5 Things You Must Do in Alamosa
Alamosa was founded in 1878 when a group of settlers stopped on a bend in the Rio Grande near the shade of a grove of cottonwood trees and named the city after the trees. The city attracted visitors and settlers because it was easy to access San Luis Valley from here. The protected monuments and reserves around the city is a very scenic place of beauty attracting many tourists every year.
1. Have a feel of the old west: If you like the ‘wild wild west’ then you must take a ride in the Cumbres/Toltec railroad. Powered by a steam engine, you chug up the steep grades, roll over high tresses and go through a vast area of wild, unchanged west. For more information on the Railroad click on the link.
2. Do some alligator wrestling: Although not native of the place, alligators were brought here as garbage disposal for the tilapia fish farm. Now they have their own farm of about 400 alligators along with turtles, tortoise, snakes and lizards. You can learn all about them and wrestle them as well! For more information on the Alligator Farm click on the link.
3. Visit the Stations of the Cross: A series of sculptures by Huberto Maestas, an international sculpture, it depicts the last hours in the life of Jesus Christ.
4. Learn about the history of the valley: The San Luis Valley Museum tells the story of the valley from its Indian past to present Japanese American Community.
5. Shopping and eating: The city has three shopping malls and many restaurants where the owner is often found in the kitchen cooking for his guests.
