Chicago Basin: A Photographers Dream

If the Mobil Travel Guides rated wilderness, Chicago Basin would certainly garner five stars. It is nestled high in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, one of the most rugged and seductive alpine regions to be found in the 48 contiguous states. At 11,000 feet above sea level, its long, terraced valley is filled … Read more

Roaming Durango with Kids: From Rails to Rafting

Roaming Durango with Kids: From Rails to Rafting 1

If Durango is your family’s summer vacation destination, start planning your itinerary now to experience the best kid-friendly activities available in this historic mountain town. Durango has such an abundance of fun things for kids to do, you’ll have a tough time choosing where to begin your adventure. Here are two of Durango’s best summer … Read more

Durango, Colorado: Out of the Way and Proud of It

It’s just before 8 on a summer morning and downtown Durango, Colorado, is barely stirring. A few tourists wander the sleepy streets with steaming cups of coffee, all heading toward a dark plume of smoke billowing over the old brick buildings. As I join them, a shrill whistle cracks the quiet. Heeding the warning, we … Read more

Logwood Bed and Breakfast: The Log Cabin Experience

For those looking for a true mountain getaway, there is the Logwood Bed and Breakfast in Durango. This beautiful red cedar bed and breakfast rests in the North Animas Valley.  Offering unparalleled beauty and scenery, this Durango B&B takes full advantage of Colorado’s natural scenery.  The Logwood features eight different guest rooms for Durango vacationers … Read more

Lightner Creek Inn: On the Line Between Civilization and Wilderness

Located to the west of downtown Durango and just south of the Perins Peak State Wildlife Area, the Lightner Creek Inn finds itself perfectly situated to take advantage of both the urban and wilderness scene.  In addition to being near the Perins Peak State Wildlife area, the inn is also located across from the Peregrine … Read more

Durango’s Nightlife Scene: From Budget Drinks to Upscale Wine Bars

Durango's Nightlife Scene: From Budget Drinks to Upscale Wine Bars 2

Durango consistently makes it into America’s “Best Small Towns” lists, but I never believed that a rural town with fewer than 16,000 residents could have so much to offer, especially when it comes to nightlife options. One epic journey to this Southwestern Colorado town proved I was wrong. Two years ago I put Durango on … Read more

Take an Epicurean Journey with Durango Restaurants

Take an Epicurean Journey with Durango Restaurants 3

Hungry for a foodie vacation? Durango restaurants can take you on an affordable culinary journey that spans the globe. With almost as many places to eat per capita as San Francisco, you can pack for an adventure from the Himalayas to Japan, Italy to Mexico. This little mountain town has less than 20,000 residents, but … Read more

Alpine Loop Scenic Byway: Colorado at its Loftiest

Beyond the sleepy hamlet of Lake City, pavement ends and the forest road I follow turns to dirt. Mountains define our state and provide its identity. Within Colorado’s rectangular borders, the Rockies thrust their highest summits. Peaks form backdrops for our cities, provide venues for our recreation, control our weather, capture our water and furnish … Read more

On Track to Silverton: Snaking Through Colorado’s San Juan Mountains

Slowing to a motion-numbing 8 miles per hour, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train creeps along a narrow ledge. Cliffs tower on one side, plummet down the other. The Animas River surges 400 feet below. White froth caps its turbulent, beryl-green current. As we round a broad curve, the black, coal-belching locomotive chugs … Read more

Durango: Places to Play in the Snow

If you’re planning a Colorado ski or snowboard trip, Vail and Aspen aren’t the only options to find fresh powder, exciting trails and the canopy of the Rocky Mountain blue skies. In the southwest corner of Colorado, Durango offers intriguing alternatives. Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort, 25 miles south of Durango, No. 1 Skier Place, … Read more