My wife and I are looking for a 1 week getaway from the summer heat in Texas. Any recommendations as to which of the above 3 (or someplace other), that we could spend the 1st or 2nd week in August?

jj

1) Durango

2) Gunnison is more of a ranching community than a resort, a much better bet is nearby Crested Butte, which many might rate higher than Durango

3) Pagosa Springs

Durango

My vote of the 3 would be Durango but it would be even cooler in the higher elevations of Silverton or Ouray. The scenery can't be beat--one of the prettiest areas of Colorado.

Durango has far more to offer tourists than Silverton, or even Ouray. You could certainly do day trip to either of those places. Pagosa Springs in nice, but too small for my tastes as well. Durango will be nice, and a good deal cooler than Texas.

Mesa Verde NP is a must.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...by-debitnm.cfm

We've spent several days in the Ouray/Silverton area more than once. There are lot of things to do in the area. Area campgrounds fill up months ahead of time so others must think so too.

Ouray is in the mid 70's for the next 10 days. Durango is in the mid to high 80's for the next 10 days.

I'm from Texas too so I know why you are heading north. High 80's aren't cool enough for me.

Ouray is quite the charming little town...I think its nickname is "America's Switzerland" if that helps.

The weekend of August 6th and 7th is the Crested Butte Arts Festival. Tents line all along Elk Avenue. It's fantastic if you are into art.

It may also be rodeo days in Gunnison around that time but I'm not sure.

Gunnison is a ranching, very western town while Crested Butte is a charming old Victorian mining town.

I wish I could say something about somewhere else, but we love Crested Butte so much it's hard to get us to leave the valley.

Ouray is great for a day trip, or for camping, off roading etc. But as a base, Durango has more to offer. But I guess it is all ones opinion.

I voted for Durango but Connie has a good point. Another 1000 feet in elevation makes a big difference in temps. The Ouray area is known as "Little Switzerland" so if you are looking for cooler temps, that may be the better choice. You can always drive down to Durango to go out to eat and visit Mesa Verde.

I'll toss out another idea although I've not been there. Family members spent the July 4th holiday one year in Lake City, Co and absolutely loved it. Not a whole lot to do there, but it's even another 1000 feet higher (and cooler). Maybe some other Fodorites can weigh in. I'm going to get there someday!

I have a place in the southern mountains and the mountain town is 1000 feet higher than Atlanta and much cooler. But my place is still another 1500 feet higher and MUCH cooler. Friends don't believe when I say bring a sweatshirt in the summer - so I have a ready supply of extra sweatshirts. A friend actully brought in a fleece vest for warmth and slept in a sweatshirt. So, if you head to the highlands, take some warm clothes with you (hard to imagine as you leave Texas)

I suppose that it depends on what you like. Ouray is cute and charming, 8 blocks long and 8 blocks wide, no box stores or restaurant franchises here. Look for home grown, family owned businesses. There are 19 restaurants, 12 B&Bs, 13 hotels, 50+ shops and then of course, there is the great outdoors...

2 waterfalls are in town, horsebackriding, jeep tours, atv rentals, hiking galore. You can golf in Ridgway or Montrose, visit the Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP just outside of Montrose, go to Durango for a visit, see Silverton. First week in August will be great for wild flowers too! You can't beat it.

Ouray has natural hot springs if you like that angle too. Many other things are available to entertain you for a week but if you love your nightlife, it might not be a good fit.

here is a ouray vacation blog with some ideas on Ouray:

http://info.boxcanyonouray.com

topping

Telluride is another destination to conside

You could divide your time between two destinations--Ouray and Durango, for instance.

HTTY

hope it is OK to tag on my question here too, I am going to Colorado for 10 days 10/10 and trying to get a feel for how driveable the roads are at that time. Hope to go to Ouray, Durango, Silverton, RMNP. thanks!

Drivable as in worried about snow? There can be some light snows, but nothing that will hamper driving that early in October [10/10 means Oct 10th, right?].

My vote would be for Ouray over Durgano, too. Maybe a Ouray/Telluride split.

I would also agree with Crested Butte over Gunnison, but a week in Crested Butte might be too long.