Monthly Archives: June 2010

By: Derek S. Lichtfuss

2 months ago I applied to an internship here at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, without practically any knowledge of the Vail scene.  1 month ago I bought a plane ticket with a leftover gift certificate, and a little bit of help from my parents.  1 week ago it all clicked.

What a view of the Rockies from Churchill Wine Cellars located on 4 Eagle Ranch.

19 days ago I packed as much as I could into two suitcases (both under 50 lbs. to avoid the lovely airline service charge), hopped on a plane, and never looked back.  What is that old saying about time flying and having fun?  I can vouch for that…   

It finally makes sense to me that a college education isn’t just about how you did on your senior thesis, or brown nosing during office hours.  Networking is most important, especially in a tight knit society.  I learned a valuable lesson within a week of being here: ask and you shall receive.  Be bold, everyone is here for the same reason; a passionate, enjoyable lifestyle.

Vail, like most resort destinations, is not exactly cheap.  It is, however, very affordable, especially after making many of those initial contacts around town.  Working multiple jobs is NOT a bad thing.  I know it seems like a damper on your summer vacation, but plant one of your many roots in a social environment.   I currently work nights at a local hot spot, and it couldn’t be a better time.  Vailites pay homage to local joints such as the Red Lion, the George, the Tap Room, Samana, Whiskey Jack’s, Vendetta’s and so on.  Wear as many hats as possible.

Free Tuesday concerts at Ford Amphitheatre could not be a better way to get down with friends, co-workers, and complete strangers.  Vail is home to all walks of life.  Foreigners, hippies, business men, college kids, outdoor enthusiasts, musicians, artists, athletes…You name it, they’re here.  Join a social league while you’re here; I currently play kickball on Sundays.  What a perfect way to blow off some steam and enjoy the unbeatable mountain surroundings. 

I learned quickly that the Vail Valley locals are passionate about their surroundings, having fun, and being friendly.  Don’t be surprised if you wake up with a smile on your face every day, no matter how festive the night prior, or physical labor that’s on the daily schedule.  Take the opportunity to take that extra deep breath, trust me, at a mile and a half above sea level you’ll need it! 

I have been lucky enough to work with an amazing group of young, fun-loving individuals; who have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to experience the adventures that the High Rockies have to offer.  There is certainly something to be said about a company that knows how to work hard, and play equally as hard.   Opportunities to meet and greet while interning here have been endless.  I have had the ability to represent the company at multiple concierge events around town involving great people, delicious food, and free microbrews. 

Be sure to check our website for our media updates including action footage, interviews, and photographs showing the best activities this place has to offer.  It would surely be an understatement to call this a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Photo by G Schouten de Jel

If you are in the Vail Valley area, or plan to be for the Fourth of July you are in for an event-filled weekend! Vail America Days, Vail’s event-filled Fourth of July weekend, is a terrific destination to celebrate the summer holiday whether you are a couple wanting to enjoy a weekend getaway or a family wanting to find some summer fun. There is an entire weekend full of activities that lead up to the huge July Fourth celebration. Some of the activities consist of the Vail Lacrosse Shootout, Free Art Gallery Tours, Bravo! Dallas Symphony Orchestra, free Garden Tour of Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Vail Skating Show, Fireworks at Golden Peak, “America the Beautiful” Parade and much more.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. on the fourth, but if you want a good view of the parade it is suggested to get there by 9:30 a.m. There is free public parking, but it is definitely recommended to arrive early since the spaces are filled on a first-come first- served basis. There will also be bus services provided during the day and the evening going to Lionshead, Vail Village, and Golden Peak.

For a full schedule of events, times, and dates visit here. For more information on Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival concerts visit their website.

Make your last minute Fourth of July reservations by contacting Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals 1-888-866-2305.

Photo by Timo Balk

Yesterday RMVR headed out to Churchill Wine Cellars in Wolcott to bottle some of the wine we stomped back in September.  Bottling wine was definitely a first for me and a lot of my fellow employees.  All of us had the chance to bottle, cork, and label the wine, while of course getting to taste all of the different kinds of wine as well. To be able to experience wine bottling in such a friendly atmosphere with my co-workers was a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Churchill Wine Cellars has been making wine in the Valley for 19 years. Throughout the year, members of the club can stomp and bottle their own wine to purchase. As of right now, the wine made at the Churchill Wine Cellars is not distributed anywhere else and is only available for members of the club, but they are hoping to soon be able to distribute their exquisite wines in the Vail Valley.

