Steven Sherer and his wife Pat moved to Colorado’s Western Slope from Hawaii in 2008 with the intention of buying a small acreage in the Palisade area so they could have a few horses. Instead, they bought a peach orchard, and now operate a nine-acre orchard with 3,600 trees. Palisade, with its favorable 182-day growing … Read more
The tiny community of Tabernash might not be among your first choices of Colorado vacation spots because the list of tourist amenities it does not have far outweighs the attractions it does, other than the Colorado-class views, of course. For instance, among the things the town lacks is a motel, a definite impediment for the … Read more
In western Colorado, the Grand Mesa towers more than a mile above the landscape. Aspens paint thick dark forests with streaks of gold, while some 300 lakes mirror the changing sky. The Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway climbs up and over this massive plateau, cresting at an elevation of more than 10,000 feet. The … Read more
Everyone knows Breckenridge as one of America’s top ski resorts. But not many visitors know that the town also owns a rich history of mining dating to the discovery of gold in 1859. Even fewer are aware that one of Colorado’s most important pioneers lived and worked in the small mining camp during its founding … Read more
“Cancer, it’s just a word.” That’s a favorite saying of Vail resident Allan Goldberg, First Descents executive director and 27-year cancer survivor. He likes the phrase so much so that he had it printed on t-shirts. “It is a scary word and it deserves its reputation,” said Goldberg. “But I always thought if you went … Read more
In 1965, Sherman Poppen bolted two skis together to make a snow-riding surfboard for his daughter. Dubbed a “Snurfer,” the design achieved instant popularity, and a manufacturer sold more than a half million of them the next year. The new winter sport it sired soon evolved into what we now call snowboarding. Early snowboards were … Read more
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain offers some of the most breathtaking vistas in Colorado and also boasts some of the finest amenities in the state. Less than a two-hour drive west of Denver via Interstate 70, this little piece of nirvana in Avon, Colorado, is easily obtainable during any season. … Read more
“Yah, yah, yah, yah” robustly sings the lively—but not rowdy—crowd gathered around an oom pah band during Vail’s Oktoberfest. Robust smells of grilled bratwurst and spit-roasted pork blend with lively strains of Bavarian music, while visitors dance to the lively beat on the Vail streets. Vail is a famous ski destination in the winter, but … Read more
Walk into The Arrabelle at Vail Square, and guests may feel they have arrived at a European resort. This RockResort property is right in the thick of things at Vail and aims to please guests’ every need, from luxury rooms, a beautiful spa and step-out-to-the-slopes skiing. The Arrabelle, which opened in 2008, surrounds a central … Read more
With its 5,000 acres of terrain and legendary Back Bowls, Vail Mountain is the crème de la crème of Colorado ski resorts. It’s known for its wide ski runs, a wealth of intermediate and expert runs, and a comprehensive ski school. But Vail Mountain isn’t just for swishing down the slopes. There are plenty other … Read more