When you arrive to your vacation destination, do you find it confusing? Do you have no idea where anything is or what is going on (or is that just me)? One thing that I have found helps ease this confusion is checking out the local paper. Up here in Vail, it is the Vail Daily. Thus, I present the local tip for today:

Not only does the local paper help you get situated with the area and learn about what’s happening in town, but you learn about all the best deals in town – the best happy hours, apre specials and dinner specials. You may find 50% off sushi one day, $2.99 steaks the next, and a sale at the local sports shop the day after that – or all of these on 1 day!

 

Recently, Minturn Country Club has been running their $2.99 NY Strip special – it is at night on Wednesday, April 18th this week. While this deserves a “Local’s Tip Tuesday” in itself (you get to pick your steak and grill it yourself!), I thought I would throw it into this tip. So whatever mountain town you may vacation in, check out the local paper and you will be surprised with the information you find.

As a broke grad school graduate with Sallie Mae constantly pounding on my door, FREE is a word I like to hear.  When I found myself in Vail for the winter, I figured I’d probably be scraping by on teeth and nails.  With awesome events like the Snow Ball Music Festival and the X Games coming to the area, I’ve been pinching pennies wherever I can to afford going to them.  As a supporter of Bud Light for many years now, I was elated when I learned of the Bud Light Street Beat FREE concert series!  It’s just what I need to hold me over until the Snow Ball Music Festival in March.

There’s just something about live music that makes me feel more alive.  The Vail Valley Foundation presents free music in the streets of Vail on a Thursday once a month.  Last night, I got to see Lyrics Born at Checkpoint Charlie in the Vail Village.  After a long day of work, his energy was explosive and contagious.  I could hear the bass before I even saw the stage, and it immediately got my heart pumping.  As soon as I reached the crowd, it was impossible to not start dancing to the beat.  I had never really heard of him before, but was definitely impressed with the originality of his sound.  With a unique ensemble for support, I couldn’t take my eyes off the stage not wanting to miss a second of their set.  Ending his performance with an encore, featuring an amazing freestyle portion, I was left wanting more.

The next concert in the series will feature Earl Wear & Haywire on February 24, again at Checkpoint Charlie in Vail Village.  Be sure not to miss these special intimate events where the crowd is small enough to really feel a connection with the artists who are performing.  Make sure you contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals to help plan a great little getaway and experience everything Vail has to offer.

The first annual SnowBall Music Festival has been filling their line-up quickly throughout the holiday season and continues to do so.  As of now there has been 14 spots filled with great talent, and there are a total of 29 spots according to the festival’s poster that seems to be updated daily.  The poster started with only two acts, Bassnectar and Pretty Lights, which created so much excitement throughout the music community they started to nickname this festival Snowchella comparing it to the number one ranked festival in the world, Coachella. Being associated with Coachella is a huge praise especially when only two acts have been revealed at the time.

Today the poster lists 16 acts which are; Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zero’s, Local Natives, Diplo, Big Gigantic, Portugal The Man, Classixx, 12^th Planet, Miami Horror, Mansions on the Moon, Baths, Superhumanoids, Bonfire Dub, Twin Shadow, and Portor Robinson.  I am sure there will be an addition tomorrow.  I enjoy how this is being done; it is a lot of fun to follow and exciting when you see a personal favorite band on the poster.  I have experienced this multiple times already and again this week when I saw Portugal the Man.

Portugal The Man was rumored to play at The SnowBall in the beginning but was not official until January 4th when they were added to the SnowBall poster.  This band consists of four members; John Gourley, Jason Sechrist, Ryan Neighbors, and Zachary Carothers.  Portugal the Man started as a side project for lead vocalist John Gourley with Carothers playing bass using drum machines for their supporting beat.  The band has grown in many directions, one move was signing with Atlantic Records in 2010 after being with multiple labels previous to Atlantic.  I missed Portugal The Man last time they came to Colorado in November, but I sure won’t miss them at the SnowBall Music Festival that can’t come soon enough.

For those planning on coming to The SnowBall in March make sure to purchase your tickets and lodging before it is too late.  Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals have many great lodging options for this epic music festival.  Give your Friendly Knowledgeable Locals a call at 1-877-422-0449.  Hint: Ask to be near Nottingham Lake.

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.

Today is opening day at Vail and that means there is a lot going on.  There is so much happening I am upset that it is physically impossible for me to enjoy everything the Valley has to offer this weekend.  No matter what your entertainment preferences are there is something for everyone.

If you find yourself on the slopes of snow you will notice how many lifts are open for opening day; that is right a lot compared to a normal opening day.  Last year Vail only had the Born Free run open, and this year 1,150 acres are open to shred.  When the mountain closes today don’t go home quite yet there is plenty of fun to still be had.

