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© Copyright 2008, Mountain Kids
Magazine, LLC

Summer 2008
Gunnison/Crested Butte Colorado Family
Activity Guide

Just For Teens

Viewed Through Knock-Off Designer Sunglasses: Summer For Teens in The Gunnison Valley
Cat Hausler, Local Teen



Summer in the Gunnison Valley is one of the prettiest times of the year: Temperatures aren’t too hot, the scenery is in full bloom, and there is something to do for people of all ages.

Having lived in Gunnison for 12 years, I know this valley
well, and have learned the tricks to having fun in a
small town. Let me take you through one day of my life
in the summer.

The Lake, Lunch, and a Movie

9:00 a.m.: Wake-up time

Though it’s important to get up fairly early to get the most
out of my day, summer is a time to relax. So I let myself have that extra hour of sleep. Almost every day of summer I
wear a swimsuit under my shorts and some sort of light
shirt or tank top. I always have my knock-off designer
sunglasses in my purse because in this high-altitude valley
the sun can be fierce.

10:00 a.m.: Head to Blue Mesa

Blue Mesa, a reservoir just west of Gunnison, was built in 1965. Called simply, “the lake,” by locals, Blue Mesa is the largest body of water in Colorado. Many people bring their motorboats to the lake, but if you are boat free, there is
still a fun time to be had.

To get to the lake, get on Hwy. 50 and head west. After about 15 minutes of driving, you’ll begin to see the water. Past the Lake City Bridge, another ten minutes or so, on the left is one of my favorite “beaches,” Dry Creek. This spot has quite a long stretch of sand, a place to barbeque, and bathrooms.
But because of this, Dry Creek is very popular. To get a good spot, go early.

Or, to find less of a crowd, instead of passing the Lake City Bridge, turn (left) onto it. The first couple of right turns you’ll come to after the bridge, have smaller, more secluded beaches that are never as busy. They’re where my friends and I go most of the time. These however don’t have barbeques or bathrooms, so be preparedfor that.

After I’ve chosen a spot, I slather on the sunscreen and jump in the water, or simply lie out and soak up the rays. The water is usually pretty calm so kayaking is a popular way to get out a bit farther on the lake. But this isn’t the tropics; remember, the water is COLD!

1:30 p.m.: Lunch at the Firebrand
By the middle of the day, it gets pretty windy out at Blue Mesa, and after a morning of frolicking at the lake, I usually want to grab some lunch. One of Gunnison’s best sandwich places is the Firebrand. It’s small restaurant right on Gunnison’s Main Street with an assortment of unique and tasty sandwiches (my favorite is the “Hot Hammy Melt”). Usually, I eat right there but it’s easy to take food to-go as well. For my sweet tooth, I’m always sure to get one of their huge, homemade cookies or muffins. I eat lunch at my leisure and then go somewhere cool to take a siesta.

3:30 p.m.: Get a mid-afternoon boost
Mid-afternoon temperatures are still quite warm so to cool off and wake up after my nap, I meet my friends at Mochas coffee shop just north of downtown Gunnison near City Market. At Mochas (a favorite hangout for Gunnison’s teens), one can get a variety of coffee drinks, juices, ice cream and snacks. From 3 to 4 p.m. Mocha’s has happy hour, where drinks are priced two for one. Try a blended white mocha with cinnamon for a frosty sweet treat.

3:45 p.m.: Take a treat to the park
With Mocha’s goodies in hand, we go to American Legion Park. To get to the park from Mocha’s, go south on Main Street and then turn left when you come to the main stop light at Tomichi. Go straight for less than a mile and you’ll see a large, open park on your left.
We place ourselves at picnic tables or stretch out on the grass under one of the large trees and just watch the world go by. It’s always a good time to relax and talk or just think. If you’re one for a bit more activity, there is a playground with swings and other equipment right next to the open area. Or go across the street to Jorgensen Park and watch one of the softball games that’s always happening.

4:45 p.m.: Go to Crested Butte for a movie
Because Gunnison doesn’t have a movie theater of its own, we always have a fun time “getting out of town” and going to see a movie at the Majestic Theatre in Crested Butte. The theatre is small, but it offers a variety of movies. The drive from Gunnison to Crested Butte is about 30 minutes and we like to get to the Majestic 15 to 30 minutes before the movie starts. It’s a scenic ride, and my friends and I tend to pump up the music on our car stereos and sing and gossip all the way. It’s always a problem choosing which movie to see, but in the end we usually see one in the early evening to leave time for dinner afterwards.

8:00 p.m.: Sushi at the LoBar
To take a step out of the country for a few hours, my friends and I love going to Crested Butte’s LoBar. Located on Elk Avenue, this sushi bar is down a flight of stairs. Decked out in high-style décor, the LoBar serves delectable sushi and other various tasty concoctions. If you’re not such an adventurous eater, Crested Butte has a multitude of other cuisines.

10:00 p.m.: Bonfire
After a day of fun, we head home to “Gunniville” where there isn’t much of a hopping nightlife. Throughout the summer though, teens trade off hosting bonfires at their houses. We roast marshmallows, talk endlessly, and there is usually someone strumming away at a guitar.

Gunnison may not hold the glittering lights or endless thrills of a city, but the teens of this small town have learned to make the best of their summer days.