WAC soldier with Camp Hale in background.

Colorado’s past is one of mining towns, booms and busts, rowdy brothels, railroads and expansion. Among its rich history is the story of Camp Hale, the site where the 10^th Mountain Division trained for mountain warfare during WWII. The soldiers learned how to fight and survive under the most brutal mountain conditions. After years of training, these elite ski troops fought the Axis powers in the mountains of Western Europe and had victories in Italy that were critical to the Allied victory of WWII.

Located in a mountain valley near Leadville, construction of Camp Hale was completed in 1942. This area was chosen due to its proximity to the Pando railroad, the annual snowfall of 163.5 inches and its perfect alpine terrain. In the eight months it took to complete construction of the camp, more than 40,000 workers built 87 barracks, 12 mess halls, a hospital, chapel, fire station, Post Exchange, stockade, carpenter shop, motor pool, bakery, administration buildings, ice plant, incinerator, an 18,000 square foot field house, service clubs, a 2,676 seat theater and 3,000 seat auditoriums in recreation buildings. The Camp eventually grew to house approximately 16,000 men, 200 WACs and 3,900 animals.

The 10^th Mountain Division trained at Camp Hale throughout the winter of 1943-1944. While here, the volunteer soldiers participated in rock climbing, long distance marches through the snow, cross country and downhill skiing, mountain survival techniques and combat. Many of the country’s top skiers enlisted in the 10^th, so they were right at home in the snow. Military training and leisure merged at Camp Hale for the soldiers since they participated in activities that they enjoyed doing, such as skiing, hiking and climbing.

The 10th Mountain Division hiking through the Rockies. (1944)

In June 1944, the Division was transferred to Camp Swift, Texas, where it trained for six months before being deployed to Italy in January 1945. Thanks to the efforts of the Division, the German Army in Italy surrendered on May 2, 1945, a pivotal victory for the Allied forces. Training at Camp Hale prepared the soldiers for climbing through the Italian Alps and fighting the Germans in the snow. It can be argued that without this extensive preparation for the elements, victory would not have been possible for the Division.

All that’s left of Camp Hale today is an empty valley at the base of a mountain. Every now and then, bits and pieces of military equipment are found poking from the grass, all that remains of a camp that thousands of soldiers called home.

The Outhouse Race. Photo by Carl Scofield.

This Father’s Day weekend, go to Breckenridge for some old-fashioned family fun. Kingdom Days will once again overrun the streets June 19 to June 20, celebrating 151 years of Breckenridge history. For a whole weekend, the town will return to its mining roots, commemorating the people and traditions of the past. The planned activities include mine tours, blacksmithing demos, historic site tours, gold panning, gun fights, old time photos, guided trail hikes and the crowd-favorite outhouse races. During the outhouse races, teams must pull and tug home-made outhouses across the finish line. The quirky themed outhouses made from all sorts of materials are as much fun to watch as are the people pulling them. This race is fast becoming a Breckenridge tradition and a must-see at the festival. There will also be live music and enough BBQ to give you a stomach ache. What better way to spend Father’s Day? Visit the event Web site for a full schedule of events.

Photo from Breckenridge.com

The family favorite Peak 8 Fun Park will open its doors to the summer crowds Friday, June 18. The park, located at the base of Peak 8 in Breckenridge, has everything to turn a day with the family into an adventure. Activities include SuperSlides, Mountain Biking, SuperPutt Mini Golf, SuperBungee Trampoline, Ripperoo’s Bounce House, Gemstone Panning, Scenic Chairlift Rides, the Rockpile Climbing Wall and Colorado’s largest human Maze. Visit the Web site for a list of prices.

The park will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and starting July 1 visitors can hop on the free BreckConnect Gondola to get to the park. To book your trip to Breckenridge, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals 1-888-866-2305

Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals is currently offering 25% off Fourth of July weekend vacations. You don’t want to miss the Fourth of July in the Vail Valley! Great family events, fireworks shows and a beautiful location are all planned for the weekend. Places sell out fast so book your trip today! 1-888-

Come watch the world’s greatest dancers, choreographers and musicians work the stage and showcase their amazing talent at the 2010 Vail International Music Festival. From July 27 to August 10, dancers from all kinds of backgrounds and styles will execute expertly crafted performances at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. With the mountains looming behind the stage and lush greenery thriving around it, Colorado’s natural beauty embraces the dancers, a glorious scene unfolding before the audience.

