana Dylan
The Paw Print
A few weeks ago, I promised you information on the Buena Vista area. Not only are Cottonwood Hot Springs and Mt. Princeton Hot Springs near Buena Vista, there are many recreational opportunities as well as a thriving community with museums, restaurants, and shops. Buena Vista is close enough to Alamosa at just under two hours, but far enough to feel like you left town. Don’t worry, I will return with more information on the hot springs located south of Alamosa in a couple of weeks.
Buena Vista Depot Museum at the intersection of Highway 24 and Main Street is a treat. I am a transportation buff and was immediately enamored by the Colorado Midland caboose and depot here. The first time I drove into town, I visited the grounds which include a restored caboose and rebuilt depot. Read the educational signs and learn a bit of B.V. history before enjoying lunch (Buena Vista Roastery and Brown Dog Coffee will pack a brown bag lunch for you) in the park at one of the many benches that surround the lake.
The South Main area has it all: restaurants, shops, and cool housing. The section of the Arkansas River lining the South Main Street area has a whitewater park for kayakers, two large bouldering rocks and trails abound, near this riparian area. There are also great spots for fishing, as well as a beach for use during the summer months.
Whitewater rafting rules this town and there are several tour companies that can accommodate half-day as well as full day trips. I chose Performance Tours because they had been recommended to me by a local. To be honest, I was more interested in the sightseeing and birds, so I chose the half-day “Mild and Scenic” tour, which was just my speed. The tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable and went out of his way to make each of us feel comfortable and achieve what we wanted out of the trip. Next summer, I may bump it up a notch and choose a more exciting route.
Try your hands (and feet!) at bouldering on the riverfront bouldering area before heading over to Eddyline’s Brew Pub at 926 South Main Street, right across the street. They also have a tasting room and brew house on Linderman Avenue, but I always go to the South Main location.
Twinkle lights illuminate the patio and front door area year round, giving the outside ambience and drawing you inside. I always find the bar to be the friendliest spot in a restaurant with other diners to entertain me. The bartenders here are some of the friendliest people on earth and go above and beyond to ensure each guest has an exceptional experience. I typically sit at the large community table made of logs and adorned with quarters inset in the tabletop. Sport memorabilia as well as local art adorn the walls, giving Eddyline’s a funky and modern feel.
Eddyline’s brews all their own beers, and though I am not a beer drinker, my friends have never been disappointed here. They are the first craft brewery to produce six packs of 16 oz. cans. I come here because they have hand tossed, wood fired pizza. They are easily one of my favorite pizza spots in Colorado. Their Green with Envy pizza is sublime with pesto, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarella. They also have great salads
www.eddylinebrewing.com
There are several commercial and non-commercial campgrounds available in and around town. When I want to stay closer to town, I usually camp at Arrowhead Point Camping Resort. They are located about three miles west of town and have all the amenities: private showers, free wifi, coffee, and a general store. Their rates are reasonable and they also offer minimalist cabins that have heat (but no running water or bathroom) for those bitter cold winter nights. This trip I set up camp in space T-6 but T-7 and T-8 are also good for the quiet and protection the trees and gully offer, as well as proximity to coffee and bathroom in the morning. Please check their website for details:
http://www.arrowheadpointresort.com
There are several non-commercial campgrounds available as well. Stay tuned next week for details on those, as well as hiking and coffee offerings in the Buena Vista area.
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