Ridgway Publishing Company Puts Two New Guidebooks on Shelves
Aug 13, 2009 | 832 views |
Top 30 Things to Do in Telluride and Top 30 Things to Do in Durango, two slim-but-packed guidebooks that are designed to give visitors a glimpse of the full spectrum of year-round activities, hit regional bookstore shelves in July. Wayfinder Press owner Marcus Wilson says the guidebooks, written by Pagosa Springs residents Mark D. Williams and Amy Becker Williams, offer a wealth of information compressed into two easy-to-carry, fun-to-read books that dip a toe into just about everything there is to do in Durango and Telluride.
“They have a handy format… they’re something I would look for if I were visiting one of these towns,” he says of the two new Wayfinder publications.
The Top 30 Things to Do concept represents a new branch for Wayfinder Press’s family tree, which includes nearly 20 local-interest history and guidebooks including Exploring the Historic San Juan Triangle, The Telluride Story, Ouray Chief of the Utes, and the Telluride Hiking Guide. Rather than focusing on just one aspect or activity found in Telluride or Durango, like fly-fishing, biking, or hiking, the two new books deliver the full monty – outdoor activities, dining, shopping, and nightlife, historic interests, annual events, what to do with the kids, and even boast helpful hints like where to find public restrooms and fun tidbits like “How to look like a local” and “Best places to people watch.”
The Williams’ exploration of Durango includes thorough descriptions and helpful information about such popular local activities as “Riding the Rails” on the famous Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (#1,) “Hitting the Slopes” at Durango Mountain Resort (#4,) and “Cliffside,” exploring the Mesa Verde National Park (#19.) Descriptions of these Durango-area tourist standards are enhanced with practical tips and tidbits, like asking for the canyon side of the train and getting to Mesa Verde early to get tickets for high-demand tours.
Yet the Top 30 also boasts highlights that wouldn’t necessarily be on every Durango visitor’s agenda, like visiting the Durango Soda Company (#16,) taking a trip to all the area Microbreweries (#15,) or Picnicking at one of the area’s 32 parks (#9.) These more off-the-beaten-path Things to Do round out the Durango’s Top 30, offering a more in-depth exploration of the area and its unique vibe.
Telluride’s Top 30 also includes some of the more obscure alongside the tourist classics; the Williams delve into the popular Festival Scene (#11,) High Altitude Golfing (#12,) and Historic Walking Tour (#30,) but also share advice about “How to Spot a Celebrity” at the annual Telluride Film Festival (#38) or “Digging for Treasure” at the infamous Free Box (#10.)
Both Telluride and Durango Top 30 also include hiking, skiing, off-road, and biking highlights, with especially in-depth descriptions of local fishing opportunities.
The two new books add to Wayfinder Press’s extensive collection of tourist-oriented publications, which offer windows into the four corners region’s most popular things to do and explore. Wayfinder has been printing books locally since 1980, with its current owner Wilson operating the full-spectrum publishing company and Country Graphics graphic design business since 1993. The two new Top 30 books may be the first in a series of Wayfinder-published Top 30 guidebooks, Wilson says, which could include Top 30 explorations of places like Crested Butte, Albuquerque, or Ouray.
Top 30 Things to Do in Telluride and Durango are currently on the shelves at regional bookstores; or, contact Wayfinder Press at 626-5452 or graphics@ouraynet.com.
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