Nestled in the heart of the rugged San Juan Mountains lies the picturesque city of Durango, Colorado.  Whether you are staying in the historic Strater Hotel or riding along the Narrow Gauge Railroad, this Colorado experience is sure to have you wanting more.

Upon your arrival to the Strater Hotel, you will notice the Victorian-style architecture that holds many adventures. First, head to the Diamond Belle Saloon, revered as one of the most famous original ragtime piano bars in the Wild West.  The costumed dance hall girls and bartenders will make you feel as if you just stepped back to the last century. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights, you can catch one of the scheduled gunfights – using fake guns, of course. Actors play cowboys who get into a fight in the saloon, then take it outside to settle it the “cowboy way.” This show will surely inspire laughter. The Strater also has its own small theater with quirky Western shows, plus a variety of restaurants.

Once you have seen enough of the hotel, head down to the Narrow Gauge Railroad!  You will wind through canyons and the remote wilderness of the two-million-acre San Juan National Forest.  You will never experience another ride like this, on a coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive rattling over the same tracks miners, cowboys, and settlers of the Old West took over a century ago.

Like shopping? You will not be short of it in Durango.  Head down the cowboy town’s streets to look in many different stores for art, clothing, home décor, or even skateboards.  Also be sure to stop into the Old Western photo store to snap a few funny Western portraits of your family and yourself, props and costumes included. If you would rather hit the slopes than the boutiques and if you have free time in the winter, be sure to get some skiing or snowboarding onto your itinerary.  Durango Mountain Resort is an excellent place to hit the slopes.

Through exploring the history of your hotel, riding the scenic railroad tracks, and shopping, you and your family are sure to have a great time. Whether you visit in the warm months of summer or the snow-blanketed winter, you should try Durango for your next family vacation.