Leadville, Breckenridge, Silverton, Ouray, & Durango Adventures

It just dawned on me I never finished sharing our adventures from our moto trip from last fall. For those of you just tuning in, Lin and I decided to take a motorcycle trip to Colorado to catch the gorgeous fall foliage. We vowed to cover as much Colorado ground as possible. I have already included a few pieces of the trip so if you want to catch those too, you can do so here. Salida and Aspen were two of my favorite places....like seriously need a winter home in the magical Aspen experiencing that winter wonderland and those slopes. It definitely owns a piece of my heart. With so much to see, there were a few days our time was just spent passing through some of these magical places ...wish we would have had more time to really experience every town and take it all in everywhere, but I highly recommend this drive. Colorado is truly one of the prettiest places I have ever seen. I will be sharing a few special things I did in each place for you to start planning your own fall adventure this year!

Leadville:

Such a charming, historic mountain town nestled among the highest peaks in Colorado, surrounded by high alpine forests, pristine streams and glacial lakes. The story so has it that Oscar Wilde entertained his audience at the Tabor Opera House. What I would give to have been there. The town is as cute as it can be and we highly recommend the Golden Burro Cafe. They host an annual festival here that includes burro racing in the streets and I really want to see that!

Breckenridge:

We literally just spent an hour here and I am kinda kicking myself for the poor planning. It looks like a place that I would have loved to spend an entire weekend. It's the oldest and largest town in Colorado's famous Summit County, home to world-class skiing and boarding, year-round events and has such a quaint main street. We found the cutest little bakery and ice cream shop called Clint's. (Highly recommend. Don't let the long line intimidate you..it moves fast.) Adding this to my bucket list to come back. The Breckenridge Arts District looks right up my alley.

Silverton:

Imagine a place where the average total snowfall of over 400 inches exceeds the amount of daily visitors. Advanced and expert only riding, no groomers, no clearcut runs and a real mountain experience with plenty of adventure on tap. All thrills no frills. Silverton is a historic, outdoors paradise in Colorado's San Juan Mountains. Tiny and nestled between two rugged San Juan Mountain passes, Red Mountain and Molas, Silverton has been a beloved destination since its mining days, especially those pursuing new heights outdoors, from OHV trails, backcountry camping and hiking, fishing and much more. Many visit Silverton to board the northern terminus on the beautiful Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad tour. Challenging mountain biking is found all around Silverton on old mining roads that today serve as excellent four-wheel routes, too. Molas Lake, just 4 miles from town is a popular places for trout fishers and is just one of the alpine lakes in the area that are popular with anglers. The Alpine Loop Scenic Byway, over two passes to Ouray and Lake City, is a top four-wheel excursion. Hiking trails are accessible in the surrounding San Juan National Forest, including easy access to the Continental Trail in the Weminuche Wilderness, and the Silverton Snowmobile Club grooms many miles of trails for easy access for snowmobilers in the winter.

Do get BBQ at Three Pitts Again...!!

Ouray:

The mountains and canyons surrounding Ouray are filled with some of the West's most unforgettable scenery. Heritage activities abound along the back roads ...and Scenic Byways: you can see vistas where old Hollywood westerns were filmed and explore high country ghost towns that were once booming mining cities. In our scenic mountains, four-wheel-drive adventures are the height of Ouray’s driving experiences; they are, after all, known as “The Jeeping Capital of the World.” Ouray’s Jeep roads, carved from historic wagon trails, traverse a variety of terrain from extreme high mountain passes and rugged winding roads to wide, flower-filled meadows and pastoral valleys. We just passed through here but I absolutely adore this little gem of a place. The old architecture is fascinating.

Durango:

We love it here! This was our second time to Durango and it's always such a fun experience. Durango is a small city in southwestern Colorado, near the New Mexico border. The 19th-century Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad steam train passes mountains and canyons. (highly recommend you take the train) In the city center, its affiliated Railroad Museum displays restored locomotives, aircraft and a baggage car converted into a movie theater. Nearby, the Powerhouse Science Center offers interactive exhibits in a former power plant.

Stay at The Strater, have cocktails at The Office and El Rancho, Dine at Fired Up Pizzeria, and enjoy coffee at Magpies Newsstand Cafe.