'''Alamosa''' is a small town in south central Colorado, USA. It is noteworthy as the nearest significant town to Great Sand Dunes National Park, a similarly near neighbor of the eastern hub of a superb scenic railroad, and also because during the winter, it frequently records the lowest temperature of the day of any place in the contiguous United States.

Get in

Alamosa is at the intersection of US highways 160 and 285, about 230 road miles from Denver. (The straight-line distance is considerably less, but the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains deter traffic.) Limited commuter air service exists between Denver and Alamosa, with about three flights daily each way.

Get around

See

  • '''Adams State College''' is in Alamosa, with a nice campus.
  • Do

    Buy

    Eat

  • '''Trujillo's''', 326 Main St., ''+1 719'' 589-2641. Alamosa is not a fine-dining paradise, but this restaurant serves acceptable Mexican fare, with a "New Mexican" interpretation.
  • Drink

  • San Luis Valley Brewing Company. 31 Main St. Alamosa. n the corner of San Juan and Main St. (Hwy 160). 719) 587-BEER. ww.slvbrewco.com. 1am-9pm. By far the best place to eat in Alamosa. Bring the whole family for craft brewed beers and famous homemade root beer. Check out the menu on the website.

    Sleep

  • '''Best Western Alamosa Inn''', 2005 Main St., ''+1 719'' 589-2567. A fairly large property not far from Adams State College, on the main drag through town. Not special, but entirely acceptable. Rooms from $75 or so.
  • '''Holiday Inn''', 333 Santa Fe Ave., ''+1 719'' 589-5833. Well equipped, with an indoor putting green(!) to entertain the kids.
  • '''Comfort Inn'''
  • Get out

  • Great Sand Dunes National Park is about 20 miles northeast of town. If you're not planning on camping at the park, getting lodging in Alamosa is a good idea, as the tiny towns on the way have very few lodging options.
  • '''Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad''', ''+1 888'' 286-2737, [http://www.cumbrestoltec.com/], has its eastern terminus at the small town of Antonito, about 30 miles south of Alamosa. Trains run from here to Chama, New Mexico through some superbly scenic country. The line offers options for round trips to Chama or the half-way point, with a possible return from Chama via bus. Reservations are a must. Lodging exists at Antonito, but it's not as plentiful as in Alamosa.
  • Just east of the road to Antonito is the similarly small town of '''Manassa''', birthplace of the great boxer Jack Dempsey. The '''Jack Dempsey Museum''', 412 Main Street, ''+1 719'' 843-5207, is open M-Sa 9AM-5PM during the summer.
  • There are a few developed hot springs in the San Luis Valley north of Alamosa. '''Sand Dunes Swimming Pool and RV Park''', ''+1 719'' 378-2807, [http://www.sanddunespool.com/] is one, near the tiny town of Hooper, about 20 miles north. The "swimming pool" part of the name doesn't sound promising, but in fact it's a real hot spring, with two bathing alternatives at different temperatures owing to dilution with meteoric water.