With its charm and natural beauty, as well as the passion of its citizens, Durango has earned, and continues to be honored with numerous awards and distinctive designations. Spend a few days in Durango and you’ll understand why this community has been recognized as:

Downtown Durango, You’ll Fit Right In.

A great downtown is more than historic buildings and special events; it is the emotional heart and soul of a community. Time and again, people tell us what makes Downtown Durango so appealing is that it’s “I Fit Right In.”

The hundreds of mostly locally owned businesses in Downtown Durango invite you visit them often. Thank you for visiting our downtown.

Durango Area Awards

2007 “America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations,” National Trust for Historic Preservation
2007 “Next Best Places to Ski, Live, Invest and Retire,” Ski Magazine

2008 “Top Ten Western Towns,” True West Magazine
2008 “7 Great Mountains to Ski with Your Kids,” Ski Magazine
2008  “Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation,” Colorado Historical Society
2008 “Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community,” The League of American Bicyclists
2008 “Colorful Colorado Award,” Governor’s Award for Downtown Excellence
2008 “Top 10 Christmas Towns,”HGTV
2008 “Top 20 Resort,” Conde Nast Traveler

2009 “Top 20 Romantic Getaways,” Sunset Magazine
2009 “America’s 200 best Hunting and Fishing Towns,” Outdoor Life
2009 “The West’s 20 Best Small Towns,” Sunset Magazine
2009 “Top Ten Train Rides,” Society of American Travel Writers
2009 “Best Places to Live in Rural America,” Progressive Farmer
2009 “Top 10 Places to Raise an Outdoor Child,” Backpacker Magazine, CBS news

2010 “Town to Watch,” True West Magazine
2010 “The Top 20 Ski Resorts in America,” Aroundme.com
2010 “Top Ten Ski Resorts to Down a Local Beer,” Away.com
2010 “Governor’s Award,”
2010 “Top Small Town for Meetings & Events,” Meetings & Events
2010 “Green Power Community” – Environmental Protection Agency

2011 “Top Ten Western Towns,” True West Magazine
2011 “Top 200 Towns,” Outdoor Life
2011 “Best Places to Live,” Men’s Journal
2011 “Top ‘micropolitan’ area in U.S.” Policom
2011   “Award of Merit,” American Association for State and Local History, La Plata County Historical Society
2011  “Life is Better Here,” Outside Magazine, Finest places you’d ever like to call home
2011  “An international foodie’s annual list of the year’s best (and worst) food,” Denver Post, Ore House

2012  “Best of the West, Best Historic Hotel,” True West Magazine, General Palmer
2012  “Top 10 US Travel Destinations for 2012,” Lonely Planet
2012  “Distinctive Dozen,” NTA Courier, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Gold Medal
2012  “Ten Great Races in Amazing Places,” National Geographic, Iron Horse Bicycle Classi