Arriving at Rocky Mountain Ski Vacation Rentals – After driving 20 hours through a snow storm from California, I arrived in the small town of Vail, Colorado on Saturday, December 18.  What an interesting place to find myself right before the holidays.  Typically a popular time of year for many tourists to arrive, I came for different reasons.  Alone in a new town and armed with just a sack full of clothes, hope, and a zeal for adventure I was in search of self discovery.  I’m not going to lie, I couldn’t help but no

tice a tiny knot in the pit of my stomach signaling that this could have been a terrible decision.  But, without a familiar soul to greet me, and not a clue as to how to ski or snowboard, I put my faith in the stereotype that people from Colorado are friendly, helpful, and laid back.  And, as luck would have it, as soon as I got out of my car, I was greeted with a smile and a hug and any fear I had prior to my arrival instantly melted away.

With a passion for making new friends, a desire to become a part of the community, and an itch toget out on the mountains, I woke up for my first day at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals not really knowing what to expect.  I was pleased to find that the warmth I received from my new roommates extended to every department in the office.  Surrounded by beautiful snow covered mountains and an office ambiance that is similar to meeting up with old friends, it’s impossible to feel anything but comfortable.  Underlying the relaxed atmosphere though, is a team of individuals whose passion for their work is equal to their passion for life. The feeling I get when I enter the office is on par with feelings I used to get when I was in university.  It is a breeding ground for ideas and inspiration.

So, with my first week here coming to a close, and Christmas and New Years just around the corner, I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be.  With the mountains calling, and being away from the hustle of a city I couldn’t imagine a better place to remember what it’s like to be alive.  I’m excited to make lasting friendships, memories, and discover all the secrets this town has to offer.  Not to mention, this year is calling for a record amount of snow and I’m ready to begin my journey of becoming a snow sport connoisseur.  So, if you’re looking for a sweet getaway this winter season, and developing a relationship with a company dedicated to superior client services, be sure to contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals for an ski vacation experience you won’t soon forget.

Do you have an Aspen Christmas ski vacation planned? What’s the best way to ring in the holidays? The “12 Days of Aspen,” of course! This fun-filled event will keep the entire family happy and occupied! All of the fun is starting on December 20th at 10:30am and will go all the way through New Year’s Eve! There are many free activities for the family, such as ice skating, concerts, and carolers. Indulge your competitive side by entering the Igloo Building Contest, or if you want to do something truly unique, you can visit Santa and his Reindeer live in person!! With 12 days to celebrate, there is sure to be a lot of fun! Be sure not to miss out on any of these Aspen Christmas events!

December 20th

10:30-11:30am: Skate with Santa at the Aspen Recreation Center
2-4pm: FREE Skating, Hot Chocolate & DJ at the Silver Circle Ice Rink
4-4:30pm: Jill Sheeley Story Time at the Limelight Lodge
4-6pm: Pictures with Santa & Holiday Toy Drive, benefiting Shining Stars Foundation at the Dancing Bear Aspen
7pm: Jayne Gottlieb Productions and the Wheeler Present: White Christmas, the musical at the Wheeler Opera House

December 21st

12 pm: Igloo Building Contest | Aspen Recreation Center
2-3:30pm: Free Cookies & Hot Chocolate with the Aspen Police & Pitkin County Sheriffs at Cooper & Galena
3-6pm: Santa Ornament Making with the Aspen Art Museum at the Aspen Recreation Center
4pm: Teddy Bear Story Hour with stories told by Spellbinders at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum
5pm: 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America presented by Art Burrows, Chris Davenport and Penn Newhard at Explore Booksellers
5-8pm: Groovin at the Grove – Winter Solstice Celebration (Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres with Live jazz) at Aspen Grove – 525 E. Cooper
7pm: Jayne Gottlieb Productions and the Wheeler Present: White Christmas, the musical at the Wheeler Opera House

December 22nd

12:30-4:30pm: Santa and His Live Reindeer at Wagner Park
3:30-4:30pm: Palace Production Carolers at Cooper & Galena
3:30-5:30pm: Mrs. Claus and Elf with story telling, magic, face painting, caroling, and more! at the Limelight Lodge
5pm: Jayne Gottlieb Productions and the Wheeler Present: White Christmas, the musical at the Wheeler Opera House
5pm: Book Signing with Walter Isaacson featuring Profiles in Leadership, American Sketches and Einstein at Explore Booksellers
5:30pm: Opening night of Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “The Fighter” at the Harris Concert Hall
8:15pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “Fair Game” at the Harris Concert Hall

