A Day Exploring Durango, Colorado

After several days of exploring Mesa Verde National Park, we decided to take a break from cliff dwellings and ranger programs and spend a day exploring Durango.

Durango is located about 40 minutes from Morefield Campground and gave us a chance to experience a completely different side of southwestern Colorado.

Saturday Morning at the Farmers Market

We left the campground Saturday morning and made our way into Durango. Our first stop was the local farmers market, which happens every Saturday.

The market was full of local vendors selling everything from fresh produce and baked goods to handmade crafts and artwork. I tried an amazing gluten free oatmeal chocolate chip breakfast bar. Macie loved looking at all the earrings and necklaces. Hudson and Lincoln looked at everything that could move or make noise and Jessie was a trooper for following us a long on the adventure of the morning. We spent time walking around, looking at all the booths, and enjoying the atmosphere. It was a great way to start the morning and experience a little bit of the local community.

Durango Train Museum

After leaving the farmers market, we headed over to the Durango Train Museum.

Going in, I expected it to be mostly trains and railroad displays. While there were certainly plenty of those, the museum ended up being much more than I anticipated. THE KIDS LOVED THE MUSEUM!!

The museum does an excellent job of telling the story of how railroads, mining, transportation, and settlement all worked together to shape southwestern Colorado. The museum is within a 12,000-square-foot building and is packed with exhibits and artifacts from the area's history.

The museum had a large model train display. The kids watched the miniature trains travel through towns, mountains, and landscapes and kept their attention far longer than I expected. The layout had incredible detail and gave us a glimpse into what rail transportation looked like throughout the region many years ago.

As we continued through the museum, we found antique trucks, tractors, covered wagons, motorcycles, railroad equipment, and historical displays that showed how people traveled and worked throughout the area before modern highways existed. It was interesting to see how much effort it took to move people, supplies, and equipment through the rugged San Juan Mountains.

The museum also does a great job highlighting the mining history of the region. Before tourism became a major part of Durango's economy, mining was the reason many of these communities existed. The railroad played a critical role in transporting silver, gold, supplies, and people through the mountains, and many of the exhibits helped connect those pieces of history together.

One thing that stood out to me was how much history has been preserved here. Many of the artifacts were donated by railroad workers and local families, creating a museum that feels personal rather than simply a collection of displays. Walking through the exhibits gave us a much better appreciation for the people who built and operated the railroad and helped develop this part of Colorado.

By the time we left, we had spent much longer there than originally planned. What we thought would be a quick stop turned into one of the highlights of our day in Durango. The museum was informative, well organized, and surprisingly engaging for both adults and kids.

Lunch at Santa Rita Park

By lunchtime we were ready for a break, so we headed to Santa Rita Park.

We found a place to eat lunch while the kids burned off some energy at the playground. After several days of hiking, sightseeing, and spending time in the car, it was nice to simply sit down and relax while the kids played.

Sometimes those slower moments end up being some of the most enjoyable parts of a trip.

A Stop at REI

After leaving the park, we made a quick stop at REI.

No outdoor adventure seems complete without wandering through an outdoor store and convincing ourselves we need more gear. We spent some time browsing the aisles and checking out the latest equipment before continuing our day.

Thankfully, we managed to leave with our wallets mostly intact.

Cold Stone Creamery

Our next stop was downtown Durango for ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery.

Believe it or not, this was the kids' first time ever visiting Cold Stone. They thought the whole experience was great, especially watching the ice cream being mixed on the frozen stone with all the different toppings.

Choosing flavors may have taken longer than eating them, but nobody seemed to mind.

By the time we finished our ice cream, we had five very happy kids and adults.

An Evening Drive in the Mountains

To finish off the day, we headed into the mountains for a scenic drive.

The winding roads, mountain views, and endless scenery reminded us why we love traveling through Colorado. After spending much of the day in town, it was nice to end things surrounded by forests, peaks, and open views.

We rolled down the windows, enjoyed the fresh mountain air, and simply took in the scenery.

A Great Change of Pace

Our day in Durango was a perfect change of pace from our time at Mesa Verde.

Instead of ancient cliff dwellings and archaeological sites, the day was filled with local culture, trains, parks, ice cream, and mountain views. The kids had a blast, and it gave everyone a chance to recharge before continuing our adventure.

Durango turned out to be a fun family stop and another reminder that some of the best travel days aren't always spent inside a national park.

-Kayla