OT: Ridgway Recommendations

Hi All!

I'm thinking of spending a few days in the Ridgway, CO area for the fall colors this Sept. I'm looking for recommendations for hotel/motel/condo rental and good restaurants. Thinking of 4 days/3 nights towards the end of the month.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Gotta have the True Grit Cafe on the list for dinner after a long day's shoot, as well as the Galloping Goose for breakfast. I've heard the Mex joint in town is good, but never been.

Hey Phil, Ouray might be a better option for lodging... lots more options here. As for breakfast it's hard to beat Kate's Place in Ridgway (near the Sherbino Theatre). Drakes in Ridgway is great for dinner, if not too pricey. And of course don't miss the Colorado Boy brewery in Ridgway for pre-dinner drinks... so good...

The Ridgway Lodge and Suites is where most people stay. The Mex joint that Todd talks about is the Adobe Inn and Restaurant and they have excellent food. If you really want to save a buck you can get a room there, but it is a hostel with tiny rooms, paper thin walls, and a shared bathroom/shower area.

If you like to save money like me, consider the Ouray Hotel with rooms starting at $50.
You might consider Orvis Hot Springs just south of Ridgway. You can soak in the magnificent outdoor natural hot springs for as long as you'd like in the evening, and then once again in the morning before you leave. Absolutely divine and just a bit decadent!

And another hearty endorsement for Kate's Café for breakfast!!

I just KNEW Todd would chime in first! Another vote for breakfast at the Galloping Goose. Word of advice, don't order the full biscuits and gravy! Get the half order! Huge!

I don't remember the name, but several of us ate at the Thai place in Ridgway. Bit pricey for my tastes, but it was good!

Damn...... now I'm hungry!

I agree with Todd, you goatta stop in at the True Grit Cafe. You might like the Orvis Hot Springs Lodge also. http://www.orvishotsprings.com

Hi Phillip,
I'd recommend the Riverside Motel in Ouray http://www.ourayriversideinn.com/
They also have camper cabins that are less than the motel rooms. Ouray is a very nice town with more dining options but I found myself driving through Ridgway to get to most photo locations. And another vote for True Grit Cafe!

Thanks everyone! I've had pizza in Ridgway from that place across from the Ridgway Lodge and Suites (and it was really good! ) but that's the only place I've eaten at in town. I really like Ouray. If I could find a way to make a living there I'd move there! However, I wanted to get up County Roads 5 and 7 and maybe over to Dallas Divide for sunrise so I was hoping to stay in Ridgway (its hard enough getting up that early--the extra miles from Ouray mean I would have to get up even earlier! And I'm lazy!) But I'll look at the map again--maybe its not a far as I remember.

Phillip, I've also stayed at the Ridgway Lodge. It was nice and I would recommend it. If you don't mind the little higher cost it's definitely more convenient to stay in Ridgway to make it up CR 5, 7 & 9 for sunrise. It seems to me it's about a 15-20 minute drive between Ridgway and Ouray.

Here's another vote for True Grit...and a mixed review for Riverside. I've stayed there 3 times and the price is right but the rooms are a little outdated. The way I look at it, I'm shooting all day and I just need a place to shower and bunk down so Riverside works for me.

I've heard good things about the Thai place, though we never made it there. But we enjoyed Orvis Hot Springs immensely a couple years ago. Breakfast at True Grit.

True Grit Cafe, home of the wayward and beerstarved gold rush photographers for many a moon! Definitely my favorite joint for grinds in the area too
As for places to stay, I recommend Ouray hotels as well, they tend to be a bit cheaper for fall colors.

By the way, dont speed in Ridgway! They love handing out tickets there on main street (15mph max)