New York Times/Escapes
Durango:  36 Hours

By Alison Berkley

In Durango, where red-rock buttes and flat-top mesas jut against the sharp peaks of the Rockies, the atmosphere of the Old West is well preserved.  On Main Avenue, window displays bristle with cowboy boots and turquoise jewelry, frontier-style saloons feature waitresses in period costume, and the old steam engine on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad hollers as it rolls into the station.  But walk a block up Main, and you'll find today's Durango, home of world-class mountain bikers, road cyclists and kayakers, where sun-kissed locals in visors and sunglasses kick back with pints of microbrewed beer-then head back out to indulge in their adrenaline-charged exuberance for outdoor adventure.

 

~Saturday  8:30 pm~

A Meal for All Seasons

Walk into Seasons Rotisserie & Grill (764 Main Avenue, 970-382-9790) and find the makings of a city-style bistro (open air kitchen, waiters in ties, dishes artfully presented with decorative sauce drizzle) with a distinct Colorado flair ( a wood ceiling, red brick walls and a casual, mostly-in-denim crowd).  An award winning wine list guarantees the perfect accompaniment to main courses like Grilled Alaskan Halibut with Grana-Chive Risotto Cake and watercress salad ($19) or the Blue Cheese Crusted Angus Beef Filet with roasted Yukon Gold potatoes and bacon wilted spinach  ($29)