Located in the South-Western part of Colorado, the Mesa Verde National Park is considered to be one of the most enthralling archaeological sites.
This park preserves a mysterious remainder of the Ancestral Pueblo people, dating back to more than 1000 years.
The striking cliff residencies made alongside the cliff lines were built at some point in between 450 and 1300 A.D by the native people, who migrated to his region. Along with archaeological and historical wonders, this mysterious park also offers several recreational activities and scenic viewpoints.
It attracts millions of tourists especially those with a taste of history and archaeology, all year long.
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to get yourself familiar with the rich history that lies behind the archaeological wonders is to hire a native guide who can show you places around the valley while adding a lot to your knowledge. These guides are perhaps the only source you have, to unlock and uncover all the pieces of history associated with this fascinating park. They are able to correctly interpret the cliff dwellings, ruins artifacts present in this 125,000 acres park.
Moreover, this park houses several horse-riding clubs that have horses available for riding, for a period of an hour to several days. They have horses for all experience levels. Furthermore, these horse-riding clubs also provide you with professionals for training, if required.
At several places in this enchanting valley rich in history, there gift shops and art shops. From these, you can buy authentic Handicrafts and Pottery, out of which several represent the very culture that was prevalent in these lands, 1000 of years ago.
This makes it a great spot for history lovers. Moreover, these shops also sell several kinds of pottery and antique goods, which you can add up to your collection.
Furthermore, there are various restaurants located at different spots offering you a taste that is distinct to this very region, by the use of spices and herbs that are harvested there.
While you are at Mesa Verde, you would not really want to miss paying a visit to the Anasazi Heritage Center which displays the history of that region in a comprehensive way.
It houses a central museum containing historical pictures, artifacts and antique goods for history and archaeology enthusiasts.
Moreover, there is a picnic area, restrooms, and a museum shop within the Heritage Center.
Do not forget to visit, Canyons of the Ancients. It is a rough landscape spread across thousands of acres of land, hosting hundreds of different trails.
While motor vehicles are not allowed on many of the roads present in these canyons, because they happen to be old and rugged, mountain biking is still allowed on a great number of trails. Peddling across these canyons filled with rich history and archaeological sites will provide you an unforgettable experience.
Furthermore, other recreational activities in this area include horse riding and rock climbing. However, rock climbing on archaeological sites in the canyon is strictly prohibited.
The Mesa Verde truly is a national park that is one of its kinds and provides its visitors, an experience that is unparalleled.
