My husband and I will be in Durango for three days in mid-Sept, and I was thinking of surprising him with a half day jeep tour. Any suggestions for good tour operators in that area? Thanks

Are you taking the train? That is the best tour of the area IMO.

The train does offer some beatiful scenery, but an off road jeep offers a very different perspective.

We live in area and do our own "jeep" but these places have a good rep so I don't have first hand experience but these businesses have been around awhile:

outlaw tours

www.outlawtours.com/jeeping.htm
mild2wild -

www.mild2wildrafting.com/jeep_tours.htm

If you do opt to take the train ride, go only one day or it will take up an entire day and the roundtrip isn't anything more than the same view twice.

There are also train and jeep tour combos.

If you have not been to Mesa Verde NP, be sure to make time for that. It will take a the better part of a day, but it is so worth it.

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

If you need a top notch place to stay in Durango, try Apple Orchard B&B. IT is truly a shining gem!

appleorchardinn.com

If you need restaurant recommendation, please ask.

Deb
Deb

My husband and I just got back from Durango and we did a combo jeep tour and train thru Outlaw Tours. It was great. Took a van to Silverton, then took the jeep tour up into the mountains to an old mining town and then the train back to Durango. It was all day but a GREAT day. Check into Outlaw Tours. They were great.

If you want to suprise your husband, take him on the train, but include the zipline with it.

www.soaringcolorado.com


www.photoworks.com/members/spirobulldog

click on Mesa Verde, you may have to click view all first. you will find our pics of the zipline on there. FANTASITC

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. We are definitely going to Mesa Verde, and I will check out Outlaw and mild2wild for jeep tours. I looked into the zipline, but it is pricey and there is an excellent chance I would freak out at the very last minute (a little problem with open heights)
Deb, I would absolutely love some restaurant recommendations. We will eat just about any kind of food, and we love great local hangouts.

I am headed to Durango today for lunch and some shopping. Will give you some suggestions tonight.
Deb

We enjoyed the Steamworks Brewery. I believe that is where we had a good Cajun Boil. The Silver Bean in Cortez is a funky silver trailor, that has good smoothies, coffees and burritos. We actually stopped there twice. It is a good place for a grab and go type thing. Debit can give you a lot more eating options.

Just did a thread on Durango restaurants:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35153532

Deb