A Tale of Two Colorado Cities: Gunnison and Crested Butte

Charles Dickens begins his literary masterpiece A Tale of Two Cities by saying that "it was the best of times and the worst of times." I came to a new understanding of Dickens' opening thoughts recently, when my niece and I took a mini-vacation to two Colorado cities: Gunnison and Crested Butte. I had such an enjoyable time that I was loathe to come back to the reality of life. You know the reality I'm referring to - work, laundry, errands - all the time-consuming pieces of life that you escape from when you vacation. Hmmm...I wonder if that's why they call these mini trips getaways? Ah, alas, it was the best of times while I was there and the worst of times as I turned in my rental car and headed back home, my overflowing laundry sack in tow.

Since moving to Colorado in late 2006 I've made a point to travel the countryside and see all that I can see. However, my travels had never taken me to Gunnison or Crested Butte before. After being there though, I can foresee many more trips in my future. There are few places that I have been that compare. Like Winter Park, Gunnison and Crested Butte are both quaint ski towns, but that's about as far as the similarities run. Even between the two cities, there are distinct differences.

In Gunnison, I immediately noticed that everyone rides a bicycle. It is easy spot a tourist. We are the ones driving cars. I'm not sure if this movement is propelled by the desire to be eco-friendly or if it is simply a matter of convenience. With few exceptions, there's not a business in Gunnison that can't be reached by bike. I did learn that the sleek looking Schwinns with their fenders, baskets and saddlebags are called "townies". Most folks that I spoke with in Gunnison own both a townie and mountain bike for exploring the numerous trails in and around the area. Bike racks outnumber parking lots in Gunnison and as my friend Sue once observed, no one locks their bikes. This is just one sign of the friendly nature of the people of Gunnison.