"HOLLYWOOD OF THE ROCKIES"

No visit would be complete without a ride on the narrow gauge train. The train runs several times a day in the summer, but there's also special winter excursions.

Durango has many good restaurants, historic hotels, and beautiful bed and breakfasts. You'll want to view pictures of famous movie stars who were filmed in the area at the Rochester Hotel.

(This journal in progress. Visit this site again for pictures and more information.

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We stayed in the main farmhouse and woke up to delightful smells of old-fashioned sweet rolls baking in the kitchen downstairs. The fresh-baked aroma gave us an appetite for a gourmet breakfast served by the owners, Celeste and John Gardiner. This inn was recently named as one of 25 America’s Favorite Inns from over 2,000 inns, bed and breakfasts, and small hotels across the country.

The Strater Hotel is home for the Diamond Circle Melodrama, which operates from June through late September. Author Louis L’Amour created his western heroes while honky tonk piano music seeped from the hotel saloon up through the floorboards into his room. Today an old Fisher piano still belts out ragtime music in the Diamond Belle saloon that is authentic down to a gilded mirror above a massive bar.

We spent a carefree day amidst spectacular, rugged mountain scenery without navigating sharp hairpin mountain curves with our car. We took the three-and-half hour round trip from Durango to Silverton. Then we had lunch and roamed through the streets of historic old Silverton before boarding a bus. On another occasion, we bought one-way tickets for myself and our four kids, and my husband picked us up in the van in Silverton. The kids were quite thrilled with the ride. Our oldest son got so excited about the scenery that he dropped his water bottle when he was standing in the open observatory car. Other options for riding the train include staying overnight in Silverton and returning to Durango the next day, or taking the bus back to Durango. Train departures in the morning and arrivals in the late afternoon create a sense of excitement in this old mining mountain town. Cameras click and passengers wave to curious onlookers as the train passes-full steam ahead-through the historic downtown area. Durango owes its very life to the historic 110-year old train. The town was founded in 1879 mby the Denver Rio Grande Railway when they extended their line from Durango to Silverton to haul precious mine ores. By 1882, the railroad began running and already 2,000 people called this picturesque mountain town home. The train travels the same spectacular scenic route high above the Animas River in the majestic San Juan Mountains as it did back in the old mining days. When mines were operating in the Animas Valley, this train transported an estimated 300 million dollars worth of precious metals, primarily gold and silver. In 1981, the railroad sold its rolling stock, depot and roundhouse to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, who pledged to preserve the history and restore the authenticity of the train. Durango train ride offers carefree, scenic day in mountains. Special holiday trains give visitors a view of the snow-covered remote winter wonderland in November and December. Due to heavy snows blocking the canyon at higher elevations, the train runs half way to Silverton and returns to Durango. For reservations, 1 888/442-4222. For more information, contact Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, 479 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301l or www.durango.com.

It's not really a museum, but it's really interesting to enter the lobby and check out the walls lined with pictures of Hollywood stars that were in Durango for movie filming.

You will want to linger awhile, perhaps over lunch or dinner. We discovered the hotel serves great Southwestern food, such as a Southwest salad containing fresh vegetables, black beans, cilantro and tortilla strips. A favorite dessert is linzertorte bars topped with apricot or raspberry preserves.

Rooms at the old Rochester Hotel are decorated in Western movie motifs inspired by one of over 70 movies filmed in and around the Durango area.

You can ride in an authentic narrow gauge caboose aboard a special Durango & Silver train to RailCamp, a narrow gauge boxcar refurbished as a wilderness recreational vehicle. Located in secluded area in Cascade Canyon about half way to Silverton, RailCamp can house up to four outdoor enthusiasts.

D&SNG railroad officials believe that their RailCamp excursion into the mountain wilderness is unique, possibly the only one in the country. Backpackers, fishing enthusiasts and hikers may make arrangements to get off the train at Tall Timber Resort, Needleton and Elk Park. Two hydraulic wheelchair lifts also are available in a specially designed car for handicapped persons.