Dispatches

Top Seven Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in Luxury

2012-12-10T03:45:00Z

While you're in the giving mood, why not give just a tad bit more to your loved ones and maybe even yourself. This is Santa in slippers … fur-lined, of course.

To start with, why not celebrate the holidays in the mountains slopeside. Here are your best bets for sumptuous celebrating.

1. Beaver Creek: SnoCat-drawn dinner sleigh ride to Zach’s Cabin.

Get deliciously dizzy looking down the slopes and at the stars while cozied up in a blanket with hot cocoa in hand. Once you reach the cabin, warm up in a rocking chair by the fire before tucking into an exquisite Elk Tenderloin or grilled lobster tail. Oh, and you really do trade in your shoes for warm, fuzzy slippers at the door. Reservations: (970) 754-6575. http://www.zachscabinbeavercreek.com/zachs/index.aspx

2. Northstar. The Ritz-Carlton Spa Couples Journey.

In the chilly winter with Christmas bulbs shining through the window, what better way to relax than soaking in a copper tub with your loved one, followed by scalp rubs and full-body massages. Reservations: (800) 542-8680. http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/LakeTahoe/Spa/Menu.htm

3. Vail. Spa day at The Lodge at Vail, A RockResort.

The spa features one of the most expansive lists of facials in town, even for guys (Men’s Wellness edition). It’s amazing how healthy pores can lead to an overall sense of holiday joy, and not just for your face. Fight the cold and dryness of December inside a Coco Cream Cocoon … the ultimate happy place. Reservations: (970) 754-7828. http://lodgeatvail.rockresorts.com/LodgeAtVailAssets/files/spa/ROCK-486%20LAV%20Spa%20Brochure%20Single%20Page.pdf

4. Keystone. Bed and Breakfast at Ski Tip Lodge.

Luxuriously rustic, Ski Tip Lodge is the most historic cabin in the area and offers the best four-course dinner you are likely to find over the holidays, so plan on dining before you retreat to your own cozy quarters. Ski Tip’s desserts are pretty much mandatory and always served by the fire. Guaranteed to keep sugar plums dancing in your head. Reservations: 800-354-4386. http://www.keystoneresort.com/diningdetail/signature-dining-detail-Key+-+The+Ski+Tip+Lodge.axd

5. Beaver Creek. Stay at The Pines Lodge, A RockResort.

There is a reason Conde Nast Traveler put The Pines on its Gold List. With ski boot warmers, in-room massages, outdoor heated pool and Jacuzzi, you can ski in and will never feel the need to leave. Grouse Mountain Grill, recipient of countless culinary awards makes everything from scratch – even its bread and sausage. Sipping champagne to the sounds of Tony Gulizia’s jazz piano makes for pleasantly heavy eyelids at the end of each ski day. Reservations: (855) 278-3430. http://pineslodge.rockresorts.com/hotel-highlights/amenities.asp

6. Vail. Dinner on the mountain.

Brand spanking new, The 10th Restaurant can be accessed by Vail’s new, state-of-the-art Gondola One, which, unlike a sleigh ride, will keep your rear warm (heated seats!) while you watch the colorfully lit village become doll-sized through the back window. The 10th boasts comfort food at its finest from Veal Meatloaf to Elk Bolognese. The view to the jagged white peaks of the Gore Range is only matched by that of Mount of the Holy Cross, visible from Vail’s other on-mountain upscale dinner venue: Game Creek Club. A private club by day, by night the lodge is open for dinner to all, featuring adventurous five-course gourmet meals that have earned the restaurant a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Nestled in the forests of Game Creek Bowl, take the Eaglebahn Gondola and then a shuttle to the lodge. Reservations: The 10th - 970-754-1010. http://www.vail.com/lodging-and-dining/dining/the10th.aspx?page=viewall Game Creek: Reservations (970) 754-4275. http://www.gamecreekclub.com/community-info/game-creek-restaurant.aspx

7. Beaver Creek. Allegria Spa package.

Of Allegria’s many couples’ options, the Spa Romance package is the sexiest, replete with wildflower and eucalyptus scrubs, a Swedish massage, herbal bath for two and steam shower followed by champagne and chocolate. For more extended pampering, the day packages can mean up to four hours of massages, facials, manicures and pedicures and even treatments for pre teen ladies with scrubs, massages and even nail art sessions. Reservations: (970) 949-1234: http://beavercreek.hyatt.com/hyatt/pure/spas/specials-packages/packages.jsp

Seven things to be thankful for at 7 vail resorts

2012-11-22T23:32:00Z

Naturally, if you find yourself filling your lungs with crisp fresh mountain air as you are swish-swishing down a snowy slope, you have a lot to be thankful for … a whole lot more than most people in the world.

