| The high mountain San Luis Valley of Southern | | | | The Great Sands Dunes National Park and |
| Colorado is an unknown Shangri-la for family | | | | Preserve is a major attraction in this region and |
| activities. | | | | attracts many tourists every year. The sand |
| Colorado's San Luis Valley is a secret hideaway | | | | dunes can rise up to 750 meters from the ground |
| that exists only for those who seek it. It is an | | | | and take up an area of 40 square miles. |
| alpine valley that covers ground in Colorado and | | | | As to weather, the valley received less than 8 |
| New Mexico. It is elevated at 7500 feet and is | | | | inches of rain per year, putting into the desert |
| located on top of the Rio Grande Rift. The Rio | | | | category. Despite this there are some truly lush |
| Grande River drains the mountains. | | | | wilderness areas that are treasured by the locals |
| The valley itself is 74 miles wide and 122 miles | | | | as nature and wildlife preserves. |
| long. There are six Colorado counties that are | | | | San Luis Valley become famous through the book |
| considered part of the San Luis Valley. These are: | | | | The Mysterious Valley published by paranormal |
| Saguache, Alamosa, Rio Grande, Conejos, Costilla | | | | researcher Chris O'Brien in 1996. The book talks |
| and Mineral. | | | | about UFO sightings, Bigfoot sightings, weird |
| There are many towns to choose from if you | | | | noises and other strange phenomenon that the |
| are thinking of moving to the San Luis Valley | | | | author claims to have seen in the area. There is |
| region. Some of the main towns are listed below | | | | however no such scientific evidence supporting his |
| but there are also many much smaller towns if | | | | claims but it certainly does add an air of mystique |
| you prefer the secluded life: Alamosa, South Fork, | | | | and adventure to the area. |
| Saguache Center, Fort Garland, San Luis, La Jara, | | | | What else does San Luis Valley have going for it |
| Capulin, Crestone, Villa Grove, and San Acacio. | | | | for new residents? Well, it is one of the best ski |
| There is about 2,000,000 acres of land in the San | | | | areas in the world, offers some great elk hunting, |
| Luis Valley and half of this is privately owned. | | | | and to top it off - very affordable housing. There |
| There are many small ranch lots and subdivisions | | | | are land acres selling on eBay for $45,000 for a |
| on the private land. There are also several wildlife | | | | massive 40 acre lot. |
| reserves and nature preserves in the area. | | | | |