What to do in Durango?

Why Durango? This is the one question we receive the most. Durango, has always been the “getaway” destination for the two of us. As we both are outdoor enthusiasts, this small Colorado town is the doorway to a number of adventures that we hope that you will discover during your short stay here. There is so much to do here, that we hope that you too will come to love this town as we do….

To start, here is a link to a general list of activities that Durango has to offer:
http://www.durango.org/Activities/index.asp

To help narrow it down, here are some places worth checking out:

1 ) The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Fun trip, but would recommend that you pair off in groups as it is a long day otherwise. Generally a 3 hour trip to Silverton, and 3 hours back. Some people split the trip, or leave a car in Silverton in order to drive back to Durango, to shorten the day.

2) Mesa Verde National Park
A small tour of the local Native American history.

3) Hiking
If you get the chance, go for it! A great way to spend a morning…here is the trail to Engineer Mountain, just outside Durango, where I proposed to Reann.
Engineer Mountain Guide Link 1 Engineer Mountain Guide Link 2
Remember, you are hiking to just under 13,000 feet…..so take your time.
Also Junction Creek Trail is my favorite in-town hike that parallels the Junction Creek River and is the beginning of the Colorado Trail.

4) Hot Springs: A definite must after an arduous day of hiking or sitting on your butt during a long train ride.
Trimble Hot Springs Located just 5 minutes north of Durango
Pagosa Hot Springs Most likely the best Hot Springs in the Southwest. If you have the time to travel about 45 minutes west of Durango, you wont be disappointed. Highly recommended. Also good place to bring your kids.

5) Adventures:
Sail Plane/Gliders : A way to see the Durango region from above
Zip Lining - Canopy Tours : A tree top zip lining adventure

6) Restaurants:
Steam Works : The best brewpub in all of Durango, known for their famous Cajun Broil which is AWSOME!.
East by Southwest : If your looking for sushi…
Cuckoos : Great place to watch a game with beer and wings
Mahogany Grille: One of the best, more formal restaurants, located in the Strater Hotel

Engagement Photo-Funnies

Greg and I just had our engagement photos taken on Sunday and we were having so much fun, my sister Aslyn could barely get a decent shot! These turned out so great, I just had to share some of the bloopers from the cutting room floor. Enjoy. :)

Accommodations: for Out-of-Town Guests

ACCOMMODATIONS:

As far as getting a hotel room in Durango, there are several we recommend that are close to downtown Main Street in Durango; the best place to be for restaurants and shopping.

(Please keep in mind: We have found that by going to http://www.travelocity.com/ , http://www.expedia.com/ , or http://www.priceline.com/ to book your room, the prices can be much more reasonable.)

The Doubletree Hotel is centrally located, right on the River AND just 2 blocks walking distance from Main Street in Durango. Also, it is located just off of College Dr., which is the street leading straight to the Fort Lewis McPherson Chapel. The Doubletree is our first choice in hotels as far as convenience, rooms and accommodation. We will be staying here. (we do have group rates/blocked rooms available at this hotel, but they are only for 20% off of the normal rate. Remember to check online for better room rates, before you commit.)

The Residence Inn is just around the corner from the Doubletree (about 1/4 mile), just out of easy walking distance of Main Street in Durango, but close enough to be centrally located and quiet. The Residence has some very nice suites available and their group rates are actually better than the Doubletree. (Group rates are available under the group: McManus/Stradling wedding. 5 one-suite rooms and 5 two-suite rooms are blocked out for us at this Hotel. They will only hold the rooms until October 1st. Let us know if more rooms are needed.)

The Hampton Inn is about 1 1/2 miles away from the Doubletree and downtown Durango. It's definitely not an easy walking distance from all the nice restaurants and shops of downtown Durango but you can always count on the Hampton Inn for nice comfortable rooms. (We do not have group rates at this hotel.)

(For Links to each hotel, click on the hotel name above)

Getting Here: For Out-of-Town guests

TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION:

Greg and I decided that Durango, CO, seems to be the best option for a travel destination rather than our homebase of Farmington, NM. There is only a 45 minute distance between Durango and Farmington, however, the wedding ceremony will be in Durango, the most cost-effective airport is in Durango, and most Durango hotels are centrally situated in the downtown area with access to quaint shops, nice restaurants, the river, the Durango-Silverton, train, etc.

(Let us know if you want to come via Farmington. We'll be more than willing to give information on directions, Transportation, Accomodations, etc.)

Flights: The easiest way to fly into the Durango-Farmington area is by utilizing the Durango-LaPlata County Airport (DRO).

Airlines include: Airwest/US Air, United Express, Delta, Frontier.
Rental Car Companys: Budget, Enterprise, National, Hertz, Dollar
See these sites for more information:

http://www.durangogov.org/airport/index.cfm
http://www.durangoairport.com/schedule.htm

Driving directions from the airport to Durango:
-START out going North on Airport Rd. (also known as CR 309) toward CO-172
-Turn LEFT onto Hwy CO-172 (heading North). (5.7 miles)
-Turn LEFT onto US 160. (7.4 miles)
-Stay STRAIGHT to go onto US 550.
-estimated time is about 20 minutes/ 14.08 miles
-See on Mapquest

Driving to Durango: Durango is accessible by US HWY 550 (North & South) to US Hwy 160 (East & West).

