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Started By
Message
Colorado Recs Salida, Buena Vista, Durango, Vail
Posted on 6/16/25 at 5:55 pm
Posted on 6/16/25 at 5:55 pm
Looking for some advice on a few things
First we are looking for a white water rafting day. Between options out of Vail or Buena Vista/Salida is either a far better option?
We have 1.5 days in Salida/BV anything I should hit up or restaurants?
Same for Durango, anything I should see or restaurants to try?
We have two multi day backpack trips included(Chicago basin and Maroon Bells) so hikes recs should probably limit to if they are can’t miss for Durango/salida/bv. I’m familiar with vail hiking.
First we are looking for a white water rafting day. Between options out of Vail or Buena Vista/Salida is either a far better option?
We have 1.5 days in Salida/BV anything I should hit up or restaurants?
Same for Durango, anything I should see or restaurants to try?
We have two multi day backpack trips included(Chicago basin and Maroon Bells) so hikes recs should probably limit to if they are can’t miss for Durango/salida/bv. I’m familiar with vail hiking.
9
Posted on 6/16/25 at 6:27 pm to NYCAuburn
BV/Salida for your raft trip, for sure.
Posted on 6/16/25 at 8:13 pm to NYCAuburn
Moonlight pizza in Salida is decent.
Posted on 6/16/25 at 8:17 pm to NYCAuburn
Buena vista for the rafting without a doubt.
Two places I highly suggest you look into visiting are Ouray and great sand dunes national park.
Two places I highly suggest you look into visiting are Ouray and great sand dunes national park.
Posted on 6/16/25 at 9:15 pm to NYCAuburn
quote:
white water rafting day
Full or half day? If half day it is hard to beat the Numbers north of BV. If full I would go down by the Royal Gorge or even better Gunnison Gorge.
There are no must eat places in Colorado, the food in Salida/BV is bad. The food in Durango is mediocre. You aren't coming to Colorado to eat.
Posted on 6/16/25 at 9:20 pm to TeddyPadillac
quote:
Two places I highly suggest you look into visiting are Ouray and great sand dunes national park.
Trip is planned. These are areas of Colorado I haven’t been to before(except vail), so just looking for these spots.
We are at bv/salida, then day in Durango, the train to needleton/Chicago basin hike, aspen, maroon bells hike, then vail
I remote work and have been living the summers in CO the last few years. We usually rent a house for 2-3 months but only going for a few weeks this year however kid free.
Posted on 6/16/25 at 9:25 pm to idontyield
quote:
Full or half day? If half day it is hard to beat the Numbers north of BV. If full I would go down by the Royal Gorge or even better Gunnison Gorge.
Doesn’t matter we have a full day to do something. Although we are in vail a week so more time.
quote:
There are no must eat places in Colorado, the food in Salida/BV is bad. The food in Durango is mediocre. You aren't coming to Colorado to eat.
Agreed and most mountain towns are filled with overpriced standard food but there are spots around and wondering what they may be. All while realizing these are not aspen vail etc.. towns with clientele for good food.
This post was edited on 6/16/25 at 9:27 pm
Posted on 6/16/25 at 11:26 pm to NYCAuburn
In Salida, Boathouse Cantina and Hi Side are both decent but as others have said, not great. But you can sit on the deck over looking the river which is nice.
Drift In is outside of town but along the river and is a really chill spot with burgers, etc. They handle raft trips there too.
Wood's High Mountain Distillery in salida is a cool place to have a drink.
Simple Eatery in BV is pretty good but it can be a long wait for a table at lunch
Lindo Jalisco in Alamosa is pretty damn good mexican and near the Sand Dunes.
Drift In is outside of town but along the river and is a really chill spot with burgers, etc. They handle raft trips there too.
Wood's High Mountain Distillery in salida is a cool place to have a drink.
Simple Eatery in BV is pretty good but it can be a long wait for a table at lunch
Lindo Jalisco in Alamosa is pretty damn good mexican and near the Sand Dunes.