Garfinkel’s, a bar and restaurant in Lionshead Village, is hosting the opening day bash that is free to join.  The party will begin at 1pm and will go till 4pm.  Plenty will be going on with DJ P-Rock spinning, raffle giveaways, and drink specials this is a good place to start off the long day of events.

If you decide to stay on the slopes till they kick you off, what I will be doing, make sure to check out the free concert performed by Big Gigantic outside of Lionshead Village.  Big Gigantic is a Front Range electronica duo that has been on the rise in the music scene.  If you are in Vail this is a must see show in my opinion.  Big Gigantic will be performing from 3:30 to 5:30 so make sure to check them out.

If any of you remember The Samples, ex-drummer Jeep MacNichol will be performing at Samana tonight as his solo stage name Mr. Anonymous.  Jeep went solo in 2005 with his debut album Mr. Anonymous in Jamaica.  With different music styling compared to the Samples, Mr. Anonymous has a dub-reggae style with a little dance feeling.  Doors open at 8pm the first DJ will start at 9.  There is no cover if you get there before 11pm, and only $5 afterwards.

Is music not your thing? Rather share a laugh with some friends and family? Well you’re in luck thanks to the sand bar located in West Vail; a lineup of hilarious local comedians will be cracking you up tonight.  Headliner is Denver local, Elliot Woolsey.  If you haven’t heard of Elliot’s stand up do yourself a favor and go see him tonight at the Sand Bar.  The show starts at 8pm with no cover.

For the more local scene Paddy’s Restaurant, located in Eagle-Vail, will be putting on a night of DubStep with a free keg to boot.  Dubstep is a rising genre, especially in Colorado, that has a lot of people talking and is changing the music scene as we know it.  If you never got a taste of Dubstep come by paddy’s enjoy a free beer and dance the night away.

Tyler Boyd Posing at the Top of Chair 3 for the Opening Day in Vail 2010

Mid Vail Scenic View From Opening Day in Vail 2010

Today’s Vail Mountain Cams!

Two Elk	Terrain Park	Clock Tower
Vail, CO	Vail, CO	Vail, CO
View Cam	View Cam	View Cam

Wildwood	Vail village
Vail, CO	Vail, CO
View Cam	View Cam

There will be many more events in Vail this ski season, so when skiing the powder packed mountain don’t forget about the great events happening all around town.  To book your stay, contact a Friendly Knowledgeable Local at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals.

Get ready for Opening Day, mountain enthusiasts: it’s…  TOMORROW.

The community of Vail has been taking all the right steps to be prepared for the season’s big day. With giveaways, free music, concerts at night, film showings, and 1,150 ACRES OF SKIABLE TERRAIN TO BE OPEN, tomorrow in Vail will for sure be awesome.

Nine lifts are announced to be open, including Avanti Express Lift (2), Wildwood Express Lift (3), Moutaintop Express Lift (4), Game Creek Express Lift (7), Born Free Express Lift (8), Northwoods Express Lift (11), Little Eagle Lift (15), Vista Bahn Express Lift (16, at the base in Vail Village), and of course, the Eagle Bahn Gondola (19, located in Lionshead).

The mountain will be open at 9 in the morning, and both Lionshead and Vail Village will be offering $1 breakfast burritos, complimentary hot cocoa, Muscle Milk samples, and plenty of giveaways.  Garfinkle’s in Lionshead is hosting an “Opening Day Bash” where a DJ will be spinning along with plenty of food and drink specials, going on from 1 to 3 p.m.  I, on the other hand, will be slinging y’all beers at the Red Lion in Vail Village, and the party over there should be pretty animated as well!

Garfinkle’s bash will lead to the free concert featuring the band Big Gigantic at 3:30 at Vail Square in Lionshead. Also, there will be plenty of music in town throughout the weekend, starting tonight with trance fusion band Yamn at Samana Lounge. A few movie premiers will be shown tonight – “In-Color” by Transworld and “Cheers” by People will be shown at the Burton store in Lionshead, as well as “Light the Wick” by Teton Gravity Research at Sandbar. The Burton event starts at 7, with free food offered by Moe’s BBQ and raffle prizes that include a snowboard and heli trip. At Sandbar, a keg of Colorado Native will be tapped at 9, and another raffle will be giving away a Never Summer snowboard, Liberty skis, and a Loki jacket. Win cool stuff to set the weekend off right!

If you haven’t booked for the weekend already, check out Vail packages with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals – and get up here!

