Colorado Trip: Days 8 & 9 Durango

Durango was our next stop on the journey..This was a quick one night stay. We got there early enough to do some exploring, which was great because the next was pretty much taken up with a train ride. 

On our way we stopped in Dolores. We stopped at Mama Bear's bakery and books and the Dolores market for a few snacks. Such a small place but well worth the stop. Inside the bakery, there are books and also a small section in the back designated for gems, rocks and minerals.

My hubby had to hop on a work call (he had to do this a few times on our trip), so we stopped here, he jumped on wifi while sitting outside. I browsed the inside of the shop and walked to the grocery store. 

The inside was simple, wood plank floors and a simple seating area. There was a spot with new and used books, highlighting many local authors. In the back was a spot where they someone was selling rocks and gems, and local lotions, soaps, etc. 

This little store is one that is very understated but had a lot of fresh, local produce, and quite a few organic ingredients. Well worth the stop. 

Then we headed to Durango. We pulled into town, checked into our airbnb, the Jarvis Suite Hotel. It was perfect for a one night stay. Close to main street and easy walking to many shops and restaurants. We took a walk along the river.

What we ate/coffee:

On my list of places to eat was the James Ranch Grille. If you are someone who values locally sourced foods, this is a place to go. It is not cheap, but it was good and the atmosphere is great. Located on a portion of the family's ranch there is ample dining space inside and outside and an amazing farm store. A walking path is available that has informational signs along it. What they don't source from their own farm, they source from other local growers. I just had to share all the photos because they were so informative. As I walked the trail near the restaurant, there were placards (not sure if that's the right word) describing different aspects of the farm. 

Our view from where we sate to eat lunch. 

I enjoyed a beet salad with fresh goat cheese and a burger. I will say the prices were high but it was good.  

They also had an amazing market that had an amazing supply of locally produced products, from meats, to produce, beeswax products, home goods (most locally sourced). I wish I'd had bigger suitcases...so many amazing things I could've brought home. If you're in the area, this is definitely worth the stop.

Durango Coffee Company: I enjoyed their "last light" which was a turmeric, caramel and vanilla Latte. So good. This was recommended by a friend who has visited Durango and since we didn't have much time in the town, I opted to give it a try. 

I loved the vibe in this coffee shop. The old furniture throughout.

I loved their bar area.

We walked to the local grocery store to pick up some snack type items. Our hotel was close to City Market which made it easy.

What we did:

Visit the DSNGR Museum. It is free and a must see. You can easily 

spend a few hours there and there is something for everyone. The features change regularly so there's always something new. The staff are friendly and very willing to talk to you. You can also schedule times to take a behind the scenes tour. This does have a cost but would be worth it. We didn't get to do this. In the train station there is a great gift shop. Each spot in this museum was worth pausing and taking a moment or two. There are several steam engines in the middle with a model train set that is pretty impressive. 

We did the Durango/Silverton Gauge RR round trip ride. It was nice, but if we did it again, we'd do the train one way, and take the bus back. It would be a quicker trip and by doing the train both ways you are simply seeing the same things as on the way up and we got tired of smelling the train fumes. The other thing was, we didn't feel like the time we had in Silverton was much time at all and it was so busy you felt a bit rushed and hurried (at least I did). With that said, the scenery on the train was very pretty. There were a few spots that did make me a bit nervous, but wow, the colors and views were so nice.

Because of the mineral content, many of the rivers in Colorado have a unique teal blue/green color to them. 

In Silverton we ate at T's Smokehouse and had some great BBQ. 

There are plenty of shops, but it was so crowded from trains and buses that we didn't linger much. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin