Two weeks in Durango-what to do? (Columbine, Cortez: rentals, hotel, buy)

[Horn of ‘83]

My wife and I will be vacationing in Durango for two weeks this July. Any suggestions on things to do, places to eat?

We're looking to spend time relaxing, hanging out. Maybe some hiking?

Any suggestions?

[Mike from back east]

Spend one day riding the Durango and Silverton train, buy a ticket for a seat in the car on the end of the train. Eat in the place next door to the train station, sit out on the platform at dinner and watch the trains shuttle back and forth. I'd stay at the General Palmer Hotel, next to the train.

[Let's Go Here]

Things to do

1) Durango & Silverton narrow gauge railroad - scope out a spot on the right-hand side of the train. You'll be glad you did.
2) Spend a half day at Purgatory. Take a hike, and ride the scenic chair lift
3) If you like to gamble, go to the Sky Ute Casino in Ignacio
4) If you like to fish, go to Haviland Lake (north of town). Vallecito was always too crowded for me
5) Mesa Verde


Places to eat

In no particular order....

1) Chuckoo's Chicken House
2) Steamworks
3) Serious Texas BBQ
4) J-Bo's Pizza
5) Durango Diner (breakfast)
6) Oscar's (breakfast)
7) Lady Falconburgh's Barley Exchange
8) Ore House
9) Gazpacho

[SkyDog77]

My favorite breakfast in Durango is at Carver Brewing. Definitely hit that up.

If the Animas is still flowing, you might grab a commercial rafting trip. It's about my favorite stretch of river in Colorado.

You can use the Durango Silverton train to shuttle you to Needleton which is a great trailhead in to the Chicago Basin. It's some of the most amazing hiking in the state.

All good stuff. Love that area.

[Mike from back east]

Take a Jeep tour of the high mountain roads; a number of local outfits provide these, especially good for those who aren't experienced at this. With two weeks you need to get out a bit and explore the region; you've GOT to see Telluride, and Ouray. Hit some of the hot springs. The jeep trips can be quite scenic....like Black Bear Pass.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LB3xiC9J_E

[beezle1]

Take a side trip to Mesa Verde!

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by beezle1

Take a side trip to Mesa Verde!

Agree.

[DOUBLE H]

Originally Posted by beezle1

Take a side trip to Mesa Verde!

I've been to over two dozen national parks in my day and I put Mesa Verde in my personal top 5 along with Carlsbad Caverns, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon.

A number of one day trips from Durango would be beneficial here.

Like highway 550 up to Ridgway, come back westbound over the Dallas Divide, then back up 145, a few miles from Telluride and up and over Lizard head Pass going through Rico, Dolores, Mancos, and back to Durango on hwy. 160.

Another would be hwy. 160 to hwy. 491 to Hovenweep National Monument and also a quick visit to the Anazasi Museum near Dolores. Fifty miles east of Durango on 160 is the Chimney Rock Anazasi Ruins.

If you are into fishing a number of lakes and reservoirs are within an hours drive; Vallecito, Summit, Elektra, Groundhog, and the Animas and Dolores Rivers. And lots of others of course.

Last, and heh, least is a drive from Cortez to the Four Corners Monument (fee required).

[NW Crow]

Hike or mountain bike upper or lower Hermosa Creek, do a zip line, attend a Music in the Mountains classical performance, visit the Diamond Bell Saloon, maybe a Bar D Chuckwagon dinner or the rodeo if it comes back, visit the oldtime photo place on Main, swim at Bakers Bridge, climb Engineer Mountain or Shark's Tooth, picnic at Andrews Lake (or stawatch), hike to Crater Lake, or along the Colorado Trail above Molas Lake or to Ice Lake in the South Fork Creek Basin, jazz by the river, dayhike upper the Pine River or Vallecito Creek, camp out somewhere (like Vallecito Reservoir, La Plata Canyon or Columbine Lake), check out the farmers market on a Saturday morning, hit Hwy 3 Roadhouse when it is open, hike up to Cumberland Basin for wildflowers, visit Treasure Falls northeast of Pagosa, poke up the Piedra River canyon, hike or ride horses above Williams Creek Reservoir, soak at Hot Springs at Trimble, Pagosa, Dunton or Ouray, visit the Animas Valley Overlook or climb Animas Mtn, sun or read a book at a city park, visit the Ute Museum in Ignacio, etc. Talk to some locals at a brewpub. Maybe pop over into Utah to Natural Bridges National Monument, Glen Canyon or the Needles.

Here is one visit planning site: http://www.durango.org/plan-your-trip/

[NW Crow]

Any feedback on the suggestions or more specific guidance about what is sought? Pretty much blind guessing what might interest you. If not you, then maybe other readers of the thread will find something of interest.

Using the community recreation center, agri-tourism, art galleries, craft festivals, antiques, flea market, photography or painting classes, yoga, an open air tent church service at north end of Vallecito, golf, spas, fly fishing rivers and creeks, ATV rentals... If you are interested in some sort of non big city vacation activity you can probably find it to some degree in the area.