Reviews & Comments
Bayfield, CO
wide range of recreation opportunities -
11/27/2008Great place for a small town feel with a little bit of culture thrown in as well. Four seasons of fun and within an hour or so you can be at 14,000 elevation high in the Rocky Mountains or at 5000 feet in the high desert. Ice climbing in the mountains and exploring Ancestral Puebloan ruins all on the same weekend. There is a lot to do in the hundreds of thousands of acres of government owned land nearby and it isn't too far to check out Canyonlands, Sante Fe/Taos, ski areas & back country skiing galore nearby, and if the occasional cold snap gets you down, head south 7-8 hours by car and check out Scottsdale on a long weekend.
I've lived in La Plata County since 1958 and it has a lot to offer. The college and all the fine dining in Durango add a nice touch for those wanting to feel a hint of the city, there is lots of sunshine and on a clear night, check out the Milky Way - you will be astounded at the starts you will see in the clear skies of SW Colorado. If there is a drawback, I'd say the air service is a bit below ideal. There are no large metro areas around so that could be either a plus or a minus depending on your viewpoint.