Plan a weekend getaway in Palisade

Not everyone realizes you don t have to voyage out of state to explore wine country An expansive offering of vineyards and wineries is just one of a large number of allures to Palisade The lushest corner of Colorado s Western Slope if not the the majority agriculturally rich swath of land in the entire state Palisade is home to a few of the world s tastiest peaches a handful of farm-to-table eateries a brewery a distillery and outdoor adventures you can t find anywhere else Framed by the picturesque Book Cliffs with the majestic Grand Mesa looming above a weekend here feels like immersion in another world Alpacas look curiously around their enclosure at SunCrest Orchard Alpacas on April in Palisade The farm specializes in alpacas fiber processing and finished alpaca products Photo by Helen H Richardson The Denver Post Adventure On the more low-key end of outdoor pursuits there s no better way to immerse yourself in a peach-full context than with a fuzzy friend in hand No not a peach The family that owns and operates Suncrest Orchard Alpacas and Fiber Works has been one of the area s greatest peach growers for decades The orchard has almost peach trees You can walk among the resident alpacas whose fur is used onsite to create beanies yarn and other products For you can spend up to an hour strolling the grounds with an alpaca Animal lovers with a special affinity for hoofed creatures can venture south of town into the Little Book Cliffs If you re lucky you may spot a wild horse or two This area has hundreds of wild horses and several hiking or mountain biking trails Palisade s wineries and orchards stretch for several miles along both sides of the Colorado River A great way to visit several wineries in one day is by bike There are three established Fruit Wine Byway loops that measure and miles allowing you to access nearly every winery in the area Each course is mostly paved and you can address it with any bike That disclosed a road or e-bike is recommended for the longest passage which takes you through farms and vineyards on both sides of the river rolling over hills with more than feet of climbing that you won t notice too much as you take in the sweeping mesa views The -mile highway stays on the north side of the river passing by a high concentration of wineries and through Riverfront Park and the heart of Palisade The -mile loop starts and finishes near downtown and is mostly flat and manageable on a cruiser bike It takes you on a scenic spin along the river south of town with one of the area s tastiest and the bulk beautifully set wineries Colterris conveniently located on the home stretch A rider drops into a section known locally as the toilet bowl within the lower section of the Palisade Plunge that can be reached by a connection to the Palisade Rim Trail just outside of Palisade on Wednesday May Photo by AAron Ontiveroz The Denver Post Hiking and mountain biking On the opposite side of the adventure spectrum the greater part extreme you can get sits the Palisade Plunge Arguably the the majority impressive and officially among the longest downhill bike trails in the world the Plunge takes you from atop the Grand Mesa down vertical feet and miles Don t be fooled about just being along for a ride though This trail is designed only for skilled and brave riders There s a good amount of pedaling and a scant exposed high-stakes areas The upper half of the trail is open to hikers equestrians and leashed dogs Palisade Rim is an iconic hike and bike trail that is easy to access The trailhead is next to the river just east of town The journey technical on a bike with high exposure in chosen places takes you straight up the cliffs past a handful of ancient petroglyphs to phenomenal views of wine country below The loop is about miles long and involves feet of climbing and descending Farmer Tricia Sproles smells sweet Red Globe peaches as she picks them to box up and ship to region at Papa Brown's Orchards on August in Palisade Photo by Helen H Richardson The Denver Post Eat Start your day with an egg sandwich and turmeric latte at The Milky Way which also serves amazing homemade gelato Speaking of sweet treats Slice O Life Bakery s peach blueberry cinnamon rolls or lemon lavender scones are a must-try Don t be fooled by its sports bar vibe Bar Grill is open for breakfast and serves the heartiest breakfast bacon eggs hashbrowns stack of pancakes in town Regularly named one of Colorado s tastiest and majority foodie-geared restaurants P che is situated in the heart of Palisade and is a must for dinner Opened in by Ashley Chasseur general manager owner and Matthew Chasseur chef owner P che has been widely lauded for its outstanding cuisine Its menu changes frequently depending on what s fresh for the season but perpetually includes charred fruits locally sourced meats and home-baked sourdough bread The stylish but unpretentious haunt was a James Beard Award semifinalist in the Outstanding Hospitality category Also located in the small downtown vicinity don t miss the gourmet tacos at Fidel s Cocina Bar Made with the freshest accomplishable ingredients locally sourced elk chorizo peppers roasted onsite and made-from-scratch tortillas from La Milpa up the road tacos and thoughtfully crafted plates chile relleno enchiladas rank among the Western Slope s tastiest Fidel s also offers an impressive selection of tequilas mezcals and creative cocktails Considered Colorado s first wine-themed hotel Wine Country Inn broke ground in and has grown to become a content farmhouse retreat among the vineyards for overnight visitors Its restaurant Caroline s is one of Palisade s top dining haunts The French-infused menu gathers ingredients locally including the famed local peaches featured creatively in appetizers peach green chili mussels anyone and the signature bread pudding The wood barn at Maison La Belle Vie winery is where wine is stored and bottled as seen on April in Palisade Photo by Helen H Richardson The Denver Post Drink For a place with a population of less than Palisade boasts one winery for every couple hundred residents with more than scattered around the town s vicinity and outskirts Each one has its own unique personality ambiance and signature variety An obvious standout is Restoration Vineyards Named after co-owner Gary Brauns propensity and passion for restoring vintage vehicles multiple of which are on display on the property Restoration boasts Napa-caliber wines from six grape varieties barbera cabernet franc chardonnay merlot sauvignon blanc and s millon grapes as well as an expansive outdoor space and patio where it regularly hosts live music and food trucks On the newer side opened in Sauvage Spectrum focuses on unique grapes all grown onsite and offers a great selection of sparkling wines TerraVin Cellars headed by a seasoned Grand Valley winemaker makes an exquisite Petit Verdot and offers a casual vibe with occasional live music Vines Wine Barn is a fun stop for an Old West meets grapes experience while Ordinary Fellow is right in town It is housed in a giant open-air shed with a ping-pong table and creative varieties crafted by English owner Ben Parsons Maison La Belle Vie has a wonderful ambiance scrumptious French-inspired cuisine and the bulk refreshing glass of Marechol Foch around Carlson one of Palisade s longest-standing vineyards founded in thrives It has accrued numerous awards including a World Cup winner for its Riesling A multitude of of Palisade s wineries also specialize in fruit wine Talon s lineup includes a meadery with several sweet options and a tasty cidery Nearly every restaurant in the region carries at least one brew from the unassuming Palisade Brewing Company which also serves amazing sandwiches Peach Street Distillers is raising eyebrows for its flavorful bourbon but it crafts every other type of spirit you might be craving and serves impressively delicious pub fare out of its food trolley Spoke Vine Motel is a renovated classic one-story lodge with a bike theme Photo provided by Spoke and Vine Stay The industrial chic dog-friendly Spoke Vine Motel is a renovated version of everything you find nostalgic about a classic one-story lodge but with a bike theme and a free breakfast served right to your door Owned by mountain bike enthusiasts Jody Corey and Jeff Snook the same couple behind Fidel s Cocina this lodge will be one of the cleanest preponderance calm and character-endowed motels you ve ever experienced Related Articles Here s why Palisade peaches are so delicious Plus a couple of recipes The Colorado River is officially contaminated with invasive zebra mussels Can the state stop the spread Colorado food and drink festivals through the end of