West - Interesting Small Towns

One thing my wife and I enjoy when we travel to new areas is finding small towns that have some unique and interesting features. Some have scenery (Sedona, AZ), others have unique culture (Santa Fe, NM), and some have history (Tombstone, Oatman, AZ; Leadville, CO). Yes, some have become a bit touristy, but often we can get by that issue and still enjoy the place.

What are some other small towns that people have visited that they find interesting and unique for any particular reason?

Bluff, Utah.

Fascinating place and fascinating history (although some of it rather chilling).

Jerome, Arizona.

An old mining town in the hills by Sedona it features a gorgeous old hotel (the Jerome Grand Hotel) that's apparently haunted. It's not touristy at all and has narrow winding streets in its downtown that's thankfully not been overrun with chain stores.

Ouray, Colorado (http://www.ouraycolorado.com/). Then take the San Juan Highway through Silverton (http://www.google.com/search?q=silverton+co&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=0Kg9T-GUEMPY0QHnybXABw&ved=0CG4QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=644) and then on to Durango. (http://www.durangogov.org/)


Bobette

Lake City, CO. Buena Vista, CO. I'd agree with Durango, above.

I'll second Jerome, AZ and add Springdale and Kanab, UT.

Then there is the swap meet at Quartzite, AZ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartzsite,_Arizona

If you like gems and western gear.

Ouray, Colorado (http://www.ouraycolorado.com/). Then take the San Juan Highway through Silverton (http://www.google.com/search?q=silverton+co&hl=en&client=safari&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=0Kg9T-GUEMPY0QHnybXABw&ved=0CG4QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=644) and then on to Durango. (http://www.durangogov.org/)


Bobette

Word of advice: Going in that direction, just don't have anyone sitting on the right side of the car that is uncomfortable looking down the side of a cliff.

And in response to the OP:

Cody, WY
Nederland, CO
Estes Park, CO

And if antique stores are your thing: Florence, CO

Word of advice: Going in that direction, just don't have anyone sitting on the right side of the car that is uncomfortable looking down the side of a cliff.

It was on that road, being in the passenger seat, when I realized I had a terrible fear of heights.

I'll add that Jerome, AZ, is a small town worth visiting. It won't take you long to see it but it's a fun little place.

Love Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Snowy Range drive is spectacular. We did it in the fall when the aspens were brilliant yellow against a backdrop of dark green evergreens.

Bobette

Thanks - lots of good ideas. We've actually been to Jerome, as it was an easy side trip from Sedona and definitely agree about it being worth the visit.

If we start from Durango and head north to Silverton and Ouray, it is worth the extra distance to make a circle trip heading back through Telluride? Or should we just make a roundtrip on the train?

Jerome AZ....yes

Crowell Texas...... if you can find it.

Thanks - lots of good ideas. We've actually been to Jerome, as it was an easy side trip from Sedona and definitely agree about it being worth the visit.

If we start from Durango and head north to Silverton and Ouray, it is worth the extra distance to make a circle trip heading back through Telluride? Or should we just make a roundtrip on the train?

You can drive it in one day hitting Telluride but there is a lot to see so you wouldn't really be able to spend much time in each little place. What I like about the car is that you can stop along the way to just enjoy the spectacular scenery. It's called the Million Dollar Highway. In places, I would have paid a million dollars just to get off it because of my newly found fear of heights.

Another option is you could stay in Ouray and just do the San Juan Highway to Durango and back in one day. In Ouray they have Jeeping tours and there's one called, I think, Black Bear or somethng like that, that takes you on a very difficult off road course over the San Juans and down into the town of Telluride. It's a tough trail you couldn't really do yourself unless you were experienced in that type of driving. You could do that the next day.

Bobette

San Luis Obispo, CA - great place to walk around, has great restaurants, just a few miles from the beach at Pismo.

Sonoma, CA is a great place, too, especially mid-week in the off season.

Mendocino, CA in mid-week.

I just realized that you said you were coming from the south towards Ouray. So your question is, should you make the effort to go to Telluride. I guess I would just because I was in the area. It's a nice little western town but not very big. If you missed it, it wouldn't be a huge deal, though, since you'll be seeing Durango, whch is much nicer, IMO, and Ouray. Stop and see Box Canyon Falls in Ouray. It's a few blocks off the main drag.

Bobette

Sedona AZ is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. I also love Jerome and having lunch at the Haunted Hamburger.

Bluff, Utah.

Fascinating place and fascinating history (although some of it rather chilling).I'll bite. What's scary? I looked it up on Wikipedia - Mormon farmers in the 1880s, then uranium miners in the 1950s.

I think Glenwood Springs is interesting for the baths and some of the hiking/climbing opportunities which range from easy to tougher than you are. The drive through Glenwood Canyon on I-70 is just amazing...you're in flat, boring countryside, then you drop down into something that looks like a Pixar film. I was just driving through but it looks like the downtown area South of I-70 has some things to look at.

