Why come to Colorado over summer? Why NOT come to Colorado over summer? With so much to do and see, it’s no wonder the local joke is people come for the winter but stay for the summer. From adrenaline junkies to families to those in search of tranquility, there is something for everyone. Kayaking, white-water rafting, zip lining, rock climbing, fishing, paragliding, mountain biking, caving and hiking are just the tip of the iceberg of things to do in the summer. With so many options, you’ll be scrambling to try and do everything!

When the snow melts, the water sports aficionados come out to play. Kayaking and white-water rafting businesses

open their doors once again to welcome a new season of people eager to get out on the water. White-water kayaking requires skill and experience, but rafting is available to all ages and skill levels and it’s great to do with a large group of people. Some companies offer the chance to combine rafting with other activities, such as horseback riding or rock climbing. So if you’re pressed for time, this is a great opportunity! With a handful of rivers to choose from, each with a different level of rapids, you have the option to do mild (class I-II) or wild (class IV-V) trips, depending on your skill level. The Arkansas River, the most popular in Colorado, offers some of the best white-water rafting in the nation. The Colorado River offers a more relaxing alternative for those with small children. Whichever river you choose, you’ll be amazed by the beautiful canyon and mountain scenery. Nothing beats a day on the river surrounded by the Rockies!

For those who prefer a less energetic activity, the area offers hot air balloon rides through the glorious Rockies. Imagine being in the air surrounded by snow-capped giants, getting an aerial view of Colorado’s beauty. Colorado Hot Air Balloon Rides, located in the middle of Colorado in the South Park Valley, boasts the highest altitude hot air ballooning in the country. Their hour-long flights depart at sunrise and guests get views of the Continental Divide, Mt. Elbert, Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Pikes Peak and South Park Valley while eating a hot breakfast and sipping champagne as classical music softly plays in the background. It’s no wonder NBC Today ranked hot air ballooning number 18 of 50 things to do in your lifetime.

Maybe being on the water or up in the air isn’t for you. Well, how about going underground? You will have the chance to go caving in Glenwood Caverns, the largest show cave open to the public in Colorado. Glenwood Caverns offers three kinds of tours: walking tour, adventure tour and wild tour. Don’t like tight places? That’s OK. Sign up for a walking tour. You’ll still get to see the beauty of an underground cave but without having to squeeze through any tight spaces. Besides the caves, you will also go to a cliffside balcony where panoramic views of Glenwood Canyon and the Colorado River will surround you. For the daring and non-claustrophobic, the wild tour is the way to go. You will venture to rarely visited parts of the caves, but be prepared to crawl, squeeze and get down and dirty. You will be on your belly and squeezing through crevices as small as 18 inches during the 3-hour tour. It’s not for the faint of heart.

Many companies do group discounts. Contact Rocky Mountain Group Travel for help planning, booking and organizing your next Colorado vacation! 1-866-348-5129

Many people know that vacation rentals are a cheaper alternative to hotels. You save on food, activities and for large families, even on the price of the rooms. But people are consistently choosing vacation rentals over hotels not because it’s the cheaper alternative but because of the small details that make a vacation rental feel like home.

It comes down to the amenities that are available to guests, which vary by house and owner. Simple things like having a washer and dryer, a blender, a kid’s media room or a bottle of local wine ready for when they first arrive make all the difference in the world to people. Vacation home owners give their guests a personalized treatment that is rare in the hotel industry. And many homes are stocked with all the essentials for a memorable family vacation, including a wide variety of board games, movies, toys and kitchen appliances. Want to make waffles for breakfast? No problem! Just plug in the waffle iron, look up a recipe in the cookbook sitting on the counter and a homemade waffle breakfast is ready in minutes. You just can’t get that from staying at a hotel room.

A vacation home is all about privacy and exclusivity. Fancy soaking in a bubbling hot tub in your back deck with nothing but the mountains around you? Go ahead. Plenty of hotels may have hot tubs too, but they’re shared by thousands of guests. This hot tub would be all yours for a week, along with everything else the house has to offer. Having your own porch, fireplace, kitchen and living room, your own space to enjoy will make your vacation one to remember for the rest of your life. But be warned. Once you stay in a vacation home, you’ll never want to go back to hotels again.

Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals specializes in vacation rentals. For help booking or finding the perfect fit for you and your family, call 1-866-348-5129

Memorial Day may be just a week away, but it’s not too late to make it a weekend to remember! With large vacation homes still free, your family (aunts and cousins included) can come to the Vail Valley for a vacation you’ll be talking about for years to come. So grab your bags, pack the kids up and hop on the next flight to Colorado!

The Enclave

238 N. Fairway Drive

Beaver Creek, CO 81620

$695/night

This 5 bedroom 5 bath private house sleeps 12 and consists of 3 king beds and 4 twin, perfect for families with children. Wood floors, granite countertops, a fully-equipped kitchen, satellite cable and WiFi create a comfortable and efficient household.

The house has two large decks that overlook a creek. The decks have an outdoor gas grill and a hot tub, perfect for soothing body aches after a long day of hiking.  In the summer the property opens up the pool and tennis courts. Close proximity to shopping, hiking, golfing and fishing ensure that you won’t go lacking in things to do. Also, located in Beaver Creek, you have prime access to Beaver Creek’s Blues, Brews and BBQ festival going on over the weekend, an event you won’t want to miss!

Lionsridge Loop

1650 Lions Ridge Loop

Vail, CO 81657

$590/night

This tastefully decorated, newly remodeled 5 bedroom 4 bath house sleeps 11 comfortably. High-end finishes throughout the property, great mountain views from the back deck and all the essential amenities ensure that you will love your vacation home. With its convenient Vail location, you can take advantage of the free Town of Vail bus shuttle. The property is directly on the bus route so you won’t have to worry about driving or parking hassles. Guests of the Lionsridge Loop also have free unlimited access to the Aria Club & Spa, Vail’s most extensive workout facility and spa.

St. Moritz

2199 St. Moritz A Drive

Vail, CO 81657

$650/night

The St. Moritz is the definition of sophistication. You and nine other people can spend the weekend on the lap of luxury. With beautiful furnishings, expertly executed building design and stunning views of the mountains, this property will not disappoint. Other features include a kids media room, outdoor hot tub, outdoor fire pit, washer and dryer, DVD movie library, free access to the Aria Club & Spa and the Town of Vail bus shuttle, a balcony, gas grill and two car garage.

For more information or for help booking any of the above properties, contact Rocky Mountain Group Travel. They also have summer packages available. 1-877-510-2640

There are many different ways that people choose to travel… I myself, typically travel independently or with one other person. This is because I’m selfish and like to do what I want, without having to find a happy medium with others I’m traveling with. However, this is the worst way to travel if you’re trying to do it affordably. The fact of the matter is; traveling as a group saves money – lots of money. Let’s consider the advantages:

Lodging: Groups requiring multiple units can often qualify for group rates from the hotel or vacation rental company. Not to mention you can split the cost of the room with multiple people, saving loads.

Tours & Activities: Depending on what your group wants to do, tour providers will offer significant discounts for groups. You are essentially guaranteeing that they fill space on their tours, so it doesn’t hurt them to offer a discount to your party.

Meals: Most group travelers tend to stay in a vacation rental home, or private condos, which offer fully equipped kitchens. So you can cook a large meal, enjoy it as a group and not have to worry about the leftovers going to waste. Big savings!!!

Transportation: Splitting the cost of a cab, or shared ride is so much cheaper when you have people to share the cost with.

Not only does traveling as group save money, it also provides you with a unique experience. You are sharing memories and building friendships with that many more people that you otherwise would have. You don’t get bored or lonesome, because someone is always up to something. Memories made while traveling are ones you never forget. It’s such a good feeling to have multiple people with whom you can reminisce on these good times with long after the vacation.

While perusing the Wall Street Journal, I came across a couple of articles outlining interesting trends for air travel this summer. Travelers can take advantage of websites such as Bing to view historical price graphs for airline tickets. Those doing their research will note some surprising changes…

In previous years consumers waited to purchase their ticket until about 3 weeks out, when fares are at the bottom due to airlines slashing prices to ensure that the seats were filled. Times are changing and airlines have reduced their capacity because of the recession. Already sources are saying that airfares are up 22% for the month of June. Planes are filling up quick, so if you’re looking to spend some quality time in Colorado this summer it is in the interest of your pocketbook to book now!

