Colorado Family Vacation ~~ July 1993

Yes, one of our favorite states to visit is Colorado. It is very beautiful and there is lots to do and see. We left on July 11, 1993; one stop was in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a couple of days, just to see what the city is like. It was nice and the people are friendly, but the vegetation is quite sparse. I did not like it at all. There was virtually no grass, just dirt and scrub. The "subdivisions" were houses in the hillside but no yards to speak of -- the yard was still just dirt and scrub. While we were touring our camera died -- now we are without a camera, unless we buy another one.

On Thursday, July 15 we drove from Santa Fe to Durango, Colorado. We booked it pretty fast as we only had two weeks to see everything and get back home for work. In Durango, we found a nice campground next to the Amicas River. The sun is rising and it is still cold. 

We went into town to look around and found a place to get the camera fixed. So we went on a hike and came back early enough to get the camera. 

From Durango we drove north to Silverton and toured a mine, then went to Ouray to camp. Ouray is nestled among the mountain ranges, but is really just a tourist town, just like Silverton. Their income is derived from tourism. 

Silverton, Colorado

Durango & Silverton Railroad

We were going to take the Durango & Silverton Railroad except they would not take credit; they would only take cash at that time. Since we did not have that much in cash with us and would not take our credit card, we did not take the ride.

While in Ouray we visited Box Canyon. Box Canyon Falls Park is a developed waterfall attraction situated in the “Switzerland of America”, Ouray. It showcases an 85 foot cascade of water down Canyon Creek.

The waterfall is the climax of Canyon Creek, which spills thousands of gallons a water each minute over the falls. You can witness this breathtaking attraction both above and below the waterfall. It thunders down into a quartzite canyon narrowly surrounded by 100 foot walls.

Josh found some marmots that were looking for food.

We also went horseback riding while there. Jacklyn rode with me and loved every minute of it -- she is now ready to buy two horses so they can keep each other company. 

The scenery was absolutely beautiful -- pictures do not do it justice.

From Ouray we drove north to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and camped there for the night. The canyon was breathtaking. It was like a miniature Grand Canyon and very beautiful.

After leaving Gunnison, Colorado, we continued east to Denver to meet up with Dennis & Judy. They are trying to get us to move out there, and said they would come to Atlanta to visit and help drive a moving van back west. The only problem with moving out there is that the cost of living is more. Jim's salary may go up some, but mine would drop by about $6,000 a year (I'm currently making $35,300 a year in Atlanta).

The weather in Denver was great -- low 80s and 50s at night. From Denver we headed back to Stone Mountain. Arriving there was like driving into a blast furnace. Jim complained about the heat and humidity of the east compared to the west.