December 23rd

12:30-4:30pm: Santa and His Live Reindeer at Wagner Park
2-4pm: Cookie Decorating and Pictures with Santa and Hot Apple Cider & Hot Chocolate at Jacobs Corner, Hotel Jerome
3pm: Santa Drives Around Aspen on Fire Truck at Downtown Aspen
3:30-4:30pm: Palace Production Carolers at Cooper & Galena
4-5:30pm: Cookies and Mrs. Clause & Mistletoe the Elf in Downtown Aspen Fire Station
5-6pm: Local Vocals Victorian Carolers in the Hotel Jerome Main Lobby
5:30pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “Get Low” at the Wheeler Opera House
8:15pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “True Grit” at the Wheeler Opera House

December 24th

8am-6pm: Free Aspen Ornament & Candy Canes at Aspen Sports – Downtown
3:30-4:30pm: Palace Production Carolers at Cooper & Galena
6-7pm: Locals Vocals Victorian Carolers in the Hotel Jerome Main Lobby

December 25th

8am-6pm: Free Aspen Ornament & Candy Canes at Aspen Sports – Downtown

December 26th

3-5pm: Feliz Navidad – Games, Crafts, and more at the Aspen Recreation Center
5:30pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “Inside Job” at the Harris Concert Hall
8:15pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “Barney’s Version” at the Harris Concert Hall

December 27th

4-4:30pm: Jill Sheeley Story Time at the Limelight Lodge
5pm: Book Signing with Hal Herzog featuring Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why it’s So Hard to Think Straight About Animals at Explore Booksellers
5:30pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “Rabbit Hole” at the Harris Concert Hall
7:30pm: The Wheeler Presents: A Fine Frenzy at the Wheeler Opera House
8:15pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “Casino Jack” at the Harris Concert Hall

December 28th

3-5pm: Winter Wonderland Sledding & Skating with Free Hot Chocolate at the Aspen Recreation Center
4:30-7:30pm: Aspen Art Museum’s Dennis Basso Freestyle at the St. Regis Resort
5pm: Book Signing with Jeremy Evans featuring In Search of Powder: A Story of America’s Disappearing Ski Bum at Explore Booksellers
5:30pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “The King’s Speech” at the Harris Concert Hall
7pm: Cirque d’Aspen benefitting Aspen Youth Center in the Aspen High School Gym
7:30pm: The Wheeler Presents: Crystal Palace Revue at the Wheeler Opera House
8:15pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “Blue Valentine” at the Harris Concert Hall

December 29th

3:30-5:30pm: Dizzy Lizzy & Sparks the Clowns – Face Painting, Balloon Animals, Magic, and Fun! in the Downtown Mall
5pm: Cirque d’Aspen benefitting Aspen Youth Center in the Aspen High School Gym
5:30pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “Another Year” at the Harris Concert Hall
7:30pm: The Wheeler Presents: The Flying Karamazov Brothers at the Wheeler Opera House
8:15pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “The Way Back” at the Harris Concert Hall

December 30th

3:30-5:30pm: Maxie and Polly the Pirate – Story telling, face painting, ballon animals, magic and fun! in the Downtown Mall
5pm: Cirque d’Aspen benefitting Aspen Youth Center in the Aspen High School Gym
5:30pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “Made in Dagenham” at the Harris Concert Hall
7:30pm: The Wheeler Presents: Rita Moreno at the Wheeler Opera House
8:15pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “Biutiful” at the Harris Concert Hall

December 31st

5:30pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “The Company Men” at the Harris Concert Hall
8pm-12am: Bonfire & DJ at Wagner Park
8pm & Midnight: FIREWORKS over Aspen Mountain
8:15pm: Aspen Film Academy Screenings Showing “Black Swan” at the Harris Concert Hall

Recently I have been hearing a rumor of a music festival coming to the Vail Valley with such acts as Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic  Zeros, and Bonfire Dub.  I have been checking their website daily to see updates to confirm my excitement.  As I walk into the office today and grab a newspaper I see a Front Page headline “Music Festival Coming to Avon.”

