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The view from a suspension bridge over Box Canon Falls (Anna Wolf) MAY 2007 ISSUE • Table of Contents • Bermuda: Third Time's a Charm? • Secret Hotels of the Greek Isles • The Family Travel Handbook • Eat Like a Local: Toronto • Web Smart: Google Earth • Road Trip: Colorado • 40 Best Vacations

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Day 4: Ouray to Grand Junction   
Two blocks from our hotel at Box Cañon Falls & Park, we follow a walkway next to the falls, which fill the canyon with mist. We hike a steep half-mile to the bridge suspended over the cascade. A placard explains that the rock face in front of us is known as the Great Unconformity: For some reason, a stripe of rock representing 30 million years of geologic time is missing. I quickly give up trying to wrap my head around that and instead just admire the contrasting reds, oranges, and whites in the rock.

In between ogling Ouray's adorable Victorian-era buildings and the surrounding mountains, we come upon Ouray Silversmiths. Opened in 1994, the shop sells silver and gold jewelry handmade by owner Melanie Kline and her son, Josh. Lisa buys her mother a ring with a golden horse in a silver paddock for her birthday, even though it's more than six months away. "When you see something this perfect, you just have to get it," she says.

With a flight to catch in the afternoon, we grab a late breakfast at the Galloping Goose Bakery & Cafe and reluctantly climb into the car and speed northward, leaving the mountains behind.

Descending into the plains, we find that the sky opens up wider and wider, and fields dotted with split-rail fences seem to go on forever. We drive nearly an hour in silence, happy simply to watch the landscapes slowly roll by.

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Finding Your Way
Southwestern Colorado has some of the prettiest drives in the state, which is saying a lot. The mountain views north of Durango on the Million Dollar Highway (Rte. 550) are particularly gorgeous. Though it's easy to get distracted, be sure to keep your eyes on the road--it's often very windy, with steep drop-offs and not as many safety barriers as you might hope. If you're going to Animas Forks or anywhere else off the main roads, consider a four-wheel drive vehicle--and no matter what, take it slow.