Not that we’re taking our health and fitness for granted – those are at the very top of our Thanksgiving lists this November 2012 – but if you are in fact, already living the sweet life on the slopes at Vail Resorts this holiday weekend, there are some other less obvious gems that will surely meet with your immediate and lasting gratitude.

1. Heated seats on Vail’s new gondola

As the advent of heated car seats has proven for years now, everybody loves a hot bum. Even if your fingers and toes are chilled and the sun is shining, nothing sends a shiver of warmth through your entire body like slightly cooking your frame’s largest muscle (the Gluteus Maximus). Vail’s One is the first gondola in North America to come with free Wifi AND heated seats. Brand new this season. Muchas gracias!

2. Happy snow-inspired early 40th at Kirkwood

Vail Resorts’ newest addition – Kirkwood Mountain in California – and Northstar at Tahoe started celebrating their 40th anniversaries earlier than expected when they opened last week following two consecutive storms dumping four feet of snow. Kirkwood opened with five trails and 40 acres for its first season with Vail Resorts and Northstar has an impressive seven trails (five green and two blues) open.

3. Parade and turkey bowling at Keystone

If there were some other use for a giant frozen bird other than stuffing it full of deliciousness and baking it in the oven it would be – of course – chucking it down a snow-covered alley to knock over a bunch of pins. Head to River Run Village at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24 to test your bowling prowess or simply for a laugh. Later on Saturday, not do be outdone by Macy’s, Keystone’s own Ripperoo leads the first Saturday parade of the season down to the Dercum Square Ice Rink at 4 p.m. Plus at Keystone there is the simple pleasure of 100-plus acres of skiing to be enjoyed.

4. Thanksgiving feast at Northstar’s Tavern 6330’

Let’s face it. We all appreciate filling our bellies on Thanksgiving. And if somehow you’re not the one stuck with the cooking … even better! Northstar at Tahoe’s brand new restaurant – Tavern 6330’ – is hosting a feast of all feasts between 1 and 7 p.m. on Turkey day. The festive entrees include sweet potatoes with pecan butter, rime rib with Au Jus and of course, roasted turkey with pumpkin pie (or S’mores pie or apple crisp …) for dessert. The cost is $42 for big people and $16 for little people. Call 530-562-3202 for reservations.

5. Free freshly baked cookies at Beaver Creek

A treasure to be thankful for every time you ski the Beav, resort bakers wander the base area daily at 3 p.m. with their steaming mountain of treats and a line of hungry skiers following the waft. They hand out hot chocolate chip cookies until the pile is gone and then they return with a fresh batch. The cookie recipe is carefully selected from a stack of finalists via the annual Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition at the beginning of the season. Trust us … they are the cream of the crop.

6. Apres!

Apres abounds everywhere throughout Vail Resorts – especially on holiday weekends –but few places thank the heavens for the post-ski ritual more than Heavenly. Heavenly is famous for its Unbuckle Apres Party every day at Tamarack Lodge on the mountain. Nothing says something to cheers for more than happy hour, especially with half-priced drinks and table dancing. Unbuckle opens up its latches every day from 3:30 to 5:30.

7. Sun and Santa!

While snow is, naturally, our most cherished type of weather event, sun brings a smile to everyone’s face and it is especially powerful above 10,000 feet at Breckenridge, where according to the forecast, it will be shining all weekend. For those of you visiting Breck on Dec. 1, plan to lose some of your turkey weight in the town’s Race of the Santas. Really. If you have a red and white suit and beard floating around … here’s your chance to use it. Otherwise, Mr. and Mrs. Claus suits are provided for race registrants at an additional cost. Call 970-453-5074 for more information.

Top 3 reasons to renew your season pass today

2012-08-07T04:45:00Z

It's never to early to start planning for the winter ski and snowboard season. Here's a glance at the improvements you'll see at your favorite resorts and five good reasons to make sure you order your pass today.

Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe added to the family

The biggest announcement this past season is the addition of Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe to the Vail Resorts family. Now, in addition to Heavenly and Northstar, passholders can access the new addition. Be sure to compare the Epic, Epic Local, Tahoe Local and Tahoe Value passes as Kirkwood is now a benefit added to each.

Plus, visitors already planning to visit Kirkwood this season get the added benefit of tracking all their days on the slopes with EpicMix.

New gondola at Vail Village

One of the more highly-anticipated improvements coming to Vail this season is the new gondola to replace the Vista Bahn Express Lift. Not only is it a state-of-the-art gondola, but it can also carry up to 10 passengers per cabin.

But it gets better: the gondola will feature heated seats and wifi internet access. That sounds like a great reason to upgrade to the Epic Local or Epic Pass next season.

