We will be on our honeymoon the first week after Labor day weekend and are thinking of going to the DurangoOuray areas. We would like to stay in non-commercial and unique lodging that isn't too expensive. (around $80 - $140 per night). We will be there appr. 4 days.
Any suggestions?
Also, we would like a the insiders scoop to awesome food and awesome sight seeing....so all suggestions would be great.
(Where ever we go we try to patronize local/small business merchants and stay away from the corporate/commercial businesses - just fyi)
Thanks!

Check out the St. Elmo Hotel www.stelmohotel.com in Ouray. I haven't stayed there, but I have heard good things. The hotel owners also operate two restaurants in Ouray. You can find info about both on the previously mentioned website. I like their Mexican restaurant.

You can take a jeep tour out of Ouray for some awesome views. I also highly recommend the Durango-Silverton railroad. Ouray and SW Colorado are beautiful, I'm sure you will have a wonderful honeymoon.

Here's a tip to save some money on meals. You can buy certificates to restaurants in Durango at a fairly decent % off. There aren't too many, but the savings are good.

www.999dine.com is the site. We use their certificates often.

The Kennebec Cafe, just north of Durango {on the road to Mesa Verde -- which you should make a point of seeing} is really nice, upscale and with the discount...very reasonable. Dinner there would be special on your honeymoon. You can get a $25 certificate for only $7.50!! [1 per table]


Gazpacho has really good Mexican/New Mexican food and is at the south end of town.
Good for lunch or dinner.

Also in town is Jean Pierre Bakery...nice for lunch. $15 certificate for $4.50.

The certificates are good for 90 days, so plan accordingly.

One last thing...if you take the train out of Durango...go only 1 way. That is more than enough time on it.

As for a hotel...try the General Palmer or the Stratler in Durango. I've stayed at the Palmer and had an "inside room" that was pretty even though it had no view.

Hope this helps!
Debi

we stayed at St Elmo's in Ouray and enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend it.

For Durango a great place to stay is the apple orchard inn http://www.appleorchardinn.com/ That place was great -- beautiful grounds. They have 4 rooms in the house -- we stayed there -- they are about 140-160 -- and they also have cottages -- two of them are 170 -- This place was so nice I would consider going back just to stay there. This is one place that the web site does not do it justice.

I would stay in a cottage if I could swing it. They gave us a 10% AAA discount so you might check to see if they do that.

I enjoy bed and breakfasts -- we try to stay in them when we travel -- this one was one of the best we have ever stayed in.

one last thing -- I just checked trip adviser for this place and the people who commented there did a much better job than i of explaining how special this place is -- check out their reviews.

Hi all - thank you for the info - I can't wait to get there...

re: mpkp - where did you find the trip advisor info?

re: Debi - the 999dine.com all expire in Aug. But maybe they issue new ones then. I will check back. They sound like great deals!

One more question - I would really like to go hiking on some good trails with good view that we don't have to worry too much about bears? Any thoughts?

Thanks

The certificates will expire 90 days from whenever you buy them. So if you know exactly when you will be out here, and buy them 90 days from then. Mid June purchase will be good til mid September; July 1st purchase will be good till OCtober 1st. etc.

Hope this make sense. I will think about hikes for you...how active/physically fit are you? You need to keep in mind the altitude here. I am not sure where you are from, but take that into consideration as to what levels of hikes you are able to do. Not sure about the bear question, I've not encountered them.

I would say we are in moderate shape - We are from Kansas City - so yeah we eat BBQ alot! Ha! (Too much good food here) I know that the change in altitude will probably make us feel like we're in really bad shape. - I don't think we want any really strenuous climbing. Just some easy to moderate trails, and really good views.
Thanks!

Check out the remodeled historic hotel, the Belmont in Ouray, I hear its really beautiful now. Try the Bon Ton restaurant if its still there - have fun!