This post was edited on 6/16/25 at 11:29 pm
Posted on 6/17/25 at 8:14 am to NYCAuburn
Rafting - Royal Gorge in Canon City
Durango - Take the train to Silverton. It was a highlight of our trip
Posted on 6/17/25 at 8:38 am to NYCAuburn
We did the Numbers half day on the Arkansas a few years back. Best rafting we'd ever done. Class IV and great scenery. We used Wilderness Aware In Buena Vista. They even had a shaded kennel for our lab.
When in Durango, take the day and go to Mesa Verde National Park, about and hour west. Durango is such a cool town.
When in Durango, take the day and go to Mesa Verde National Park, about and hour west. Durango is such a cool town.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 9:04 am to TeddyPadillac
I'll second Great Sand Dunes National Park.
Spent an entire day in Brown's Canyon National Monument in Salida. If the kids want to sneak in a quick hike definitely check it out. The drive in and out is a bird watcher's paradise.
Spent an entire day in Brown's Canyon National Monument in Salida. If the kids want to sneak in a quick hike definitely check it out. The drive in and out is a bird watcher's paradise.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 9:22 am to reggierayreb
A couple of Durango recs on food (and I tend to agree with what others have said about Colorado food):
James Ranch Grill is a cool place on the way to the "mountain." A working farm with good burgers. Just a really nice setting to chill out and grab some food.
11th Street Station is a nice food truck court with a central bar. Good place to hang out, grab some food and drinks.
Cream Bean Berry is a very good ice cream shop.
If you're going all the way up toward Purgatory, Olde Schoolhouse Cafe is a pretty great oldtime dive bar with a lot of character.
James Ranch Grill is a cool place on the way to the "mountain." A working farm with good burgers. Just a really nice setting to chill out and grab some food.
11th Street Station is a nice food truck court with a central bar. Good place to hang out, grab some food and drinks.
Cream Bean Berry is a very good ice cream shop.
If you're going all the way up toward Purgatory, Olde Schoolhouse Cafe is a pretty great oldtime dive bar with a lot of character.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 1:26 pm to NYCAuburn
quote:
First we are looking for a white water rafting day. Between options out of Vail or Buena Vista/Salida is either a far better option?
We did Browns Canyon rafting and it was awesome.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 2:36 pm to idontyield
there’s good food in BV we go there once or twice a year. And yes that’s the place to go rafting, do the numbers
Posted on 6/17/25 at 3:13 pm to cgrand
Anyone have a good white water rafting outfit within an hour of Vail?
Any other recommendations on things to do in Vail over the summer? Will be there in mid July.
Any other recommendations on things to do in Vail over the summer? Will be there in mid July.
Posted on 6/17/25 at 3:52 pm to JackandWater
plenty of hikes you can take
if there’s a concert at the ford amphitheater definitely do that. Eat and drink in vail village.
we’ve been there twice in summer both times for concerts, it’s a cool place but I wouldn’t stay there a week, for example
if there’s a concert at the ford amphitheater definitely do that. Eat and drink in vail village.
we’ve been there twice in summer both times for concerts, it’s a cool place but I wouldn’t stay there a week, for example
Posted on 6/17/25 at 9:11 pm to Shexter
quote:
Durango - Take the train to Silverton. It was a highlight of our trip
Train to silverton drops us off in the middle of route for one of our backpacking trips. Chicago basin. We are camping a few nights and doing the 4 14ers there. Then train picks us up back to Durango
Posted on 6/19/25 at 7:56 am to NYCAuburn
A few foods recs that I've personally enjoyed and would visit again. Obviously I don't have much interest in fine dining.
BV/Salida:
The Beach LINK
Sweetie's LINK
Durango (really Purgatory)
The Nugget bar has an adjacent permanent food truck with great sliders
LINK
Also read good things about Olde Schoolhouse but didn't get a chance to try.
ETA: we also rafted with Wilderness Aware out of BV and were satisfied. Definitely a for-profit business but they seem to have their shite together.
BV/Salida:
The Beach LINK
Sweetie's LINK
Durango (really Purgatory)
The Nugget bar has an adjacent permanent food truck with great sliders
LINK
Also read good things about Olde Schoolhouse but didn't get a chance to try.
ETA: we also rafted with Wilderness Aware out of BV and were satisfied. Definitely a for-profit business but they seem to have their shite together.
This post was edited on 6/19/25 at 8:03 am
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