May is primetime for desert adventures with Fruita hosting 18 Hours of Fruita (May 5-6), Fruita Adventure Fest (May 5-7), Fruita Fat Tire Festival (May 12-14) and CO2UT (gravel bike event, May 15). Come for the events and pair your adventures with good eats and delicious wine in nearby Palisade. Here’s a sample itinerary for your rest day or for those in your party looking for an alternative to desert fun:
9 a.m.
Casual coffee and breakfast at Slice of Life Bakery.
10 a.m.
Tour local farms and visit the unique farm stores at Field to Fork Farm, SunCrest Orchard Alpacas and Sprigs and Sprouts Lavender Farm to stock up on local food and fun gifts.
12 p.m.
Swing by Carboy Winery at Mt. Garfield Estates for lunch (and wine).
1 p.m.
Spend the afternoon popping into the welcoming tasting room outlying Palisade. Try a sparklet at Sauvage, a Cowboy Cab at Vines 79 Wine Bar and wine or hard cider flight on the patio at Red Fox Cellars. [For a full list of Palisade wineries and options for guided tours, check out Visit Palisade and/or pop into the Palisade Chamber of Commerce for a map of the Fruit & Wine Byway.]
7 p.m.
Round out the day with dinner at Péche.
Event Pairings
For those looking for a wine-based event, check out Barrel Into Spring (May 13-14).
Lodging
For the Palisade-based portion of your stay in the Grand Valley, we’d recommend staying at Spoke and Vine Motel, Wine Country Inn or Palisade Basecamp.