Can’t wait for Valentine’s Day to come again? Well, there is no need to! Next week starts ‘Love Fest Week’ as part of Vail’s Restaurant Month. Vail’s Restaurant Month spans from September 20th – October 17th and includes a different theme each week. With ‘Market to Table’ Week behind us, and Health, Wellness & Outdoors Week in full swing, we locals are looking forward to next week’s Love Fest! These great restaurant deals start Monday, October 4th and end Sunday, October 10th and include everything from champagne and wine tastings, to spa specials and activities for couples and friends alike. Here are two of the many events that I’m looking forward to that week:

“Taste the Forbidden Love” – a romantic dinner that celebrates wine and spirits of the past, including the greatest classic romances in history! Want to dine like Romeo and Juliet? Feast as Cleopatra and Caesar would have? Then this is the event for you! Available only at Restaurant Kelly Liken. www.kellyliken.com

“Chocolate Decadence” – nothing says romance like chocolate! Masters Gallery presents this one day event on Saturday, October 9th at the Lord Gore Restaurant at the Manor Vail Lodge. Chef Richard A. Bailey and gallerista extraordinaire Rayla Kundolf will co-host this afternoon reception. Call in advance to RSVP 970-477-0600.

So whether you out celebrating your marriage, relationships or friendships, venture out into Vail Village to experience this once a year LoveFest Restaurant week!

Are you sad that the Vail Recreation District Trail Running Series has come to a close? Never fear, trailing running in the Vail Valley continues to be accessible and beautiful throughout the fall. Trail running can be a challenging way to enjoy the outdoors while getting a great work out, but it doesn’t have to be strenuous.  The Vail area brings runners from around the state and around the country for races, training and just the chance to enjoy the natural beauty.

Fall is my favorite time of year for trail running because the days are cooler, the crowds have left, and the Aspen trees turn golden.  Hitting the backcountry trails is the best way to watch the leaves change colors and the local wildlife get ready for winter.  Here are a few of my favorite trails to hit this September and October:

1)      Allie’s Way: Located on Beaver Creek Mountain, this is a great beginner’s trail. It cuts across the front side of Beaver Creek and has minimal elevation changes.  This single track is also open to mountain bikers, so make sure you’re paying attention as well.

2)      Berry Picker: Located on Vail Mountain, this trail is easily accessible from either Vail Village or Lionshead Village. It winds along the base of the ski mountain, around Gore Creek, and provides a great opportunity to watch the local brush change colors!

3)      The North Trail: This single track is on the North side of I-70, across the Valley from Vail Mountain. This trail cuts in and out of various Aspen groves, and when it opens up, you get wonderful views of the valley and Vail Mountain

4)      Squaw Creek: A more challenging run, this trail starts off going up a steep hill.  You will be handsomely rewarded, however, once you reach the top, because it opens up into a huge flat top of the mountain with amazing views in all directions!

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced runner, you will find a great trail in the Vail Valley to get your running fix.  And just because the days are cooling off doesn’t mean you have to hang up your running shoes just yet!

This blog was brought to you by Alana, the Social Media Marketing Manager, and a Sales Agent at the Vail/Beaver Creek location. Alana is always planning for her next trip to the outdoors to either go biking, hiking, rock climbing, fly fishing, skiing or whatever new adventure she finds. Alana would describe herself as “a thinker”, and she demonstrates this in her work and home life. In her free time she loves to cook, spend time with her sisters & family, and experience anything outdoors related. Alana graduated from Dartmouth College with a Social Psychology degree, and she is passionate about ice cream. Afterall, ice cream is addicting…

Episode VI

Welcome to the weekly blog that reports my adventures throughout the general area of the Vail Valley.  I am recently new to Vail and have a passion for exploring the beautiful nature while also informing anyone planning to visit the Valley, or even current locals, of the incredible activities the Valley has to offer.  Every week I plan on going somewhere remote to experience the Rocky Mountains by participating in activities including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, tubing, cliff diving, and whatever else I can think of.  During these activities I will be capturing the nature around me with my camera to produce breathtaking photos and informative videos if possible.

Recently, the idea of hiking Red Buffalo Pass was drifting around our office.  This idea was generated by our supervisor, for he hiked it himself only a few weeks ago.  A group of nine people volunteered to attempt this14 mile trail running from Silverthorne to East Vail.  I was both excited and hesitant when I signed myself up for this adventure.  Luckily, I had most of the gear I needed to attempt this hike.  The night before I made sure I was all packed, had enough food for the trip, and got a good night sleep.  Gear crucial for a backpacking trip is:

• A-frame backpack
• Sleeping bag
• Tent
• Plenty of thick socks
• Sharp knife or a Leatherman of some sort.
• Plenty of dry food
• Seasonal clothing
• Sunglasses
• Water!!!! A purifier is clutch
• Matches
• Compass
• Map
• Flashlight
• First Aid, just in case
• Plastic bags to keep the trail clean

The trick is to bring everything you need to survive comfortably while packing as light as you can at the same time.  Food is another item that needs to be closely considered when packing.  Any dry and sealable food items are good to bring backpacking, such as:

• Tuna packages
• Trail mix
• Nuts
• Fruits
• Bread
• Oatmeal
• Energy bars
• Peanut butter
• Chocolate

Really the idea is to bring food that will not go bad in your backpack and has little odor so it won’t attract wildlife.