Beaver Creek adds ladies speed course

Beaver Creek, dedicated to world-class ski racing, has built a new ladies speed course during the summer in the Birds of Prey area. The new course will serve all ladies' races while also remaining open to all skiers and snowboarders. Plus, its allowed for improvements to the spectator area at the Red Tail finish area.

One secondary benefit we'll all get to experience: this will create new acreage that will help with snowmaking and season-round coverage. This also seems like a great reason to make sure you've ordered your Epic Local or Epic Pass.

Bonus improvements at Breckenridge

If you haven't heard already, the Dew Tour is returning to Breckenridge and the organizers have been working hard to expand the sports and disciplines exhibited. Plus, you should expect to see more fun activities including live music.

As you can see, there are plenty of good reasons to get excited for the next season. Don't forget to order your Epic Pass now to take advantage of these great benefits in the coming months.

Vail International Dance Festival

2012-03-05T11:00:00Z

If you’re anything like me, professional dance conjures up thoughts of New York City and an urban landscape. I’m pleased to report that the fine art of ballet and mountains are not mutually exclusive. Enter the Vail International Dance Festival, which traces its roots to a serendipitous moment in 1989 when the Bolshoi Ballet Academy had a cancelled tour date in Texas and needed a replacement location on their itinerary. At the same time, the Vail Valley Foundation decided they should seek avenues to employ one of their beautiful venues, the Gerald Ford Amphitheater. The Bolshoi dancers were so warmly greeted by the mountain community that an annual relationship began. What began as a one time performance branched out into a dance academy, teacher conferences, and ultimately what the Vail International Dance Festival is today; a yearly celebration of arts, athletics, and education run by Damien Woetzel. As a former dancer himself, Woetzel has a deep understanding of what makes a great roster for any dance event. He is a famed dancer who spent much of his professional careering performing for New York City Ballet. Today his efforts include the festival we know and love here in Colorado and also Celebrate the Beat, a program that focuses on teaching arts to underserved students in the public education system.

The founding choreographers of New York City Ballet, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, will kick off the festival this year on July 29th with New York City Ballet Moves, a medley of dance styles. If you are a fan of Dancing with the Stars, check out how it’s actually done at the Ballroom Spectacular. Other highlights of the festival include a few free performances and master classes as well. Dancing in the Streets is an evening of dance open to the community for anyone who would like to attempt to sashay. Also keep an eye out for Village Vignettes, surprise performances in Vail Village, where - you guessed it - no tickets are required. It’s like a flash mob minus the amateurs and plus professional dancers.

The 2012 season is scheduled for July 29th through August 11th and the performance list is here. Tickets range from $20 to $80 depending on seating. If you would like to purchase tickets, box office hours for the Gerald Ford Amphitheater are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday and two hours prior to each scheduled performance on Sundays. Or call 888-920-ARTS(2787). More information is available here.

How to find the winter ski house of your dreams

2012-03-04T16:11:00Z

If you’ve been dreaming all winter of your own ski house and a big group of friends to share it with, now is a great time to start thinking about getting organized for next season. You’ve been skiing for months with your buddies, so you already know who you want to hang out with next year, and hopefully you’ve got a pretty good idea of where you’d like to spend most of your time. Here are the top five tips for beginning the search for the winter ski house of your dreams.

1) Similar interests: more important than number of bedrooms or specific location is definitely the people you’re spending time with every week. If you’re into partying until 3am all the time but your best friend has a new baby, that may not be the best combination for a ski house. Try to find a group of people with similar interests and preferences for hanging out, whether they prefer dinner parties or keg stands.

2) Flexible schedules: If you can find a few weekend warriors along with some folks with a more variable schedule, who might prefer to ski during the week when the lines are shorter, it’s easier to share a smaller space. Also, with different house mates up during different times of the week, more residents can bring up guests more often.

3) Location, location, location: Depending on which mountains are your favorite, some locations may be better than others. For example, if you like to motor up from the front range on Friday night and ski at a variety of mountains, a house in Dillon, Silverthorne or Frisco may be better than a place that is slopeside at Beaver Creek. However, if Vail is your absolute favorite mountain, getting a place in town there is a great idea.

4) Seriously, a hot tub: this is not a joke. Perhaps if you’ve never stayed at a ski house with a hot tub before, it seems like a luxury item that clearly doesn’t need to be on your “required” check list. However, once you’ve experienced the healing power that a hot tub can bring to multiple days of skiing in a row, you will realize that this is non-negotiable for serious skiers.

5) Finally, beer on tap: much like the hot tub, this is something that seems silly until you experience the magic. First of all, you will save an enormous amount of money. Nothing is better than a beer after a day on the slopes, so you might as well come home and have one straight from the tap for around fifty cents instead of close to ten dollars. Secondly, having beer on tap will enable you to lure others back to your ski house to join you - for a beer in the hot tub, followed by a dinner party.

