Much to see and do in Craig and Moffat County

For new residents who want to get to know Craig and its surrounding community, the thought of discovering everything the town has to offer can be overwhelming. Here's a list of must-see places and must-do activities to get any new resident started.

• Museum of Northwest Colorado, 590 Yampa Ave.

Admission is free to this unique look into Northwest Colorado's history on three floors.

The museum features a wide variety of permanent displays downstairs and featured displays upstairs.

The museum also has a cowboy and gunfighter exhibit. The exhibit features guns, chaps, spurs, saddles and other assortments collected by Craig resident Bill Mackin over 55 years.

While you're in the area, check out Craig's downtown shopping and drop in next door at Serendipity for a cup of coffee and a pastry.

• Wyman Living History Ranch and Museum, 4600 E. U.S. Highway 40

This museum, operated by Lou Wyman on his property about three miles east of Craig, was opened this year.

For decades, Wyman has been collecting articles for display at the museum.

The 1906 Pagoda store was recently moved to the site and refurbished. Today, the museum is open to the public at no charge, and Wyman has set up a charitable trust to see that it remains open indefinitely.

• Marcia Car, across from 360 E. Victory Way

On the east side of town, visitors will find the historic Marcia Car, a private, luxurious railroad coach built in Chicago in 1906 for David Moffat, Denver banker, businessman and railroad financier.

Named after Moffat's daughter, Marcia Moffat McClurg, the car is a unique view into early railroad travel from a wealthy owner's point of view.

Tours of the Marcia Car are available Monday through Friday throughout the summer by stopping in the Craig Chamber of Commerce, 360 E. Victory Way.

• Craig City Park

Just across the Veterans of Foreign Wars parking lot from the Marcia Car is Craig City Park, an area filled with plenty of green grass to run on, as well playgrounds and picnic tables.

But the biggest draw at the park are the many woodcarvings, completed by chainsaw artists at Craig's annual Whittle the Wood competition and festival each June.

The park also includes Craig Swimming Complex, with features a lap pool and wave pool children enjoy in the summer months.

• Loudy-Simpson Park

South of Craig on Colorado Highway 394, Loudy-Simpson Park is a quick way to get away for a picnic, short hike or stroll along the Yampa River.

The pond there offers great fishing opportunities and the disc golf course at the back of the park offers a fun game for beginners or experts.

Softball fields, soccer fields and the indoor ice arena are used frequently for sports and recreation.

• Yampa Valley Golf Course

East of Loudy-Simpson Park, also on Highway 394, Yampa Valley Golf Course offers premiere 18-hole golfing. The course is open to the public and play host to many tournaments throughout the summer.

A full bar and restaurant there give golfers a break from the game.

The course is also a popular spot for cross-country skiers and snowshoers in the winter months.

• Spacious Moffat County

Outside of Craig, the wide open spaces leave room for all kinds of recreation -- from hiking to dirt biking and rafting to rock climbing.

Most namely in Moffat County, Dinosaur National Monument 90 miles west of Craig offers the summer outdoors lover top-notch hiking, camping and sightseeing. There are also a number of drives and walks visitors can take there.