Bassnectar and Pretty Lights have been confirmed among with a few other bands to play at The SnowBall Music Festival in Avon, CO.  Organizers are planning to have three headliners and about 25 to 30 acts total over the three day festival.  The full line up should be announced within the month.  This is going to be a huge event for Vail Valley because there is going to be thousands of people in attendance and an estimated $4 million dollars  stimulated into the local economy.  The town of Avon is excited to be able to host such an event without investing a dime, as The Snow Ball LLC will be privately funding the festival.

For those who do not know Bassnectar or Pretty Lights, they both are engineers in different genres of electronic music.  Pretty Lights is Derek Smith from Fort Collins, CO who has been creating great music, electronically sampling many types of genres putting them in a nice hip-hop beat, with his percussionist who usually plays live with him on the drums.  All of  Pretty Lights’ music can be downloaded for free on their website.  Bassnectar, Lorin Ashton, is from California and plays more of a dubstep style (heavy bass) with remixes and mash-ups.  He is a lot of fun to watch as I saw him twice this year.  The last time I saw Bassnectar he laid down a two hour set!

I can’t wait to see the rest of the line up.  This is going to be an epic event and will be following it daily to see updates and news on the SnowBall Festival so stay tuned.  If you would like to book your stay before its too late contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, your Friendly, Knowledgeable, Locals.

Remember how much snow we had last year at this time? Not much. The entire mountain was not open, snowstorms were few and far between, and after a few days, the snow seemed more like east coast ice than Rocky Mountain champagne powder. Well if you are planning on coming up this season to Vail, count your blessings, because you are in for a treat.

With a big storm coming in this past weekend and the entire mountain being open for a few weeks now, the snow is better than ever for this time of year.  Fresh tracks can be found anywhere on the mountain any day of the week. Take it from your locals here at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals who are out riding throughout the week and enjoying the perks of living in the Vail Valley.

The snow is falling often and the champagne powder is everywhere. Come and get it. You won’t be disappointed. It’s not every year that we get this much snow this early in the season. Now is the time to take advantage of it. I know I am.

Vail Skiers & Snowboarders rejoice! After much anticipation, Chair 5 is now open, and the skies celebrating by showering the mountain with a confetti of fresh, fat snowflakes. The new, high-speed, four-person chair opened this morning, meaning skiers can now reach almost any point of Vail Mountain by high-speed lifts. The popularity of Vail’s Back Bowls sparked the need for high-speed lifts; a plan a decade in the making! Before, skiers often found themselves waiting anxiously in long lines at the bloom of Sun Up and Sun Down bowls, an extremely stressful situation on powder days. Now, with the opening of Chair 5, the ride time is cut in half meaning more runs, more powder, and more fresh tracks to be experienced by all!

Video: Vail Skiing

The snow conditions in Vail are only going to continue getting better—don’t delay, plan your Rocky Mountain vacation today!

Elevation – It’s always been a love/hate relationship with me.  While it provides us with beautiful mountains and snowfall, it also causes us to feel out of shape, ill, and at times discouraged.  The most amazing mountains in Colorado are perched 8,000 feet above sea level, which means that the air is “thinner” and your body can’t get as much oxygen as it would at lower elevations.  This decrease in air pressure also means that water vapor from your lungs is lost at a much faster rate.  These factors combined can easily lead to altitude sickness; a nasty combination of nausea, headaches, insomnia and shortness of breath with the potential to ruin your Ski Vacation.

Take action to prevent high-altitude illness.

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! The best thing you can do for your body is drink three times as much water as you normally would.
• Acclimate. Your body adjusts gradually to changes in elevation over several days.  We suggest spending a night in Denver (5280 ft) to allow your body to start adjusting.  Folks that live at sea-level might need more time to make the transition.
• Eat carbohydrate-rich foods. Carbohydrates help your body transport oxygen through your bloodstream, so limiting your fat and salt intake only helps this process!

What to do if you get altitude sickness?

The best way to treat altitude sickness is to simply go down to a lower altitude.  If symptoms are severe enough, descend as much as 1,500 to 2,000 feet lower.  Ask your doctor about acetazolamide, which will help transport oxygen more efficiently through your body.  Or opt for the more natural route and use lemon soda and ginger, and ginkgo biloba, to help ease the symptoms.

Types of High-altitude sickness:

1)      Acute Mountain Sickness

2)      High-altitude pulmonary edema (also called HAPE), affects the lungs.

