Durango Colorado things to do?

[retro]

Hi,

Hoping maybe someone on here can help with info. I've been tasked with putting together a family reunion. I suggested Winter Park but one parent has heart issues and apparently can't go over 8000'.

The town of Durango came up as one possible destination. I've never been there so don't have much to go on other than the web sites. I need to find entertainment for a pack of teenagers, a couple senior citizens and some middle-aged farts. I'm looking for things like rafting, horse rides, antique stores...

Has anybody been to Durango and would you recommend it as a destination for about a week? The timing would be early to late July. Any help, experience, or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Mike

[JimWilliamson]

There's the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and a tree-top zip-line thing. Some web sites:

http://www.durangotrain.com/packages/adventure-packages/soaring-tree-top-adventures/-zip-line-course

http://ziplinedurangoco.com/

http://www.soaringcolorado.com/

[JimWilliamson]

Hot springs in Ouray...

Mesa Verde just east of Cortez CO...

A day jaunt up to Telluride (a place I have yet to visit)...

If you're so inclined, not Durango as such, but out on that side of the state:
The Gateway Auto Museum (plus CO-141 is perhaps my favorite road in the state)
www.gatewayautomuseum.com

[retro]

Thanks Jim, that's the kind of stuff I'm looking for. Appreciate the help!

Mike

[bikerfish1100]

of course, in going from Durango to anywhere else (Ouray, Silverton, etc), you will have to go above 8,000'.

is it that the heart patient can not go above that level, or cannot spend time above 8K?

[Eric308]

Hot springs in Ouray...

Mesa Verde just east of Cortez CO...

A day jaunt up to Telluride (a place I have yet to visit)...

If you're so inclined, not Durango as such, but out on that side of the state:
The Gateway Auto Museum (plus CO-141 is perhaps my favorite road in the state)
www.gatewayautomuseum.com

Good tips, but as mentioned most places north of Durango are over 8k.....Telluride is a great ride and good place for a lunch. There is a great little tavern in Rico called the Enterprise Saloon. In T'ride they have a free gondola that goes up to Mountain Village. Extremely scenic town....I'm with you on CO-141.....

[blakebird]

I was also wondering how you'd get there without going over 8k', unless you drove in via Four Corners  

[JimWilliamson]

Oye - I completely missed the 8K issue. Sorry for that.

Like Joe brought up - find out what the limitations are for the 8K value. If "sitting in the car, not stressing the body (oxygen level concerns)" is the issue, then driving through the 8K+ level might be OK (check with the doc). If it's an O2 issue, would supplementary oxygen be easy to obtain?


Re your GPS: Madtown... I "enjoyed" the downtown streets Halloween party there once!

[Eric308]

Oye - I completely missed the 8K issue. Sorry for that.

Like Joe brought up - find out what the limitations are for the 8K value. If "sitting in the car, not stressing the body (oxygen level concerns)" is the issue, then driving through the 8K+ level might be OK (check with the doc). If it's an O2 issue, would supplementary oxygen be easy to obtain?


Re your GPS: Madtown... I "enjoyed" the downtown streets Halloween party there once!

Hmm...seems our paths may have crossed more than once. I know you've been on CO-14 a time or two as well.