Buena Vista and hummingbirds - Labor Day weekend. Part 2

After leaving the Red Cliff Bridge (click here to refresh your memory - Labor day weekend - the beginning), we drove down the road and spent most of the day in Leadville. We visited a couple of museums and strolled along the main street. But let’s skip that part for now and jump to our next stop: the town of Buena Vista.

 

We really like this small mountain town in the middle of the Banana Belt. We’ve been here before (our very first visit was about 15 years ago - Independence Pass and Buena Vista). This time we didn’t have any special plans, just wandering the streets and looking around. Still, we found something we’d missed before: the Jailhouse.

Oh no, not what you’re thinking, it’s actually a boutique craft beer bar. But yes, it’s located in the historic town jail! 

In the late 1880s, Buena Vista converted the stables on East Main Street into a temporary jail as the town prepared to form Chaffee County with neighboring Salida. Today, it’s a cozy spot where you can sip an amber-colored drink instead of serving time.

We kept wandering, enjoying the weather and the warm, relaxed atmosphere. It was our last destination for the day, so we aimlessly explored the streets, stepping into little shops. 

One gift shop instantly caught our eye, and we couldn’t resist going inside. Tucked under the counter was a wonderful collection of vintage radios that made us smile.

By then it had been a long day. Tired and ready to call it, we decided to skip South Main, the newer district where we usually spend some time among the restaurants and craft stores (see for yourself - Buena Vista, South Main district).

About twenty minutes later we turned off the highway and arrived at our Airbnb, tucked between Buena Vista and Salida. The listing promised views of a couple of 14ers, and it didn’t lie. As the sun set, our west-facing window gave us a breathtaking scene. What a perfect end to the day!

But there was one more surprise. While we were having dinner and watching the sunset, hummingbirds kept us company. 

The hosts had hung two feeders just outside the window, and a dozen tiny birds zipped back and forth without stopping even for a second. 

Later we joined them outside on the patio. The birds flew fearlessly around us, some hovering just a couple of feet away as if to check us out. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many hummingbirds in one place and so close to people, and we absolutely loved it.

Soon the sky darkened and we moved to our room to get some rest after a long day full of impressions...

Click here to find our what we saw the next morning - Unexpected adventure - Labor Day weekend. Part 3.

Photos taken on August 30, 2025.