Each year brewers from around the world compete for awards in the Internationally know World Beer Cup.  There were an elite international panel of judges in the 2012 Brewers Association World Beer Cup.  Last Saturday the ninth biannual World Beer Cup held in San Diego recognized two Durango breweries for their exceptional brews.  Steamworks Brewing Co. received a gold award for its Berliner Weisse brew. Additionally, Ska Brewery received a gold for its Steel Toe Stout at the World Beer Cup.   

Ska's Steel Toe Stout also won The Great American Brew Festival, which was held in Denver last September. You can try the Steel Toe  Stout on tap and it's available at all local liquor stores.  The Berliner Weisse is said to have a “dry, citrus finish with a low hop profile,” and is currently aging with the expectation to offer it on tap at Steamworks sometime this summer.

Current News, Information, Fun Things To Do, Accommodations, Ski Packages, Weddings, Family Reunions Or Simply An Amazing Vacation In The Southwest Colorado Mountains ~ Durango.com Is Your Resource Covering Durango, San Juan Mountain and The Four Corners Area!

Looking for a new way to spend your time in Durango?  Try experiencing Southwest Colorado by staying in a fabulous Durango, Colorado vacation home.  The only way to vacation if you're truly looking to spend your time in a home away from home.  In one of Durango's vacation homes you will feel as though you're staying at a friends house for the week and will be able to relax in a real home while on vacation.  The best part is there are vacation homes available all throughout Durango! If you're looking to stay close to town or get out to Vallecito Lake there are plenty of vacation homes available for rent wherever you turn!  Be sure to check out all the great vacation home options and if you're looking for some different lodging options on your next trip to Durango you'll know where to look! 

Durango is in the final running for "Beer City USA 2012," hosted by Examiner.com.  Durango locals, visitors and fans must be sure to cast your vote!!  The Beer City competition was established by Charlie Papazian, author of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing and founder of the Great American Beer Festival, the American Homebrewers Association and the Association of Brewers.  This competition showcases where craft beer has gone in the US and we all know that Durango's finest can compete with the best of them!  There are a lot of cities on there so be sure to spread the word and get your friends voting for Durango!! You can cast your vote today by clicking on the Beer City link but you must vote before May 13 at midnight!

Current News, Information, Fun Things To Do, Accommodations, Ski Packages, Weddings, Family Reunions Or Simply An Amazing Vacation In The Southwest Colorado Mountains ~ Durango.com Is Your Resource Covering Durango, San Juan Mountain and The Four Corners Area! 

Wilderness Trails Ranch offers some pretty great summer camp options! Be sure to check them out if you're looking for something for the kids, for fellow cowgirls, or even just for adults, they have it all!

Wilderness Trails Ranch Youth Horse Camp 2012:

This is an all-inclusive, award winning youth program which includes: horseback riding and instruction, wonderful lunches, afternoon snack, pool parties, outdoor adventures, trout fishing, bonding with your horse, making new friends, horse care and more, all in a unique wilderness setting at our private ranch next to Vallecito Lake.

Dates: June 11-15, June 18-22, June 25-29, July 9-13, July 16-20, July 23-27, July 30-August 2, August 6-10, August 13-17

Wilderness Trails Ranch a leader in horseback riding adventures for over sixty years. Each week we limit the number of participants to 8 children.  Parents, grandparents, family or friends are encouraged to join us for lunch on Friday prior to the "Kids Rodeo Roundup".  Cost is $550 per child with transportation with pick up at 8:00 a.m. and drop off at 5:15 p.m. at Bread Bakery in Durango or at the intersection of county roads 501 & 240. Cost is $500 without transportation. A 50% deposit is required to confirm the space with balance due 2 weeks prior.

Call or email Sandy@wildernesstrails.com or 970.247.0722 to book your child's summer adventure today! Visit ww.wildernesstrails.com



Cowgirl Camp - August 26 - September 1

Ladies if you are looking for the ultimate week of adventure and well-earned relaxation, this week is calling you!