Best of luck finding a great ski house for next season, and see you on the slopes!

Winter Skin Care

2012-02-06T11:00:00Z

It’s no secret that the winter elements are harsh on your skin. I deferred to the professionals on this one and talked to Wendy Westbrook, seasoned esthetician at Arrabelle's RockResorts Spa in Vail. She weighed in on how to take care of your case during the chilly months but her expertise easily applies to all seasons.

What should a day’s regimen of care involve?

Moisturize: On the most basic level, moisturizers hold water in the outermost layer of skin. They also act as a temporary barrier. Many moisturizers contain some combination of humectants and emollients, as well as other ingredients. The moisturizer that’s best for you depends on your skin type, age, and other specific conditions such as rosacea and acne.
Exfoliate: a light, gentle daily polisher that contains smaller granules such as walnut shavings and jojoba spheres, rather than exfoliates that can contain larger pieces that can be harsh on the skin and cause microscopic tears.
Buy a humidifier: Low humidity is a major contributing factor to winter dryness.

What foods are good for the skin?
Holland and Barratt EPA Fish Oil Concentrate, Omega 3-rich foods: oily fish, flaxseed and hemp oil as well as antioxidant rich foods like tomatoes, broccoli, kiwi, peppers and dark green leafy vegetable. Drink two four liters of water per day.

What should be avoided?
Soaps, harsh chemicals, hot water, detergents, alcohol, and coffee. Do not overindulge in saunas and baths, which can strip off lipids, make you sweat and stimulate water evaporation from the skin’s surface.

Is winter the toughest season on our skin?
The difference in temperature can affect the skin and in this case you have to use some soothing treatments. Chamomile and green tea soothes redness and restores its suppleness. Anything with rose can also calm redness. Avoid long soaks in the tub, don't let the water get too hot and use a mild soap to help soothe your skin. Finally, moisturize every day.

And sunscreen of course!
No matter what the weather is like, the sun should always be a main concern. Too much exposure to sunlight is one of the major causes of wrinkles and premature aging. t can also cause flare ups and irritate skin that is already sensitive. Wearing a high SPF sunscreen can keep your skin looking young and fresh. Ask your dermatologist what sunscreen would be best. Staying hydrated is my number one tip to my facial clients, no matter what type of environment you’re in.

Treat yourself to a massage, facial or luxurious wrap at the the Arrabelle's RockResorts Spa, a leader in eco-conscious luxury. The spa uses organic ingredients and prides itself on prioritizing the environment. The facility is available to hotel guests and the public as well. The spa is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily in the winter. To book an appointment, please call 970-754-7754.

Iconic Weddings

2012-01-23T11:00:00Z

You want to get married in Vail but your fiancee is demanding Jamaican nuptials. To find out how newlyweds embark on such a big compromise, I spoke with Catherine Ambrose, National Sales Manager for Iconic Weddings, which provides picturesque wedding destinations and receptions all over the globe. “The most fun part of my job is being able to help couples from around the world celebrate their special day in their favorite place,” Ambrose told me fondly. “Often times, couples that get engaged at these locations also want to have the ceremony there. The reason they chose to propose or get married where they do is almost always for sentimental reasons-- they grew up skiing there or met there when they worked together.”

At the Escobar-Walsh iconic wedding in Northstar at Tahoe last year, it was important to both bride and groom to keep the emphasis on family. They married in a beautiful meadow at Northstar underneath a garland of flowers and went to a nearby venue to boogie down on the dance floor, slice cake, and toast bubbly. “The driving force behind our choices was ensuring that our family and friends felt how much we loved them and how happy we were to celebrate with them,” the bride tells us. The wedding favors were small jars of a traditional Latin American spice to pay homage to the bride’s roots and honor her late grandmother. The jars also doubled as place cards for the tables where everyone would dine.

Her favorite moment of her wedding? “When Tim (my now husband) surprised me by playing and singing one of our songs ("I Do" by Paul Brandt). He had our friends and family distract me while he got set up, and then I heard our DJ ask me to come to the dance floor. It was such a special moment, even with a crowd of our guests watching, it felt like we were the only people in the room.”

Ambrose works with Molly Massey and Danielle Dunfee. The three split the tall order of wedding planning to make the best day of your life a reality- whether it’s in the Caribbean or Colorado. When your toughest choices are mountainside wedding gala or intimate beach ceremony, you know you’re about to walk down the aisle toward happiness. Break the bank or save the budget? Include hot air ballooning in the itinerary for the day or hide in your cozy condo away from the family? With Iconic Weddings, you build your custom search criteria and design the big day together, not to mention the much needed honeymoon at RockResorts afterward. It’s all up to you.

