Road Trips: Take a dip in Salida

A dip

The Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center, 410 W. Rainbow Blvd., just off U.S. 50 Kids who get bored with natural-style outdoor hot springs will appreciate this indoor version, essentially a standard swimming pool with naturally warmed water and a play area with a couple of spray jets. Pool prices: $11 for adults 18 and older, $9 for seniors 60 and older, $5 for kids 6-17 and $3 for kids 5 and younger.

A cup

Bongo Billy's Salida Cafe, 300 W. Sackett Ave.

Bongo Billy's not only serves the best dark roast in the valley, it also serves as the niftiest local hangout. Expect a laid-back atmosphere, with live music and regular art shows.

Gourmet Eats

Laughing Ladies Restaurant, 128 W. First St.

Delicious upscale dishes worthy of Aspen at half the price. The Laughing Ladies specializes in creative contemporary American cuisine, with an emphasis on seafood. Go for the rock shrimp linguine topped with sage-brown butter and goat cheese or the maplegrilled salmon fillet. None of the regular dinners reaches the $20 mark.

Quincy's, 710 Milford Ave.

Know somebody who has trouble navigating those giant, pretentious menus? Quincy's is the place. There's no menu. No chalkboard with a list of nightly specials. Quincy's serves only one meal a night: filet mignon Sundays through Thursdays and prime rib on Fridays and Saturdays. All dinners include a salad, baked potato and warm bread and cost less than $10. (That's not a typo.) Quincy's also has locations in Leadville and Buena Vista.

Window Shop

On a window-shopping stroll of Salida, centered in the well-restored, heavily bricked historic downtown area, you can take in a way cool toy store (Kaleidoscope Toys, 207 F St.), kitchen shop (Mixing Bowl, 148 F. St.), independent book store (Book Haven, 128 F St.), antiques shop (Fabulous Finds! Emporium, corner of F and Third streets) and more.