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5 Top Family Friendly Activities in Durango Colorado

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Powerhouse Science Center

This historic coal-fired steam-power AC generating plant offers a wide variety of programs, exhibits, and activities designed to provide an entertaining and inspiring look at science. Located off Camino Del Rio with direct access from the Animas River Trail. This interactive science center is perfect for family adventures for all ages to learn something amazing! Whether its history, technology, or culture this exhibit has everything you’ll want to immerse you and your family into a one of a kind experience. They have a beautiful outdoor patio filled with exhibits, flowers, and an organic garden. As well as river side access for a day in the sun by the beautiful Animas River. For more information on hours and admission click here. For directions and parking click here. Or to check out what exhibits are currently featured click here. Plan your next Durango family adventure at the Powerhouse Science Center for an entertaining excursion with an educational twist! 

ROLL eBike + Lunch + SUP Combo Package

With all that Durango has to offer it can be hard to do it all in one day! With the Roll combo package you can experience Durango like a local in just 5 hours by exploring the animas river trail by ebike, then relaxing with a gourmet lunch before you head out to float down the calm section of the Animas River by SUP (stand-up-paddleboard). When you rent an ebike or paddle board or both from Roll the entire family—grandkids, parents, and grandparents—can enjoy time together.

Roll is also perfect for a group of friends to connect outside and with each other. The electric bike’s pedal assist takes you further with ease and everyone can keep up. As for Stand Up Paddle Boarding on the upper Animas, you don’t half to stand, you can sit or even lay down and float (and stop to swim!) this calm section of the river. This package is a perfect Durango family activity and a top Durango thing to do for a group of friends. You can even use this combo for a much needed employee appreciation day!

The best part about Roll is that they deliver to you. When booking online (they don’t have a shop) you can select delivery to your hotel, Airbnb, VRBO, any address within 10 miles of Durango or to the Animas River Trail or Oxbo Park put-in.

Durango BMX Track

Cruise down to the BMX track on the animas river trail by ebike or drive to 360 S Camino Del Rio and see this one of a kind course! This track offers free spectator racing events and is open to the public if you want to test your skills. Whether you’re an avid cyclist or just want to have fun this track is doable for everyone. Durango BMX is hosting the 2022 State Championship race the weekend of August 19th-21st. Welcoming over 300 riders from around the state to come battle it out for the championship title. This is a weekend you won’t want to miss. Save yourself the hassle of parking and rent an ebike to cruise down the Animas River Trail to watch the action! For more information click here. 

Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Museum

This family friendly environment is the perfect place for a unique adventure into the world of fish! Fun fact, this is the oldest state owned fish hatchery in all of Colorado. They raise rainbow, brown, Snake River and native cutthroat trout, and kokanee salmon. By running this hatchery they’re able to stock over a million catchable fish in the southwest corner of Colorado. With direct access from the Animas River Trail you can make a day out by renting an ebike to travel to and from this destination. They’re open daily from 8am-4:30pm all year round. Need something for the kids? Click here to find activities and education courses that they’ll love!

BBQ and Putt-Putt golf

Looking for a relaxed game of put put golf with a tasty twist? Look no further! Serious Texas BBQ offers a full put put golf course located right next to their delicious BBQ restaurant. Grab a mouth watering meal then head over to the putting course for some good old fashion golfing fun. Located off Camino Del Rio, as well as provides direct access from the Animas River Trail. Take an ebike cruise from downtown to their location and test your golf skills! Check out what others have to say about this experience by clicking here. 

We hope you have fun exploring Durango like a local and skip the rental car and explore our beautiful town by ebike. See you on the Animas River!

ROLL
Ebike & Paddle Board

When you rent an ebike or paddle in Durango from Roll, you skip the rental hassle with 24/7 online booking, free door-to-door delivery, and your choice of time and duration from 8am-9pm, 7 days/week. Plus, you get choose from 2, 4, 8 hour and multi-day ebike rentals (including free delivery within 10 miles of Durango). We offer something for everyone—singles, couples, families (kids 6+), groups, employee team building days, and ebike and paddle board combo packages. Make your day really special and add a gourmet lunch at check out.

