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Durango Area Summer Vacation Values
Real Frugal, Real Free, Real Durango
Summer of 2012
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Free Tours:
- Honeyville Honey: watch honeybees hard at work in a working indoor hive. Watch bottling production.
- Historic Downtown Durango: self-guided walking tour of Main Avenue
- Historic Downtown Durango: self-guided walking tour of 3rd Avenue
- Durango’s Public Art: self-guided walking tour of Durango’s outdoor and public art
- SKA brewing: tasting room and tour of new green building
- Steamworks: watch beer being brewed
- Durango Brewing Company and Tasting Room
- Desert Sun Coffee: coffee roasting and tasting
- San Juan Skyway: drive one of the most scenic drives in America, www.byways.org
- Turtle Lake Refuge: agritourism
- Fish Hatchery: tour and feed the fish in the hatchery
- Wine tasting on Saturdays at Wine Merchant
- Iris gardens: springtime at Blue Lake Ranch
- Free guided history tour of the Historic Strater Hotel
- Wolfwood Refuge: visit a wolf refuge just outside Ignacio, 970-946-9606
- Durango Elks Lodge (BPOE #507) museum, 970-247-2296
Free and Frugal Transportation:
- Durango T: trolley car transport on Main Avenue, www.durangogov.org
- Animas River Trail: paved walking trail along the Animas River
- Miles of public trails maintained by Trails 2000
- Bike Rentals
Free Attractions and Activities:
- FREE entrance to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train museum
- FREE Outdoor Movie Night, June17, July 8, July 29 “Three Springs Plaza Pics” – 7:00 pm Pre-Show entertainment movie starts at dusk.
- “Music In The Mountains”, July 21, 2011, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, The talented musicians of Music in the Mountains fame will travel down the mountain to entertain us in this FREE performance.
- Bocce Ball, Wednesdays from 6/8 through 8/24, Buckley Park
- Fridays at the Fort – Free concerts at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, www.durangoconcerts.com
- Kids ride Free on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for selected days. * Restrictions apply. Visit www.durangotrain.com for more details.
- Sunrise and Sunset spectacular views of mountains
- Watch the Durango & Silverton Railroad leave and return to the station
- Vallecito Lake: Tour of Carvings commemorating the Missionary Ridge Fire of 2002
- Durango BMX park
- Spaaah Shop: free hand scrub and plenty of samples to enjoy!
- Center for Southwest Studies: historic museums of Native American Studies
- Durango Nature Studies, www.durangonaturestudies.org
- Animas River: tubing, hiking, dog walking, fishing (license required)
- Farmer Markets: Saturday mornings in the summer and fall, free entertainment, kids activities, samples
- Durango Dog Park: exercise your dog in an off leash area just for dogs
- Vallecito Lake: fishing, swimming, boating, hiking at a mountain hamlet
- Free live entertainment in the Office and Diamond Belle 365 days a year
- Art galleries and studios
- Outdoor public art displays—visit the outdoor public art
- Durango Art Center: gallery and gift shop
- Public event/festival almost every weekend all summer long
- Free dog watering bowls are in front of numerous downtown storefronts to keep your pooch hydrated
- Durango Flea Market: every Sunday morning at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
- Live music and film at Starbucks /Coldstone plaza most evenings in the summer
- Toh-atin Gallery: museum quality Native American art, blankets and other pieces
- Durango Skate Park: bowls, rails for skaters, boarders, inline skaters
- Live music at restaurants, bars
- Powerhouse at the Durango Discovery Museum: natural powered movies during the summer, Sundays “Pay what you wish” 1 – 5 pm, outdoor exhibits
- Durango Public Library: free internet service
- Durango Area Tourism Office offers information and brochures on the area
- Fishing on the Animas River
- Window shopping at a variety of boutiques and shops downtown
- Rapids and whitewater course at Smelter’s Hole on the Animas River
- Art Supply House--Explore art at the art table—free projects to introduce children and adults to different forms of media. Projects change weekly.
- Durango Parks and Playgrounds:
- SANTA RITA PARK/GATEWAY (S. Camino del Rio) Volleyball, basketball, play equipment, 7 mile walking path, large area for soccer, frisbee, kite flying, etc.
- FOLSOM PARK (Florida Road & Folsom Place) Baseball and play equipment.
- FASSBINDER PARK (17th Street & West 2nd Avenue) Lots of shade, play equipment.
- SCHNEIDER PARK (Roosa Avenue), Riverside, play equipment.
- PIONEER PARK (37th Street & Bennett Street) Play equipment, lots of room,
- BROOKSIDE PARK (2301 Main: across from High School) Riverside, play equipment.
- ROTARY PARK (15TH Street & E. 2nd Avenue) Riverside, gazebo picnic area.
- ANIMAS CITY PARK (32nd Street N. to Bennett Street) Near railroad tracks, riverside, play equipment.
- Coming this Spring FORT LEWIS RECREATION COMPLEX, (Located at Fort Lewis College on Rim Drive)
Softball fields, football, play equipment, picnic areas. - MEMORIAL PARK, PHASE 1,2,3--Begin at 32nd Street & E. 3rd Avenue
Riverside, play equipment, swing sets, nature trail. - DURANGO HIGH SCHOOL (23rd Street & Main Avenue) Track, soccer, baseball. Football, tennis, plays equipment.
For information: Durango Parks and Recreation Phone: 970-375-7300 - San Juan Public Lands—information on the San Juan Forest and mountains, exhibits, children’s area, bookstore
- First National Bank—mounted wildlife display
- Lectures and presentations by the Animas Museum on the history of the area (call for schedule)
- Hike, bike and disc-golf at Durango Mountain Resort
- Overend Mountain Park—240 acres of natural lands for biking, hiking, running
- Watch caramel apples and chocolate being made at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory store on Main Avenue
- Free WiFi—Durango Area Tourism Office and Durango Joe’s coffee shops, Steamworks, and many more
- Nature Hikes guided by San Juan Mountains Association
- Information at the downtown Welcome Center
- Walk a dog at the La Plata County Humane Society
- Popcorn at Wells Fargo Bank on Friday afternoons
- Every Wednesday at 11:00a.m. There will be a road ride leaving from the rec center, (meet in the parking lot between the rec center and the fairgrounds so we are out of the way.) and ride for approximately 90 minutes.
- Every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. there will be a ride leaving from Mountain Bike Specialists. These rides will be approximately 2 hours.
Frugal Activities
- Shoulder season is November through April, reduced rates at hotels and attractions
- Three get Four at Durango Mountain Resort for winter skiing
- Golf at Hillcrest Municipal Golf course—great views!
- Mini golf at Durango Park & Sky Ute Casino
- Animas Museum—Durango history
- Durango Recreation Center—indoor and outdoor water park, lap pool, gym, workout facilities, track and courts
- James Ranch—organic beef and farming operation, cheese making
- Scenic Chairlift ride at Durango Mountain Resort
- Happy Hour and Daily Specials at local restaurants and watering holes
- Kids age four and younger eat free at the Mahogany Grille
- Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum
- Durango Discovery Museum
- Foxfire Farms—agritourism, tour of working sustainable farm and ranch
- Open Gym for toddlers on Mondays and Fridays at the Mason Center
- The Clayroom
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