My family loves going to the beach, and I decided to take them to the largest beach in the United States. After a walk around Santa Fe to see the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, we hopped into the car and headed north to Colorado. We passed through Espaniola, New Mexico and past San Antonio Mountain, which was mesmerizingly beautiful. We spent a lot of time driving toward it, and, as along every mile, I became more amazed by it.
Eventually, we made it to Antonito, Colorado, which is a neat little town. Then, there was Alamosa, Colorado, the home of Great Sand Dunes National Park. Before we could get to the sand dunes, we made a detour to Arby’s. Then, it was on to the beach. Yep, they wanted to go to the beach, so I found one in Colorado. However, it is not just a beach. It has sand dunes over 700 feet tall. It is a never-ending beach.
Our only disappointment was that the snow melt stream was not flowing. The Great Sand Dunes are usually a natural water park, but the water was only a trickle.
One would think that climbing the tallest dunes in North America would be the end of the excitement for one day. However, this was not a normal day. We found the nicest IHOP any of us had ever seen. The service was not that great, but the building was great. A bunch of the Amish even showed up.
An exciting day. Start with the works of Georgia O’Keeffe. Play on the largest beach in the United States. Eat fancy pancakes. Then, break into a hotel room.
We got separate rooms for us and for the girls. The rooms were next to each other with those doors in between to allow us to walk from room to room. The girls locked themselves in liked they were supposed to do. They turned the deadbolt and put on the chain. Then, they came into our room and shut their door behind them. There was no way to get in.
We got the front desk clerk, and, with her help, we broke into the room. We used the special key that worked on the hidden deadbolt keyhole. We also used the special instrument that unhooked the chain. I try to learn something new whenever I can. On that day, I learned that when you lock yourself in your hotel room you are not really locked in. My family learned that you do not have to go to the beach to go to the beach.
SBI: A Thinning Crowd 
There’s always a loophole and sometimes it comes as a hidden keyhole.
Yep, there’s always a way.
Instant beach – just add water.
Quite a spectacle I’m sure. I recall driving past a large dune sea down by Palm Springs. This one is obviously massive by comparison though. (Didn’t see anybody racing around on dune buggies – which surprised me. But maybe it was just too hot?)
Dune buggies would be awesome on these if they were allowed.
Okay. But … is it a beach if there is not water? Isn’t that a really big desert? It’s gorgeous … but … I think the entire concept of beach involved water. And hot dogs. And blankets with sand in you well-named sandwich.
You may be correct. Since I am not a huge fan of beaches, this place was beachy enough for me.
I like the Arby’s and IHOP inclusion. Did you have a roast beef sandwich?
When you were at the dunes, did you picture Lawrence of Arabia or Spaceballs or both?
I didn’t think of Spaceballs, but I should have.