Bustling craft breweries, a robust lineup of long-loved festivals and events, and exquisite cuisine heightened by rich cultural heritage and the celebrated Mirasol chile are just a few ways this flourishing city spices up the scene in southern Colorado.
1. REEL IN A BRAG-WORTHY CATCH AT LAKE PUEBLO STATE PARK.
Known for its population of feisty large and smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish and more, Lake Pueblo State Park is a treasured Colorado fishing destination for both locals and visitors (fishing licenses are available at the visitor center). Boating, jet skiing, camping, picnicking and hiking are also popular activities at the park, known for having a mild year-round climate with plenty of sunny days — even in the winter months. Take in views of the Greenhorn and
Wet mountains to the southwest and snow-speckled Pikes Peak to the north; or amble along the Arkansas River below the dam, where you can try your luck at trout fishing or launch a kayak. More ways to appreciate the great outdoors in Pueblo >>
2. FALL IN LOVE WITH THE FAMED PUEBLO CHILE.
A trip to Pueblo would not be complete without a meal (or four) featuring the Mirasol chile —the area’s superstar crop. Wake up your taste buds at the annual blockbuster Chile & Frijoles Festival in September, when thousands pay tribute to the flavorful pepper and the city’s Hispanic heritage with music, arts and crafts, cooking competitions and, of course, all the green-chile dishes you’ve ever dreamed of. Or, pick up a bushel of roasted chiles at one of the city’s many farmers’ markets and farm stands during the fall harvest season.
Make sure to try the legendary Pueblo Slopper, an open-face hamburger smothered in zesty green chile and topped with cheese and onions. Various local restaurants serve up their own version of the beloved dish, and you can eat like a local on the Pueblo Slopper Stop Tour, highlighting the city’s top 10 slopper restaurants. Check out the dining guide >>
3. LIVE IT UP AT AN AWESOME EVENT.
In addition to the Chile & Frijole Festival, Pueblo’s event calendar is jam-packed with countless other year-round events worth traveling for. Pueblo’s 4th of July Celebration tames the heat of summer with the Pueblo West Water Parade — the biggest wet parade and water fight west of the Mississippi — and also pays tribute to Pueblo’s four Medal of Honor recipients and the city’s designation as the “Home of Heroes” through the Walk of Valor on the Arkansas Riverwalk, the city’s history-steeped waterfront experience. And what would Independence Day be without an epic fireworks display?
A quintessential Colorado event since 1869, the Colorado State Fair and Rodeo takes place for 11 days in August and September. The affair brings agricultural exhibits, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeos, craft-beer tasting, unique shopping opportunities, live concerts and classic carnival fun, including rides and all the scrumptious fair food you can eat, to Pueblo’s fairgrounds.
For a truly one-of-a-kind experience, put December’s Beulah Yule Log Festival and Hunt on your calendar. The 66-year-old bash is centered around the hunt for an 8-foot pine log hidden at Pueblo Mountain Park in Beulah. Hunters of all ages scour the park for the log, and the lucky finder gets to shout “halueb” (Beulah spelled backward) and enjoy a ride back to the lodge atop the log, carried by fellow hunters. Other highlights include wassail drinking (mulled hot cider), the burning of half the log, and tons of music and fanfare.
4. DRINK IN COLORADO’S BOOMING CRAFT-BEER INDUSTRY AT THREE BREWERIES IN DOWNTOWN PUEBLO.
At Shamrock Brewing, complement the Pueblo American Pale Ale (or PAPA) with hearty Irish-inspired dishes like Jameson Meat Loaf made with ground Colorado beef and pork and a whiskey-infused sauce. Sip the Walter’s Original Pilsner or Pueblo Chile Lager at Walter’s Brewing Company — an institution that originally opened in 1889 and was lovingly reestablished in 2014 after a 40-year closure.
Meanwhile, the past and present live in harmony at Brues Alehouse Brewing Co., housed in a building on the Arkansas Riverwalk that served as a police station and jail from the 1940s to 2010. Listen to live music and pair the Leadhead IPA with upscale pub eats or a luscious treat from their bakery and espresso bar (you can’t go wrong with one of the freshly made truffles).
5. ENTERTAIN THE KIDS (AND YOURSELF).
Pueblo is filled with authentic museums that are sure to be a hit with the whole family. The Buell Children’s Museum at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center teems with hands-on exhibits focusing on the arts, science and history. Youngsters can spend hours partaking in activities like starring their own productions in the Elk Pomar Magic Carpet Theater or crafting their own masterpieces in the Artrageous Studio.
For budding pilots, the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum boasts more than 100 exhibits and displays of military, space and civilian aircraft dating back to World War II, including one of the few surviving Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers flown by the U.S. military in WWII and the Korean War. More family activities >>
6. DIVE INTO THE HISTORY BEHIND PUEBLO’S “STEEL CITY” REPUTATION.
Steelworks Center of the West preserves artifacts and buildings of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&I) — a key force in the economic development of Pueblo and surrounding areas — and other topics related to the industrialization of the American West. Must-see exhibits include a dispensary and X-ray room from 1945 (the museum is housed in the historic 1901 CF&I Medical Dispensary); the CF&I Mine Rescue Car No. 1, rumored to be the only remaining wooden mine rescue car in the U.S.; and exclusive photos from CF&I’s vast mining operations, which included 62 mine and quarry sites in six western states. More museums >>
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO PUEBLO
For stellar travel-planning tools, including an itinerary builder and event calendar, get the Visit Pueblo app for iPhone or Android or download the official visitors’ guide. With a bounty of affordable and convenient hotels, motels and other places to stay, Pueblo is also a great home base for exploring other destinations in southern Colorado. Book lodging >>