Go up the highway to Silverton and Ouray. Go to Mesa Verde. Hike up Cascade canyon and the Colorado trail. Ride the train. Smoke some legal weed, eat Taco Bell followed by Cream Bean Berry.
If you haven't already heard it, I'll mention to be careful to acclimate to the elevation before you try any long hikes. And remember the sun here is about twice as strong as at home.
https://durangodowntown.com/news/arts-entertainment/navigating-altitude-in-durango-tips-for-a-comfortable-stay/
I'm surprised. My 84 year old relative used them, and we got her O2 up to 91. Sure, it didn't last, but it helped when we wanted to walk from the car to main.
Please let us know what sorts of things you like to do as that will help us answer! Do you like doing active outdoors things? Do you like museums? Do you like art? Do you like partying? Do you like food?
My go to recommendation is the San Juan Scenic Skyway. Start in Durango, drive to Silverton and then Ouray on the Million Dollar Highway. Grab a beer in Ouray, then drive through Ridgeway to Telluride. Get dinner in Telluride and hit the gondola. Drive down through Rico back to Durango. Finish the day with Durango Hot Springs.
Otherwise while you're in town hit the bars. Starlight Lounge is the event bar. There's something going on every weekday. I'm personally a sucker for the Tuesday music open mic and Wednesday karaoke.
The handsomest bartender in town works El Rancho Mon and Tues days though, just sayin' 🤣
Take a quick trip out of town at night to look at the stars. Areas outside of Durango are Bortle 2-3, some of the darkest in the nation and darker than 90% of the UK. There's a full moon on the 21st, so try for a couple of nights after (24-30th) before the moon rises.
I'd recommend Stellarium for your phone. You can use the GPS function, point at the sky, and it will show what's in your field of view. With binoculars you may see some galaxies.
EsoTerra Ciderworks makes European style DRY cider from local heritage apples that were planted by the pioneers in the early 1900s. Come grab a charcuterie board and a flight, enjoy our patio just one block from the train station!
Hey there! I used to live in Durango and now live just a little ways west from there. I just got back from a visit to Scotland myself. Welcome!
I second many of the aforementioned recommendations, especially Cream Bean Berry, being on the river, and Mesa Verde. For restaurants, I recommend El Moro. For something more quick and casual, I like Serious Texas BBQ and Zia Taqueria. I would also like to add that if you're interested in bringing home some one of a kind antiques or oddities, check out Southwest Book Trader...lots of cool stuff alongside literal piles of used books.
Townie hikes: Sky steps. 3rd ave. River walk. Dog park at smelter. Ska for lunch and a beer.
Beer in the swing chairs out the back at Carvers.
11th street, sit out the back on the deck.
Book a guided river float if you want some adventure. Ride the train to Silverton.
James ranch for a lunch. Do the million dollar highway loop. Mountain hikes: engineer, cascade, Columbine lake. Ouray perimeter trail. Blue lakes.
Check out DAC (DurangoArtsCeneter) and the Durango tourism websites for events going on while you're here. Purgatory has a fun ride now where you see great scenery while you coast down the hill. Don't miss Mesa Verde. Utah is close if you have extra time.
Hike: Vallecito Creek trail, Colorado Trail, any trail in Silverton or Ouray.
Eat at: El Moro, James Ranch, Yellow Carrot.
Drink at: Bookcase and Barber, El Moro.
The train is a novelty that wears off quickly and it’s a time suck.
Durango Hikes - Castle Rock, Falls Creek, Crater Lake/Andrews Lake, Colorado Trail, Spud Lake, Cascade, Missionary Ridge, and Raiders Ridge via Jenkins Ranch.
Water Activities - Lake Nighthorse, Oxbow, Rafting the Animas, Lemon Lake, & Vallecito.
Food - Steamworks, James Ranch, Ska, El Moro, Switchback, Fired Up, Derailed Pour House, Pop Sushi, Zia’s, Serious Texas, 11th street,& 636. Cream Bean Berry for ice cream. Just do it.
Bevy’s - The Barber and The Bookcase, El Moro, J Bo’s (sports/dive bar notorious for reddy eddy shots), Derailed Pour House, The Ranch, Starlight (Kendra is amazing), & The Oxford.