I haven't done this yet, but some of the wineries in the Western Slope; and I understand the Yampa River as you get towards Utah in Dinosaur National Monument is amazing - river runs through canyons 1000' deep. Our son's pediatrician told us the only hotel in Dinosaur CO is one mobile home, cut into a few hotel rooms. The Yampa is the last undammed river of any size in the West.

http://www.cmc.org/AdventureTravel/AdventureTravelDetails.aspx?EventID=2561

Yampa tour...you have to join the Colorado Mountaineering Club (which is a GREAT use of money, IMHO.)

http://www.groupon.com/deals/colorado-brew-tours-2?c=button&division=denver&s=body&utm_source=newsletter&p=1&date=20120220&utm_medium=email&sid=11106210&utm_content=all-deals_denver&utm_campaign=colorado-brew-tours-2&addxe=aGhfZ3dpbl9paUlAaG90bWFpbC5jb20=&user=828b60fc6c53b536ac1b247f4b9339b1a9cd4ed01c9fa bd6c1d650fe5961c025

This isn't exactly what you were looking for, but here's a brew tours Groupon.

I'll bite. What's scary? I looked it up on Wikipedia - Mormon farmers in the 1880s, then uranium miners in the 1950s.

I'm wondering the same thing. My first guess was the Mountain Meadows Massacre but that can't be it since the Massacre happened far west of Bluff.

Word of advice: Going in that direction, just don't have anyone sitting on the right side of the car that is uncomfortable looking down the side of a cliff.

It seems to me, going in either direction would be enough to scare anyone. I can't imagine doing that drive in inclement weather. I did it in the summer was scared the entire time. I always wondered why they didnt put guardrails along the highway.

As for my small town choice, Redstone CO is a great little town. It is about 45 mins from Glenwood Springs. It is an old coal town along the Chrystal River. The owner of the mine built a huge house (or hunting lodge as he called it) called the Redstone Castle. Plus its only another 10-12 miles up the road to Marble CO. They used to offer tours of the marble quarry but when I went through the town last year, someone said they discontinued it several years ago.

It seems to me, going in either direction would be enough to scare anyone. I can't imagine doing that drive in inclement weather. I did it in the summer was scared the entire time. I always wondered why they didnt put guardrails along the highway.

I met an older woman and her daughter at the Hilton bar in Sedona one night and we got talking about the San Juan highway. The woman (mother) Told me that they owned a lumber company in, I think, Gunnison and she used to drive a lumber truck down the road all the time. She thought nothing of it. I had to have another martini to even contemplate that.

Bobette

It seems to me, going in either direction would be enough to scare anyone. I can't imagine doing that drive in inclement weather. I did it in the summer was scared the entire time. I always wondered why they didnt put guardrails along the highway.

As for my small town choice, Redstone CO is a great little town. It is about 45 mins from Glenwood Springs. It is an old coal town along the Chrystal River. The owner of the mine built a huge house (or hunting lodge as he called it) called the Redstone Castle. Plus its only another 10-12 miles up the road to Marble CO. They used to offer tours of the marble quarry but when I went through the town last year, someone said they discontinued it several years ago.

OMG, Marble! When I was in college, I spent a summer at a high altitude field station called the Rocky Mt Biol Lab (RMBL). It was located on the site of an old ghost town called Gothic, 9 miles north of Crested Butte. We frequently went north from Gothic to a place called Crystal. To the east across Monarch Bells and the Continental Divide was Aspen. To the west down the canyon was Marble. I never made it to either town that summer though later I did manage to get to Aspen, but not by hiking over the Divide. We always talked about Marble but somehow never made it.

Thanks for the reminder!

Bobette, amen to that. It was scary enough going just north on Hwy 550 to Montrose from Durango. I can't imagine doing it multiple times. However, my neighbors (who told that the hwy was a must do in Colorado) apparently have done it numerous times.

JerryFF, I know there is a road that goes out of Marble and ends up in the Crested Butte area. I am not sure how good the road is but heard it was very scenic. I did drive up to the entrance of the marble quarry (single lane dirt/gravel road for 4 miles). This was in July and absolutely gorgeous.

Bobette, amen to that. It was scary enough going just north on Hwy 550 to Montrose from Durango. I can't imagine doing it multiple times. However, my neighbors (who told that the hwy was a must do in Colorado) apparently have done it numerous times.

JerryFF, I know there is a road that goes out of Marble and ends up in the Crested Butte area. I am not sure how good the road is but heard it was very scenic. I did drive up to the entrance of the marble quarry (single lane dirt/gravel road for 4 miles). This was in July and absolutely gorgeous.

HawaiiTrvlr, I'm pretty sure this is the Schofield Pass. We did this pass (well, sort of) once starting in Crested Butte to Marble. The weather turned very bad and we had to turn around and go back. It was very beautiful.

Bobette

HawaiiTrvlr, I'm pretty sure this is the Schofield Pass. We did this pass (well, sort of) once starting in Crested Butte to Marble. The weather turned very bad and we had to turn around and go back. It was very beautiful.