Choose from a wide range of hands-on, well-instructed activities such as: Saddling and bridling your horse, cattle work and arena games, roping and lasso lessons, harnessing and driving a team of draft horses (amazing big boys!), learning to pack a horse for a back-country adventures, learn and practice natural horsemanship (a whole new world of horse talk!) and ncredible all day rides in the Weminuche Wilderness.

Then indulge in pure relaxation from a menu of delicious options: Amazing meals from gourmet to a steak cookout at the Chuck Wagon, vegetarian options plentiful, daily social happy hour with delicious appetizers featuring regional cuisine, wine pairing and Local SKA Brewery Beer Tasting, Dutch Oven/Campfire Cooking class by our Executive Chef, a night of local Honky Tonk at Vallecito lake (for any gals who have the extra energy), shopping trip in downtown Durango (one of the top 10 western towns in the USA), swimming in our heated pool, soaking in the sun or in the hot tub, Musical Evening Entertainment, Thursday night candlelight gourmet dinner and dance, Margarita Cruise on Vallecito Lake, evening campfires, stories, cowboy poets and stargazing, Free Fly Fishing demonstration by our resident angler, Fishing - stocked trout ponds or guide available upon request, Private Beautiful Mountain Location, Dance Lessons, Roping Lessons, Spa and Massage Service upon request, Morning Yoga/stretch classes, Boats, Bikes and more adventures available for those that don’t want to ride all day, Wine Pairing with our favorite local chocholater

$2195.00 per cowgirl, no single supplement change (limited to 25 women)

Family Weeks:  

The ranch offers all inclusive week long ranch vacations specifically designed for families from June 10th through August 25th. Let you family enjoy a private western vacation learning about our humble American beginnings how "Cowboys" the first stewards of the land are still the primary stewards of our lands.
Cost: $2495 per adult, $1995 per youth (ages 6-17) & $1650 per child (ages 3-5) Under 3 = free (no youth program provided-babysitting arranged)

 

Adults Only Weeks: 

May 27th - June 9th and September 2nd through September 29th, 2012 Cost: $2195/per adult

Enjoy the mountain in spring or while fall colors slowly meander down our valley.  Singles, couples, parents who need a break, this is your time.  No phone, no TV, no meetings, no worries! This is limited to only 25 guests per week so you can take time to relax and encounter the wilderness.  Survey the solitude and serenity of a Rocky Mountain night sky. You may never experience so many stars again!

What is an all inclusive Ranch Vacation?
At Wilderness Trails Ranch - rates include cozy cabin accommodations, phenomenal meals from gourmet to ranch fare, spectacular mountain horseback riding, hiking, biking, Cattle 101, water sports at Vallecito lake such as waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, and kayaking, gold medal fishing & on ranch fishing in our Rainbow Trout stocked ponds, nightly entertainment, and more! WE DO NOT ADD OR ASK FOR GRATUITY! A true, all-inclusive vacation is unique to Wilderness Trails Ranch - other ranches will ask for/expect up to 20%!

**The only additional (yet nominal) charges are optional: Trading Post (our gift shop), Waterin' Hole (bar), Boots & Chap Rentals, Massage/Spa Services, Private/Guided Fishing or Private Natural Horsemanship lessons, and/or other "off ranch" Activities such as Whitewater Rafting, Tree-top Zipline, Paintball, and Golf.

New from WTR:
* We are excited to have Thomas ZRocke share his horsemanship experience and knowledge with us. 
* Take advantage of our FREE Round trip transfers to/from the Durango (DRO) airport to the ranch.  - Offer vailid through May 2012.

Current News, Information, Fun Things To Do, Accommodations, Ski Packages, Weddings, Family Reunions Or Simply An Amazing Vacation In The Southwest Colorado Mountains ~ Durango.com Is Your Resource Covering Durango, San Juan Mountain and The Four Corners Area!