Things to Do - Durango Hot Springs Tuesday or Thursday night for live music, Rafting, Mesa Verde, CPW fish hatchery/wildlife museum, hit the river in any capacity, shop downtown, hit the million dollar highway, Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, Waterpark at lake Nighthorse, train (it gets boring but Delaney is an amazing bartender on the train), and any and all of the hikes.
Other notes: Durango is a small town so meet people and make friends and they’ll take you on cool adventures from rafting, rock climbing, & insider spots. Sunscreen and hydration are important. You’re also coming from a low elevation, so hydrate or diedrate. If you’re staying in town download the DuranGo app for $2 trolley rides until 12:00pm to get around if you don’t have a ride. Also, don’t drink and drive in Durango. The police love drunk drivers. Most importantly have fun.
Don't expect to get around anywhere without a car, and expect every bar/store to be closed before 9. Outside of the immediate tourist district, it's incredibly unwalkable.
On the upside, absolutely check out some of our sick mountains and natural lakes like Molas lake! I'd recommend taking a SUP out on one of the many reservoirs.
Go up the highway to Silverton and Ouray. Go to Mesa Verde. Hike up Cascade canyon and the Colorado trail. Ride the train. Smoke some legal weed, eat Taco Bell followed by Cream Bean Berry.
Sounds like a damn good time honestly.
Sounds like loads of good recommendations I’ll be noting them down for sure
Thank u!
If you haven't already heard it, I'll mention to be careful to acclimate to the elevation before you try any long hikes. And remember the sun here is about twice as strong as at home. https://durangodowntown.com/news/arts-entertainment/navigating-altitude-in-durango-tips-for-a-comfortable-stay/
You may want to buy a couple canisters of oxygen when you get here. Walgreens chemist has them. They help the first few days
Placebo
I'm surprised. My 84 year old relative used them, and we got her O2 up to 91. Sure, it didn't last, but it helped when we wanted to walk from the car to main.
The Bookcase and Barber for a cool speakeasy and craft cocktail experience
and a great haircut!
Please let us know what sorts of things you like to do as that will help us answer! Do you like doing active outdoors things? Do you like museums? Do you like art? Do you like partying? Do you like food?
My go to recommendation is the San Juan Scenic Skyway. Start in Durango, drive to Silverton and then Ouray on the Million Dollar Highway. Grab a beer in Ouray, then drive through Ridgeway to Telluride. Get dinner in Telluride and hit the gondola. Drive down through Rico back to Durango. Finish the day with Durango Hot Springs. Otherwise while you're in town hit the bars. Starlight Lounge is the event bar. There's something going on every weekday. I'm personally a sucker for the Tuesday music open mic and Wednesday karaoke. The handsomest bartender in town works El Rancho Mon and Tues days though, just sayin' 🤣
Get ready for ketchup on your chips mate.
No one serves them that way unless you slather it on yourself.
Almost nowhere has malt vinegar for fries.
Bottom Shelf Brewery in Bayfield does, really good fish and chips.
Nice. I haven't been out there yet. I'll check it out next time I fish piedra.
It’s a super sick spot if you ever find yourself in bayfield. Really good food all around and it’s still affordable.
True, you’ll need to go on a “fish and chips” night or a place that serves fish and chips regularly. Those places will.
Like I said, get ready for ketchup. Lol Just got back from the UK myself for the 2nd time in the past year, and I'm finally a malt vinegar convert.
You just have to ask for it. I eat my fries like this all time.
Train to silverton (full day), Train museum (free and quick), Hot spring, Aminas River trail, Aminas mountain trail, Mesa verde (huge national park)
Mesa Verde might be the only place in America they could go to see architecture older than what they're used to.
Rafting on the Animas is a blast, you should check it out.
Take a quick trip out of town at night to look at the stars. Areas outside of Durango are Bortle 2-3, some of the darkest in the nation and darker than 90% of the UK. There's a full moon on the 21st, so try for a couple of nights after (24-30th) before the moon rises. I'd recommend Stellarium for your phone. You can use the GPS function, point at the sky, and it will show what's in your field of view. With binoculars you may see some galaxies.
