The Beauty of The West Lives In Durango, Colorado - Mountain Living (2024)

April 15, 2024

If you haven’t been to Durango lately, it’s about time to go. There’s just something so special about this town in the southwest corner of Colorado. It seems to incorporate all those Colorado things – cowboys and horses, bikes and skis, fly fishing, and hot springs.

Perhaps it’s because of Fort Lewis college, Durango is a town where history meets the present with a “good old days” feeling. I know all my days in Durango are good!

Five years had passed since Ryan and I had visited Durango, a town we’d been lucky to travel to many times. This time we came to town because I was speaking at a conference, IN THE GAME by Downtown Colorado, Inc. We brought along the dog, Fritzi, and thankfully, Strater Hotel, where we stayed, is a dog-friendly property.

I’ve always thought this hotel looks rather like a wedding cake; layers of red with white frosting. An incredible part of Colorado’s history, Strater Hotel’s stories could fill a book – which it has.

To be steeped in the ambiance of Durango, a stay at Strater Hotel is a must. Home to the Diamond Belle Saloon, The Mahghany Grill and The Office Spiritorium, there are no lack of places to wet your whistle and get a bite to eat. By the way, it’s The Mahghany that introduced me to posole, something that didn’t grace menus when I was growing up on the West Coast. Turns out, I’m a big fan of this flavorful hominy soup.

There are many offerings in Durango. Once we rented bikes and biked the Animas River Trail, a seven-mile paved trail running next to the river. This is one of my best memories from a visit to this Wild West town.

The Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is a right of passage in Colorado and a main draw to town. If you want to relive the “golden age” of train travel, this experience is a must. While it is undoubtedly one of the best train outings in Colorado, if you like trains, check out the Cumbres Toltec Scenic Railroad too.

Of course, while in town, we visited longtime favorites like Ska Brewing, Steamworks Brewing and Animas Brewing. Plus, Ryan made it to the Durango Diner.

New this time, we spent a splendid afternoon at Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa. We’ve been to most of the other hot springs in Colorado, but it hadn’t been on the agenda until now. It has been undergoing a four-year, expansive remodel.

With an adult section and family section, plus a huge yard and pavilion for bands, this is an inviting place to while away the hours. There are several food trucks and a small bar with snacks and seating. In addition, a spa is located at the far end of the property. Here, guests can enjoy massages, facials, and an array of enhancements like a hot oil hair and scalp massage.

A musician was strumming a guitar during our visit and as we soaked and listened we were entertained by little girls dancing their hearts out to the tunes. The evening was beautiful if not a little magical.

Ryan also discovered Toast Records & Bakes, which is a record store and bakery just a few doors down from Strater Hotel. He bought a record there on the first day and then religiously stopped in for a baked goodie on every day of the trip. They make pop-tarts that he found irresistible.

We enjoyed steaming bowls of ramen at Akami Poke & Ramen, which was just a block downhill from our hotel. On the last morning I indulged in coffee and a green chile bacon quiche, served on a “crust” of hashbrowns, at Hermosa Cafe. If I’d discovered the cafe on my first day in Durango, I would’ve visited every morning.

On this trip, we noticed that Durango is full of coffee shops and good coffee, a real treat for coffee lovers like us. Even Strater Hotel had delicious coffee available in the small well-appointed sitting area next to the fireplace. This hotel is full of yesteryear charm.

This was an official work trip for me, so I’d like to go back with little on my mind other than fun. And Durango is not only where the West lives, it’s where there’s tons of fun to be had.