3)      High-altitude cerebral edema (also called HACE), affects the brain.

Do yourself a favor, prepare your body for your next ski vacation and avoid falling victim to altitude sickness.  To your health!

Looking for an alternative to downhill skiing during your stay in Vail? Perhaps something that presents an even greater challenge than shredding the back bowls and returning to the sauna each night of your stay? One cool alternative to consider is the 10^th Mountain Division Hut and Trail System, offering 29 backcountry huts and 350 miles of suggested routes in the Rocky Mountain Region of Colorado.


The trail system honors the men of 10^th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army, who were trained during World War II at Camp Hale in central Colorado. Several backcountry huts are accessible from trailheads located in Vail, Aspen, Minturn, Leadville, Copper Mountain, and other areas throughout the Rockies. The trail system offers great opportunity for backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and during the summer, mountain biking with comfortable shelter to break up the journey. The huts provide beds, some with private bedrooms, and heat including wood burning stoves for all your cooking needs.


The Eiseman Hut is a great option if you plan to be staying in Vail at anytime this winter. Peaks of the Gore Range backdrop the hostel, and the terrain is said by some to be the best skiing of any 10^th hut included in the trail system. There is also a spectacular view of the slopes at Vail Mountain. Two private bedrooms are available if not booked already, and 12 single beds are offered as well. Some of the trailheads to access this hut are the Vail Pass Trailhead, Red Sandstone Creek Trailhead, and Spraddle Creek Trailhead. For directions, maps and details on trailheads, more information can be found here.


It is suggested that at least one experienced individual in evaluating avalanche and snow stability hazards be on board for the journey. A fair amount of the huts across the region are situated in extreme avalanche terrain, so be responsible if your hard-core aspirations wish to indulge! Updated information on avalanche conditions can be found at this website, and you can also access an Avalanche Advisory Report for the Vail/Minturn by calling 970-827-5687.


After some backcountry on the 10^th Mountain Division Hut and Trail System, you will probably enjoy the ease of downhill skiing and comfortable lodging with every amenity upon your return. Make sure to check out Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, with boundless travel options to meet your vacation needs.

Wintersköl, the 60th annual “toast to winter” in Aspen, is set to launch on January 13, 2011. The four day event is a massive celebration, created in 1951 by Aspenites who wanted to celebrate the unique Nordic lifestyle of Aspen. The celebration is made up of multiple festivities such as a parade, a canine fashion show, the soupsköl competition, live music, WinterFest, fireworks, and much more.

The slogan for this year’s 60th “Diamond” anniversary was selected through a contest held by the ACRA and Wintersköl Committee. The conditions for the contest asked the entrants to consider what they love about the Aspen community and the impact of the event’s 60th “Diamond” anniversary. The winner of the contest, from over 115 entrants, won a pass to the 2011 Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen, as well as the glory of having their slogan boasted for all to hear: “A Cut Above the Rest,” was the winning slogan.

There is a hefty schedule of events lined up for the four day celebration. Here is a quick glance at the activities happening each day!

Thursday, January 11th

12-1:30pm: ARCA Luncheon Opening held at The St. Regis. $40 for members, $50 for non-members

4pm: Aspen Ranch Arts Center’s “Wintersculpt” Begins! Located in the Aspen Mall Area, this is a 48 hour snow-sculpture competition. Sculptors work around the clock to shape 8x8x8 cubes of snow into freestanding creations in hopes of being one of the Top 3 winners who take home a cash prize. The competition will be judged on Saturday afternoon by a panel of judges from the community who will rate the pieces on creativity, technical execution, and compliance to rules.

6pm: Special Arts Museum Wintersköl Events at the Aspen Art Museum:  First up, Soups On: The AAM and four-time soupsköl competition winner, Chef Clark Church of Garnish Café, will host a free preview of Friday night’s soupsköl competition. Second, don’t miss “Radical Transformations” presented by Frederick Gregory who will be exhibiting sculptor Roger Hiorns.

9pm: No Use for a Name with Dead Country performing at the Belly Up Aspen. Tickets are $15

Friday, January 12th

9am-2pm: Anderson Ranch Arts Center’s “Kidsculpt” at Aspen Mill Street Mall

10am-5pm: Men’s Health & Women’s Health at Aspen Wintersköl taking place at Aspen Gondola Plaza. Party in the Snow! Free and open to everyone.