Wedding photographs in this post are by the talented Leah McCormick.
See Iconic Weddings to get excited about the potential of your wedding day.

From snow to wine

2012-01-19T22:43:00Z

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It all started on a chairlift three years ago with a stranger. By the third tower, we were in deep conversation. By the fourth tower we were good friends by the sixth tower she had her husband on the phone and told him that they were going to Italy with Marco Tonazzi and me on our annual “Wine and Dine Tour with a Skiing Problem”. An amazing adventure Marco and I take people around North Eastern Italy every year. But that another story. Or you can check out some past Vail Daily articles.

See Vail Daily Feb 7, 2011 & Vail Daily Feb 14, 2011

What’s amazing is the next time I saw my two new friends was at the airport in Venice. They arrived, loaded their gear into the van and openly went on a journey with me. They indulged in amazing skiing, food, and deep conversation and of course wine for seven days. Every meal on every mountaintop, to every stop at every Refugio we crossed was usually accompanied by some tasty treat. When the trip came to an end and everyone loaded out of the vans and onto their flight home the stories did not stop. They continued for months later as they were shared amongst one another and friends and via email, social networks or just over dinner.

It was an amazing trip where friendships were developed, very good skiing in the Dolomites and Julian Alps was had, and of course a tremendous amount of good food and wine was enjoyed. Which makes the next part of this story so funny.

The entire time Marco and I were guiding this trip through North Eastern Italy, I thought we had learned a great deal about our guest. The development of the relationships is what makes this trip so unique. But somehow we missed that fact that two of our guests have a very close relationship with Wine Country in the United States. Their valley actually grows grapes and has a winery in the Napa and Alexander Valleys.

Some how this humble couple missed out on telling us this little detail. It did not really hit until I went to a wine tasting event in Denver. It was a benefit for the Denver Art Museum and hundred of wineries were pouring their tasty blends. Unfortunately by the time I arrived my friends booth was no longer pouring since the booth ran out from the run on it.

It seems their little winery name Silver Oak is very popular. In fact it is so popular that it was all gone before the tasting was close to being done. To make up for it I flew out to Napa Valley to visit the Silver Oak Winery for the bottle opening of the 2007 Cabernet. An event that was more than impressive and one I hope to be part of next year. Of course this more than strengthen our friendship of course. So much so that we have teamed up for a very special event that is going to take place at the Beaver Creek Park Hyatt Resort and Spa on Jan 21, 2012. This evening with a skiing theme as the backdrop is going to take place in the Park Hyatt where their Chef is going to pair food with bottles of Silver Oak.

I invite you to join my friends and me as we find another excuse to indulge in tasty treats, good skiing and amazing wine.

Note: $150 for the Dinner and special room rates

-- Chris Anthony

CME driver wants to take you for a ride

2011-11-03T19:53:00Z

Colorado Mountain Express driver Larry Borsina, 60, used to attract lobsters for a living: His business, Aquatic Behavorial Technologies, manufactured a device used by Caribbean fishermen to lure crustaceans into traps.

When business slowed, he followed the advice of friends and took to the road. Now Borsina loves waking up early to ferry passengers from DIA to Summit County, or wherever they need to go. To them, he's more than a driver; he's a tour guide.

"I give my people a little history of the area," Borsina says. "Along the drive from Denver to Breckenridge is one of the world's lowest latitudinal glaciers, St. Mary's Glacier.

The largest gold mass ever found in the state of Colorado -- called Tom's Baby because Tom carried it down from the mine in a swaddling cloth -- was found just outside of Breckenridge. It weighed 13.8 pounds. Breckenridge used to be known of as the Kingdom of Breckenridge because it was left off the original state surveys so they declared themselves their own kingdom. The town was not on any of the U.S. maps until the 1930s."

Though Borsina is great at giving history lessons, that isn't his favorite part of the job.

"I like hearing some of their stories, talking to them and seeing the excitement on the face of an 8-year-old boy or girl who has never seen snow before."

Borsina is never off his game on the road, even when there's snow.

"The company is very, very attuned to the safety aspects for all of our guests. We [drivers] have to go through yearly updates on safety, and when we're first hired, we go through a three-day driving course."

There are plenty of customers he'll never forget.

"About six weeks ago I picked up a young lady, and I was pointing out Torreys Peak (on the eastern border of Summit County), which you can see from I-70, and I gave my little spiel about it being one of Colorado's Fourteeners.She mentioned that she had climbed Torreys before, and we got to talking a little bit. It was this past August, at age 88, that she climbed Torreys, her 47th Fourteener.

You ask me to pick one [person] out; it's impossible! That's one of the main reasons you do the job: the interaction with the people. Every person has a story to tell, and if you listen, you can hear many, many stories."

