Hey guys, I'm Juliana Broste, TravelingJules
Welcome to Colorado.
It's no secret, Colorado is known for outdoor fun,
And this week, I'm exploring southern
Colorado in search of sand, steam,
and spaceships and hot springs!
Plus, we'll discover a few surprises along the way.
Hey Digger!
This is the mystic San Louis Valley of Colorado.
Sand dunes, here I come!
You probably know Colorado is famous for mountains,
but did you know it's also famous for mountains of sand?
They pop out of nowhere!
These are North America's highest sand dunes!
Ahhh, they look so magical!
Okay we made it!  We're just about an hour from Alamosa.
Quick photo op! Cheese!
The dunes are in almost constant motion changed by breezes raindrops melting snowflakes and human
footsteps.
But before we go exploring, we need to get equipped.
Right now I'm stopping in at the Oasis and it is exactly that...it is kind of the only place around.
The secret here at the Oasis is to order pie.
Then grab one of these.
I'm gonna rent a sandboard.
How ya you doing?  So here's a sandboard.
The trick to sliding down the sand is wax.
You have a good time out there we'll see you later, OK?
So excited!
Alright, let's hit the dunes!
The elusive and seasonal Medano Creek is the Gateway to the Great Sand Dunes National Park.
These sand dunes are really impressive!
The dunes rise almost 750 feet above the valley floor.
I feel so small.
The snowboarder in me can't resist an opportunity to shred on the sand.
Wish me luck!
Ahh, oh my, oh my!
That was really fun.
It's not only an adrenaline rush. 
It's also a source of peace and quiet.
Pretty amazing what Mother Nature has left for us here in Colorado.
(train whistle)
All aboard!
It is just that time, hopping on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad!
Got my ticket, oh and here's my car.
(train whistle)
We are just departing Antonino station
here in Colorado, it's gonna be a fun day.
I'll be taking in views from places
where cars can't go,
riding America's longest and highest narrow gauge railroad.
okay so we cross the border 11 times, times from New Mexico to Colorado--
Following along a route that was once a part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railway
So this is the open car it's obviously the best view,  but you inhale a little bit of smoke.
I suppose a little cinder and soot just come with the territory.
John Rinehart: "What I think is so unique about this railroad is but they built this in 1881
and when you see all the gorges and
all the different terrain that they had to encounter
it's amazing they did that with the crude tools that they had back in those days."
In the times before gas and electric engines, steam was the power player.
This is a coal power steam engine.
Right now I'm in the cab.
Jeff Stebbins: "It's starts out, I gotta eat some beans in the morning, and then I put a little coal in here and we get it good and hot.
So here's how it works: the coal boils
the water and then the water creates steam,
which turns the pistons and that
creates motion.
(train whistle)
All in all, it's a 64 mile journey watching the world go by at 12 miles an hour.
It's been fun to see the scenery change.
We're so close!
Who knew locomotion could be such a
thrill.
Like any good road trip, half the fun is the places you discover along the way
and here near Hooper Colorado, I'm forced to do a double-take.
So we were just driving by and we see this igloo coming out of nowhere, what is this place?
This is the UFO Watchtower people think
People see UFOs here?
Absolutely we've had 179 documented sightings on this property since 2000.
Wow
So this is the center of a vortex? 
"Correct. This is what we call the healing garden."
We have two major energy vortexes, these little aliens, the stack of rocks behind them, indicates the center.
This valley it's known to be very sacred. I've been told there's a lot of activity if you will.
We believe it has to do with all the water that goes along the mountain range and the crystals that are in the mountains.
The UFO Watchtower is totally out of this world.
And just down the road, one of Colorado's most exotic experiences.
This is Colorado's only alligator farm and it's home to around 300 of them!
What started out as a tilapia farm, has grown into a rare rescue sanctuary for reptiles!
And they come in all shapes and sizes.
Hey Digger, hey Digger!
He's an African sulcata tortoise.
Here you can learn about the animals, feed them and earn a certificate of bravery learning how to handle them.
And they're great at posing for pictures.
Now that's a gator smile.
My name is Jay.  I've always loved animals I've always. loved alligators.
Like most kids I've always been fascinated with dinosaurs, and alligators are dinosaurs.
A lot of times alligators fight, so we're constantly checking them for wounds,
we're moving them from habitat to habitat and the
And the brave can lend a hand and give Gator wrestling a go!
(aligator growl)
So this is a female alligator, she just gave birth last night, and she's very protective
By aggressively protecting her nest, she's picked a few fights
Now, you see these scrapes right here on
her mouth, we need to put a little bit of ointment on those.
I've got the antibiotics. 
So this is just to help her wounds heal.
Before I know it, I'm in the drivers seat!
Whoa!  This is amazing I can feel her breathing. I can feel a strong she is!
My face is like inches from her jaw!  Whoa!
Hopefully, she's back to one hundred in no time.
It's really something.
See you later alligator!
Now it's time to wind down in style,
right here in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
After all the adventures I've had, I can't wait for this!
Hot springs! Open year round.
So there are 23 pools, and they range from about 96 degrees to 112,
so you really have lots of options.
What makes the water so soothing is the minerals, and they're more than I can count on two hands,
each with their own superpowers!
That feels so good, so hot! Ooooh!
And its chemical free of course.
The hot water comes from a natural spring located deep within the earth--
It's the world's deepest geothermal hot spring in fact!  Pretty cool!
The water is known for its restorative and healing qualities
and I'd say, it's done its job.
I feel so rested, that was just what I
needed.
There's more to explore here in Colorado--
Come see for yourself.
