High Flying Living: Durango Lifestyle

Few experiences demonstrate Durango’s sun-spiced sizzle morethan Soaring Treetop Adventures. Located just north ofDurango and accessible only via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, the 27 ziplines link old-growth Ponderosa pinesand crisscross the roaring snowmelt of the Animas River. Theall-inclusive fee includes private-car train transportation, guide,instruction, equipment, 5.5 hours of exhiliratingziplining,gratuities and a four-course gourmet lunch.


LUSCIOUSLY LOCAL: At the ElectraLake Sporting Clubhouse, located 20 minutesnorth of Durango, ChefJoey Hughes stages a mouthwateringmenu of steak, lamb, trout, pasta, ahi tunaand secret-recipe meatloaf, all amid the water-reflectedsurrounds of the Rocky Mountains. B.Y.O.B.

WOOF-DOWN ZONE: High onDurango’s list of high-end restaurants is the Lost DogBar & Lounge, which on Saturday nights swiftly sellsout of its popular pork, beef and chicken tacos. At twobucks a pop, they’re a sinful complement to the eatery’son-tap selection of locally produced microbrews.

BITCHIN’BIKIN’: Beforetackling the five-star-ratedColorado Trail, mountainbikers steel their mettle on
local challenges like HorseGulch Trail, a 60-mile,1,000-foot-vertical, piñontreedclimb and descentof gnarly, heart-poundingsingle-track. Rentals arereadily available at Pedalthe Peaks.

BEE BEE KING: Since 1918, Honeyville has made the best wildflower honey in the Four Corners, and now it’sexpanding into spirits. Itsbranded Honey HouseDistillery is bottling ascrumptious and highlypotent whiskey (ColoradoHoney), and early thissummer it will release amead-based vodka (Hex).The store is located 12miles north of Durango onHighway 550.