City Growth in Durango, CO

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Since Durango was founded in 1881, it’s seen drastic infrastructural improvements leading to it being one of the best places to live in southwest Colorado. Its dramatic landscape offers amazing views and provides a plethora of outdoor activities for a wide variety of interests. This outdoorsy melting pot is one of the primary reasons Durango has grown to be such a memorable destination. In recent years, the City of Durango has been working on some developmental changes to our parks and transportation landscape. Let’s dive into some of the improvements that have either already taken place, or are currently being developed. 

32nd Street Animas River Crossing

Development of a new 170ft bridge crossing overarching the animas river off 32nd Street is currently being finished. The bridge will allow for a safer path for side traffic by connecting part of the animas river trail. This development is accompanied with construction for two new river access points on each side of the bridge. These will help decongest the overcrowding at the current 32nd put-in allowing for more access for river recreation and rafting companies. 

Affordable Housing Initiatives

North Downtown Affordable Housing District (Urban Renewal Authority) / 1% La Plata Impact by Local First Foundation

The North Downtown Affordable Housing District (URA) housing plan aims to create more affordable multi-housing units in a 50 acre stretch towards the north end of downtown through subsidizing housing developments. Through redevelopment they plan to increase property values which could yield an estimated $35 million towards financing. The city plans to finance between 100-500 new units of attainable housing over a 25 year period. Along with the 1% La Plata Impact Fund created by the Local First Foundation aims to give back to the community through raising funds through the local economy. Business’s that partner with this initiative agree to donate 1% of their gross revenue to help mitigate our communities most pressing issues. They have recently supported the West Side Mobile Home Park by giving $535,000 to help owners gain more ownership over their land. Local First also has a role in the downtown redevelopment concept which will be presented to the city council on May 17, 2022. Durango’s housing market has created a bubble that only affluent buyers can manage. This has inevitably increased rental prices and pushed out the lower to middle class. Durango is heavily based in the tourism industry which makes it crucial to support the class of workers that support our service based economy.

Oxbow Park & Reserve 

This 44 acre plot has recently been developed into a park providing river access along with a trail system that winds through a nature preserve. This project came to fruition with its grand opening on October 27, 2020. Oxbow park has since then grown into a recreational hotspot located just north of town on 36th street. This project also entailed extending the Animas River Trail to increase its accessibility. Though its development has seen controversy, it’s proven to be a great spot for both locals and tourists.

New Pickleball Courts at Smith 

How is pickleball played? Do they use kosher pickles? How do you score? These are some common questions you might hear from someone who has no idea what pickleball is. Luckily the Durango Parks and Recreation Department is proposing to develop a new pickleball court at Smith Sports Complex at Fort Lewis College. Design ideas are still being voted on though construction is planned to commence in Fall of 2022 with an aim to finish construction in spring 2023.  A public process will begin with an open house on Tuesday, April 26th from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Durango Community Recreation Center. According to USA Pickleball the sport has seen an 11.5% average annual growth rate over the past 5 years. This makes pickleball one of the fastest growing sports in America! Durango is truly embracing this sports evolution by making efforts to provide courts for the community. So whether you like pickleball, or don’t know what it is yet, Durango will soon have courts to play. Dill with it!

Santa Rita Park Updates

From what used to be the smelliest park in town due to the Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility (SRWRF). Has recently been revamped into one of the best parks in Durango for a beautiful day by the river. Not only has the SRWRF been redeveloped but also the parks recreational amenities have seen great improvements throughout 2021. This includes new volleyball courts, basketball court, along with additional parking to accommodate for its inevitable increase in popularity. 

At Roll our purpose is to put a smile on your face, deepen human connection through experienced based travel, and be a company that benefits the planet.

Roll is part of a growing movement of purpose-driven sustainable businesses in Durango that are carving a new path toward a life sustaining economy. As a sustainable business, we offset our carbon footprint through the Four Corners Carbon Fund and partner with Shaw Solar to power our ebikes and office at the Smiley Building, American Sustainable Business Council, Green Business Roundtable, Durango Farmers Market, and Local First.

Make an E-Bike Your Commuter: Top 5 Reasons

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Summertime is upon us! As we roll into warmer weather, the opportunities for outdoor recreation will take its stride. Meaning it’s time to hop on that two wheeled saddle and enjoy the sunshine with friends and family. Whether you’re commuting, sight seeing, or just taking a casual stroll, an electric bike can enhance your experience.

