The thing I like about Fruita/Grand Junction is the proximity to Crested Butte/Gunnison. My first time exploring Fruita was in May 2007. I had to keep a hotel due to having a Black Lab/Golden Retriever puppy and I would do outdoor activities early to avoid the heat, so I looked on a map and it was around 160 miles. Kebler pass is incredibly scenic and CB is generally in the 70’s when Grand Junction can be in the 100’s. The Grand Valley is awesome and a great starting point to get acclimated, but the heat from late Spring through summer can be too much if you’re trying to camp with dogs and kids. I definitely suggest hitting up the wineries and fruit orchards on the way to Kebler Pass.
Thank you for the suggestion! We just honeymooned in telluride and Ouray and stopped in Gunnison. I haven’t been to crested butte yet but it’s on my list for sure!
