Durango, CO
 

So we decided to forgo our trip to the Pacific NW this summer so we're researching destinations for a shorter (1 week and within 1000 miles of Dallas) trip. Somebody recommended Durango. Anybody been there? Looks like a lot of fun stuff to do. Narrow guage railroad, whitewater rafting, etc.

Eastern Oklahoma is not bad, although it will be hot there I think now that it July.

You can even fish for trout there.

We're considering going that direction as well. We'd probably go a little further into the actual Ozarks though. Buffalo River, etc.

how about Big Bend up in Chisos basin. High elevation in the desert, maybe it's cool enough to survive.

Ruidoso, New Mexico is gorgeous. I've hiked all over that place. Smokey the Bear was rescued from there.

The real Smokey the Bear? I remember seeing the real one in the National Zoo in DC when I was a kid.

He never told me not to play with matches.

He told me that only I, and I alone, could prevent forest fires. I've been shirking.

That's not a bad option either. One thing we discussed was just heading over to Calsbad to see the Caverns and then heading north from there and exploring northern New Mexico ... maybe make it up to CO, maybe not. Lots to see in NM. Ruidoso, Santa Fe/Los Alamos, Roswell, Taos, etc.

Nothing says we have to have a set itinerary.

not sure how I missed this, but I've been to Durango a few times since both my wife and I have family there. If you happen to see this, check out Guido's Favorite Foods, it's an Italian Deli that my aunt and uncle own. My uncle did some kind of apprenticeship gig in Italy for a few years and his place is amazing.