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South East Colorado - Pueblo
By Sandra Kinsler

Earlier this year I took a trip through South East
Colorado. What a fantastic area of the country it is. Right
on the edge of the plains, but also close to the beautiful
San Isabel National Forest and the Sangre de Cristo
mountains. 

There are beautiful roads to drive on, and Michael
Schumacher -- the famous Formula I race car driver -- chose
the area for a recent motorcycle trip. You should too. It's
perfect for a family vacation.

The area is one of the most important cross-roads regions
in the country. Most everyone heading west passed through
the region and evidence of that migration is everywhere.
Even dinosaurs roamed there. Especially prominent is the
historic Santa Fe Trail -- more about that in another
article. 

Pueblo, Colorado is a wonderful little city, and a great
place to include on a trip to the region. The downtown
(Union Street) is packed full of adorable shops, bakeries,
restaurants, bars, and the lovely Riverwalk -- along the
Arkansas River which was the border with Mexico until 1846.
The city is also one of the most important historical sites
for the railroad wars of the 1800s.

Pueblo also has some great architecture, and among my
favorite buildings is the El Pueblo History Museum. Don't
miss this gem. They do historical reenactments, and have
superb exhibits on the history and inhabitants of the
region. Make sure to find out about Annie Blake and General
Palmer. These two characters' histories offer fantastic
tales of the development of the region. They were tough and
determined to own lots of land and make the most of the
region.

Don't miss the museum's fantastic gift shop -- I love my
new t-shirts, jewelry and books. And if you are with kids,
they'll love it too.

When you go to Pueblo, don't miss Gagliano's Market. It is
the most authentic Italian market I have been in since I
lived in Italy years ago. I consider their Stuffed Bread a
Food Pilgrimage (TM) -- and you can read all about it in
the Travel section. It has been there for 83 years, and
they know how to do Italian food right. If you are going
through town in an RV this is a perfect place to stock up
for the next leg of your trip.

Another totally cool thing to do is visit the -- due to
open to the public in December of 2006 -- Steelworks Museum
of Industry and Culture run by the Bessemer Historical
Society. Pueblo was one of the centers of the steel
smelting industry. In fact it was the largest west of the
Mississippi. The site of the museum was the home of the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company from 1850 though 1990. The
company was the largest employer in the region with 61
mines, and much of American labor relations evolved right
on this site. The site is an erie mix of manufacturing
history and the very real challenge of treating workers
properly. Make sure to take a gander at the "hospital" --
thankfully our's are now modern.

As a chili lover, I adore cookoffs and festivals that serve
the yummie stuff. Though I haven't yet attended, Pueblo
holds the annual Chili and Frijoles Festival. It is held
the third weekend of September (22 through 24 in 2006.)
Grab a couple of cold beers and your Pepto Bismol and go at
it. You'll join 90,000 other chili and bean lovers. If you
love music, take your pick from 46 different bands. For
shoppers (which I certainly am) you'll have the shops of
150 exhibitors to peruse. Oh, by the way, it's free.

If barbeque is more your speed, Pueblo holds another
festival called Boats, Blues and Barbeque every June. Try
one of the local Bed and Breakfast Inns when you stay over.
They are adorable.

Close to Pueblo are a couple of places you have got to see.
The first is Bishop's Castle. This is a hand-built castle
constructed by a local man who has battled with the
government for the right to do what he has done. You can
walk into the castle -- it's free -- and see this amazingly
beautiful structure for yourself. Remember, he built it all
by himself. The dragon head is made of recycled hospital
trays. It's a trip!

Also in that same area is Lake Pueblo. It's a
fisher-person's paradise. The trip from Pueblo past the
lake, up to Bishop's Castle, and back can be done in half a
day. But it's a lovely area. So pack a picnic from
Gagliano's and stop along the way to eat and enjoy the
beautiful scenery.

There's much more to Pueblo Colorado than the Federal
Government's Publications Office. I know you'll love it.

Eat and Drink:
	The Pantry: Sloppers (hamburgers drown in green chili.)
	Star Bar: More Sloppers.
	Gold Dust Saloon: Even more Sloppers.
	Gus' Place: Tavern with Dutch lunch -- plates of deli
meats and cheese -- and it's the home of the Boiler Maker.
	Gagliano's Market: Italian everything and the owners are
adorable
	Hopscotch Bakery: Yummy cakes and cookies. Amazing
grainola (remember that yummy stuff?)
	Jorge's Sombrero: Try the Enchiladas Tejanas which are
similar to lasagna but made with corn tortillas and green
chili. Yum-eee.
	Rosario's: Italian. Owner's dad is a famous regional
artist and his work is on display though out the entire
restaurant -- even the bathrooms.

Sleep:
	Abriendo Inn Bed and Breakfast
	Edgar Orlin House Bed and Breakfast
	Pueblo Marriott: nice bed, but I think I got bit by fleas
there.

Kids:
	Pueblo Carousel: Old fashioned, beautifully maintained,
authentic carousel with hand-carved horses and chariots, in
City Park.
	15" Gauge Trains and Kid's Rides:  Kids and adults can
ride around the lake on the miniature train. Children get
to ride on the most adorable selection of carnival rides
I've ever seen. Also in City Park.

Festivals:
	April: Outlaws Rod and Custom Car Show
	May: Cicno de Mayo Celebrations
	June: Bluegrass on the River Festival
		Boats, Blues & Barbeque
		Andenucio Baseball Tournament
		NSRA Rocky Mountain Street Rod Nationals
		Rollin on the Riverwalk
	July: Colorado Music Fest and July 4th Celebration
		Little Britches Rodeo
	August: Pueblo Air Show
		Colorado State Fair
	September: Chili and Frijoles Festival
	November  & December: Holiday Lighting Extravaganza

Assistance:
	www.colorado.com
	www.coloradobyways.org
	www.frontierpathways.org
	www.pueblochamber.org
	
	
			

Wow, you really make me want to go back to Colorado.  I've
only been to Denver, Breckenridge, and Vail.

Your trip sounds great!