10:30am-12pm: Apple Strudel Downhill: free to everyone! All participants receive complimentary apple strudel with whipped cream and a drink!

5:30-7:30pm: Soupsköl (Located at Cooper Ave. & Hunter St.) A soup-making contest judged by the public to determine which restaurant has the best soup. Each restaurant offers a FREE sample of their soup.

8pm: Nathan McEuen and Friends at the Wheeler Opera House. Free admission, no tickets required.

Saturday, January 13th

10am-5pm: Round 2! Men’s Health & Women’s Health at Aspen Wintersköl taking place at Aspen Gondola Plaza. Party in the Snow! Free and open to everyone.

10am-11am: Introduction to Skijoring with your Dog presented by Aspen Animal Shelter. Classroom education session before an activity at the McBride Ranch.

12pm-1:30pm: Skijoring with your Dog: A Healthy, Safe Way to Exercise and Bond Together at McBride Ranch. Presented by the Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter. (Popular in Scandinavian countries and in a few spots in the United States, skijoring is a sport that combines nordic skiing and dog sledding).

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Wintersköl Public Skate at Lewis Ice Arena. Free admission.

WINTERFEST at Cooper Ave Mall. WinterFest brings fun for the whole family including: clowns, face painters, live music, Aspen Kettle Corn, POP! cotton candy, hot chocolate & cookies, the torchlight decent, and the fireworks over Aspen Mountain. This is free and open to everyone.

12pm-1pm: Canine Fashion Show – Registration

1pm-2pm: Canine Fashion Show

2pm-3pm: Performance by the K9 Kings

3pm-4pm: Live performance by the US AirForce Drum & Bugle Corps and the El Jebel Shriner Pipe Band

4pm-6pm Family Skating Party at CP Burger on the Silver Circle Ice Rink. Free skate rentals!

6pm: “Wintersculpt” judging and awards – Main Stage, Galena and Cooper. Judging at 4 p.m. Awards at 6 p.m.

6:15pm-8:15pm: Live music by Slightly White – Main Stage, Galena and Cooper.
6pm-8pm: Beer Garden at Bad Billy’s
8pm: Torchlight Descent – Little Nell – Aspen Mountain
8:15pm: Fireworks Extravaganza – Little Nell – Aspen Mountain

5pm-6pm: Aspen Skating Club Wintersköl Skating Exhibition at the Aspen Ice Garden. Free Admission.

10:00 p.m. Super Diamond at the Belly Up Aspen. Tickets are $30 pre-ordered/$35 day of.

Sunday, January 14th

7:30am: Wintersköl Hike for Hope Uphill at Buttermilk Mountain. 7th Annual Family Charity Event, 100% of funds raised go to research a cure for Muscular Dystrophy. Registration is $25.

8:00am: Pancake Breakfast
Cliff House Restaurant, $5, Top of Buttermilk Mountain

10am-5pm: Round 3! Men’s Health & Women’s Health at Aspen Wintersköl, taking place at Aspen Gondola Plaza. Party in the Snow! Free and open to everyone.

With so much to do for all ages, you won’t want to miss out on the 60th Annual “Diamond” Anniversary Wintersköl!  Come one, come all, just be sure to come prepared to have fun!

Vacation rental company keeping up to speed with progressive travel technologies

Vail, Colorado –Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals (RMVR) is pleased to announce the start of a long term contract with Inntopia, an innovative travel technology company that provides consumers with real time online booking, in every major ski destination in North America. This partnership will provide Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals’ clients with a wider range of booking possibilities throughout the Rocky Mountain Region. In addition to the ski industry, Inntopia connects travelers to beach, lake, urban, and golf destinations. Inntopia is a leading provider to Resorts, Destination Marketing Organizations, Central Reservation Agencies, Activity Providers, Web Portals, Aggregators, and Resellers.


“This strategic partnership with Inntopia is an exciting opportunity to reach out to a growing interest in the vacation rental market with privately owned homes, condos, and executive luxury properties,” says Tommy Z. Hoffman, owner and founder of Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals.  “With an extensive travel booking tool available from our website, accompanied with ‘Friendly. Knowledgeable. Locals™’, clients will be provided with the added value of convenience and support, with more diverse options to book online.”