Colorado Mountain Express offers flexible and convenient service from Denver International Airport (DEN), Vail-Eagle Airport (EGE) and the Aspen airport (ASE). CME Premier offers private car luxury transportation. For more information, go to ridecme.com or call 800-525-6363.

Republished from PEAKS Magazine Winter 2011-12 issue.

10 reasons to love Halloween in Colorado

2011-10-31T11:00:00Z

Colorado may be snowy this time of year, but that doesn't exclude wearing the coolest of costumes or enjoying a massive amount of candy. Below are 10 reasons why I love Halloween in Colorado.

10. The recognition garnered from friends and strangers when you boldly wear a costume out on the town that would be better suited to a summer day. What, below 20 temps are the norm on Oct. 31 in our state? Pff. I'll still be a mermaid. A lack of cover-up might encourage the first stages of hypothermia, but just think of all the high fives you’re going to get!

9. TV dinner anyone? Living in the land of Mountain Time means that TBS airs Hocus Pocus at the best possible time almost every evening.

8. A white Halloween means that the snow outside keeps your party’s spooky beverages chilled. When I had friends from California visiting one All Hallow’s Eve a few years ago, they looked on in quiet appreciation as I packed our white wine bottles and beer cases next to the front deck in a mound of fresh snow.

7. This year marks the sixth annual Zombie Crawl in Denver. Over 7,000 participants attend in their best undead attire to roam the streets together in search of brains. Food Bank of the Rockies recently linked up with the event to gather non-perishable food for the hungry. I’m struggling to think of anything more hip than dressing like a zombie for a good cause.

6. Those dang teenagers! If you’re young and rebellious, it’s pretty much a rite of passage to smash pumpkins in the street. I’m not endorsing this but if the local hoodlums do smash your beautiful, hand-carved jack-o-lanterns in the street, at least breezy Colorado temperatures keep the mess from smelling awful the next morning.

5. Seasons! As a Colorado native, I didn’t realize how much I had taken autumn for granted until I spent a year in Hawaii for school. As it turns out, the fronds of palm trees never turn orange. I was a homesick freshman when I wrote my parents about how much I was missing piles of crunchy, fall leaves. My awesome mother replied by mailing a refrigerator sized box full of golden and orange aspen leaves to my dorm on the Big Island. I promptly poured it out on the quad and made leaf angels while my Hawaiian friends stood around, utterly confused by my glee.

4. A Halloween hay ride is 110 percent more authentic in our state.

3. A fog machine pouring spooky spirits from a porch in Colorado is far more convincing (not to mention dense) in the chilly mountain air than anywhere else.

2. Five pure and promising words: Day-after discounted bulk candy.

1. Tomorrow is November! Tear away more links from your paper chains counting down to opening days for Keystone, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, and Vail. It won’t be long until you’re burning off those (vampire bitten) Reeses peanut butter cups and handfuls of candy corn with the blissful, long awaited first turns of the 2011-2012 season.

Happy Halloween!

-- Clare Tischer

IcelandAir adds direct flight to Denver

2011-09-21T22:54:00Z

Scroll down to read this in Icelandic. Flettu niður að lesa þetta í íslensku.

A hop across the pond to world class skiing just got a lot easier for the land of fire and ice. Starting in May 2012, IcelandAir will offer nonstop flights between Denver and Reykjavik, Iceland. This means direct access to some of the top ski resorts in the country as well as breathtaking scenery, Denver nightlife, some of the best restaurants in the U.S., and mountain town fun.

Never been to Colorado? It's one of the most active, entertaining places on the planet and has a lot of similarities to Iceland . No, Vikings have never roamed its land and there are no active volcanoes or oceans.... but, much like Iceland, Coloradans have strong, independent spirits, they live in a vacation hotspot, and there is more to do here than almost anywhere else in the world.

Love adventure? Colorado is the country's most active state and offers year-round fun. Olympic teams from all over the world are frequently spotted training here. But you don't have to be a professional athlete to enjoy Colorado's playgrounds -- there is something for everyone and there isn't a bad time to be here. Summer is filled with kayaking, climbing, hiking, racing, mountain biking, road biking, hang gliding, ziplining, bouldering and BASE jumping, just to name a few. Winter offers ice climbing, snow shoeing, tubing, skiing, snowboarding, sledding and backcountry treks in the winter.

Prefer to be pampered and relax on your vacation? Colorado has just as many luxurious offerings as adventures. Après ski entertainment abounds at Vail's top notch restaurants and lodges. Hotel spas like the one at the Arrabelle at Vail Square are world renowned. Denver's museums, art exhibits, opera and theatre houses, and bustling downtown area are also great for a dose of culture and history.

Flying from Iceland to Denver enables direct access to one of the top vacation destinations in the world. Getting to the world class ski resorts from Denver is fast and easy. The hardest thing to do in Colorado is leave!

