High-Country Hit List: Events and Accommodations
Ascend to Vail & Summit County for a Fabulous Stay-and-Play Summer
Colorado’s high country is known worldwide for its winter recreation, yet equally amazing are its summer distractions and services. Golf, mountain biking, hiking, zip lining, rafting and fly fishing rank among Summit County’s and the Vail Valley’s must-experience activities. So do the sun-kissed festivals, celebrations and resorts. Here’s a quick overview of where to play and stay:
Extraordinary Events
If you cherish outdoor events, attend the Vail Jazz Festival. Now through Sept. 1, this year’s 20th anniversary rendition will attract 20,000 spectators, 150 artists and 40 performances in five venues. vailjazz.org
Keystone Resort stages the 18th Annual Bluegrass & Beer Festival with down-home cooking, frothy flavors and toe-tapping mountain jams. Peter Rowan headlines this year’s playbill. Aug. 2-3. keystonefestivals.com
The Beaver Creek Wine & Spirits Festival perfectly punctuates the area’s summer culinary scene by featuring winners of the San Francisco International Wine Competition and World Spirits Competition. Aug. 8-10. beavercreek.com
Gourmet on Gore is a Labor Day holiday celebration of the best food and libations in the Vail Valley. It starts with a tour of the Vail Village’s finest bistros, followed by “open-air tastings” of mouthwatering bites and pours. Aug. 29-Sept. 1. gourmetongore.com
Vail’s big-ticket event is Oktoberfest (pictured top), a wondrous excuse to don silly hats, drink hearty brew and indulge in bratwurst. Beaver Creek Village hosts the first weekend (Sept. 5-7), then the party moves to Vail Village (Sept. 12-14). visitvailvalley.com
Luxurious Lodging
Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center in Breckenridge provides guests with the highest levels of service. Its quiet campus counts among it recent accolades a 2013 and 2014 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. beaverrun.com
Keystone Resort’s guest services and amenities include a fabulous new spa that’s sinfully steeped in body healing relaxation and tranquility. Programs are tailored to soothe and energize one’s well-being. keystoneresort.com
In nearby Edwards, the stellar Lodge & Spa at Cordillera offers luxe lodging and dining, plus on-property golf designed by Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin, and world-class instruction by Dave Pelz. cordilleralodge.com
Last year the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa received awards from Condé Nast Traveler (Top Resorts in the West), Travel + Leisure (Best Family Hotels) and Forbes (Best Hotels & Spas in the World). beavercreek.hyatt.com
Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club offers guest accommodations and access to its Greg Norman- and Tom Fazio-designed golf courses, ranked among the state’s top five layouts by Golf Magazine. redskygolfclub.com
In 2013, Travel + Leisure named The Sebastian-Vail the second-finest resort in the continental United States, a list that includes nameplates like Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf Astoria and Four Seasons. thesebastianvail.com
For 35 years the Sonnenalp Hotel has served generations of patrons with world-class service, lodging, dining and amenities. Plus, it’s the only valley hotelier to offer its own 18-hole golf course, a Jay Morrish and Bob Cupp collaboration. sonnenalp.com
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain offers must-play access to Red Sky Golf Club, Eagle Vail Golf Club and Beaver Creek Golf Club, plus a sumptuous spa and fine Mexican dining. westinriverfrontbeavercreek.com
RELATED LINKS
Colorado’s Travel Bucket List (Part 1)
Colorado’s Travel Bucket List (Part 2)
Head to Grand Junction and Montrose for Amazing Food and Wine
Durango resident Chris Duthie is a contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer, the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.
