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Colorado Travel Planning Guides : Royal Gorge Country : Leisure Article


Leisure Time in the Royal Gorge!

Relaxing Suggestions

  • Grab some coffee and a fresh pastry in Florence.
  • Peruse downtown Florence's antique shops, specialty stores and unique art galleries.
  • Take a ride on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
  • Tee-off at a local golf course.
  • Take a picnic lunch over to Centennial Park (at 4th St. & Griffin Ave.; know as Duck Park)
  • Purchase a Community Heritage Pass and visit four Caņon City museums with one ticket!
  • Enjoy a scenic cruise along Skyline Drive.
  • Walk downtown Caņon City and take in the beautiful historic architecture.
  • Indulge at the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey with a wine and cheese tasting.






(Fremont County Heritage Commission) - Royal Gorge Region Homepage - (Adventure Vacation Ideas)

SPONSOR LISTINGS

Dinosaur Depot Museum

330 Royal Gorge Blvd.

Caņon City

(800) 987-6379

(719) 269-7150

The Garden Park Paleontology Society's Dinosaur Depot Museum is a must-see! Among the dinosaurs on display is the world's most complete Stegosaurus. Discovery Room, Preparation Laboratory and Museum Store.


Museum of Colorado Prisons

201 North 1st St.

Caņon City

(719) 269-3015

Audio tour, gift shop with prison crafts, historic walking and ghost tours, historic re-enactments, senior and group discount. Hours vary.


Royal Gorge Bridge and Park

(800) 333-5597

Colorado's Natural Wonder with exciting rides and great views.


Florence Chamber

"A Great Little Town"

Antiques, Art, Fine Food and Specialty Shoppes.


Caņon City's Community Heritage Pass

Two Caņon City Attractions, One Price. Celebrating the artistic, educational and historic elements of our community.


Arkansas River Inn & Suites

(719) 275-3377

(800) 231-7317

22 large family suites that sleep 6, Free high-speed internet, Restaurant, Heated outdoor pool, Enclosed hot tup, Putt-putt golf course, Playground, Guest laundry.


Royal Gorge Route Railroad

(888) 724-5748

The best way to see the Royal Gorge is from the train!


Lost Paddle Rafting

(719) 275-0884

(866) 766-7238

Lost Paddle Rafting's friendly and experienced staff will help you choose a whitewater rafting trip that's best for you.


Arkansas River Tours

(800) 321-4352

Since 1973, 38 years of laughs, smiles & thrills.


Colorado Vertical Helitours

(719) 276-9038

See spectacular views from a jet powered helicopter.


B Hotel

110 Latigo lane

Caņon City

(719) 275-2400

B Relaxed at the B Hotel


The Winery
at Holy Cross Abbey

(719) 276-5191

(877) 422-9463

Award-winning Colorado wines. Great books, linens and pottery. Tasting room open daily.

Colorado Rafting
Buena Vista, Royal Gorge & Breckenridge
719-395-2409
Providing first-class whitewater adventures since 1987. Royal Gorge Country's only riverside outpost with private beach and lunch pavilion. Call for the ultimate Colorado experience!


Econo Lodge

311 Royal Gorge Blvd.

Caņon City

(719) 276-6900

Non-smoking rooms. Free high speed wireless internet & local calls. Indoor heated pool & spa. In-room coffee makers. Free deluxe continental breakfast. HBO. Guest laundry facilities. Suites available.


A Raft Masters Adventure

(800) 568-7238

More than 20 years' experience providing quality outings for all group sizes. Bases near Denver and Colorado Springs provide easy access for trips from either location. Free wetsuits!

Quality Inn & Suites

E. Hwy. 50 at Dozier

Caņon City

(719) 275-8676

(800) 252-7727

Plan to make Quality Inn & Suites your vacation headquarters. There are many sights to see and experiences to enjoy within a short drive from the Quality Inn & Suites.


River Runners

(888) 350-7782

The Whitewater Professionals. Colorado's Best Rafting Trips.


Echo Canyon River Expeditions

(800) 575-3246

The most trusted name in rafting since 1978. Located near the Royal Gorge Bridge.


Michael's On Main

(719) 276-2233

For the ultimate in relaxation, dining and shopping be sure to visit the Galleria at Michael's on Main. You'll find a Fine Art Gallery, Fashion Boutique, Chocolate Shoppe, Bistro, specialty Coffee Bar, Gift Shop, Day Spa and much, much more.


Royal Gorge Rafting

(719) 275-RAFT

Royal Gorge Rafting and the White Water Bar & Grill are the perfect combination for any Colorado vacation! Free Gear!


Merlino's Belvedere

1330 Elm Avenue

Caņon City

(719) 275-5558

Homemade Italian food recipes for over 60 years. Aged beef, seafood and chicken items. Kids menu. Banquet facilities and catering available. Open 7 days a week for lunch & dinner.


Leisure Time

Enjoy a vacation, long weekend or girls' getaway in Fremont County. You'll find one-of-a-kind antiquing and wine tasting along with a variety of ways to experience the Royal Gorge. Set aside some time to ride the train and visit one of the highest suspension bridges in the world, but most importantly relax, absorb the spectacular scenery and see where the day takes you.