I woke up to meet my troop in Vail at the same time the sun peaked its head over the mountains. Once I got to our prearranged meeting spot, I discovered that the veteran of the trail was not going to be able to join us, which allowed for us to truly discover the trail for ourselves.  We took two vehicles to the Gore Creek Trail to drop one off to have when we completed the trail, and then we all headed to Silverthorne.  The seven of us (we lost another one of our troops to supposed insomnia) started the journey at the Mesa Cortina Trail.

The first half of the trail had some tough terrain, including wild trees we had to bob and weave through.  The trail became steeper the farther we hiked, but we were met with amazing views, like a 360-degree view of all the surrounding mountains.  The trail also offered some great snacks: wild blueberries and raspberries.  One should be careful when consuming wild produce, as some things are not meant for human consumption.  7.1 miles and 3,262 vertical feet later, we reached the base of the mountain we were planning to summit, a perfect place to camp.  I didn’t notice how surreal the landscape was at first, as I was exhausted, but once I got some rest I explored the little valley we found ourselves in.  There were two pools west of us past a small creek.  The bottom one was a crystal blue that looked like the perfect place to go for a dip if the weather allowed.  The top pool seemed to be a lot smaller and probably a good fishing hole, but I unfortunately did not get to test out my theory.

The next morning, after a long night’s rest, we all arose from our slumber, got some breakfast in, and packed all our belongings making sure to leave nothing behind. After some self collection, we were ready for day two of our adventure.  The only uphill we had to conquer was the first thing in the morning, climbing the pass.  By uphill, I mean we climbed a mountain.  Once we conquered the pass, it was all downhill from there!  I’m glad we decided to come from Silverthorne, because the steepness of the other side was treacherous on our legs, as we had to brace ourselves from sprinting down the mountain.  The trail followed a creek, which allowed for great spots to stop to take a break.  We forced ourselves to continue forward, which wasn’t the easiest task at the time.  Through great fortitude we all made it to the Gore Creek Trailhead.  I don’t think I have ever been happier to see blacktop and highways.

Please be properly prepared before venturing into the wilderness for your safety and my piece of mind.  If you are planning on visiting the Rocky Mountains, make sure to contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305, your friendly, knowledgeable locals. Getting to the end was a great feeling of relief and accomplishment.  The total mileage turned out to be 18 miles and 6,680 vertical feet, as we found ourselves off the trail a few times.  It was difficult and crippled me for a few days afterwards, but was completely worth it and gave me an urge to cover more ground throughout the Rocky Mountains.  I wonder where my next adventure will lead me?

Vail Resorts is taking their mountains high tech, at least in regards to social media. This coming winter, Vail, Beaver Creek, and all of their sister resorts will be debuting their new EpicMix technology, thus connecting skiers, snowboarders, and really all mountain pass holders with a location-based service for smart phones and computers.

As it stands, all Vail Resorts season passes already have a chip inside them. This will be utilized now to track your location and tell you a number of statistics about your day on the slopes. At the end of the day you can login to your EpicMix account and see everything from your vertical feet skied, to the location of other approved pass holders while they’re on the mountain, to which lifts you rode.

Taking it a step further, Vail Resorts brings a game-like competitive sense to the program with goals to accomplish, such as visiting a chairlift a certain number of times. When you complete a goal, you get a “pin” to add to your collection of Vail Resorts mountain accolades.

[Credit: EPIC Mix]

For those of you not thrilled by this new sense of location tracking, worry not. You can opt-out of this service if you feel uncomfortable. Then again, if that isn’t a big draw, feel free to let the world know. One of EpicMix’s perks is that you can share your stats or any of the information provided with your social media accounts. Just a push of a button is needed. If you have an enabled smartphone, you can do this while sitting on a chairlift or at the top of the run. While Vail Resorts has been gaining strength in their social media for the past few years, this takes things to a whole new level. To read more about this, check out Vail Daily’s article on the subject.

Speaking of passes, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals can get you all setup with your Epic Pass for the coming winter season, as well as help you to find out about any other information regarding the Epic Pass and EpicMix.  That’s one of the perks of being Friendly, Knowledgeable, Locals–Click here to check it out.

