NOTE: DRINK WATER

Wherever you fly from, remember you are arriving in the mountains. You will benefit from drinking lots of water starting the day before you leave, and continuing the next several days to avoid cramping.

Bring your metal water bottles to avoid buying or using plastic ones.

The easiest way to get to Colorado is to fly into Denver and rent a car. You can fly into Denver from most big airports in the country. There a few different routes you could take from Denver to navigate the mountains and arrive in Del Norte.

The most direct route is a scenic 4 hour drive south on Highway 285 that gets you to the San Luis Valley where Del Norte is located. This route takes you out of Denver, south past Red Rocks, toward the South Platte River Valley over Kenosha Pass to the infamous "South Park" (tv show) in Fairplay, then drops you into the Arkansas River Valley where the towns of Buena Vista and Salida are located. These are two great touristy towns to make a pit stop for lunch or a layover evening.

From the Arkansas Valley, it is just under two hours to Del Norte.

Another route from Denver would be to go west via I-70 to Summit County and explore the towns of Silverthorne, Frisco, Dillon, and Breckenridge before heading south through the beautiful mountain town of Leadville towards Del Norte. Summit County is home to the closest big ski areas from Denver and is very accommodating to tourism. The town of Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States at an elevation of 10,119ft above sea level!

This route would take at least 5 hours to drive.

A third option includes some great stops:

From Denver is to head due south for an hours to visit the U.S. Airforce Academy , (NOTE-the chapel is closed for construction) then head another 30 minutes south to Pike's Peak and take the exhilarating rail trip on the cog to the top of this 14'er for a 360 view.

From there, visit the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park for a walk across the country's highest suspension bridge - take the 1,257 wooden planks suspended 956 feet over the Arkansas River crossing the world-famous Royal Gorge. From here, its 2.5 hours to Del Norte. Head west to Salida (have some lunch or spend the night), and on south to Del Norte.

If you've never been to Colorado before, you might consider an even more indirect route from Denver that would take few days. Check out Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) northwest of Denver. Trail Ridge Road takes you through the park on a 48 mile stretch of road from Estes Park to Grand Lake. The high point of this road is at 12,183ft above sea level making the highest continuous paved road in North America. There are also lots of options for hikes and site seeing through the park. Spend a night at Grand Lake Lodge, one of the iconic old western lodges, and from there go various routes through the state to get to Del Norte.

The Alamosa Airport is located about 30 minutes east of Del Norte. It is convenient to fly here from Denver, especially if flying Southwest as the connection to the airline serving Alamosa, DenverAirConnection airlines, is in the Southwest Terminal.

Note it is best to have carry on only with this option. There are limited car rentals through Quest car rentals. There are no Uber or taxis serving this area. So if you fly into Alamosa, you will need to arrange for someone to pick you up. All the activities for the wedding will be in Del Norte.

Fly to Durango and rent a car. Stay here a couple of days before or after the wedding and do a few daytrips (see Things to Do).

AIRLINES to DURANGO

Airlines from BWI & DC to Durango - Connect through Denver, Dallas, Phoenix on United and American.

Car Rental at Durango - all major brands.

PLACES TO STAY IN DURANGO

This historic western town has wonderful historic hotels. The Train to Silverton is behind the Palmer.

>The General Palmer Hotel

>The Rochester Hotel

>Historic Strater Hotel

INFO ON DURANGO

Information

Lots of old-west feel here. Ask your concierge about the Speakeasy and the daily password - its hidden behind a door located in a barber / book shop.

Visit Durango

For a more laid back airport experience, consider flying into Albuquerque, New Mexico and rent a car and drive north up the Rio Grande Valley to Del Norte.

Direct flights from BWI to Albuquerque on Southwest, United & American.

The Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) is New Mexico's largest commercial airport and known for its southwestern design. Flying into New Mexico is a great alternative to Colorado if you are looking for a more southwestern experience. New Mexico isn't "New" and it's also not "Mexico"!

New Mexico is known for it s famous green chilies and southwestern architecture and culture. It is about a 4 hour drive through the desert going north to Del Norte. The famous cross roads town of Santa Fe is a must see if you decide to take this route. Santa Fe is the capital of New Mexico and is famous for its arts and culture, museums and galleries, built around a traditional-style

Spanish Plaza in downtown. Some days offer vendors selling locally made American Indian jewelry and crafts under the portico in the plaza. There are several historic adobe hotels, as well.

Arriving at Santa Fe Airport cuts a bit off the drive -

about 4 hours from ABQ to Del Norte and 3 hours from Santa Fe.

Another great pit stop along this route would be to drive the high road from Santa Fe to Taos. This scenic drive takes you through amazing scenery and remote mountain villages with historical Spanish roots. The town of Taos has a great arts scene and also a ski valley up in the mountains .

From Taos it is about a 2 hour drive to Del Norte.

Santa Fe Visitors Information

2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Haunted Hotels List Is Announced

excerpt:

La Fonda (1922) Santa Fe, New Mexico

After dark, Santa Fe, New Mexico, promises to enchant visitors with its paranormal legends and ghost stories from its 400-year history, and La Fonda offers guests a first-hand look at the myths surrounding Santa Fe Plaza. This October, the historic hotel offers a ghost tour and a special room package. On the tour, guests are invited to listen for mysterious harp music in the historic plaza, and to watch for the spectral echoes of tragic brides, mournful mothers, and headless horsemen.

Of course, the hotel itself is no stranger to ghosts: several apparitions have reportedly been seen at the hotel, including one thought to be John P. Slough, Chief Justice of the New Mexico Territorial Supreme Court. Slough frequented La Fonda, then the Exchange Hotel, and was shot and killed in 1867 in the hotel lobby. Another sighting at the hotel is attributed to the spirit of a distraught salesman, who jumped into the hotel well after losing a card game; guests have claimed to see his form emerging from the fountain. The La Fonda Ghost Tour Package includes accommodation and breakfast for two at the hotel, two tickets for the tour, plus a copy of Haunted Santa Fe by Ray John De Aragon. La Fonda was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 1991 and dates to 1922.

La Posada de Santa Fe (1882) Santa Fe, New Mexico

La Posada de Santa Fe is not only known for its historical significance, but also its haunted history. The most famous ghost associated with the hotel is the original owner's wife, Julia Staab. Julia endured numerous hardships, including the loss of a child and severe depression, and is said to still linger in her former residence. Guests and staff have reported seeing her apparition in the Staab House, particularly in Room 101, where she is said to appear near the fireplace. Her presence is often described as a melancholic but benign spirit, adding a layer of mystery and allure to the hotel. She is active with guests who are disrespectful to the team and resort. In one case, when moving furniture in her suite, Julia’s Suite (Room 101), a team member received strange, long scratches on his back as he was carrying out the furniture. The Rose Room on the ground floor of the main house was special to Julia, as this was where she hosted her tea parties. A silhouette has been seen by staff near the stained-glass window in the wee hours of the morning. The hauntings have become part of La Posada's charm, attracting visitors interested in its unique accommodations and supernatural stories. The hotel embraces its haunted reputation, offering history tours that include tales of Julia Staab and other ghostly encounters. Julia – A Spirited Restaurant and Bar pays homage to the hotel’s haunted history and its famous ghost. La Posada de Santa Fe stands today as a testament to Santa Fe's rich cultural tapestry, blending historical elegance with an intriguing paranormal legacy. La Posada de Santa Fe was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2019 and dates to 1882.