Browse Colorado's Antique Capital
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Take a leisurely stroll down Main Street Florence and step into one of the 15 antique stores. No two stores are alike, and no two have the same merchandise. With 15 stores in three blocks, Florence has become known as the antique capital of Colorado. You'll find interesting and valuable treasures around every turn.

See more on Antiquing in Florence


Gallery Hop
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If art is more your passion, stop in to one of Florence's five art galleries, numerous specialty shops or Caņon City's two galleries. Shoppers can view and purchase artwork in a variety of media including oil paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery and sculpture.

Ride the Rails
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Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Dining Car, Royal Gorge Colorado

Ride the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Colorado's first and most scenic full-service streamliner. This is a grand train on an epic adventure along the tumbling waters of the Arkansas River deep withing the granite cliffs of the Royal Gorge. Classes of service hark back to a time when travel was an elegant and leisurely affair, which has earned the Royal Gorge Route Railroad its reputation as the country's premier excursion railroad. Suit your budget or appetite for adventure with multi-course, chef-prepared meals in restored dining or observation dome rail cars. Consider classic, coach-style seating with access to well-outfitted concession and lounge cars or awaken the child withing for a special ride in the locomotive with a real-life engineer. For a stirring combination of fine dining fine wines and a scenic ride hop aboard the Colorado Wine Train for lunch or dinner where you'll enjoy a seasonally inspired meal and a wine list featuring Colorado's best in the dining car or Vista Dome. Whatever seat you choose, be sure to take advantage of the open-air car for a 360-degree view. Visit ColoradoWineTrain.com for more information.

Meal and a Mystery
Enjoy a chef-prepared, four-course feast while figuring out "Who Dunnit" on Royal Gorge Route Railroad's Murder Mystery Train featuring the talented actors of Red Herring Productions. Visit
RoyalGorgeRoute.com for more information.

Sample Award-Winning Wines
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Spend an afternoon at the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey for some world-class wine tasting. Since 2002, the winery has been winning awards for its wine and showroom and has become one of Colorado's largest and most successful wineries. In 2010, the winery brought home more than 50 medals in international competitions. The tasting room is open year-round for those who would like to sample the award-winning wines and peruse the gift shop. Tours can be arranged.

See more on The Abbey Holy Cross Winery

Harvest Fest

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The local favorite, Wild Caņon Harvest is made from grapes grown by local growers and picked by local non-profit groups who use the money they earn to support community charities. Local growers who contribute grapes and workers who helped with the harvest have their names on the label as part of "The Wild Bunch." To celebrate this wine, the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey hosts an annual three-day event. Harvest Fest, held in late September, features live music, Southwest artists and delectable food from some of Colorado's best chefs.

Harvest Fest, Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, Royal Gorge, Colorado

See a full list of Royal Gorge Area Events

Parks and Rec
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Be sure to check out some of the state's best camping, picnicking, horseback riding, fishing and hiking right here in Fremont County. Fly fishing is a great way to spend a relaxing day by the river. Local angler shops will supply you with the necessary gear and license and also offer guided trips for those who want to experience the best fishing spots around.

See more on Royal Gorge Outdoor Adventures

Check out these outfitters for Fishing Tours in the Royal Gorge Area:
Arkansas River Tours
Rock-n-Row/Cottonwood Stables

Also see Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

Follow Your Cravings
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In the mood for a romantic Italian meal or a French feast? How about authentic Mexican or Chinese fare? Or maybe you just want to stay in and order pizza or grab some to-go burgers. Whatever you're craving, Caņon City and Florence restaurants have you covered.

Check out these Royal Gorge Area Restaurants


Explore the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
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Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, America's longest single-span Arial Tram, Royal Gorge Colorado

Take an afternoon to roam the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park and walk across the highest suspension bridge in the U.S. The park is family-friendly, featuring an old time carousel, incline railway ride to the floor of the Royal Gorge, Mountain Man Trading Post and the Wapiti Western Wildlife Park. Get a 360-degree view of the Royal Gorge and the surrounding Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the world's longest single-span Aerial Tram.

See more on the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park

Peak into the Past
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For a fun and educational afternoon, explore the three area museums. The Dinosaur Depot Museum is home to the most complete Stegosaurus ever found and reveals the site where seven new dinosaur species were discovered. The Museum of Colorado Prisons is the actual site of the state's first women's prison and the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center is housed in the city's original 1920s municipal building. The rich history of the Royal Gorge Region can be explored here and the History Center is a genealogy destination with information on over 4,000 regional families. The Fremont Center for the Arts is operated by the oldest arts council in the United States and features monthly shows and events such as the Brew Ha Ha Microbrew and Comedy Festival. Purchase a Community Heritage Pass for admission to all four facilities for one low price.

No matter how you decide to spend your time in Fremont County, you'll find endless opportunities for fun, relaxation and entertainment!

See more on Royal Gorge Museums


Planning a Colorado Vacation?

Check out these other Vacation Idea pages!

Vacation Ideas Adventure, Royal Gorge Colorado Vacation Ideas Family, Royal Gorge Colorado


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