     1. Save on your Budget

As we all know saving money at the gas pump has been harder than ever lately. As gas prices soar commuters are looking outside the box for alternative forms of transportation. Depending where you live, an electric bike can greatly improve your budget while providing a reliable form of efficient transportation. Whether you’re renting an e-bike or looking to buy one, the price points are becoming more and more affordable. Your average mid level electric bike costs around $1,500-$2,000. If you take into account the cost of maintenance for a car compared to a bike, you’ll find a great opportunity for some serious savings. Most electric bikes cost less than a penny per mile to charge. For the amount you can save on gas and maintenance throughout its use, owning or renting an e-bike is incredible cost effective.

     2. Environmentally Beneficial 

As the electric bike market soars we see great opportunity in providing a more sustainable form of travel. An e-bike emits 40 to 140 times fewer pounds of greenhouse gasses than a 30 mpg gas car. A statistic that hints towards the possibility of improving air quality in a big way. More than 4 in 10 Americans live in places with unhealthy air pollution levels. That’s over 135 million people dealing with this systematic burden. In conjunction, its effects on our ozone layer has caused increasing global temperatures that are slowly degrading delicate ecosystems. In a time when the effects of carbon emissions are coming to fruition, choosing to pedal instead of drive can make a real difference.     

     3. A Healthy Alternative

We can all admit sometimes it’s hard to get a workout in during a busy schedule. Having to buy a gym membership just to exercise next to other sweaty people isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Which is why ebikes provide an enjoyable alternative to a traditional workout. The National Library of Medicine published a study concluding that “Data analysis revealed that e-cycling improved participants’ mental and physical wellbeing and that they felt happier when riding an e-bike.” Think about working out a little every time you make a commute. That’s what owning an e-bike allows you to do. Yes its pedal assisted, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Similarly to how indoor cycling machines work, modern e-bikes allow you to choose your pedal assist setting on a scale typically ranging from 1-5. So you can choose what intensity of a workout you want during your ride. If that’s not convincing enough, then check out this article from the New York Times illustrating just how beneficial e-biking can really be.

     4. Functionality

Lets face it, riding up big hills isn’t enjoyable for most. With an e-bike you can go further, faster! As e-bikes have increased in popularity, the technology behind them has followed. Even the entry level e-bikes allow you to accelerate up to 20mph making those big hills easier than ever. Not only do they provide the power to prevent your legs from feeling sore, they’re design to be compatible with many useful accessories. Including a storage bag that can attach above the rear wheel or in front of the handle bars. Or a head light that seamlessly integrates into the bikes battery system for those darker rides. Generally speaking your average e-bike battery can last up to five years before it will need replaced. A single charge can last up to 50-150 miles depending on the power output settings. These capabilities allow e-bikes to provide a reliable and comfortable ride for whatever you demand.

    5. Accessibility

Did you know Colorado has a free e-bike program to help fight climate change? The Can Do Colorado E-bike Pilot program launched in fall 2020 by the Colorado Energy Office, the City of Denver, and The Regional Air Quality Council. This program is designed to encourage energy-efficient transportation to demonstrate how useful e-bikes can be. This program targets low income workers aiming to provide a cost effective form of transportation. The program has given over 100 e-bikes away and isn’t slowing don anytime soon. Aside from programs like this, e-bikes have become more and more accessible through there increasing affordability. Surprisingly e-bikes account for around 88% of the worldwide market which has led to an increase in bike shops e-bike inventory. Between 2020 and 2023 there’s an estimated 130 million e-bikes to be sold worldwide. This competitive market has driven costs down making owning an e-bike a reality for your average person.. like you! 

     Summary

The e-bike revolution is now! Regardless of where you live, an e-bike can benefit your mind, body, and soul. Whether you use it as a commuter, or just for recreation, it can provide an opportunity to connect with others and root yourself in a more sustainable community. The increasing number of e-bikes provides the catalyst for people becoming more focused, healthy, and environmentally conscious.  So why not join the movement and get rolling! 

Are you interested in e-bikes but haven’t tried one? Looking for things to do in Durango? Here at Roll we offer e-bike rentals so you can see what the craze is all about. Grab your friends or family and enjoy our combo package allowing you to e-bike and paddle board all in one day. Including an option to have a hand-made gourmet lunch by Laura’s Artesian or Nosh Durango. Your lunch will be personally delivered to your group in-between activities. Simply access our user friendly online booking system and schedule your adventure today!