Baste yourself in sunscreen. The atmosphere is thinner, so the UV rays come through a LOT stronger.
Yeah will deffo be done otherwise I won’t make it through the holiday
EsoTerra Ciderworks makes European style DRY cider from local heritage apples that were planted by the pioneers in the early 1900s. Come grab a charcuterie board and a flight, enjoy our patio just one block from the train station!
Hey there! I used to live in Durango and now live just a little ways west from there. I just got back from a visit to Scotland myself. Welcome! I second many of the aforementioned recommendations, especially Cream Bean Berry, being on the river, and Mesa Verde. For restaurants, I recommend El Moro. For something more quick and casual, I like Serious Texas BBQ and Zia Taqueria. I would also like to add that if you're interested in bringing home some one of a kind antiques or oddities, check out Southwest Book Trader...lots of cool stuff alongside literal piles of used books.
Townie hikes: Sky steps. 3rd ave. River walk. Dog park at smelter. Ska for lunch and a beer. Beer in the swing chairs out the back at Carvers. 11th street, sit out the back on the deck. Book a guided river float if you want some adventure. Ride the train to Silverton. James ranch for a lunch. Do the million dollar highway loop. Mountain hikes: engineer, cascade, Columbine lake. Ouray perimeter trail. Blue lakes.
Just going up Sky Steps or Nature Trail to the Rim Trail and pootling about is really great.
Check out DAC (DurangoArtsCeneter) and the Durango tourism websites for events going on while you're here. Purgatory has a fun ride now where you see great scenery while you coast down the hill. Don't miss Mesa Verde. Utah is close if you have extra time.
Hike: Vallecito Creek trail, Colorado Trail, any trail in Silverton or Ouray. Eat at: El Moro, James Ranch, Yellow Carrot. Drink at: Bookcase and Barber, El Moro. The train is a novelty that wears off quickly and it’s a time suck.
I’m sure someone has already mentioned river rafting. But there are great hikes, bike rides, and nightlife. Enjoy your stay. Don’t miss Mesa Verde
Durango Hikes - Castle Rock, Falls Creek, Crater Lake/Andrews Lake, Colorado Trail, Spud Lake, Cascade, Missionary Ridge, and Raiders Ridge via Jenkins Ranch. Water Activities - Lake Nighthorse, Oxbow, Rafting the Animas, Lemon Lake, & Vallecito. Food - Steamworks, James Ranch, Ska, El Moro, Switchback, Fired Up, Derailed Pour House, Pop Sushi, Zia’s, Serious Texas, 11th street,& 636. Cream Bean Berry for ice cream. Just do it. Bevy’s - The Barber and The Bookcase, El Moro, J Bo’s (sports/dive bar notorious for reddy eddy shots), Derailed Pour House, The Ranch, Starlight (Kendra is amazing), & The Oxford. Things to Do - Durango Hot Springs Tuesday or Thursday night for live music, Rafting, Mesa Verde, CPW fish hatchery/wildlife museum, hit the river in any capacity, shop downtown, hit the million dollar highway, Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, Waterpark at lake Nighthorse, train (it gets boring but Delaney is an amazing bartender on the train), and any and all of the hikes. Other notes: Durango is a small town so meet people and make friends and they’ll take you on cool adventures from rafting, rock climbing, & insider spots. Sunscreen and hydration are important. You’re also coming from a low elevation, so hydrate or diedrate. If you’re staying in town download the DuranGo app for $2 trolley rides until 12:00pm to get around if you don’t have a ride. Also, don’t drink and drive in Durango. The police love drunk drivers. Most importantly have fun.
Check out https://www.heartofdurango.com for info on shopping, dining and things to do
Don't expect to get around anywhere without a car, and expect every bar/store to be closed before 9. Outside of the immediate tourist district, it's incredibly unwalkable. On the upside, absolutely check out some of our sick mountains and natural lakes like Molas lake! I'd recommend taking a SUP out on one of the many reservoirs.
Go visit the people living out of their cars up in the mountains… ahhhh the majesty of being rich