Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [236]
Camping
The shady Piñon Flats Campground, with an abundance of pinyon and juniper trees, offers great views of the dunes and nearby mountains. It has 88 sites and is open year-round. There are picnic tables, fire grates, flush toilets, and drinking water, but no showers or RV hookups. Campsites are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and cost $12 per night.
Where to Stay & Dine
There are no lodging or dining facilities in the park, so your base for exploring Great Sand Dunes will likely be Alamosa (zip code 81101), which has motels and a small but adequate variety of restaurants. In addition to the attractive Cottonwood Inn & Gallery (discussed below), reliable chains in Alamosa include the Best Western Alamosa Inn, 2005 Main St. (☎ 719/589-2567), with double rates of $79 to $99; Comfort Inn, 6301 U.S. 160 (☎ 719/587-9000), $50 to $110 double; Days Inn, 224 O'Keefe Parkway, at the junction of U.S. highways 160 and 285 (☎ 719/589-9037), $45 to $65 double; and Super 8, 2505 W. Main St. (☎ 719/589-6447), $40 to $80 double. Toll-free reservation phone numbers are in the appendix (p. 660).
You'll find a number of restaurants along Main Street. We like the Mexican food at Oscar's Restaurant, 710 Main St. (☎ 719/589-9230), open daily for lunch and dinner; and Mrs. Rivera's Kitchen, 1019 Sixth St. (☎ 719/589-0277), open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Most items at both restaurants are under $10.
The Cottonwood Inn & Gallery
123 San Juan Ave. (3 blocks north of Main St.), Alamosa, CO 81101. ☎ 800/955-2623 or 719/589-3882. Fax 719/589-6437. www.cottonwoodinn.com. 10 units. TEL. Mar–Oct $70–$125 double; Nov–Feb $55–$99 double. Rates include full breakfast. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Pets accepted in 2 apt suites; $60 deposit.
This delightful bed-and-breakfast has a distinctly artsy orientation; it's decorated as a gallery of regional art, much of which is for sale. The Cottonwood consists of two main buildings and a carriage house. The 1908 neocolonial two-story bungalow has five guest rooms, furnished largely in Arts and Crafts style. Each room is unique: The Rosa Room has queen and single beds to accommodate small families, along with children's books and stuffed animals; the Blanca Room weds airy white decor with Art Deco motifs. Bathrooms in three of these units have showers only; the others have tub/shower combos. Adjacent to the bungalow is a 1920s fourplex with four apartment suites, each with a kitchen and a claw-foot tub with shower conversion. Between the two main buildings are a cobblestone courtyard with a hot tub and the carriage house, perfect for those who prefer being off by themselves. Full homemade breakfasts often feature regional specialties, such as fresh fruit crepes with Mexican chocolate and whipped cream. Smoking is not permitted.
Picnic & Camping Supplies
For groceries and other necessities, head to Alamosa and stop at City Market, 131 Market St. (☎ 719/589-2492; www.citymarket.com). You'll find a variety of camping supplies plus groceries and just about everything else you might want at the Wal-Mart SuperCenter, 3333 Clark Ave., Alamosa (☎ 719/589-9071; www.walmart.com).
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GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
by Eric Peterson
INCE IT WAS A LONG REEF JUST BELOW THE OCEAN'S SURFACE, THEN it inched skyward and became a forested area surrounded by wooded canyons and desert lowlands. Today, Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a rugged wilderness of tall Douglas firs and almost lush vegetation rising out of a vast desert. Here you will find numerous hiking trails, panoramic vistas, the highest peak