The Inntopia reservation system will allow RMVR clients to book lodging, purchase lift tickets, book transportation, tours and equipment rentals  to name a few. With all of these added options available to book online, RMVR will immediately be able to provide more packaged items in the Vail/Beaver Creek area, and eventually this will expand to other destinations throughout the region.  In addition to local agents in Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone, Aspen, Snowmass, and Telluride, properties with online availability will include Steamboat, Banff/Lake Louise, Jackson Hole, Mammoth, Park City, Whistler, Crested Butte, Lake Tahoe, and Winter Park. As Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals has recently experienced revenue growth of over 400%, the added array of booking options through Inntopia will present a growing market of consumers with boundless travel opportunity.


“We are continuously looking for possibilities to improve our guest’s experience at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals. Working with Inntopia will help us enhance how we accommodate our guests with efficiency and more options,” commented James Bengala, Director of Sales and Marketing for RMVR.


Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, a team of “Friendly. Knowledgeable. Locals.™” currently provides vacation rentals, concierge services, and specializes in resort and fractional real estate sales. Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals is now offering properties to book online for the 2010-2011 ski season, and is in the process of hiring sales managers for six additional locations next season.


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About Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals (RMVR):

Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals was founded by owner Tommy Z. Hoffman in 1998. RMVR is a vacation rental provider, offering excellent service with “Friendly. Knowledgeable. Locals™.” in the Rocky Mountain Region. RMVR stands out among its competitors by working with property management companies, who provide privately owned homes and condos for rent, executive luxury properties, ski in and ski out access, and fractional ownership. RMVR utilizes a local staff whose love for the region, skiing, snowboarding, and all that summer in the mountains has to offer with full concierge services. To learn more, please visit http://rockymountainvacationrentals.com or call 1-888-364-7596.

About Inntopia:


Inntopia is an innovative travel technology company that provides its partners with fully integrated advanced reservation solutions. Inntopia users include central reservation agencies, destination marketing organizations, resort associations, property management companies, park operators and tour operators. Owned by Sterling Valley Systems Inc., Inntopia is located in the destination resort of Stowe, Vermont. For more information please contact Jim Lilly, jlilly@inntopia.com, (802) 253-2905 ext 122.

Vail Snow Daze. Never heard of it? Well you better listen up and continue reading, or you will be missing out. The party kicks off today with après ski deals all over Vail Village. The best way to find out about these deals is to just head out to Bridge Street and see for yourself all that Vail has to offer. Come Thursday, the party kicks it up a notch with more après deals, the Dummy Demolition Derby, and free chili. The night will finish with Mix Master Mike performing for free in Vail Village. Friday’s festivities continue with, of course, more après deals and Dwight Yoakam playing for your benefit at Ford Park.

If you can’t make it to Vail during the work week because you unfortunately have to work, then make sure to be there Saturday and Sunday. Saturday night after you have hit the mountain hard all day, be sure to head to Ford Park to enjoy the sounds of O.A.R., and did I mention that this concert is free as well? If you are lucky enough to be around Sunday night, then I am sure you will be able to enjoy one more free concert. How about Weezer for free at Ford Park? That sounds nice doesn’t it? Well lucky for you, I am not lying.

So if you are still reading this blog, clear up your weekend, head up to Vail, and enjoy one incredible weekend full of free concerts, après ski parties, and lots of great early season snow.

For any lodging needs this weekend, make sure to call us at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals and we can get you the best deal in town. Maybe we will even see you out in the town. If you’re lucky.

Hundreds of people gathered at Beaver Creek this weekend to watch the Birds Of Prey Ski Race, the only men’s World Cup stop in the United States. Cali and I headed over to Beaver Creek on Friday to catch the Men’s Downhill. We rode The Centennial Lift up from the base of Beaver Creek and were nearly blown away at the top. The winds were really strong and we learned that the race had been postponed two hours because of them. Once we made it down to the bottom of the course, we took off our boards and walked around, only to learn the race had been canceled due to high winds for the first time ever.

On Sunday we went back to Beaver Creek to watch the Giant Slalom. A festive atmosphere surrounded the on-mountain venue and we arrived just in time to catch all the racers’ second runs. It was an exciting environment as racers continuously knocked others off the podium. Ted Ligety was the final racer, not to mention the last chance for America to make it onto the podium. The crowd got louder and louder as Ligety made his way down and when he crossed the finish line with the first place time, the crowd erupted into cheers. It was an incredible moment that I was happy to have witnessed. Ligety took gold with a time of 2:37.67 followed by Kjetli Jansrud of Norway with a time of 2:38.49 and Marcel Hirscher of Austria with a time of 2:38.91.