Fljótlega verður ekkert mál fyrir Íslendinga að komast í einar bestu skíðabrekkur heims, því í mars 2012 munu Flugleiðir hefja beint flug til Denver, Colorado. Þangað sem vetrarólympíulið streyma að úr öllum heiminum til að æfa sig, þar sem eru glæsileg skíðahótel í stórbrotnu landslagi, þar sem næturlífið er fjörugt og fjölbreytilegt og þar sem fullt er af frábærum matsölustöðum.

Colorado er eitt af líflegustu og skemmtilegustu landsvæðum í heimi og svipar að því leyti til Íslands! Að vísu settust engir víkingar þar að, og þar eru hvorki eldfjöll né úthaf, en eins og Íslendingar, eru Coloradobúar sterkir og sjálfstæðir í anda, og búa á eftirsóttum ferðamannastað, þar sem er meira í boði en víðast hvar annars staðar. Ef þú ert ævintýramanneskja þá hefur Colorado eitthvað skemmtilegt upp á að bjóða fyrir þig allan ársins hring.

Yfir sumartímann getur þú farið á kajökum niður fossandi ár, klifrað í klettum, gengið á fjöll, brunað niður fjallahlíðar á fjallahjólum, hjólað eftir fáförnum fjallavegum, flogið niður fjöll í svifdrekum, og stokkið í fallhlíf fram af himinháum klettum, svo eitthvað sé nefnt. Á veturnar getur þú klifrað í ísfossum, gengið á þrúgum, farið niður ár í gúmíslöngum, brunað niður brekkur á skíðum eða snjóbrettum, rennt þér á sleðum eða farið á gönguskíði.

Nú, ef þú vilt hvíla þig í fríinu og láta dekra við þig þá hefur Colorado líka upp á frábæra dekur þjónustu að bjóða. Þú getur fundið allar upplýsingar um ævintýralandið Colorado í Vail á meðfylgjandi
vefsíðum a Arrabelle.

-- Kristina Lisowski

Hot jobs of the week: Half Moon & Vail

2011-07-15T22:27:00Z

Want to combine your passion for travel and the outdoors with your work? From white sand beaches to Rocky Mountain peaks, there are several job openings across Vail Resorts that might fit the bill. Here are a couple of our faves.

Half Moon, A RockResort, Director of Finance
Located in breath-taking Rose Hall, Jamaica is known for its luxury, incredible beaches and accommodations.

This incredible property is also looking for a new director of finance. The director of finance will function as the financial business leader for the property and will be responsible for developing resort-wide strategies such as business plans, budgets and analysis. Apply here.

Adventure Ridge at Vail, General Manager
If the mountains are more your scene, Adventure Ride at Vail Mountain is looking for a general manager to oversee the family-friendly fun park. Adventure Ridge hosts ski biking, snow tubing as well as horseback riding tours.

This individual will be responsible for the overall operations of activities, product sales and daily maintenance. Apply here.

For more hot jobs across Vail Resorts, visit jobs.vailresorts.com.

--Jaclyn Lincoln

Half Moon, A RockResort reviewed

2011-06-02T17:12:00Z

In the early 1950s a group of American, British and Bermudian entrepreneurs spent their winter holidays on the tropical shores of Jamaica's North Coast near Montego Bay. So captivated with the landscape, the climate and the people they decided to create a permanent winter escape for their families and friends to enjoy.

In 1954, the businessmen purchased 35-acres of land on a crescent-shaped bay that was once the loading dock for sugar shipments for the Rose Hall plantation. Borrowing from the shape of bay's beach for its name, Half Moon Hotel and Cottage Colony opened that same year with 17 whitewashed cottages and 30 beachfront rooms.

From the original cottages on 35 acres, Half Moon now expands 400 acres bordered by a private, two-mile, white-sand beach. Half Moon has 197 spacious rooms and suites, and 54 swimming pools. There are 33 expansive four-, five-, six- and seven-bedroom villas all with private pools and personal staff of a butler, cook and housekeeper.

Resort amenities include a Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed 18-hole championship golf course and the Half Moon Golf Academy. Additionally, there are 13 tennis courts, a Spinning studio (the only one of it's kind), a fitness center, the colorful Anancy children's village, water sports, a shopping village which houses a conference center, a private dolphin lagoon where guests can swim and even train the dolphins, an equestrian center and the indoor/outdoor 68,000 square foot Fern Tree, A RockResorts Spa which melds Jamaican healing traditions with modern-day spa techniques and treatments.

Cuisine at Half Moon is rich with Caribbean culture. Signature restaurants include The Sugar Mill, Il Giardino and The Seagrape Terrace.

