My wife and I have taken our older grandkids on a "special trip" with just the two of us (no parents!) This was our last trip and we took our two youngest (and our 14 year old, their cousin, to help us!) We originally had a different house rented, but the family had to sell the property a month before our trip! We found this property and it was available and looked like it fit our needs. The owner, Bill, was great to deal with and responded to every question we had.
When we arrived, the property was everything as advertised. Our two youngest immediately began to explore the house and claim beds. This was followed by exploring. We discovered that the kitchen was well-stocked with almost any utensil you might need. There is a propane grill on the deck and we used it several times during our week-long stay. A laundry room is located off the kitchen and it has a relatively new, high-end washer and dryer, which came in handy with two young ones.
The beds were all very comfortable. The house has no AC, but we found the temperatures to be very pleasant. I am quite hot natured, but usually ended up grabbing a blanket during the night. The game room and table upstairs served us well for our games and puzzles. There is a good supply of puzzles, books, and games.
The property is about 15-20 minutes from Cortez and a couple of grocery stores, including Walmart. Driving through Cortez showed us that there is pretty much anything you might need there. The drive to Durango is about an hour or so, any way you slice it. However, this was not a problem since our trips in to Durango were generally day trips anyway. For planning, however, you should recognize the distance.
We visited Mesa Verde, which we consider a must-see and is only about 15 minutes away. We went to the Bar D Chuckwagon and show and loved it. We went on a trail ride with Lynne and Perry at Rimrock Outfitters. The opportunity to have a cup of coffee and visit with them was also a highlight of our trip. You will not run out of things to do in the area.
Perhaps the best part of our trip was the property and house. Our two youngest (and the 14 year old) spent a lot of time "exploring" and finding, rocks, flowers, fossils, old animal bones, and just having a blast.
As we approached the end of our trip, our youngest told my wife that he was sad his "special trip" was ending. I think we were all a little sad and we look forward to returning soon. Thank you, Bill!