Attending the Beaver Creek Birds of Prey was just another perk of living in Vail, a ski resort most only get to visit once a year.

Are you ready for a Christmas ski vacation?  Because major resorts are gearing up for the Holidays.  Telluride will start their festivities on December 10^th.   Don’t miss the lighting of their enormous Christmas tree that will light up the night, or Santa listening to kids’ Christmas wishes. Hot beverages will be passed out, the ice rink will be open, treats will be available for the kids, and many other special events will be going on.  I didn’t even mention the amazing skiing Telluride has to offer!

If interested in other resorts for the holidays, check out our website.   Make sure to plan your trip with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals so you don’t miss out on any of the holiday fun.

An exciting event is going to be taking place in Breckenridge next week: “The Summit” first annual Action Sports Film Festival. The festival will showcase talented filmmakers from all over the world as well as industry Q&A’s with top athletes and filmmakers, photography exhibits, live music, photography exhibits, local activities and a multitude of film screenings of the year’s best ski & snowboard films. The four-day event will start with an open house as well as a meet and greet with athletes, industry professionals and filmmakers on Wednesday, December 8th, 2010. Over the first three days, dozens of films will be screened followed by the awards ceremony on Saturday, December 11th at the Riverwalk Amphitheater in downtown Breckenridge.

Not only will the great festival promote action-sports filmmaking, but it will also give filmmakers a chance to explore and utilize the wonderful town and ski resort of Breckenridge. Many local restaurants, cafes, art galleries, night clubs and outdoor activities will contribute in supporting the gathering of an amazingly unique experience.

If you want to take part in this four-day festival, call us up at 1-888-866-2305 and let Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals take care of your lodging.

Here in Vail we have been blessed by the Snow Gods with one of the best early seasons to date.  Vail has 20 of 34 lifts open already!  As I am writing this, the snow is coming down outside our office window, which looks out on the mountain.  Good thing it is snowing, as Vail’s Blue Sky Basin opening will be as fresh as possible.  That’s right, Blue Sky Basin will be opening this Friday at 10 am.

There will be other openings as well, including the west side’s Bwana Terrain Park.  The conditions are remarkable for how early it is in the season.  A total of 22 chairlifts,if not more, should be open this Friday, so come up to Vail to experience most of the mountain in the beginning of December!  Remember to book your vacation with Friendly, Knowledgeable Locals at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals.

After a long Thanksgiving weekend of skiing, I was so tired and sore I was actually looking forward to the workweek to come! My brother came out to visit from San Francisco. It was his first trip to Colorado to ski and he was not disappointed. The weeklong trip was nonstop; we definitely covered our bases. We skied at Vail, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge, and broke up the week with a snowmobiling trip.

We were lucky enough to be a Beaver Creek for their Opening Day.  I’m sure you’ve seen the video posted by our videographerTyler Boyd of his Opening Day adventures.  If not, you’re missing out.  After a long week of continuously falling snow, the conditions at Beaver Creek were epic with plenty of fresh powder to shred.

We skied and snowboarded at Vail, and new lifts kept opening every day.  Blue Sky Basin will be opening this week, so shredders rejoice!  The great thing about Vail is that it is so expansive that you can ride all day without hitting the same trail twice if that’s your prerogative.

Breckenridge is one of my favorite places to ski.  I was there for Opening Day earlier this month, and this past visit was even better as a lot more lifts and terrain were open.

Snowmobiling was a completely new experience for us. I moved here mainly for the skiing; snowmobiling was just an added bonus. We went on a trip with Nova Guides and they provided us with everything we expected. After an exhausting two hour tour, we hit their quaint lodge for some much needed relaxation and a complimentary cup of hot chocolate. I would definitely recommend snowmobiling to anyone looking for a thrill; not only do you get to hit the trails, you drive straight up the mountain to the Top of the Rockies, to enjoy spectacular views that go on for miles.

Whenever you choose to make a trip to the Rockies this winter, make sure to give Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals a call. Our new full time concierge, Morgan, will give you the local scoop on all off-mountain activities to be had during your stay. These include fine dining, snowshoeing and snowmobiling, to name a few.