Join us for the 2nd Annual Durango Kentucky Derby! This is a Fundraiser for the Durango Arts Center and will be held in the Rochester Hotel Courtyard from 2 - 5 pm on Saturday, May 5.  Come watch the 138th Kentucky Derby at 4:24 p.m. you can also join in on all the Derby fun! There will be a Derby hat and suit contest, mint juleps and a silent auction of painting by Colorado artist Nicole Finger. The event is $65 for DAC members and $75 for all non-members.  This will include two drink tickets, prizes and hors d'oeuvres catered by Mutu's Italian Kitchen. 

You can get tickets through the Durango Arts Center at 259-2606 or the Rochester Hotel at 385-1920. 

Current News, Information, Fun Things To Do, Accommodations, Ski Packages, Weddings, Family Reunions Or Simply An Amazing Vacation In The Southwest Colorado Mountains ~ Durango.com Is Your Resource Covering Durango, San Juan Mountain and The Four Corners Area!

“It is no accident that this year the 125^th Birthday of the Strater is also the inaugural year of the rooms dedication project,” said Mrs. Thom. “The room dedication project is something that owner Rod Barker has wanted to do for some time. This year we will unveil close to ten rooms dedicated to those people or entities that have helped change the face of Durango, and helped make the Strater what it is today. We have dozens of nominees and are reviewing, interviewing, and compiling the best historical past and present recipients that we can. We look forward to unveiling the first recipients at this year’s annual Open House.”

Additional Offerings

At the end of the room tours, guests will be given a ticket for a complimentary drink, dessert bar, and cheese and fruit buffet. Also scheduled but not limited to:

• Strater Hotel drawing for a one-night stay and Mahogany Grille gift certificate
• Complimentary carriage rides by San Juan Outfitters during Open House, Thursday, August 19, starting at 4:30 p.m.
• Fashion show of historical clothing at 7:00 p.m. in the Henry Strater Theatre following Open House; a $5.00 donation to benefit Animas Museum suggested
• Mahogany Grille, Diamond Belle Saloon, and The Office Spiritorium will be open regular hours during Open House
• Birthday Room package, complete with Strater Commemorative 125th Birthday wine, copy of The Strater Hotel Story book, Strater Hotel History Tour, and a $100 dinner credit for our award-winning Mahogany Grille.

Current News, Information, Fun Things To Do, Accommodations, Ski Packages, Weddings, Family Reunions Or Simply An Amazing Vacation In The Southwest Colorado Mountains ~ Durango.com Is Your Resource Covering Durango, San Juan Mountain and The Four Corners Area!

The Knight Sky will join the railroad's other deluxe and first class railcars, the Legacy and the Legend which take visitors to Soaring Tree Top Adventures. The new car is expected to be on display during D&SNG's Narrow Gauge Day at the depot on May 4.   

It was announced back in December that the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge would begin in Durango and while we were excited then, we're even more excited today since the official race route has been announced. Since the race will start in Durango the Durango to Telluride leg of the race is called Stage 1 and will be the opening day race! The official route was released by the organizers today and here is the Stage 1 description.

Stage 1: Durango to Telluride – Monday, Aug. 20

This year’s Grand Depart will begin with a unique start of two neutral laps through downtown, followed by a larger 6.5-mile racing loop that encompasses most of town and then heads back through downtown for the first Sprint Line of 2012. A few bumpy feet of road as the racers cross the tracks of Durango’s famous Narrow Gauge Railroad will send the riders on their way out of town toward Telluride. On the ride out of LaPlata County the racers will have to tackle the Hesperus Climb on US 160. After a challenging, rolling ride across the high windswept plains and the second Sprint Line in the town of Dolores, the riders start a gradual canyon climb that lasts more than 30 miles. Topping out over Lizard Head Pass at 10,222 ft., any time gaps gained going up must be maintained on the 15-mile descent into Telluride. A tight and technical finish awaits the riders in the small, scenic town and they must navigate a small round-about and four turns in the last mile before sprinting to the finish line.

If you're going to be in or around Durango on August 20 we highly suggest you check out the start of America's Toughest Race!