Desert Adventuring Paired with Food and Wine

May is primetime for desert adventures in the nearby Colorado town Fruita. Our neighboring city is 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 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 O’ Life Bakery, owned my Mary, a local legend in Palisade. Try a few delicious pastries and take some to go … you won’t regret it!

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. Spring is the perfect time to tour the farms and learn about Palisade agriculture.

12 p.m. Swing by Carboy Winery at Mt. Garfield Estates for lunch (and wine). This vineyard has an up-close and personal view of the famous Mt. Garfield.

1 p.m. Spend the afternoon popping into the welcoming tasting rooms outlying Palisade. Try a sparklet at Sauvage, a Cowboy Cab at Vines 79 Wine Bar, and a wine or hard cider flight on the patio at Red Fox Cellars. Find a complete list of all our wineries under Wineries to Try.

7 p.m. Round out the day with dinner at Péche. The menu is often rotating and made of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Pro tip: call ahead to make a reservation; Péche is very popular!

Event Pairings:

For those looking for a wine-based event, check out Barrel Into Spring (May 13-14).  

Lodging:

Stay close to the food and wines in Palisade. Check out Spoke and Vine Motel, Wine Country Inn, or Palisade Basecamp.