Hey there, Festivarians! I’m asking for some local insights for places to visit in Santa Fe and Durango (including local music venues) in the days leading up to Festival. We plan to spend Sat and Sun in Santa Fe, Monday in Durango, and arrive in Telluride on Tuesday to acclimate. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Looking forward to our now annual (5th) trek to the Box Canyon … :wave
If you can get there Friday night, just up “the hill” in Los Alamos is one of my FAVORITE bands playing for FREE: Honey Island Swamp Band. They’re a New Orleans funk band with an unbelievable slide guitarist and great vocals.
On Saturday night, Orgone, a California funk band, is playing for free at the Railyards, a new shopping and entertainment district. They are really fabulous - the lead singer is mesmerizing, to say the least!
:wave
Good move John…
The parks around 4 corners offer a plethora of outrageous experiences.
Get reservations for a night and spend the day at Mesa Verde.
Poke around the forest north of Pagosa Springs for a nice Mt experience.
Have lunch at Rancho de Chimayo.
That should do ya for now.
:peace
Durango’s pretty fun to bum around in. If you’re beer drinking folk, Durango has a couple of good breweries - Steamworks has a wicked brew called Conductor that I liked a lot (and will knock you over), and Ska is a good one too.
When in Santa Fe, eat some New Mexican food (obviously). Check out the downtown area. I agree with checking out Mesa Verde if you can, too.
Plenty to do both places. I actually prefer Taos to Santa Fe, but to each their own - Taos is smaller and a little quieter, but that might not be the scene you’re after. 
Not the question you asked, however, so I digress.
I would highly recommend Ojo Caliente for a soak. It is between Santa Fe and Taos.
It might be a good opportunity to travel from Durango → Telluride via Silverton → Ouray → Ridgway … especially if you don’t have the time on the back end after the festival.
I agree with the Face. But I also love the drive to Dolores (and the beer at the Dolores Brewery - yummy stuff to bring to the fest!). Most of it follows the Dolores River until you scale the beautiful Lizard Head Pass.
So I HIGHLY recommend a trip in each direction. Both are stunning in their own ways.
I spend a lot of time in Durango (skiing) and just love it. If you can afford it, stay at the Strater Hotel - VERY cool place, plus a good free breakfast. 2 other breakfast stops: the Durango Diner (funky but great food and really friendly people) and Carvers Brewery (the Bloody Mary is a salad in a cup and comes with a short beer on the side!). Steamworks has a great Cajun Seafood Boil that’s fun to eat while sampling the huge variety of beers. A little fancier and a bit quieter is Mutu’s (Italian). Finally, there will probably be happy hour music on the second floor outdoor patio of the Balcony Bar, with HUGE slices of good pizza underneath.
Devilishly good post there John. Number 666. :evil
You may want to hold off posting for a while now. :lol
Thanks for all the great suggestions! We’ve actually approached Telluride from both directions, last year being the first thru Dolores - stunning approach that leaves you feeling like you’re back in the place you belong … soaking on the way from Santa Fe - we are aware of the possibilities in Pagosa Springs, but I’m assuming the Ojo Caliente suggestion was purposely offered over PS. And we did enjoy our time last year in Durango. So much to do, so little time … kinda like trying to make decisions about whether to be in Town Park or Elk Park, or taking a nap :cheers
:wave Keep in mind that the Dolores River Brewery doesn’t open until 4p.m. Also on the 11th of June there will be the Dolores River Festival taking place in the park as you come into Dolores. Live music, vendors, rafting, all to benefit the Dolores River Action Committee. I think it’s like $15 or $20 for the day, and always a fun time. I know you said you won’t be coming through until Tuesday, but just in case some other folks heading through are interested I wanted to post this.
Honey Island Swamp Band is playing that festival on Saturday night (Sat before Fest). I’m probably gonna take the drive down and back to the tent to see them.
Anybody going from Albuquerque area on Wednesday to Telluride? Two of us are flying in from Austin to Albuquerque. We have the sticker that allows a car to enter town during the festival. Leaving on Monday…Please call or text Robin at 512-299-1640.