(The easiest way to book flights and/or rental cars is through Expedia or Travelocity)

Wedding/Reception Locations

Wedding Location: We're getting married on October 18th, 2008, at the Fort Lewis College McPhearson Chapel in Durango, Colorado. It's a pretty little chapel that sits right on the edge of a mountain overlooking Durango. Unfortunately, it's a pretty LITTLE chapel and we won't be able to invite everyone we would want to come.

1. Durango map of the FLC McPhearson Chapel
2. Driving Directions to the Chapel from the Doubletree Hotel in Durango
3. Driving Directions to the Chapel from Farmington
   

Reception Location: Luckily, there is plenty of room for everyone, and then some, at our reception venue later that evening. The reception will be at Lakeshore Reception Center just outside of Farmington, NM in Flora Vista from 5:30-8:00pm. It's a beautiful place, built on the edge of a little man-made lake and it just so happens to be owned and run by my amazingly talented mother, Andra Stradling.

1. Farmington map of Lakeshore Reception Center
2. Driving Directions to Lakeshore from the Chapel
   
3. Driving Directions to Lakeshore from Farmington (see below)
   

Reann's introduction of Greg

-He came all the way from North Dakota to find me. (of course he may say it was for the skiing close by in Durango, but don't let him fool you.)

-Mr. T brought us together. (at a work Christmas party including our two offices, we had a White Elephant gift exchange and he brought a Mr. T voice-keychain. I stole it from someone else because I wanted it so bad. I didn't even know it was his gift. Turns out, he'd promised himself that if I ended up with his gift, he would ask me out. HA! I win!!)

-Mountains are our first world. (Our first date was hiking above Durango. We haven't stopped since.)

-We balance each other out when hiking. (I'm like a mountain goat on the ascent and whine like a baby when my knees are jello coming down the mountain.... He waits for me at the bottom.)

-Food is our second world. (Before we even started dating, I told him I ate Taco Bell twice a week and had KFC Mondays as part of my regular schedule. He said: "I love you! Will you marry me now?" really. he did. ) He's also a Pepsi man... need I say more. Sigh, I love this man!

-Hockey is our third world. (I've always been a big Redwings fan, but he introduced me to college hockey and the ND Fighting Sioux. I'm now an ADDICT.)

-I put him on pedestal. (I actually wait until after 8:00pm to eat dinner, waiting for him to finish his daily run. ME, wait past 5 for food. Yeah, this is TRUE LOVE)

-He put me on a REALLY high pedestal. 13,000 ft to be exact. (He proposed to me on top of Engineer Mountain on July 12, 2008. He made me work for it)

-It was meant to be, the stars were aligned. (My Horoscope for July 12 said, "Today is a good day to get engaged or married. I'm not lying!! We found out later when my mom called... Now we're going to live our lives by Star signs. :P -jk-)

-We are meant to get married in Fort Lewis Chapel on October 18th, 2008. (When I called to check the Chapel schedule, the 18th was double-booked with 2 weddings... I was super sad and SUPER stressed having a date but no place to get married in 'our' Durango like we'd planned. THEN, I called back 20 minutes later to ask about the 17th.....the coordinator told me that the 18th was now clear... from BOTH bookings!!! yeah.... I know.)

------I hope everyone is as excited as I am! To be honest, I never thought I could be so excited and so perfectly ready (more than ready) to get married to someone. Greg makes me feel loved, respected, content, comfortable, warm, happy and high on life. I am SO ready to begin our life together. (if you haven't noticed from the fact that we're planning a wedding in 3 months!)
-Love you all and wish you the same happiness that I have found!- Re

Engaged!

Greg proposed to me on July 12, 2008, on the summit of Engineer Mountain above Durango, CO. It was a beautiful, clear day and I wasn't suspecting a thing!

He said: "I love you... I think God put us together for a reason... Reann, will you marry me?"

I said: "I love you too, Are those condos the ones above Purgatory?... Ooh, I think so too, thanks babe; Is Cascade Village the name of the condos? I'm pretty sure it is... Holy Crap! Really?...are you serious?... oh yeah, YES, the answer is YES!

I was a little ADHD but I think he was finally able to get me focused and let me know what he was trying to say! :)

We're very excited to begin our life together... so much so that we set our wedding date to October 18th, 2008! Yes, planning is a little hectic, but hopefully we'll make it through without becoming severely scathed.

We're beginning this blog to give everyone the details they want and need: i.e. the wedding/reception schedule, things to do in Durango, CO, maps, updates, stories pictures, etc.
Let us know if you need anything else and we'll be sure to include it!
-Until then, Ree and G