Dance styles will range from tango to tap, from ballet to break dancing. Performers include Savion Glover, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, BeijingDance, Natalia Hills & Gabriel Missé. Visit the event Web site for a full schedule and a brief biography on the dancers. Prices for the shows range from $10 to $90. There will also be a variety of free performances for audiences to attend. Dancing in the Streets will be a combination of live performances and dancing. In the Arrabelle at Vail Square, audiences will have the opportunity to get instruction from professionals and put their feet to the test. Village Vignettes will offer free sneak peeks of the on-stage performances. The Festival closes with Bud Light Hot Summer Nights of Dance: BreakEFK, a free urban-inspired dance performance. With the wide variety of dance styles and event prices, there is something for everyone.

To book your Colorado vacation, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals. They specialize in Vail and Beaver Creek rentals. 1-888-866-2305

Photo by Nova Guides

I rode an ATV today for the first time ever, and it was absolutely amazing! It’s by far the most fun I’ve had on four wheels, and one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done. You just can’t beat the rush of going 40 mph up elevations of 12,500 feet on an ATV while surrounded by pine trees, mountain peaks and rivers. It was something I’ll never forget.

My co-workers and I went with Nova Guides. The staff was really friendly and knowledgeable and the business headquarters (The Lodge) were beautiful. But what made the tour so great was the unbeatable location. Located at the center of historic Camp Hale, there were views of four different mountain ranges, the continental divide and beautiful valleys. You can do ATVing everywhere, but you can’t get Colorado’s beautiful alpine scenery anywhere else.

The Beaver Creek Hiking Center opens this Saturday, June 12. Specializing in guided hikes and mountain biking tours, the Hiking Center caters to all levels of experience and all ages. You can choose to take a leisurely hike through the valley to a lake or, for those who dare, tackle a 14er (14,000-foot-tall mountain). The professional guides at the Hiking Center will take you to whatever part of Colorado you want to see. There really is no better way to admire the majesty and beauty of the Rockies than to be in the middle of them.

All the equipemnt you could ever need for an enjoyable hike is provided, including Salomon packs and boots, Leki hiking poles, rain gear, bottled water and granola bars. The Hiking Center is located in the Summer Adventure Center on the Starbucks level of Beaver Creek Plaza (in the adult ski school building). Lift tickets for the Chairlift can also be purchased here. The Chairlift runs daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo by Zach Mahone

We are less than a week away from the start of the Hot Summer Nights free concert series in Vail. A favorite of locals, these Tuesday night concerts are the epitome of summer. Nothing beats rocking out to live music at an outdoor amphitheater with the Rockies in the background. It’s the perfect gathering of good people, great music and an unbeatable venue. Here are the scheduled performers:

Soulive – June 15
The Aggrolites – June 22
The Killdares – June 29
Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights -  July 6
Hoots & Hellmouth – July 13
Laura Reed & Deep Pocket – July 20
BreakEFX – Hot Summer Nights of Dance – August 10
Toad the Wet Sprocket – August 17
Message In A Bottle: The Police Tribute - August 24

Shows start at 6:30 p.m.

Here are the Teva Mountain Games as experienced by my co-worker Kyle:

Top 3 Events: During Saturday I got to see the Biking Free ride Dual which I thought was really cool and we got a really good view by climbing over the parking lot wall and sitting down on the grass hill above. I also caught a bit of the Bouldering competition which was really amazing. I would really recommend this one it was crazy to see how strong these guys are and how they can climb. I also got to see the women’s freestyle kayaking which was really sweet because I had never seen anything like it before. I was amazed by how they were able to keep themselves in the wave while doing flips and things without getting pushed out.

3 Recommendations: Wear sunscreen (if it’s hot like it was for us). Take the bus because there won’t be any parking, and you won’t want to drink and drive. If you want to drink, bring your own beer and just sneak it into one of the cups they hand out. Be sneaky! It’ll save you some money.

Coolest sponsors: I thought it was cool to see Fetzer Wine handing out free samples. They’re from a town near my hometown. Xingtea was giving out free iced tea and as allegro was handing out free coffee, hot or iced. There was also a long boarding company, I think they were called Honey, that had a ton of long boards for people to rent and ride around. We even saw a dog riding one of the boards.

