A Southern Colo-Road Trip With Blogger HeidiTown: Pueblo, San Luis Valley & Salida

Enjoy a yummy breakfast surrounded by the bounty of Pueblo. The restaurant, serving breakfast and lunch, is located inside a farm market. As you savor your eggs you’ll be surrounded by fresh veggies, pickled treats, baked goods, jars of salsa and more.

See, smell, touch and buy all the things Pueblo’s farms have to offer. Many of these farms have been in families for decades. Learn stories about their history and about how they operate now — there's much more to them than vegetables! Musso Farms has a spice room, while Mauro Farms & Bakery sends their baked goods around the world. All the farms roast Pueblo green chiles, which are in season in late summer to early fall.

Gus' has been dishing up a Dutch Lunch here since 1933. What's Dutch Lunch? It's basically a deconstructed cold-cut sandwich with slices of white bread, cheese, tomatoes and onions served with mayo and mustard. When you enjoy a Dutch Lunch, you become part of the tavern's long history. Gus' also claims to be the oldest bar in Pueblo, but so does Eilers’ Place ... we may never really know who holds that claim to fame.

Home to the WWII B-29 Super Fortress heavy bomber “Peachy,” this museum is 85,000 square feet of aviation history. There are two hangars and an outdoor flight line on site. The museum is a must-see for anyone interested in aeronautics.

You might find yourself humming the tune to "The Godfather" over the homemade pasta and meatballs here. The fried spaghetti, which comes as a side or entree, is “lick-the-plate” good. And don’t forget to order a spumoni ice cream at the end of your meal. This restaurant is 77 years old and old school, and that’s the way Pueblo likes it.

We always make a stop at Independent Records downtown. Around the corner, Springside Cheese is a cheese-lover's paradise. They offer a few locally made items as well as their own cheese and many other treats. Gagliano's Italian Market & Deli is curbside only during COVID-19, but it is a Pueblo treasure established in 1921. Browsing here is a feast for all the senses.

Homemade is the game here. Start your day with a savory green-chili-bacon quiche or a scrumptious muffin with steaming hot coffee.

Opened by a potato farmer in 2017, this brewery has done its part in introducing local palates to craft beer. And the business is growing: They just opened a tasting room about an hour away in Creede.

It’s all about beer and wood-fired pizza here. With seasonal taps, this summer 2020's Peach Wheat was spot on. The house salad served on pizza crust is a must and the green-chili pizza has southern Colorado goodness baked into it. The expansive patio is dog friendly.

This is a trail west of Alamosa in the Rio Grande National Forest. It follows the Rock Creek and the full hike is 7.6 miles.

A renovated roadside motor lodge from the 1940s, this small boutique motel has all the touches today’s traveler wants. There are fabulous soaps, an in-room snack bar and a stocked retro refrigerator. The Tuft & Needle mattress means a truly comfortable sleep.

Serving breakfast and lunch, this charming restaurant is warmed by a wood stove. They also bake their own bread and have a case filled with homemade delights. Careful, it’s an addictive stop that you’ll find yourself making each time you pass Saguache.

With three pools and sweeping views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range, this is an unforgettable hot-springs venue. Currently reservations must be made in advance due to COVID-19.

Breathe in the smell of freshly baked bread in this cozy bakery. With delicious soups and sandwiches, it’s a perfect place for breakfast or lunch ... but don’t leave without a sweet treat like a slice of ginger peach pie.

This dog-friendly town is a joy to walk. Explore the Arkansas River on the paved pathway and meander downtown. Some businesses are even dog friendly.

With two large patios above the Arkansas River, this is the perfect spot to dine with Fido. Enjoy favorites like hamburgers and deviled eggs and watch the kayaks float by as you dine. This is also the place to watch football with multiple televisions in the bar.

Located downtown, this is Salida’s newest brewery. Garage doors let in lots of light and the patio is dog friendly.

Another renovated motor lodge, Amigo has five Airstream “rooms” in addition to comfy traditional lodgings, with dog-friendly options in both. Amigo is within a 2-minute drive of the dog park and Gone to the Dogs and is within walking distance of Soulcraft Brewery.