Durango, Colorado

My wife thinks I’m reality-impaired.  But I have experienced a REAL historic train ride in a REAL historic western small town in a REAL purdy part of the country.  That’s Durango, with a capital D.  Durango hosted the Mountain Bike World Championship in 1990, and is the home of Fort Lewis College.  Durango is nestled in the Animas River Valley surrounded by the San Juan Mountains. The Animas River flows through downtown and boasts gold medal fly-fishing waters and is very popular for whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing. In the winter, Durango has easy access to five major ski areas, including Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort, located just 25 minutes north of downtown. Located 35 miles west of Durango is Mesa Verde National Park.  Durango's primary attraction is the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a heritage railway that links Durango to the historic mining town of Silverton, Colorado.  The railroad utilizes steam-powered trains with rolling stock dating back to the 1920's and earlier.  This small town can be found on Route 160, 20 miles north of New Mexico, in far southwest Colorado.