The drive over the beautiful byways of Southwestern Colorado’s San Juan mountains to Dunton Hot Springs or Telluride’s Hotel Columbia is filled with spectacular scenery – and one must-see dive for cowboy movie buffs. John Wayne’s 1969 classic True Grit was filmed in these mountains and Ridgway, a lovely little town between Telluride and Ouray. Today, True Grit Cafe pays homage to The Duke and his classic film – for which he won his only Oscar for his portrayal of drunken, rough-and-tumble U.S. Marshall Rooster Cogburn. Wayne makes his first appearance in the film in front of the “Chambers Grocery” brick wall, which has been preserved as the cafe’s southern wall, and the hanging scene was shot in the Town Park across the street. The cafe not only houses a veritable museum honoring The Duke, it also serves up hearty “cowboy cuisine,” including “the best dang chicken fried steak this side of the Rocky Mountains.” Wash it down with locally brewed Ouray IPA and…well pilgrims, there’s not much room for argument.