Durango from Houston, TX
 

I stumbled upon this board and this is a great board and has provided me lots of good advice.

We are planning a week long trip to Durango over the Christmas holidays. We live in Houston and have never driven in snow before and have never skied. We have a 4 year old and our plan is to go to a resort/hotel for 3-4 days and take small trips everyday from there. We would like our kid to try skiing and ourselves a little bit too - and we want to take that train from Durango.

Any help/advice will be appreciated.

skiapache.com Ruidoso better choice for begginner skiing

innofthemountaingods.com

closer less weather risk...

or Santa Fe Taos via Amarillo

For Durango up to Raton Pass and Durango

risk of weather delay lots higher longer drive

classic.mapquest.com

If you choose Taos, don't pick Taos Ski Valley for skiing, pick Red River or Angel Fire instead. TSV has a well-earned reputation for difficulty - it's easiest green (beginner) trail up the mountain is more difficult than some Colorado intermediate trails (and those at Red River too).

Thank you for the replies Qwovadis and BigRuss. Is is very risky driving conditions to try attempt the Durango train ?

No. I had a long response and I lost it. I'll retype.

andy, driving from Houston I'd spend the night in Amarillo and head over to Albuquerque. I'd probably add a night in Santa Fe too, just because it's just so magical. I'd take that route rather via Raton Pass and then heading west.

I've driven from Alb/Santa Fe to Durango several times in the winter and IMO it's a nice drive over high desert. I've never had a problem.

More to come...

Here's the link to the train ride -
http://www.durangotrain.com/ride-us/...n-winter-train

I'd definitely order the boxed lunch - or bring your own - since the winter route doesn't go all the way to Silverton

ONE OF MY BEST TRAVEL MEMORIES EVER - the dinner sleigh ride north of Durango

It was just amazing. Magical! A Christmas card come to life - especially for those of us who rarely see snow.

You park and join the sleigh ride near Purgatory/Durango Mountain. They bundle you up in blankets, and then head off into the woods with the sleigh bells ringing. They stop near a cabin and a woman asks if you want steak or chicken. Then the sleigh ride continues, through tall pines with brilliant stars above. I can't describe how much I loved it.

After a while you circle back to the cabin and enter a lantern filled cabin and eat a delicious dinner. If you want you can BYOB. The food is great and the experience is wonderful. Bundle back up for the ride back to the parking lot and your car.

Definitely do it! Highly recommend it!

Here's a link to Durango Ski areas -
http://www.espydurango.com/durango-skiing.html

Durango Mountain Resort is 20% beginner and would be a good place to take lessons (formerly Purgatory)

http://www.durangomountainresort.com/kids_lessons/

They are open Fri - Sunday only.

Tubing is a lot of fun. I've not been to Chapman Hill but you may check into that -
http://www.gocolorado.com/activities...y-in-the-snow/

Oops! Forgot the links for the sleigh rides -
http://www.buckslivery.com/sleigh.html

Dinner sleigh ride -
http://www.outlawtours.com/sligh_rides.htm

Your other ski option in the area is Telluride, which is 23% beginner -
http://tellurideskiresort.com/TellSk...ain-stats.aspx

If you are in the area, you really should go to Mesa Verde National Park -

http://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

Winter info -
http://www.nps.gov/meve/planyourvisi...todec31_11.pdf

I would choose a hotel with an indoor swimming pool if I were traveling with a child. Here's a list found via google -
http://www.hotelplanner.com/Hotels/2...-in-Durango-CO
Doublecheck the accuracy

If you go to Durango, you'll have a 1000 mile, 18 hour drive. If you have a week, this is how I would split up the trip if I were planning it -

Day 1 - long drive to Amarillo - 10 hours, 600 miles
Day 2- short drive to Santa Fe and spend the rest of the day exploring the area - 4.5 hours, 280 miles
Day 3 - short drive to Durango - walk around town and DINNER SLEIGH RIDE - 4 hours, 213 miles
Day 4 - Train ride
Day 5 - Ski day
Day 6 - another ski day or Mesa Verde -
(I'm assuming you have a week plus the weekend)
Day 7 - short visit to Mesa Verde and head back home
night in Amarillo again or Wichita Falls?
Day 8 - remainder of the drive back home
Durango to Houston = 18.5 miles, 1094 miles


If you have 9 days, then add in a day of skiing - although with a 4 year old, 2 days may be enough

I would like to point out that driving can be very difficult in these parts in winter. Yesterday, SR 550[ the road from I 25 in Bernalillo to Durango] had horrible driving condition for almost half the way. My husband who makes this trip every month, says it was one of the worst trips he has done on it and this was in a Land Rover! Today, I 25 is closed from Las Cruces to Belen due to similar conditions. So do not discount the fact that the roads can be an issue here at this time of year.

Swinging up to Santa Fe is a nice option, but do not try to go from Santa Fe to Durango via any "back road" route. Come back down I25 to Bernalillo and then head to Durango on SR550. IT is the only smart choice in winter.

Durango is a much better place for newbies to driving in winter condition [Telluride adds another 2 hours of driving and includes some VERY difficult roads with narrow, twisting mountain passes to deal with. It is also better for newbies to skiing and there is much more to do in town. It is also considerably less expensive for hotels and food options.

FYI - Durango will be open 7 days a week at Christmas time. It is only open weekends now as it is still early in season and unfortunately there isn't a lot of snow up there.

Another possibility is to ski Santa Fe. A nice little mountain, if the snow is good and cuts down on driving. Allows you to spend time in Santa Fe and take advantage of lots to do there as well.

If you do a search, I have thread on her regarding eating in Durango.

Lots of good ideas up thread. Ask if you have more questions.

As far as the train and driving to it [I would only do the train one way, return trip takes up almost an entire day]read what I wrote in first paragraph.

"As far as the train and driving to it [I would only do the train one way, return trip takes up almost an entire day]read what I wrote in first paragraph"

I don't understand that suggestion.
The winter route does not go to Silverton. It stops at Cascade Canyon. How would one "only do the train one way"?
What kind of access would one have to Cascade Canyon - other than the train?

Train departs Durango 10:00 a.m.
Arrives Cascade Canyon 12:05 p.m.
Departs Cascade Canyon 1:00 p.m.
Arrives Durango 3:05 p.m.

Thank you for all the replies - this is such a helpful board. Guys you made my day.

Starrs - I like your itinerary the best. I am going to stick to that one.

I stand corrected about the winter route; I have not done the train in winter.

OP - please take heed of my words re: driving conditions and be prepared.

andy, your 4yo may enjoy a much shorter train ride to the North Pole via the Polar Express -

http://www.durangotrain.com/events/2011-polar-express

A friend took our local Polar Express with their little ones and loved it. Read the info at the link above. Suggested attire = PJs :-)

Hi Andy, I have done this drive many times from my hometown of Kerrville, TX. You will want a 4x4 vehicle to get to and from the ski mountain if there is any snow on the road. The highway up has some steep parts. Don't even think about coming in a rear wheel drive car or a car with older tires, you will need plenty of traction. Consider renting a 4x4 for the trip, before you leave home. Better safe than sorry and you also don't have to put all those miles on your family car.

Durango is one of the few resorts that offers ski instruction for 4 year olds. Your son will have a great time. The place is overrun with Texans year round, so you'll fit right in. :)