Durango (Colorado)

From eTripTips Wiki

Durango [1] is in the southwestern part of the Rocky Mountains state of Colorado. It is perhaps most famous for the historic narrow gauge railroad that connects Durango with Silverton.

The train depot in downtown Durango from where you can catch the Durango-Silverton train or the Polar Express

[edit] Get in

Durango has commuter air service from the major airports at Denver and Phoenix. The town is well connected by highways from all major compass points, but some care should be taken if driving here from the east via US highway 160. This spectacular highway crosses high Wolf Creek Pass (nice ski area nearby) east of Durango, in an area that receives a great deal of snowfall, and is often closed for a time during the winter.

[edit] Get around

• Durango has many rental car agencies, a luxury motor-coach company, local taxi service, local buses and a downtown trolley. Durango is a small quaint town easy to get around on foot, bike, and by boat.

[edit] See

[edit] Do

The Durango-Silverton train on the route back to Durango from Cascade where it stops during the winter time.

• The Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad +1 888 872-4607, [2], is one of the great scenic railroad lines of the United States. The train runs round trip tours to the mountain town of Silverton, with time for sightseeing at the far end. The route passes through superb scenery along the Animas River and in the appropriately named "Needles" range of the San Juan Mountains, passing close to three of Colorado's "Fourteeners," mountains with summits above 14,000 feet. Intermediate stops close to the Needles are popular with backpackers and climbers heading into the mountains. The train itself is gorgeous to look at, both inside and out; choose between one of the enclosed cars and its fine old woodwork, or an open-air car with extra viewing opportunities (and lots of cinders in the air from the steam engine—not recommended if you wear contacts or are unwilling to get a little grit in your clothes). Reservations are a must.

[edit] Buy

• Main Avenue in downtown Durango is a well-known shopping area.

[edit] Eat

• Ken & Sues, 636 Main Ave, +1 970 385-1810.
• Tequila's Mexican Restaurant, 948 Main Ave, +1 970 259-7655
• Carvers, 1022 Main Ave, +1 970 259-2545
• East By Southwest, 160 E. College Drive, +1 970 247-5533
• Olde Tymer's Cafe, 1000 Main Ave, +1 970 259-2990
• Olde Schoolhouse Cafe, 46778 Highway 550, +1 970 259-2257

[edit] Drink

Steamworks Brewpub, a must!

[edit] Sleep

• Best Western Durango Inn & Suites
• Days Inn Durango
• General Palmer Hotel
• Holiday Inn
• Rochester Hotel [3] 721 E. 2nd Ave., 800-664-1920. Boutique Historic Hotel with Hollywood Western motif and free WiFi.
• Strater Hotel

[edit] Get out

• Vallecito Lake [4] is located 23 miles northeast of Durango. It offers fishing, boating, hiking trails and horseback riding in the summer. Hunting for elk and deer is also available with fully equipped guide services.
• Mesa Verde National Park [5] makes a reasonable day trip from Durango.
• San Juan Scenic Skyway