“EPIC Mix – Capture. Connect. Share.” What a slogan! Who else to come up with such a slogan, such a campaign, other than Vail Resorts, owners of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly resorts in Colorado and California. True, this EPIC day announces yet another EPIC breakthrough in technology, specifically in the world of social media. The “EPIC Mix” is what Vail Resorts is calling it, and a truly epic mix it is, of all things new in interactive social media. The Epic Mix is the Foursquare and Nike+ of the mountain, and has updates for both Twitter and Facebook.

Vail Resorts kept the EPIC Mix a secret until they debuted the mobile and web-based application today at a press event at the Ace Hotel in Manhattan. But then, out of nowhere, they unleashed the “EPIC Mix” to the world, announcing that the skiing and snowboarding would be so much more social this season, because of their innovative location-based gaming application.

[Credit: EPIC Mix]

So what does the EPIC Mix do? The EPIC Mix is somewhat like Foursquare, but instead of unlocking Foursquare “badges”, you unlock EPIC Mix “pins.” Everything from tracking your vertical drop, to how many runs, or how many days on the mountain. This is a game of multiple location-based programs all rolled into one.

The key to letting the EPIC Mix become a reality is the RFID chip that is inside the card that you get when you purchase your season pass. The cool thing about this is that you don’t have to be on your phone checking in. Your RFID chip gets scanned at the lift, and automatically put into the “EPIC Mix” of things, if you like the pun.

What I would have really enjoyed to see was a summary of what I did last year. Yeah, I know I got 50 days on the mountain, but I would have liked to have relived it somehow. The EPIC Mix will give me what I’ve always wanted, and more. I can log in to the website, check my stats, see my scores, view my friends, and so much more.

What else can the EPIC Mix do? The EPIC Mix links to your Facebook and Twitter accounts, letting you compare your pins with friends, see who’s got the most days on the mountain, or vertical feet passed, or even WHERE your friends are!

Vail Resorts is always open to new ideas, new trends, and new methods of interaction. Their EPIC Mix is the next best thing out there, fellas! I’m definitely downloading the app on my android after I buy the EPIC Pass, and racing all my friends for the most pins, most days, and most vertical feet.

Congrats to Vail Resorts for providing me with an EPIC Mix of social media interaction, and giving me the drive I’ve needed to get back out on the mountain!

The stressors of work are easily combated when living in the Vail Valley.  Yesterday during lunch, a few of my coworkers and myself walked to a nearby volleyball court and spent our lunch break bumping, digging, and power tipping.  Happy to be out of the office and soaking up rays of summer afternoon sunshine, we didn’t keep a close tab on the actual score, and would only pause once in a while to guesstimate what the score actually was.  My team lost by six, but that is clearly up for debate.  Our lighthearted game of volleyball eventually evolved into gymnastics and then the most basic form of recess.  Though we were sad to return to the office after such an active lunch break, I can personally say that I found myself to be much more productive than I normally would have after 1 pm.

There are a plethora of volleyball courts to choose from in Vail, so there’s probably one closer to you thank you think, no matter where you work.  Volleyball isn’t just for the athletic either…none of us were especially skilled, and some were downright uncoordinated.  And by ‘some,’ I mean myself.

To schedule lodging in Vail, or to challenge us to a game of volleyball, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305.

Episode V

Welcome to the weekly blog that reports my adventures throughout the general area of the Vail Valley.  I am recently new to Vail and have a passion for exploring the beautiful nature while also informing anyone planning to visit the Valley, or even current locals, of the incredible activities the Valley has to offer.  Every week I plan on going somewhere remote to experience the Rocky Mountains by participating in activities including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, tubing, cliff diving, and whatever else I can think of.  During these activities I will be capturing the nature around me with my camera to produce breathtaking photos and informative videos if possible.

Over the last few weeks, I finally obtained a vehicle after four months without transportation.  Sadly my previous vehicle, a 2004 Ford Focus was totaled by someone I do not know and will never know because they fled the scene.  I thank you stranger, not that I don’t miss my Focus, but now I am a proud owner of a Jeep Cherokee!  The excitement that went through my body when I purchased this beauty was off the charts.  Having a jeep in the Rocky Mountains will be a blessing when the snow finally gets here, but for now it’s just extra fun!

There were a few things that needed to be fixed, such as my rusty shocks, so I brought my new friend to get a check up and get her roadworthy.  The next day when Emmi (yes, I named my Jeep) was feeling healthy, I couldn’t say no to my building temptation to take her on some dirt roads.  My roommate and I took her to Edwards to tackle Berry Creek Road.  This road is located off the Edwards exit; take a right once off the exit then another right at Moon Ridge Road.  Berry Creek Road will be an immediate left onto a dirt road, and you’re there!