Bobette

Yes, that's it! Schofield Pass. As I recall, one definitely needs a 4WD with high clearance. Great area. As I recall, the road from Crested Butte through Gothic up to Crystal was generally ok - but the tough part was between Crystal and Marble.

Yes, that's it! Schofield Pass. As I recall, one definitely needs a 4WD with high clearance. Great area. As I recall, the road from Crested Butte through Gothic up to Crystal was generally ok - but the tough part was between Crystal and Marble.

Maybe I can add that to my adventure this summer. I camp down the mtn near Carbondale. Maybe I will try to do a loop from there, up through Marble, over Schofield Pass to Crested Butte and back over Independence Pass to Carbondale. I will have to research that and see how difficult that road is. I have a pretty high clearance Jeep 4wd so I am not terribly concerned about the road (too much).

Maybe I can add that to my adventure this summer. I camp down the mtn near Carbondale. Maybe I will try to do a loop from there, up through Marble, over Schofield Pass to Crested Butte and back over Independence Pass to Carbondale. I will have to research that and see how difficult that road is. I have a pretty high clearance Jeep 4wd so I am not terribly concerned about the road (too much).

Maybe it's a good thing the weather turned bad and we had to turn around. Take a look at this.

Schofield Pass (http://flashoffroad.com/Articles/schofieldPass/schofield_pass.html)

Bobette

It seems to me, going in either direction would be enough to scare anyone. I can't imagine doing that drive in inclement weather. I did it in the summer was scared the entire time. I always wondered why they didnt put guardrails along the highway.

. . . .

I was told that guardrails were not present due to the amount of snow in winter. As you could imagine, it is much easier to push the snow off of the road and over the side without guardrails there. And, though I cannot remember who, I think someone also said that if there were an avalanche, the force against a guardrail could damage or remove the edge of the road, which I can also see.

Maybe it's a good thing the weather turned bad and we had to turn around. Take a look at this.

Schofield Pass (http://flashoffroad.com/Articles/schofieldPass/schofield_pass.html)

Bobette

Wow...I am not sure I would even attempt it by hiking it. Thanks for the link.

I was told that guardrails were not present due to the amount of snow in winter. As you could imagine, it is much easier to push the snow off of the road and over the side without guardrails there. And, though I cannot remember who, I think someone also said that if there were an avalanche, the force against a guardrail could damage or remove the edge of the road, which I can also see.

That makes total sense now. Thanks for the info.

Chama, Eagle Nest, and Red River, NM are very small but have gorgeous scenery, especially in the fall when the aspen leaves are turning.

Skip Tombstone and drive a few miles up the road to Bisbee. Lots of shops/galleries, good restaurants (Cafe Roka is fantastic but need reservations), and several nice B&B's. Don't stay at the Copper Queen (or eat there for that matter) but the bar/lobby is cool. Mine tour is fun and the mining museum is excellent. Lavender Jeep Tour is a mini history lesson of the town/area.

Blanco and Johnson City, Texas, if you are into weirdness - look up the term "Lackey murders".

Johannesburg - California, that is.

Bodie, Nevada.

Lots of interesting ghost towns - but Brodie may be one of the best, as it has been preserved and has docents.

Blanco and Johnson City, Texas, if you are into weirdness - look up the term "Lackey murders".

Johannesburg - California, that is.

Bodie, Nevada.

Lots of interesting ghost towns - but Brodie may be one of the best, as it has been preserved and has docents.

Second Bodie.

I also think it's funny what people consider "small towns". '
SLO's population is about 50K.
Santa Fe's is 150K.
Those are small towns? :confused:

I also think it's funny what people consider "small towns". '
SLO's population is about 50K.
Santa Fe's is 150K.
Those are small towns? :confused:

I had thought the same thing. For me "small town" = ~ <5000.

I had thought the same thing. For me "small town" = ~ <5000.

"TOWN"
1. a thickly populated area, usually smaller than a city and larger than a village, having fixed boundaries and certain local powers of government.

2. a densely populated area of considerable size, as a city or borough."

Sorry, I guess I should have left out the word "small" but added the word "village". That would have been more precise. ;)

-Bodie (California, though close to Nevada) is a state park with no regular residents other than park rangers, though at one point in the late 1800s it had 10,000 residents. I believe Mark Twain briefly worked at a newspaper in the nearby town of Aurora, Nevada. Mono Lake, not far away, is fascinating. And you're near the Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite.

-Johannesburg, CA less interesting than its neighbor Randsburg (site of the White House Saloon). Both old mining towns named after cities with lots of mines in South Africa (though the one in SA is Randburg). Both close to beautiful Red Rock Canyon State Park.

-Pioche, Nevada, near the Utah border, and close to Cathedral Gorge State Park (Nevada) is interesting and less touristy than Sedona (albeit with fewer boutiques and shops selling high-end art and crystals). I believe that in its early days something like 60 people died before anyone died a natural death.

-Silver, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico are both interesting historic towns, and both served by interesting tourist trains.

Just spotted a new "Los Angeles Times" travel section article on Randsburg: http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-randsburg-20120226,0,2347595.story