For the best places to catch the events: During the mountain biking or Biking Free ride Dual, you can climb up the hill and sit in the grass and get stadium seating. If you get to the Bouldering competition early you can get a good spot and just sit down and relax in the grass until they start. Once it begins everyone will stand up and you’ll have a good view. The Freestyle Kayaking was definitely hard to get a spot for because there’s not much standing room. I would suggest getting there early if you want to see this one.

Photo from beavercreek.com

July will be sizzling in Beaver Creek. The town has planned a variety of events to be enjoyed during the beloved hot summer days of Colorado. All are family friendly and most are completely free! There’s no better way to spend a weekend than at a festival surrounded by good people, delicious food and amazing shopping!

Culinary Demonstrations

Weekly

Chefs from local restaurants will cook their favorite dishes in front of the public at the Bon Appétit tent in Beaver Creek Plaza. Don’t miss the chance to learn how to cook like a pro!

Arts Festival

July 31 – August 1

A showcase of local artists’ work and antique vendors from across the U.S., the Arts Festival is a great opportunity to meet and chat with artists, purchase unique pieces and spend a weekend in the sunshine surrounded by art and the mountains. Admission is free and a variety of food vendors will be set up.

Rocky Mountain Antiques Festival

July 23 – 25

Some of the nation’s finest antique vendors will flood Beaver Creek Village Plaza with their unique collections of furniture, rugs, silver, dishes, artwork, jewelry, glassware and more. This isn’t just another boring antique show. It’s one of the best! Admission is free.

Beaver Creek Rodeo

July 1, 8, 15, 22

An event for the whole family, the Beaver Creek Rodeo is definitely worth going to see. Below is a description of the events, as posted on www.beavercreek.com :

Bareback Bronc Riding (6:15pm) - To win this event, the cowboy must hang on to the bucking bronco with just one hand and endure 8 long seconds of whiplash, whirling, and twirling.

Calf Scramble Kids (6:30pm) - The first five buckaroos to capture ribbons from the tails of a group of friendly calves win prizes!

Team Roping (6:45pm) – Two cowboys, a header and a heeler work together to catch a steer as fast as possible, earning points for their skill and speed.

Mutton Bustin’ (7:00pm) - The youngest cowboys and cowgirls show their stuff in this Rodeo favorite. The buckaroo who holds onto his or her wild-n-wooly sheep the longest brings home a trophy!

Barrel Racing (7:15pm) - Elegant riding and precise timing are the keys to winning this intense competition which consists of sprinting into the arena and tightly turning around three barrels.

Burro Racing (7:30pm) – For Moms and Dads – create teams of 3 to test your donkey handling and riding abilities!

Bull Riding (7:45pm) - In this dangerous event, bull riders must overcome 2,000 lbs of angry animal angst for 8 exciting seconds.

Tickets are $10 for seniors, $17 for adults, $10 for youth and children 12 and younger are free.

Here are the Teva Mountain Games from one of my co-workers’ point of view:

Top three events: Freestyle Kayaking, Biking Free ride Dual, and the Mountains of Music on Saturday evening.

Freestyle Kayaking – Competitors lined the man-made eddi in the heart of the village and did various tricks including flips and barrel rolls.  The crowds seemed to thoroughly enjoy this event, as it was packed every time I passed by.  Naturally I heard the music going, the commentators talking, and the strong flow of the river and felt compelled to check it out—-great decision!

Biking Free ride Dual – I was able to catch the finals of this event on Saturday afternoon.  We managed to find a perch between the trees next to the parking structure, about twenty feet higher than the competition.  We had a bit of an exclusive birds-eye-view of the action, and watched as the bikers came tearing around the first burn, and over the gigantic and treacherous obstacles ahead.  I happen to like the more dangerous sports; high risk = high reward.

Mountains of Music – This was an AMAZING venue for some live reggae on a warm early summer night.  Walking down from the parking structure, you could hear the roars of the crowd and the steady beat echoing in the distance.  The acoustics were incredible, as the building-lined cobble-stone streets provided a sort of sound tube.  There were plenty of speakers along the sides of the street leading up to the main stage.  Vendors staked their claims on balconies overlooking the masses, enjoying their private parties and throwing beads down to the spectators.  I have never personally been to Mardi Gras, but this seemed pretty similar to what I have heard and seen.