This road is ideal for mountain bikes, dirt bikes, or any other motorized toys because there are a lot of smaller trails that become quite precipitous.  Berry Creek starts out as an easy climb with a lot of rocks gradually starting to appear on the ground. I listened to Emmi’s tires rip through the dirt was proud she climbed the rocks with no problem.

“When should we stop?” my roommate asked.

“When we can’t go any further,” I replied, joking at the time.

When we got about six miles into Berry Creek Road, the road rapidly became steeper.  Emmi was doing better than I thought she would, until we got to a part in the road that made all three of us very skeptical.  We pulled the E-brake and stared at the road as if it was a dragon we needed to slay, but unfortunately the dragon won this round.  The road was way too steep and too many gigantic rocks lay in the way and I was afraid of breaking Emmi.

We knew we lost the battle so we had to turn around.  This turned out not to be an easy process, but after about twenty minutes of great driving skills and communication between my roommate and I, we finally got Emmi facing down the mountain.  The entire time down Berry Creek Road, I had my breaks slammed to the floor; not a fun experience for me.  We made it back to the paved road before it got dark, and headed home with no injuries!

This road was tons of fun, but gets intense after the fifth mile, so only certain vehicles will be able to continue forward. If you’re planning to conquer this road in your sedan, as a friendly, knowledgeable local, I highly discourage the idea.  Call 1-888-866-2305 to book your trip through Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals if you are planning on visiting the Vail area .  Who knows, I might even let you borrow my jeep!

If you’re unable to make it to Oktoberfest in Beaver Creek next weekend, fear not!  Vail will be continuing the party the two following weekends, the 10^th-12^th and the 17^th-19^th.  Festivities will take place in Lionshead Village the first weekend, and in Vail Village the second weekend.  Both weekends are sure to be jam-packed with activities, with everything from Bavarian music, to bratwurst, to beer, beer & more beer!  The party kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday both weekends, so head on over straight after work (or maybe cut out a little early!) to start your weekend off right.  Saturday’s festivities last from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday’s last from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Start practicing your yodeling now, and bring your old alpine horn out of hiding, because both are sure to be prevalent throughout the Fest.  Possibly the most exciting event of all is sure to be the Beck’s Keg Bowling Contest.  Contestants can sign up Saturday and Sunday of each weekend.  What does the contest entail, you ask?  Two chances to push an empty keg strapped to a dolly into a pyramid of six more empty kegs.  Participants with the highest total of fallen kegs will advance to the finals!  Entry is free, and there’s a reward for the winner of the finals, so there’s no excuse not to give it a whirl!

If you’re not up for Keg Bowling, try a lighter fare, the Brat-Eating Contest.  This event is also free, so join eight-ten participants and eat as many brats as you can in three minutes to achieve a full belly and a prize for the winner!  Sign-ups are available on site Saturday and Sunday.

The Oktoberfest Fun Run is the perfect opportunity to stave away your guilt from eating all those brats! The race will take place on Sunday, the 19^th, and includes a free commemorative t-shirt for the first 150 registered runners, a 10k, 5k run/walk/blade and kids race, an after party, and awards for the top three overall male and female finishers.  Registration is $20 online and $25 on site.  Participants under 18 are $10 both online and on race day!

To schedule lodging for either weekend, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305.  If your phone doesn’t work, just yodel as loud as you can!

This morning, the Vail Valley Partnership put on a breakfast scrambler at the Vail Chophouse for local businesses to meet and greet. Being a Connecticut native and a new intern onboard with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, I enjoyed having the unique opportunity to interact with fellow business people in the Vail Valley so soon.

A common thread of the conversations I had has stuck with me throughout the day: a lot of the people that migrate to Vail have a past story, a hometown that is probably not close by, and a common interest for adventure and natural beauty. It’s easy for those of us who are new to the area to quickly feel at home; many of us are making new friends, new business contacts, and establishing a comfort level with the unparalleled setting of Vail.

Although I’m new to the Valley, I have been living in Boulder for over a year. No, I wasn’t a CU student like most 20-something-year-old people living in Boulder. I was one of the drifters that packed up my car after college, and… drove. Having a fellow Tulane friend that relocated to Boulder allowed the move to be a smoother transition, but I really had no idea what would come my way. To be honest, I had imagined that I would be moving back to where I thought my heart remained, in New Orleans. However, since the epic road trip out here, I haven’t been able to consider the thought of parting with Colorado. Not yet. It’s difficult to pinpoint why, but I think it has a lot to do with the humility that comes along with the awe-inspiring Rockies.

