At Mesa Verde the evening tours of Cliff Palace are now available every night of the week! The tours are longer, temps are cooler, and fewer people are on each tour. Plus you enjoy a "bit of theater" as your tour guide is an historical character.  These are superb tours and only $10 (compared to the day tours at $3).

We are having a wonderful summer season in the 4 Corners. The monsoon rains helped control the fire hazard in the area and cool off the temps. Come visit Mesa Verde which is the only national park dedicated to historical culture (1200A.D.)

Sundance bear Lodge is open all year with room for 20 guests. Come see us!

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The art community of Mancos is growing and prospering. This report from the local newspaper gives some spring highlights:

Mancos women display art

Jeanne Archambeault
Mancos Times Editor
 

Dian Law will present a one-woman art show called "Demons and Deities" from April 1 through April 30 at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St. "Demons and Deities" is a visual exploration of the sacred, the profane and the space between.

Arborena is the place to see the work of Rosie Carter through May 2. Her show is called "The Rural Underground: New Dimensional Work by Rosie Carter."  Also on display will be the work of Kelly Horrigan, leather goods, and Nicholas Bernard, pottery.


Mancos photographer Patricia Burk will show her work at two different venues next month. The first will be at the Spruce Tree Coffee House in Cortez. Burk will feature scenic landscapes of the Four Corners region and the people and culture of Oaxaca, Mexico. Spruce Tree is located at 318 E. Main, Cortez.

Burk also will be part of an exhibit at the Rochester Hotel in Durango though April 24. Joining Burk will be Linda Pampinella, Branson Reynolds, Howard Rachlin, Kathy Myrick and Al Olson.

Barbara Stewart-Hager, also a Mancos resident, will show her bird photography during April at Desert Pearl Gallery, 40 W. Main St., Cortez. The show, entitled "Flight Songs - A Celebration of Birds," features a variety of bird species photographed mostly in the Four Corners area. Birds are intensely interesting creatures, and they can be seen behaving in many different ways, from dramatic to comedic. Stewart-Hager has chosen a selection of her photographs which attempt to portray the variety of bird species around us, as well as some of their interesting, often amusing behavior.

( A footnote: the Cortez Cultural Center sponsors a birding festival in early May. Come and enjoy!)

Mesa Verde begins to awaken for the season in mid-April as Cliff Palace opens to visitors. All the cultural exhibits are open by Memorial Day, when the Native American festival will once again take place. Art, rug auction, concert and more plus the opening of Long House for the season.

Special hikes will be to Oak Tree/Fire Temple (2 hr strenuous), Yucca House (1 hr), Square Tower House (2 hr strenuous) and Spring House (8hr very strenuous).  Get details and purchase tickets at www.mesaverdeinstitute.org.

We believe the evening tours of Cliff Palace will be on the schedule this summer as well. These are at a perfect time of day for photos, plus it is cooler. The guide is in character so you get a touch of theater/entertainment. These tickets are purchased in person at the Cortez Welcome Center and in the national park.

To get a very good survey of what the area has to offer for your vacation, please visit www.MesaVerdeCountry.com. We enjoy miles of national forest, a couple scenic/historic byways, great hiking/biking and horseback riding to mention a few. In addition to the Memorial Day Native American art festival, we have hot air balloons and Colorado wines in the fall.

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Compliments of the Prof. Assoc. if Innkeepers, we are all interested in convincing travelers that there is a Better Way to Stay -- compared to what they have been doing. Take the holidays for instance. It is possible to be too close to family on a holiday! You and the folks you love need private space! Here is a thought from PAII:

This holiday season show "familyed-out" travelers that inns and B&Bs are the better way to stay

Twenty-two percent of travelers feel pressure to travel to see family for the holidays and 17 percent have cut a holiday family trip short because they were "family-ed out." Twenty-five percent of respondents would rather stay somewhere else for the December holidays than where they are planning to stay. This gives innkeepers the perfect opportunity to show "family-ed out" travelers the better way to stay. ...B&Bs can offer the perfect alternative to staying with the in-laws, reminding travelers that a little time away from Mom and Dad-in-law may keep the holidays merry and bright.

Do you agree with us????

Too many people in a one bath house...nudging the children from their rooms so out-of-town extended family can move in...the teens are too loud for thegrandparents to be comfortable...Haven't we all experienced these issues that arise when staying with family? 

We try to let our friends and neighbors know that Sundance Bear Lodge can be the extra room that their homes are missing!

Our big guest house has been reserved for the holidays -- but a family of 1-4 can still reserve our log cabin for Christmas. If you plan to be in the 4 Corners, give us a call at Sundance Bear Lodge. We try to make Christmas - New Years special.

A perfect example of Mesa Verde's culture of Colorado agritourism is the Mesa Verde Country Food, Wine & Art Festival, on Saturday, August 28th in the Cortez city parks, which will feature wine tasting from some of Colorado's finest wines, including our local vintners Guy Drew and Sutcliff. The festival will also showcase talented local artisans and musicians, and show off foods to pair with wines from local and regional producers. Local cheeses, olive oils, dips, and salsas will be available to taste, and to take home!

On Friday evening, August 27th, local restaurants will showcase regional wines, paired with local sustainable foods in the Mesa Verde Country Winemaker's Dinners. For more information on these mouth-watering, gourmet dinners, go to www.mesaverdecountry.com.

Don't miss this chance to experience the best food and wines Colorado, and particularly Mesa Verde Country, have to offer!