Three recommendations for visitors next year:

Plan Ahead – I’m not talking just about bringing water to stay hydrated throughout the day, or wearing sun block.  I’m referring to making reservations long ahead of time.  If you are planning on traveling to the Teva Mountain Games in 2011 (which I highly recommend), then book your stay several months in advance to ensure a great location central to the Vail Village, and better packages and specials.

Gear Town – Make sure and hit Gear Town as it opens on Thursday and Friday at 11 a.m.  This is when the vendors typically are the most generous and tend to give away the bigger prizes.  With some great outdoor sponsors, you can come away with some really great stuff—I know I did.

Experience the Night Life – For those who are of age, I highly recommend checking out the evening festivities, due to the amount of visitors in the Vail Valley for the Teva Mountain Games weekend.  With over 40,000 visitors, it is a great way to meet people from all over the world!  Just make sure you have a few bottles of water before bed…

Coolest Sponsors:

Teva has to be at the top of this list for putting this amazing event on.  Free stickers, music compilation/DVD combos, hats and T-shirts that were screen-printed on the spot.  Another cool sponsor was Go Pro action video cameras, which our company actually purchased at the event to use on a daily basis.  Costa Del Mar and Native eyewear both showcased a variety of new models, and gave away the chance to win free pairs of glasses.  Xing Tea was a great sponsor, giving away samples of their delicious tea.  Bud light—always a great sponsor.  For rock and roll lovers, Gibson had a great trailer set up with a number of their guitars.

Wine lovers, drop everything you’re doing and book your next Vail Valley vacation right now! The Wine and Spirits Festival is just a couple months away, and you’ll kick yourself for missing it. This festival in Beaver Creek will be a wine lover’s paradise, and it will feature the winners of the San Francisco International Wine Competition and World Spirits Competition. The three-day festival starts on August 19 and each day will be a different experience with food and wine pairings. This weekend will be specifically catered for the wine aficionado, so if you live for swirling, sniffing, sipping and savoring, be sure to come to Beaver Creek in August.

The festivities kick off Thursday, August 19 with the Beaver Creek Rodeo. This rodeo takes place throughout July and August, but on this particular day, guests have the option of purchasing a ticket that gives them VIP access to the rodeo, drinks and a BBQ cooked by guest chefs Stephen Pyles and Zarela Martinez. This is an event for the whole family, and kids 12 and under eat free. Tickets are $60.

On Friday, things get kicked up a notch. The Walk & Wine, a guided hike through Colorado’s back country is followed by a four-course wine-pairing luncheon. Next up is the Mix it Up Cocktail Seminar where guests learn how to mix their own specialty cocktails while munching on delicious appetizers provided by the chefs of The Osprey. In the evening, Beaver Creek Chophouse‘s Jay McCarthy hosts a culinary demonstration, and the night is finished off with an amazing wine dinner at the Mirabelle.

Saturday starts off with a 10 a.m. cooking class given by guest chef Zarela Martinez. A wine seminar in the evening explains the art and science of making and drinking the different varieties of wines, and another culinary demonstration, this time from Beano’s Cabin Chef Steven Topple, takes place in the evening. You definitely don’t want to miss the festival’s premier event, the Best of Walk-Around Tasting. From 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., guests will have the opportunity to taste over 40 award-winning wines and spirits and incredible dishes from Beaver Creek and guest chefs. Tickets are $65.

A full schedule and prices for the different events are available online. Contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals to book your Colorado vacation today! 1-888-866-2305

This past weekend I went to the Teva Mountain Games, my first one ever. After being in Vail for two weeks, this was definitely the highlight of my stay. The events, the crowds and the atmosphere were mind blowing. Friday I was able to take a couple hours off work to head down to the Village for a sneak peak of what was going on. I had enough time to catch the freestyle female kayakers and the men’s world cup bouldering qualifiers. I was amazed. The strength and stamina of the athletes blew my mind!

I had never seen live competitions of either of these sports so my eyes were glued. The kayakers did crazy flips and turns and jumps that I didn’t believe were possible in a kayak. There was even a 16-year-old girl competing! These women were amazing at what they did. But what truly blew my mind was the bouldering. The strength of these competitors and the resilience was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. And as a fan of rock climbing, I know all too well how hard it is to go up a wall. But these guys made it look so easy! It was incredible and definitely my favorite event of the weekend.

