Seniors Ride the Narrow Gauge Railroad

Durango, Colorado is a year-round, vacation destination where senior visitors can ride the world famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The train is a remnant of the time when Durango was a mining town where silver and gold flowed from the mines of the La Plata Mountains.

Many visitors go over to nearby Mesa Verde National Park where skiers and snowboarders enjoy the slopes of Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort.

I would try to time my visit in the fall, that perfect season to enjoy the color and beauty of the mountains. We would explore downtown’s shopping boutiques, fine restaurants and historic hotels.

My wife and I always choose to stay in a historic B&B or hotel on our visits. The Strater Hotel would fit the bill quite nicely. Dating back to 1887, it is one of the West’s iconic hotels in downtown Durango.

300 Days of Sunshine Attracts Seniors

The City of Durango, with its population of 17,000, is the county seat of La Plata County and enjoys over 300 days of sunshine. Seniors can enjoy the scenic countryside; the San Juan range is amazing to visit in any season.  

You won’t have any problem searching for attractions in Durango. Senior visitors can choose whitewater rafting, hiking the Animas River Trail, skiing, biking, fishing in the local streams, horseback riding and snowmobiling.

For another “adventure” the Full Blast Zipline Canopy Tour is  only 1 mile from downtown Durango. Oh yes, Fort Lewis College calls Durango home.

 Historic Train Attraction

The Animas (that’s River) Museum is in the old City School (1904) with the history of La Plata County. It features exhibits, programs, archives of old photos and if you are interested, a research library to take you back to the olden days in and around Durango.

Much of Durango’s history dates back to the building of the railroad. In 1860, a prospector discovered flakes of gold in the San Juan Mountains north of present-day Durango.

The train that hauled precious metals in the 1880s, now takes tourists for a 47-mile, open-air journey through mountains and forests and past abandoned mines to historic Silverton and back.

Seniors, set your GPS for Durango and experience some of Colorado’s scenic wonders and its many attractions. It’s a city that offers a dozen vacations in just one destination. I would have to agree that Durango is one crafty little mountain town! - jeb