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

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

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: Hop a Ride Into the Past

Few sounds evoke Colorado’s history more than the mournful call of a train whistle echoing through a canyon. You still can hear that sound in many of the state’s mountain towns. It was by train that many settlers came, that miners plied their trade and commerce got its foothold on the state. It was by … 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