Pueblo: The City

2025-09-03
Pueblo, CO

Today was an off day. I knew that I'd need my oil changed once I got across the country, and I decided to stop in Pueblo, Colorado for a day to take care of it. They also claimed that my battery failed the test so they replaced that too. Subaru's tend to go through batteries and I figured it was best to do it now rather than have it fail while I'm off the grid for the next week. Although I'm sure you're thinking that dealing with a dead battery may make a much better blog story later...

Pueblo had several minor attractions that I considered. The primary one is Riverwalk, which is similar to the ones in Austin and other cities. Here they have small dams (and thus small waterfalls) maybe half a mile apart on the Arkansas River with a flat section between. There is a spur, so the area is Y-shaped. It has the usual sidewalks along the water and mostly restaurants though probably some shops bordering that. I strolled for a mile and covered the whole perimeter. There were a couple boats that probably seated 40 or so, but I don't know what they were for since it's not even half a mile in length and you can always park at the other end.. The gondola made more sense as an experience, but there was only one and really not too many boats could operate simultaneously.

They drain the river every year to clean it
They drain the river every year to clean it

Traffic wasn't bad and I had no trouble getting a parking space or finding a place to eat. The Downtown is very walkable, with a drivable suburb for several miles up the interstate.

The Railway Museum was also on my list for the day. It was a few blocks down from Riverwalk, right next to the old train station which has been restored to hold shops and such. Perhaps if it wasn't 90+ I would have enjoyed it more. The steam engine was a big one, with wheels over five feet in diameter. There were a bunch of train cars you can touch and crawl under and a few you can go on or maybe in, but I didn't do much of that today. I went back to the hotel and rested for the afternoon.

It's a railroad museum
It's a railroad museum
Every railroad museum needs a steam engine. This is a big one. The scale banana would disappear behind that clump of grass
Every railroad museum needs a steam engine. This is a big one. The scale banana would disappear behind that clump of grass
Repurposed Union Station
Repurposed Union Station

I did notice that people in Pueblo must not have AT&T. I couldn't get enough cell phone signal to get directions back to the hotel. I know it's just going to get worse over the next week when I go out in the desert and see real pueblos. I printed directions of everything I wanted to do so I will probably be going old school. Well, not that old; more like Mapquest old than fold-the-map old. Or maybe the downloaded Google maps will work.

previous next