Half Moon is also a great place in the Caribbean for weddings and romance. Couples may choose from a variety of indoor and outdoor locations; from ballrooms, to gazebos jutting out to sea, expansive seaside lawns and quiet gardens. Half Moon's Master Wedding Planners execute over 170 destination wedding events annually at the resort.

Half Moon has been the home-away-from-home for countless dignitaries, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip and Prince Charles; Prince Rainier and Princess Caroline of Monaco; as well as John and Jacqueline Kennedy.

In January 2011, Half Moon continued to strengthen its legacy and joined the RockResorts' collection of luxury resorts.

Get away from it all and be a guest at Half Moon, A RockResort in Rose Hall, Jamaica. You certainly won't leave wanting.

-- Stephanie Taylor

Finding luxe value on your mountain vacation

2011-05-10T15:27:00Z

A bright spot for today's travelers is the low rates available at high-end properties. Even as the economy picks up, it's still possible (if you play your planning cards right) to enjoy the lifestyle of the rich and famous -- without being either.

Your first step is to be flexible. Consider traveling in off-peak times such as early December or April (sometimes even early January and early February), and try to book midweek, when rates are often substantially lower. You can also save money by bundling lodging with airfare, lift tickets, and other activities, using central reservations websites such as snow.com or calling Vail Resorts' travel experts at 877-204-7881

The second key is to stay informed: Bookmark the websites of your dream properties, become a Facebook fan, and subscribe to newsletters when possible. For example, get great offers for The Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort, and other elegant RockResorts sent right to your inbox by visiting rockresorts.com; at the top righthand corner, enter your email address under "Special Offers." You'll receive updates on deals such as Holidays on Us or Spring Break on Us -- which include a free night when you book two or more nights at a RockResorts hotel -- and Three for Free, which grants guests a free night, a $50 gift card and use of free gear (like an action/helmet camcorder). Subscribers are also extended exclusive offers , such as Early Bird advance-purchase booking specials, that can add up to huge savings.

RockResorts' lavish ski-country properties include the European-style is Arrabelle at Vail Square, which sets the standard for service with luxuries such as personal concierges; The Lodge at Vail, an ideally situated slopeside property that recently added one of the premier spas in the Vail Valley; The Pines Lodge in Beaver Creek, featuring upscale mountain décor in a quiet setting; The Osprey at Beaver Creek, a chic boutique hotel just a few steps from the Strawberry Park Express lift; and one of the newest members of the RockResorts family, One Ski Hill Place at Breckenridge's Peak 8, which opened in June .

An even more recent addition to the ski-country luxury pool is The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail and The Ritz-Carlton Club, Vail. Debuting this fall, The Residences offer 71 homes ranging from two to six bedrooms and featuring the finest of fine appointments, as anyone would expect who's visited its sister property in Beaver Creek, The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. The Ritz-Carlton Club, Vail also features 45 units devoted to fractional ownership.

Keystone fans will find high-end ski-in/ski-out accommodations at The Timbers and Lone Eagle condominium properties, as well as the Keystone Lodge & Spa, which features fabulous restaurants and a selection of activities at the Lakeside Village.

At Heavenly on the California side, the Marriott Grand Residence Club Lake Tahoe is nestled at the base of the Heavenly Gondola. Marriott's luxurious studios and one, two and three-bedroom accommodations are perched atop lively retail shops and eateries in the Heavenly Village. Most feature kitchen, living/dining area, master bedroom, and bath with oversized tub, fireplace and more (call 1-800-Heavenly).

One caveat before you reserve your deluxe accommodations: Once you've tasted the good life, you might find there's no going back.

-Kellee Katagi

(Reprinted from PEAKS Winter 2010-11, the magazine of Vail Resorts.)

'Water on the Rocks' to eliminate resort plastic bottle waste

2010-10-14T21:24:00Z

RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality are aiming to eliminate the use of 640,000 plastic water bottles annually with their "Water on the Rocks" program. Two pre-filled glass bottles are placed in guestrooms daily, then re-sanitized and refreshed as needed. Guests on the go will have the option to purchase reusable RockResorts logoed water bottles (BPA-free plastic or stainless steel) for $4 at hotel front desks or spas.

Julie Klein, director of environmental affairs for Vail Resorts Hospitality, notes that less than 20 percent of plastic bottles are recycled in the U.S.

"We are glad to take a leadership position in launching our 'Water on the Rocks' program at all of our hotel properties over a period of time, with the goal of eliminating nearly all disposable plastic water bottles," Klein says.

The divisions also have a gree guest rooms program, a voluntary guest donation program with the National Forest Foundation that benefits local conservation efforts, and the "Give and Getaway" program offering discounts to lodging guests who participate in local forest health projects. The programs are part of Vail Resorts company-wide sustainability efforts, which fall under its Vail Resorts Echo umbrella.