Friday was a nice introduction to what was to come, but the real festivities happened on Saturday. The streets were teeming with people, white tents were set up everywhere and the smell of BBQ and beer was intoxicating. Everyone was happy and carefree, and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. It was a perfect day to be outside with friends. This time I got to see the dogs jumping events and some more of the bouldering. Most of my time was spent just lying on a field munching on a pulled pork sandwich while enjoying the summer sun and the awesome atmosphere.  After all, that’s what weekends are for.

The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

Vail is home to the world’s highest botanical gardens. Standing at an elevation of 8,200 feet, the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens has been showcasing the beauty of the Rockies since 1986. With 3,000 species of high-altitude plants from the Rocky Mountains and other regions of the world, the gardens overflow with nature’s beauty. It’s no wonder the Gardens was named the winner of 2009 Garden Excellence award by American Public Gardens Association and Horticulture Magazine.

The Gardens was founded by the Vail Alpine Garden Foundation with a mission to “inspire a passion for plants in high altitude communities through beautification, conservation, education, and research programs.” There are six different gardens: the Mountain Perennial Garden, the Mountain Meditation Garden, the Alpine Rock Garden, the Schoolhouse Garden, Alpine Tundra Garden and the Children’s Garden. Each distinct garden has unique attractions and plants. There are also a variety of programs available for guests to enjoy. Mondays and Thursdays are garden volunteer days. Children’s learn and grow programs take place Wednesdays and horticulture therapy is on Tuesdays. For a small fee, guests can participate in yoga classes in the middle of the garden Mondays and Fridays. Guided tours and art demonstrations are also available throughout the week.

More than 100,000 visitors a year come to the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens to experience the flourishing and thriving bounty of Colorado. It’s open from dawn to dusk and admission is free. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to get a little closer to nature. Contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals to plan your next Vail vacation 1-888-866-2305

The Teva Mountain Games are off to a great start. Cars are lined along the road, the parking garage is full and the streets of Vail Village are once again teeming with people. Vendors are set up giving away free goodies and representing the best Vail has to offer. The festivities and intense competitions are continuing throughout the weekend so be sure to stop by. I promise you, you will not regret it!

The Vail Gondola

The Vail gondola opens today for the summer season. But instead of transporting skiers and snowboarders to the slopes, the gondola is now a lift for hikers, mountain bikers and families going to Adventure Ridge, Vail’s mountaintop adventure center, which also opens today. Adventure Ridge is an activity center with lots to do and stunning views everywhere you look. A perfect place for kids, there is a Discovery Center, disc golf, rebound trampoline, lawn sports, downhill mountain biking, guided nature hikes, horseback riding and a new climbing wall. There is also a restaurant, Talon’s Deck, where you can eat delicious food or sip on a refreshing beer while the kids play.

At the Discovery Center, kids can learn about nature through fun, interactive displays. Free hour-long guided hikes explore Vail Mountain while staff from the Gore Range Natural Science School talk about the local flora and fauna. Lawn sports, including bocce ball, horseshoes, Dino Dig and a new Slack Line Park, are also free for everyone. The 18-hole disc golf costs $8 per disc rental. The courses vary from beginner to advanced, and it usually takes one to two hours to complete nine holes. The climbing wall and the rebound trampoline cost $10.

Horseback rides are available for adults and children 7 years old and up. The ride starts at Eagle’s Nest and takes you through Game Creek Bowl, offering fantastic views of the Valley. For children 2 to 6 years old, there is a corral at the mountaintop where the little ones can enjoy pony rides. Packages are available that include a horseback ride, lunch or dinner and the gondola lift ticket. Prices range from $50 to $85.

Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals currently has four specials going on for those who want to come to Vail for their next Colorado vacation.

Special #1: Get 30 percent off condo rentals in Vail for summer and fall

• minimum three night stay
• must book by June 15

Special #2: Two bedroom Beaver Creek condos starting at $195/night

• minimum three night stay
• must book by June 15

Package #1: Stay N Play Golf + lodging starting at $72/night

• two bedroom condo plus one round of golf
• pricing based on a four person occupancy
• two night minimum stay
• stay before June 17 and book by June 11

Package #2: Two bedroom condo + white water rafting

• save $220!
• pricing based on a four person occupancy
• two night minimum stay
• must book condo and rafting together

Contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals to book your Vail vacation today! 1-888-866-2305