Relocating to the Vail/Beaver Creek area has already been an exciting last three days (I told you I’m brand new). My first few days on the job couldn’t have been more informative in a comfortable, yet enthusiastic and professional atmosphere. So far with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, it’s become apparent that I will be embarking on a journey with a talented group of young, innovative, and enthusiastic individuals. On my first lunch break, we ventured into the village to enjoy some local, casual dining at the Tap Room. Naturally, I ordered a sandwich called the “hippie wrap” – a fine vegetarian option that other hippies coming up from Boulder might appreciate. The menu also included a wide variety of pub fare for all you meat eaters, and a decent beer selection, hence the name of the establishment. I was also pleased to attend the last Hot Summer Nights concert at the Gerald Ford Amphitheater with co-workers, followed by some quality time on the town in Vail Village.

I look forward to the next few months that await me with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals and being further immersed in the serenity of Colorado. We are a team of friendly, knowledgeable, locals, and are eager to assist those of you with that itch to venture out here too. We provide a variety of lodging and concierge services, such as lift tickets, local advice, and adventure packages. Check out our website for upcoming events and more information, or give us a call at 1-888-866-2305.

Vail’s popular Bud Light Hot Summer Nights free summer concert series is coming to an end tonight at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater.  This nine-week series has been going on all summer and has brought numerous genres of music to the mountain stage for vacationers and locals alike to enjoy.  Soul, jazz, funk, reggae, folk, dance, and rock ‘n’ roll have all been a part of the schedule and tonight Hot Summer Nights is ending with a Police tribute band. Named after the famous Police song “Message in a Bottle”, this tribute band has been around since 1992, playing at music festivals, concert series, and private events, collecting a loyal fan base over the years.

Don’t be discouraged that tonight is the last night of the free summer concert series, because come this winter, the Vail Valley Foundation will be entertaining again with its winter concert series Street Beats. Similar to the Hot Summer Nights series Street Beats is designed for the winter enthusiast who is begging for more fun as the lifts come to a close in the afternoon. Here in Vail, there is no time to sit around, so come out and enjoy a great summer night tonight and finish off your summer right!

There is a lot more to Vail than just free concerts, so give us a call at 1-888-866-2305 with any inquiries on anything vacation-related. We at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals do a lot more than just give you a great place to stay in beautiful Colorado: We love it here, we know you will too. Don’t miss out.

Herbert Jeffrey a.k.a. “Herbie” Hancock is one of the world’s most influential jazz pianists and composers of all time, and he’s making his first Beaver Creek appearance this Wednesday at the Vilar Performing Arts Center! His stop at the Vilar Center is a part of his “Imagine Project,” a nation-wide tour in honor of Hancock’s 70^th birthday.  This is an experience not to be missed. A huge contributor to the “post-bop” era of Jazz, Herbie has performed with everyone from Miles Davis, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart, to Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, and Freddie Hubbard.

For nearly half a century, Herbie Hancock has been changing people’s lives with his progressive sound. Tickets are still on sale at vilarpac.org, and for those of you in the Denver area looking for a place to stay for the night (or for the long weekend?), Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals is offering discounted local rates. Call us to book your lodging for the event at 1-888-866-2305.

Herbie Hancock is one of many amazing artists to play at the Vilar center this summer, including country star Randy Travis, guitarist Jonny Lang, and bluesman Keb’Mo’. Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals can take care of all your vacation planning, including lodging, restaurant reservations, family & adventure packages, and transportation.  We are friendly, knowledgeable, local vacation specialists who love Vail, and want YOU to love it too.  Come check out Herbie Hancock’s performance this Wednesday and see for yourself why we’re proud to call our home “the best place on earth.”

What could possibly be better than a day of food, beer and live music?  Two days of food, beer and live music!  Add your finest Bavarian costume to the mix, and you just might find yourself at the 10^th annual Oktoberfest in Beaver Creek.

The Oktoberfest celebration will take place in the Beaver Creek Village Saturday, September 5^th through Sunday, September 6^th.  Festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday with the third annual Oktoberfest Shuffle, with proceeds benefitting the Vail Breast Cancer Awareness Group.  The Shuffle, presented by the Beaver Creek Resort Company, is a non-competitive 5k or 10k run/walk/hike that will take participants along trails through the resort and along the mountain.  The race is $25 for breast cancer survivors and $30 for all other entrees. Participants can preregister for the race online at active.com or on the day of the race in Beaver Creek Village for an extra $5 charge (day of race registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on race day).

The rest of the weekend’s events will include food booths and a beer garden in Beaver Creek Plaza accompanied by live music from Trachtenkappelle and the Helmut Fricker Band.  Special performances will take place by Super Diamond from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and by Beatle Mania Live from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Complimentary children’s activities will be available from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. both days, and will include an interactive children’s theatre, indoor museum and outdoor fun zone.  Make sure you’re present at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday to watch the kid’s European Alpenhorn Contest at the Kid’s Fun Zone.  Youths 16 and under are invited to sign up by 1:30 p.m. on Sunday to participate.

