Tag: Mesa Verde National Park

Mesa Verde Awaits You

On By Margie.MercIn Education, PostADay20117 Comments
Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park, Colo...
Image via Wikipedia

Another place to visit in Colorado is Mesa Verde National Park. This area was designated a national park in 1906 by Theodore Roosevelt as a way to preserve the works of man. The ‘works of man ‘ at this park have been discovered, uncovered and protected since then.

Mesa Verde has cliff dwellings that were once home to over 24 Indian tribes and finally abandoned in the 1200’s. When you walk around this sacred park, it’s easy to conger up how it may have looked so long ago.

The park protects over 4000 archeological sites including 600 cliff dwellings.  The red cliffs, mesa top pueblos, farming terraces, towers and reservoirs are reminders of a progressive and powerful lifestyle.

You can take tours to see some of the dwellings and hear more about the lives these Native American Indians lived and why they eventually left.

Mesa Verde History

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The Ultimate Road Trip

On By Margie.MercIn PostADay20118 Comments
Uncompahgre Gorge and Mount Abrams between Sil...
Uncompahgre Mountains via Wikipedia

The San Juan Skyway is called the ‘road to the sky’ and offers stunning views of the San Juan Mountains in all their glory.

The mountain range is home to many 14,000 ft. high mountain peaks, small towns, Indian pueblo ruins and hot springs.

To really see the sights, you must plan to spend 2-3 days along the way. Then you can relax, view the gorgeous surroundings and appreciate nature’s beauty.

Then you can send me that thank you postcard! Oh baby, you’re gonna love it!

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National Forest: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests, San Juan National Forest
Length: 233.0 mi / 375.0 km
Time to Allow: Five hours to drive or 1-2 days to experience the byway

Must Take This Tour

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Internet Goodies #18: A fee-free week at U.S. National Parks

On By Margie.MercIn Communication, Education, PostADay2011, Web Resources1 Comment

April 16 – April 24 is National Parks Week across the United States. This means you can visit a national park, trail, and monument, site and preserve for free!

The opportunity to visit some historical sites and learn more about Colorado is available when you visit Bent’s Old Fort in La Junta or look into the past at Mesa Verde National Park. At the Great Sand Dunes in Mosca, CO you can stand in awe and wonder how the dunes ended up in this part of the world. Be sure to do some sand surfing while you’re there – it’s an experience like no other!

Dinosaur National Monument in Dinosaur Colorado is a ‘must-see’ site for children who are in the dinosaur learning phase of their lives.

Rocky Mountain National Park is always one of my favorites because of the plethora of trails, lakes, views and wide open sky.  If you live in Colorado and want to take advantage of the free entrance fees this week – here’s a list of sites to visit:

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site
La Junta, CO
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
Montrose, CO
Colorado National Monument
Fruita, CO
Curecanti National Recreation Area
Gunnison, CO
Dinosaur National Monument
Vernal, Utah & Dinosaur, Colorado, CO,UT
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Florissant, CO
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve
Mosca, CO
Mesa Verde National Park
Cortez and Mancos, CO

Old Spanish National Historic Trail
AZ,CA,CO,NV,NM,UT

Pony Express National Historic Trail
Various States, CA,CO,KS,MO,NE,NV,UT,WY
Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park and Grand Lake, CO

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
Kiowa County, CO
Santa Fe National Historic Trail
CO,KS,MO,NM,OK

Yucca House National Monument
Cortez, CO

–Here is a list of featured events happening across the United States this week:

Park Prescriptions: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana

April 21

Join us in celebrating the launch of the Indiana Dunes “Park Prescription” program. Staff from the National Park Service and Porter Health System will introduce the prescription trails and describe the workings of this get healthy program. Health care professionals, patients, and students from the Discovery Charter School will be on hand to demonstrate the value of Healthy Parks Healthy People. The program kicks off at 11 a.m. at the Calumet Dune Trail at the corner of U.S. Highway 12 and Kemil Road in Beverly Shores, Indiana.

John Muir’s birthda: Muir Woods National Monument, California

April 21

Celebrate John Muir’s birthday with a quiet walk through what he called “the best tree-lover’s monument in all the forests of the world.” Phone the Muir Woods Hotline at 415-388-2595 for program information.

Explore, Learn, Protect: Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

April 23

Have you ever put your hand into a bear’s footprint? Have you ever been so close to an owl that you could look it in the eye? Have you ever talked to a wildland firefighter? Here’s your chance! Shenandoah National Park has special activities planned for National Junior Ranger Day. For park information call 540-999-3500.

Get more information from National Parks Service
www.nps.gov/npweek

No Admission Fees at 300+ National Parks next week
http://www.wtop.com
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