Population: 8,756
Best way to travel: Car or Bicycle
#1 thing to do: Valley Plaza
#2 thing to do: San Luis Valley History Center Museum
#3 thing to do: Amarok Sailing Charters
Fun fact: In June 1878, Alamosa went from a city of tents to a rail center for the Denver and Rio Grande railroad and believe it or not, this happened overnight!
#1 car rental company: Budget
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!
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.
