Southwest

Alamosa / Monte Vista Area

Crane Festival â€“ festival, nature
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve â€“ free admission days; free entrance via Mosca, Music, Medano passes
Los Caminos Antiguos Scenic & Historic Byway – 129 miles of “The Ancient Roads” – Information link

Buena Vista

Gold Rush Days – festival, music, Burro races – Festival link

Crested Butte

Crested Butte Festival of the Arts – festival – Festival link
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival – festival – Festival link (only a few activities are free)

Crestone

Energy and Sustainable Energy Fair – guest lectures; strawbale, abobe floor and plaster demonstrations; solar, biodiesel, alternative energy demonstrations, live music – Festival link

Durango Area

Discovery Museum at the Powerhouse – museum in the making – free tours 1st & 3rd Friday of each month – Museum link
Iron Horse Bicycle Classic – bicycle vs. Narrow Gauge train race – Event link
San Juan Skyway drive – 236 miles of some of the most beautiful scenery in the world – Map & Info
San Juan Mountains Assoc. – guided hikes, llama treks, ski & snowshoe tours – Programs link
SnowDown â€“ festival
Vallecito Lake Tour of Carvings â€“ art / self-guided tour

Grand Junction

Free Wine Tasting – 2 to 7 PM on Fridays and Saturdays at Crossroads Wine & Spirit – business link

Gunnison

Curecanti National Recreation Area – free admission, but there is a boat fee to go out on Blue Mesa Reservoir. Camp at Gateway at the extreme south end of the Lake Form Arm of Blue Mesa, and you won’t spend a cent either! Enjoy some hiking or even a dip in the cold waters (look for designated wake-free areas, and be careful not to get hypothermic!) Birds and wildlife are plentiful, so bring a camera and binoculars. – National Park link

Mancos

Mancos Old Time Fiddlers’ Contest – information link

Montrose / Colona

Botanical Gardens â€“ flowers, shrubs, cacti, trees, and great views of the mountains
Harmony Park â€“ music playground
Ray’s Good Stuff â€“ free jerky samples (varieties of beef, turkey, buffalo, elk, and other jerky)
Russell Stover Candies Factory Outlet â€“ free candy samples

Ouray

Ouray Ice Park & Ouray Ice Festival â€“ ice climbing; competition
Ray’s Good Stuff â€“ free jerky samples (varieties of beef, turkey, buffalo, elk, and other jerky)
Rotary Park Ice Skating Rink – bring your own skates – Ice Rink link

Pagosa Springs

Colorfest Wine & Cheese Tasting, Balloon Rally, & Community Picnic – Event link

Salida

FIBArk Whitewater Festival – recreation (spectator) – Event link
Salida Art Walk – art – Event link

Silverton Area

Kendall Mountain Recreation Area – free ice skating, XC ski trails, snowshoeing, sledding

Telluride

Telluride Free Box â€“ free stuff in a box
Telluride Gondola – free scenic ride – Gondola link 1, Gondola link 2