The Powerhouse is one of our favourite places to spend a morning with the kids in Durango. It’s set in a handsome red-brick 1893 power plant on the banks of the Animas River, one of the earliest alternating current plants in the world, and today it’s a hands-on science centre buzzing with a new kind of energy.

Inside, children can build their own tracks on the magnetic Ball Wall, float ping pong balls on a stream of air at the Bernoulli exhibit and design flying contraptions from odds and ends in the Flight Lab, while the puzzle tables keep everyone busy, grown-ups included. Toddlers are well looked after too, with early learner programmes and sensory play on the gallery floor.

You’ll find it right on the Animas River Trail between 12th and 14th Streets, with free parking reached from the 12th Street and Camino del Rio junction. Admission is charged per person, babies under one go free, and there’s a lively calendar of family events, so have a look at what’s on during your stay.

The Powerhouse is closed on Wednesdays and its hours change with the seasons, so check before you go. Spend the morning experimenting, wander the river trail afterwards, then settle in and experience Durango your way.