los caminos antiguos

Five years ago we retired & moved half-way across the country, & actually now live on Los Caminos Antiguos byway. This drive is very scenic & rich with history...14,000+ foot mountain peaks all around, Great Sand Dunes National Park (tallest sand dunes in North America), Fort Garland Museum (1 of Kit Carson's outposts), & lots of Native American & Hispanic influence. This part of our country was under Spanish rule longer than it has been under American, & 17th-century Spanish is still spoken here. It is like being in a foreign country in many ways. You can still sometimes see cattle being driven by cowboys from 1 pasture to another, or sheep being herded, etc. A visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park is a must-do, & the view from the top of the dunes is incredible & well worth the hike. A short hike up the side of the mesa in San Luis past bronze sculptures & to Stations of the Cross Shrine at the top also rewards you with incredible views. MANY things to see & do along Los Caminos Antiguos!

Off the beaten, tourist trap path, and on historic old west trails and towns that represent the regions colorful Spanish, Anglo, and Native American past; all for the price of a few gallons of gas. Don't forget your camera!