Planning for a fun weekend in Durango
Located on the edge of the expansive Southwest desert and towering San Juan Mountains Durango, Colorado is an incredible place to spend a few days.
Come for the Durango Blues Train and explore the scenery, rich history, vibrant dining, great breweries and more surprises Durango has to offer.
Durango has more restaurants per capita than big cities like San Francisco and New York! From fine dining to food truck parks and some of the Nation’s best breweries, you’re in for a delicious time. Support our Durango Blues Train restaurant partners located nearby the Train Depot like 2nd Street Deli & Spirits and Carver Brewing Co. Or Venture out a bit and enjoy an incredible craft beer and a variety of American food at the beautiful beer garden at Ska Brewing Co.
Welcome to 2nd Deli & Spirits. Co-owners Zach Williams and Colin Brunson have been close friends over the past 8 years and decided to roll the dice and go all in on their new deli/bar venture. Colin has lived in Durango for over 15 years while Zach is approaching 9 years. The two of them are both very personable, comical, and motivated people that together have created a great downtown hangout for the community of Durango. They both enjoy skiing, snowboarding, fishing, camping, golfing,rafting…you get it. It’s Durango. Their new favorite pass time however is making tasty cocktails and sandwiches. “At 2nd Deli & Spirits we wanted to create an atmosphere that offered both fast and convenient take out for downtown co-workers as well as a laid back and enjoyable bar atmosphere. With delicious and affordable cocktails, wine by the glass, and a lengthy list of canned and draft beers the bar has something for everyone. Come on down and join us for a sandwich and if you feel like, a cold one.” -Williams & Brunson
Somewhere out in Colorado, in the year nineteen hundred and ninety-five, two guys named Dave and Bill learned that while they loved gulping down good beer, they weren’t yet old enough to buy it. They figured an answer to their quandary would appear if they drank enough and listened to enough thinking music, also known as Ska. On the second Skaturday of Skatember it hit them. If they brewed their own beer they’d have all the beer they could ever want. And while they were at it, why not brew the most magnificent suds ever quaffed in their neck of the woods…or any other neck for that matter.
Our onsite kitchen, built from re-purposed shipping containers, serves hand-crafted brick oven pizzas, gourmet sandwiches, salads and kids options. The menu features the freshest, local-est ingredients we can get. Ska’s flavor-packed beers can be found in the recipes too.
Carver Brewing Company was founded by Jim and Bill Carver, two brothers from Wisconsin that got their start in a traditional German Bakery. They became early risers, as they worked at the bakery throughout their high school years in the 1970’s. Jim moved out to Aspen in 1975 as an 18-year-old ski bum and continued his livelihood as a baker, Bill followed soon after. Together they opened Carver Brother’s Bakery at the base of the Winter Park Ski area in June of 1983 and brought traditional German baking to the mountains of Colorado.
In 1986, the brothers moved to Durango and opened Carver’s at its current location in the historic downtown. In 1988, Carver Brewing Company became the first brewpub in the Southwest and second in Colorado since prohibition. In the decades that followed, Carver’s has become one of the most medaled breweries on the Western Slope, expanded to create Durango’s largest outdoor Beer Garden, and has donated over $600,000 to community organizations. Carver’s is one of the most-loved local institutions in Durango, winning over the hearts (and stomach’s) of locals and visitors alike.
Outdoor Recreation
From the stunning Animas River Valley to towering San Juan peaks, adventure in Durango is everywhere. Enjoy 300 days of sunshine in the locale known for premiere mountain climbing, biking, fishing, and more. Explore local trails out your hotel door in Horse Gulch or “Test Tracks” trail system or make a day out of it and take a drive up the scenic Coal Bank, Molas and Read Mountain Passes with abundant trails surrounding. Inflate your raft and hit the roaring Animas River “town run” for some whitewater or catch the river further up for some mellow stand-up-paddleboarding.
Trail Directory and Information - Durango Trails
Bike Rentals and Advice - 2nd Ave Sports
Raft and SUP Rentals and Guides - 4Corners River Sports
Fly Fishing Guides - Duranglers
History & Historic Downtown
Durango is a historic railroad town, filled with Victorian-era buildings, mining relics and relics and more. Additionally the town sits on the ancestral homelands and territories of the Ute, Jicarilla Apache, Pueblos of New Mexico, Hopi, and Navajo Nations with rich Indigenous history surrounding including the iconic Mesa Verde National Park.
Railroad & Mining History - Stop by the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot to see the fascinating history of railroading, transportation and mining with people from around the world in 12,000 square foot museum. Admission is free.
Historic Downtown - Downtown Durango are home to dozens shops, restaurants, galleries, and entertainment options. Take a stroll down Historic Main Avenue and savor the view of the mountains and feel the heritage still alive in the historic buildings
Mesa Verde and Indigenous History - Mesa Verde is located just 35 miles west of Durango Mesa Verde National Park is a World Heritage Site that offers visitors a unique view into the lives of 27 pueblos and tribes.
Make It A Weekend
Come for the Durango Blues Train for a night (or two!) and experience it all! In addition to the scenery, history, dinning and breweries, the May and August Durango Blues Train coincides with some of Durango’s best events. The May 29, 30 & 31 Durango Blues Trains take place over Animas River Days weekend. Animas River Days showcases sporting events such as river surfing, stand-up paddling, freestyle kayaking, boatercross, raft and kayak slalom, an inflatable rodeo and the local's favorite costumed river parade. You don't have to be in the water to be part of the fun! The River Parade Viewing Party takes place at Santa Rita Park where you can sit and watch people brave it through the white water and get some good laughs.
The August 21, 22 & 23 Durango Blues Trains take place during San Juan Brew Fest. The San Juan Brewfest is one of the best beer-tasting festival in the Four Corners. It typically features up to 35 breweries, over 100 beers to taste, live music, and benefits United Way of Southwest Colorado.
Make it a weekend! Our lodging partners offer great accommodations located a brief walk from The Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Depot and Downtown Durango.