For my <growing> family and I though, there’s a place that’s just far enough off the beaten path that it may just be our perfect location. It’s close enough to things that are important to our ‘modern’ American life that we could do quite well there, and the views…well the views and associated mountain adventures are seemingly limitless.
This place is not Breckenridge (too resort-ie), it’s not Fairplay (too cowboy-ie), it’s not Ouray (but it’s close), and it’s also close enough to Telluride that epic powder turns are just minutes away.
It’s called Ridgway, Colorado, and I shouldn’t be writing about it at all.
You see Ridgway is a tiny little town with a great big hunk of everything we love most about Colorado. Views of the San Juans from this passthrough stoplight (the only one in Ouray County) are some of the best we’ve found on a planet. There are dozens of trails for all types of recreation just minutes away. A few small restaurants provide ample opportunity to socialize, and of course there’s the reservoir. Large enough to enjoy yet small enough to avoid major crowds (on off weekends).
Over the last year we’ve spent three long weekends in Ridgway, a short 5.5 hour drive from our home on Colorado’s Front Range. While it’s a hike compared to ‘other’ destinations popular with the locals, it’s just far enough that it’s easy to find a little solitude. If you haven’t yet: visit.
Just far enough off the beaten path
- Details
Obviously, I haven’t been to ALL the amazing places on the planet (yet), but my travels have taken me to some pretty great locations. A quick night on Crete sleeping feet from the Med; Geneva for a conference, which meant a quick drive through the French Alps; New Zealand for what can only be called an epic <first> visit.
Living in (and exploring) Colorado for the last 17 years has, I will admit, made me a little, well, a little snooty when it comes to my views. Mountains of New Hampshire, nice, but they’re not Colorado; Whistler BC, very, very nice, but a little to damp for my tastes; Queenstown NZ, amazing, yet not quite enough trees. It’s a problem that I know I should seek professional help in dealing with, I’ll work on that.