The Best of Durango, Colorado

Durango, Colorado is a little slice of heaven located in the Southwest corner of Colorado. It is not far from other hot spots such as Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, Ridgway, Monument Valley and Mesa Verde National Park. Almost all of these attractions are within an hour or two driving distance. The main attraction for vacationers is the centralized location and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Durango was established in 1879 by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad company. The people of Animas, an old neighboring town, did not want a railroad to be built through their town. So, Durango was founded and the Railroad was built around Animas. The railroad served as transportation for people, goods, and silver and gold from the miners in Silverton.

Today the Durango & Silverton Railroad is still in operation just like it was over 100 years ago; although the only purpose now is for giving tours to people. Even today the scenery remains unchanged from the “Old West”. You are in for the treat of a lifetime with some of the best views you will ever see in your life.

The next biggest attraction is really not an attraction at all. Durango is home to Fort Lewis College. There are about 4,500 students that go to Fort Lewis College full-time. The reason many students are attracted to FLC is because of the panoramic views seen from on top of the campus. FLC is also the nation’s best school for cycling. Students come from all over the world to join the cycling team, and there are many cycling events every year that anyone can join. I warn you though, it’s not easy!

Durango has a ton of excellent hiking and mountain biking trails as well. Durango is the end point of the Colorado Trail. The Colorado Trail extends all the way from Denver to Durango – now that’s a hike! There are a plethora of other things to do as well.

You can visit James Ranch for some of the freshest beef and eggs you will ever find. Honeyville is also a huge attraction. You can buy hundreds of honey products but they are best known for their Honey Wine which stems from medieval England.

Downtown Durango is also home to some of the best restaurants you will ever eat at. There are several local brewery companies that brew very unique beers, and the townspeople of Durango just love them. So make sure when you are out and about you get a good sampling of what Durango has to offer.

There are several golf courses located in Durango. You can take in the genuine scenery while enjoying a nice round of golf. In the winter the Durango Mountain Resort is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding known on this side of the slope.

We cannot forget the ancient ruins at Mesa Verde National Park. Come see how the Pueblo Indians lived over 500 years ago. There are several tours to choose from and they are very cheap. Unfortunately you will not be able to complete this task all in one day, so find yourself a nice Durango vacation rental and stay a little while.

The Vacation Rentals Market is Growing

In many states around the United States vacation rentals are more popular than staying in a hotel. There are several reasons for this. If you look at the basic amenities received compared to the costs you will find that vacation rental occupants get more for their money and the market is definitely catching on. Who wouldn’t love having a washer and dryer, full kitchen with all the fixings, a back yard, private and personal hot tub, etc?

Think about what having an on-site washer and dryer can do for you. Especially if you have children that love to keep their clothes dirty. You won’t have to pack two weeks’ worth of clothes! Isn’t that alone worth it?

Of course not every vacation rental property will have ever amenity that you are looking for, but for the most part they all have a kitchen, and washer and dryer. You can live comfortably in a setting that you are familiar with, and there is plenty of space so you will not be crammed into one or two small rooms for an entire week together. You will each have your own personal space so you can do activities individually and then come together for family activities.

According to a study done by PhoCusWright the online vacation rentals market is growing rapidly. There was over 2.8 Billion dollars spent online last year which is up 12% from the previous year and it is projected that the market will grow by 17% in the year 2010. So where do renters and property owners fit in to all of this?

Renters

The vacation rental market right now is huge, and it’s only going to get bigger. This means that renters will be able to find some great deals in the future and in places they may have never imagined they would be able to rent. The amount of amenities received compared to your dollars spent is bound to increase; thus making this a much better option than a hotel stay.

Property Owners

More people are going to be looking for vacation rentals in lieu of a hotel room. Your ability to rent out vacation property is going to increase dramatically, and those people that may have never considered renting out their property as a vacation rental will now start to consider it since the demand is increasing significantly.

Summer Fun In Ouray, Colorado

Make way for some adventurous outdoor activities in this historic mining town of Ouray, Colorado. Ouray is located in the South West corner of Colorado about an hour from Telluride Colorado and Silverton Colorado. You have the opportunity to be as adventurous as you want, or you can sit back, relax and enjoy the incredible views of the San Juan Mountains.

There are a dozen activities that can be done in Ouray, Colorado and you will need a few days to fully enjoy yourself and experience everything that Ouray has to offer. So get yourself a nice vacation rental for a few days, or even a week and start exploring! You are in for an adventure you will never forget.

First on your list of activities should be a Jeep tour. Jeep tours range from scenic tours to living on the edge. You can rent a jeep on your own, or get a guided tour for a half day or a full day. I must warn you some of these tours are not for people with a weak stomach. Take a ride on Owl Creek Pass where John Wayne filmed part of his movie “True Grit”.

For those that would much rather keep their feet on the ground. There are hundreds of trails running through the San Juan Mountains that will surely peak your interests. Ouray has more miles of dirt roads than it has paved roads. You are surrounded by mountains so almost anywhere you turn you will find some hiking trails that are fun for all ages. Be sure to ask locals where some good hikes are located and pick up a trail guide.

Do you want to know what it was like to mine gold when Ouray was in full swing? Check out the Bachelor-Syracuse Mine Tour. The tour takes you down into a mine 1,800 feet in real mining cars. The tour has been featured in National Geographic. Your tour guide will give you a complete history of mining in Ouray and historical stories that you won’t hear anywhere else. This is a trip your whole family will be sure to remember!

The Uncompahgre River runs right through Ouray and is a hot spot for river rafters and kayakers. The river has sections of Class II and Class III rapids, and some easier sections where you can take in the scenery around you and share memories with your family and friends.

The most important part of Ouray, and often the most anticipated activity in Ouray are the Hot Springs. A hot spring is essentially a giant hot tub. All natural hot water, average of 104 degrees, from high up in the mountains is pumped down into a pool and giant hot tub. The hot springs are the most popular attraction in Ouray. It is a place where you and your entire family can relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.