Sugar City and Three Dog Night Guest House are 100 percent off the beaten path. Located 60 miles from Pueblo, this former sugar manufacturing center with a population of 250 has a post office that’s been in operation since 1900. Shade trees line the quiet streets that give way to flowing pastures and a pale-blue sky filled with wispy clouds.
Three Dog Night is a quiet, nature-forward stay. Look out the window for views of Lake Meredith or hammock the day away with your favorite magazine. Built to look like an old-school adobe home, it comfortably fits a couple or family of three. The decor is simple — light woods, terracotta-tile floors and adorable lamps shaped like evergreen trees — because you should spend the majority of your trip outdoors.
From the front door of the vacation rental, you can walk straight out to the dock and cast a line or push your stand-up paddleboard off to go on a sunrise float around the loch. As dusk hits, the sky turns a pale pink with hints of purple, like cotton candy from a state fair.
The Centennial State is a true birding capital, and this eastern-plains lodging is no different. Watch for bald eagles, scaled quail and maybe even a roadrunner. Since Lake Meredith is the largest body of water in Crowley County, it attracts waterfowl during their migration periods — spot ruddy ducks, American coots, Franklin’s gulls and American white pelicans.
“We really enjoyed our stay here. To say this is a hidden gem feels like an understatement. We brought our kayak and had perfect access to the lake with all the birds, fish and wildlife this spot has to offer. Bring your binoculars, camera, a good book and relax on the hammock. Our 9-year-old slept on the pullout couch and we had plenty of space. He played outside for hours and even said it was ‘more fun than playing video games!’ Now, that's saying a lot!” — Amy, airbnb
A stopover in Sugar City wouldn’t be complete without a meal at Lynette’s Sugar City Cafe. The vibe feels very Café Tropical from “Schitt’s Creek,” and the homemade cinnamon rolls are incredible. A few miles away lies the Crowley Heritage Center and Museum, where the county’s history is on display.
Walk in the three-toed tracks of the nation’s largest collection of fossilized dinosaur footprints at Picketwire Canyonlands outside La Junta (30-minute drive). Or explore the living history museum at Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site. If you’re visiting in the summer, you have to stop at a nearby Rocky Ford watermelon stand for sticky, sweet goodness.
Photos courtesy of Three Dog Night Guest House