Although airfares are up, you can find peace of mind knowing that lodging rates are still looking very affordable, as hotels still struggle to put heads in beds. Many smart consumers have begun to realize the benefits of staying in vacation rentals. A vacation rental allows a group to cook their own meals, have more space and just an overall more unique experience than found at a hotel. Groups can find peace of mind knowing if they want to stay in a house, or neighboring condos they can do so and save money at the same time.

Colorado in the summer; glorious.  Experience it for yourself and you’ll know why.

Why Colorado in the summer? Why not Colorado in the summer is what I ask?  As spring has finally hit full bloom we all know that summer is just around the corner.  Summer is why the locals stay in the mountain towns.  I have friends and family all over the country and would love to go and see all of them but time, money, and other factors make me choose just a few spots to get away for a long weekend.  As I think about my trips and begin to plan them I have a re-occurring theme, everywhere I have chosen to go this summer is humid, which for the out of towner I can handle about 1.5 days of it before I am ready to go mad with frizzy hair and constant sweat beads rolling down my forehead.  Then I think- wow I cant imagine living here ALL of the time, and I am reminded of why the fresh mountain air of the Colorado Rockies is so great and air conditioners just are not needed.

First, Colorado rarely experiences humidity, that’s right no humidity. Then there are the activities, endless activities.  In one day here you can play a round of golf, go on a half day rafting trip, and still have time to catch the gondola up for another beautiful sunset.  Each of the Colorado mountain towns are unique and fun- all offering something a little different ;  Breckenridge is known for its family fun and great history, Aspen has festivals for the foodie in all of us, Telluride has the best music festivals, and Vail has the farmers market.  But no matter which destintation you pick you will have warm days, cool nights, beautiful scenery, and fresh air.  So as you plan your next summer get away think about all the Colorado Rockies have to offer, leave the humidity behind.

Breckenridge is Colorado’s top family ski resort and it is also a great summer vacation with tons of outdoor activities for everyone. This is a great place to get the whole family together for a reunion.  Breck can satisfy everyone- from the adventure junkies to the history buffs.  This is Colorado’s Best!

Breck’s Peak 8 not only offers great ski runs for all levels, but all summer there are activities for everyone.  Catch the chairlift up and take a sunset hike with a loved one, get the family together and battle it out on the putt-putt course, or give yourself a thrill on the Alpine Slide. Main Street also has a little something for the whole family,  Breck has a plethora of great restaurants and shops to choose from and while you’re there stop and say hi to the local dogs that sleep at the front steps of the store fronts.  Feeling the need for some historical education? Take a guided tour of a local gold mine and then pan for gold in the cool waters from the snow melt.  Breckenridge really does have it all.  Rocky Mt Group travel assists families in planning family reunions across all of Colorado but time and time again Breckenridge ranks supreme.

Oh, family reunions. Loved by some, hated by others; either way often times unavoidable. For those who cringe at the sound of being surrounded by 50 of your relatives, I’m here to say consider yourself lucky.

A family reunion is a place you can often find out why you are the way you are, learn family history and form new bonds. Friends come and go, but in the end, your family will always be there.
Hosting a family reunion in the Colorado Rocky Mountains makes for a cost effective, exciting experience for everyone involved. I can’t think of a better place to spend time than in the mountains where you have the fresh air, space and nature at your fingertips.

Once the organizer has created a guest list and surveyed attendees they can start planning an unforgettable trip!  Families have the option to rent out multiple condos in the same complex, reserve a block of hotel rooms, or even rent a couple of private homes next door to one another.  It’s safe to generalize that most families that host their reunion in the mountains are here so they can take advantage of their surroundings by partaking in such activities as a BBQ by the lake, bike rides, group hikes, campfires at night and more.  Colorado’s National Forest lands offer the open space that you need for a family reunion.  Who wants to be crammed awkwardly in a hotel ballroom, when you could be hanging out at the lake all day, barbecuing, fishing, dancing and mingling.
In addition to the outdoorsy things, families can spend time together exploring neighboring historical towns, shopping, dining and just getting a feel for the local scene. I can promise you that spending a week in Vail, Steamboat, Aspen, Breckenridge, Telluride, or whatever destination you choose will make for beautiful memories. Rocky Mountain Group Travel is happy to arrange tours and activities, accommodations and fill you in on your destination!