Other free activities for adults include culinary demonstrations both days at the demo kitchen in Beaver Creek Plaza.  Receive free cooking tips and taste a few samples from top chefs!  And of course, the weekend’s can’t miss event is the Bavarian Costume Contest, taking place at 4:10 p.m. on Saturday.  Dress in your finest Bavarian apparel, bring your friends, and prepare to take the main stage to walk the catwalk during judging!

The Beaver Creek Oktoberfest is a weekend you won’t want to miss, so make sure to make your last-minute lodging reservations with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals by calling 1-888-866-2305.

Music will once again be ringing through the mountains.  In less than 24 hours, the Vail Soul Festival will kick off for a jam-packed weekend of gospel, rhythm & blues, alternative rock, and hip-hop.  The festival will include not only live performances at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, but other activities including after parties, cultural seminars, and a youth music and mentoring program.

Fifty children from the Denver Metro and Vail area have been selected to participate in the festival’s first annual day-long “Ultimate Soul Experience for the Younger Souls” this Saturday.  The program lasts from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and participants will have the opportunity to attend performances, participate in music workshops with performers, and learn about the history of implications of soul music.  There will be a family friendly Youth Day Jam Session free to the public from 10:00 a.m. to noon in Lionshead.

This weekend’s line-up will include Grammy-nominated Chrisette Michele, Denver’s Jonathan Bryant, songwriter, producer and musician Dwele, and the winner of the “Show Your Love” contest which invited all local artists to compete for a slot in the festival.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased online or at the amphitheater box office.  Single day tickets range from $35 for general admission to $115 for the Soul Exclusive package, which includes a seat in the first five roads, a special entrance to the concert, access to an exclusive happy hour event with a performer, access to one of the “soul strolling after parties,” and a commemorative 2010 Vail Soul Music Fest T-Shirt.

For more information on the Vail Soul Music Festival, visit their website here.  For last minute lodging deals, please contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305.  If we don’t answer, it means we’re already jamming.

Episode IV

Welcome to the weekly blog that reports my adventures throughout the general area of the Vail Valley.  I am recently new to Vail and have a passion for exploring the beautiful nature while also informing anyone planning to visit the Valley, or even current locals, of the incredible activities the Valley has to offer.  Every week I plan on going somewhere remote to experience the Rocky Mountains by participating in activities including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, tubing, cliff diving, and whatever else I can think of.  During these activities I will be capturing the nature around me with my camera to produce breathtaking photos and informative videos if possible.

When I moved to the Vail Valley, I made sure to bring all my toys: a mountain bike, Honda Ruckus, fishing poles, backpacking gear, and my long board.  Recently I took a cruise on my Ruckus to explore parts of Avon I had not yet seen, and I encountered some very steep hills that seemed ideal for long boarding.  A couple days later, as my friends and I were discussing what we should do after a long day’s work, we decided to test them out so we grabbed our long boards and headed to the hills! To get to the hills, take Exit 167 and continue through the first turn in the roundabout that will head towards 7-11.  The road I discovered before, Buck Creek Road, was a little intimidating when we had our boards facing the horizon, but another road, Switch Gulch Road, seemed to be less a intense hill to warm up on.  (Swift Gulch Road is the immediate right after 7-11.)

We drove to the top of Switch Gulch Road and started with the back side, which has a lot of curves and was not as exciting as we hoped, but definitely a good first run.  We hit this section a few times before we decided to head the other way.  It started well with decent speed and great cruising and carving opportunities, and as the road started to decline, we continued with no concerns…until our friend who was in front took a head first slider into the rough gravel. I believe he was safe.  The rest of us stopped to make sure he was okay; thankfully he had his helmet on and was alright, with the exception of a few scrapes and bruises. Once I knew he was in good shape, I got back on my board with an adrenaline rush which I blame for what happened next:  As I was going down an even steeper part of the road, I noticed there was nobody behind me, but I continued forward, thinking this was an amazing hill.  I decided to stop carving and go for speed, which was clearly not the best idea. I started to feel speed-wobbles and I tried to correct myself by carving but just threw myself off my board instead.  Thankfully I didn’t injure myself, just some scrapes on my hands and elbows.

Amid the falls, I still had a great time on this hill; it is not too steep in some areas making it great for cruising, there are not a lot of vehicles, and the views are great.  Next time I go I will definitely bring some more protective gear, including:

• A helmet
• Elbow pads
• Knee Pads
• Long boarding gloves

For more experienced long boarders, Buck Creek Road would be an epic ride.  Please be properly prepared before embarking on any adventure.  If you are planning on visiting the Vail area, make sure to book your trip through Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, your Friendly, Knowledgeable Locals, by calling 1-888-866-2305.