Winter in the Rockies is truly a wonderland with the powdered sugar dusted trees, nippy weather perfect for bundling up, and a sense of the holidays in the air. Nature is ringing in the season with deep snow banks ready for skiing, sledding, or a snowy sleigh ride. Here is a perfect winter weekend in Durango.
Arriving:
-Fly into Durango La Plata County Airport (DRO) without getting delayed from winter storms! Rent a car there from Alamo, Avis, Hertz, or Enterprise so you can enjoy Durango on your own time.
-Check-in at one of Durango’s locally run hotels like The Caboose Motel, The Rochester, or historic Strater Hotel.
-Bundle up and head downtown to a local café like Durango Joes or Hermosa Coffee Roasters for a warming coffee, hot chocolate, or tea. Stop by the Durango Welcome Center on the corner of 8th and Main for information, flyers, and a list of upcoming events.
-Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant then head back to the room to unpack, relax, and rest up for all the weekend’s activities!
First Day:
-The chairlift at Purgatory Resort starts at 9 a.m. Pack your ski bags and grab some breakfast at Durango Bagel or breakfast burrito from Back Country Gourmet. Then enjoy the 30 minute drive up to the mountain. If you are a seasoned shredder, try out the backside of the mountain where conditions are at their finest and crowds tend to be more spread out. If this is your first time on the slopes, Purgatory offers private and group lessons for skiing and snowboarding with on-site rentals. The mountain offers a great array of difficulty from the bunny hill to double black diamonds.
-Ride the slopes to Dante’s Bistro, The Powder House, or Purgy’s to get a mid-day lunch, then get back on the mountain! The resort also offers sledding, shops, and a calendar full of special events.
-Take a nice hot shower at the hotel and get ready for another amazing meal out at one of our fine dining restaurants like Season’s and Ken and Sue’s or a casual apres-ski at a local brewery like Steamworks Brewing or Carvers Brewing Co.
Second Day:
-Enjoy a relaxed morning and enjoy breakfast at Raiders Ridge Café, College Drive Cafe, or a pastry from Bread.
-Make reservations for your group to take a 45 minutes sleigh ride through the Hermosa Cliffs and Haviland lake area. Rapp Coral offers this 3 mile trip for private and group rides complete with hot chocolate, warm blankets, and beautiful scenery.
-Shop in downtown Durango to pick up a souvenir for yourself and bring a little snow home for friends and family.
-Enjoy one more night out on the town before getting a good night's rest to fly out in the morning.
Durango has so many fun activities for everyone! Want to extend your stay a little longer? Maybe a second home? Contact The Durango Team at The Wells Group and let us assist in finding you the perfect mountain home.
