A cavalcade of characters, some famous, some infamous and some downright notorious, have stepped across this landscape. Diego de Vargas, Juan Bautista de Anza, Zebulon Pike, John C. Frèmont, Kit Carson, John Gunnison, Phil Sheridan, Tom Tobin, Bat Masterson, Soapy Smith, Bob Ford, Calamity Jane, Poker Alice, Chipeta and Ouray, Otto Mears, Ulysses S. Grant, Alfred/Alferd Packer—the names associated with San Luis Valley history read like a western epic.
Begin this culinary adventure as early as 8 am at the San Luis Valley Farmer's Market in downtown Alamosa. Located on Main Street between the blocks of Hunt and State Avenue, this market features produce from all over the region.
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge- The Monte Vista NWR combines with the Alamosa and Baca NWRs to form the 118,000 acre Alamosa/Monte Vista/Baca National Wildlife Refuge Complex. These refuges create teh largest and most diverse collection of wetlands in Colorado. Many species of birds and waterfowl can be spotted here such as mallards, pintail, tea, American avocets, killdeer, white-faced ibis, egrets, and herons.
Creede: Depot, Underground Mining Museum - The Creede Museum, located in the historic railroad depot, features memorabilia from Creede's boomtown heyday. The museum houses a large collection of historic photos and documents. The Underground Mining Museum, located in a man-made cavern, has life-like exhibits that demonstrate historic silver mining techniques and mining equipment.
The San Luis Valley boasts 20 museums located throughout the San Luis Valley including the towns of Alamosa, Antonito, Creede, Crestone, Del Norte, Fort Garland, Homelake, Manassa, Monte Vista, Saguache, San Luis, and the "outdoor museum" the Old Spanish Trail.