Get ready for the smell of brats grilling, the taste of good German beer, and the sounds of oom pah bands!  Lionshead Oktoberfest takes place this weekend as Vail rolls into fall.  Lodge at Lionshead lies well within stumbling distance so come on up and enjoy the beautiful weather we've been having.  It's not just beer drinking and brat eating either (although, we think those are the best parts).  Festivities include Klement's brat-eating and Beck's Keg Bowling contests, yodeling and alpine horn blowing, and Bavarian dancing.  Oktoberfest is a rollicking good time

Can't believe it's already Labor Day Weekend!  Where did the summer go???  Vail and Beaver Creek are hosting a plethra of events and activities to celebrate the holiday this weekend.  Here's the low down:

Vail's Gourmet on Gore:  Food, Wine and Spirits Open Air Tasting and Cocktail Party this Saturday & Sunday in Vail Village.  This popular event will pair world-class wines, beers and spirits with the best food from throughout the Vail Valley.

It has been feeling an awful lot like fall lately which is depressing to the locals because it is only August 20th and our summers are short enough as it is.  Each hour of summer is precious to us and we hold on for as long as we can.  I'd even venture to say you might have to drag some of us kicking and screaming into winter.  And we like winters - really we do - it is just that they are much longer than our beloved - shorter - summers.

If you are a destination skier who likes to ski/ snowboard/ telemark and you like to ski/ snowboard/ telemark a couple of times a year, you really must consider purchasing an Epic Season Pass.  For $599, you get UNLIMITED and UNRESTRICTED access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly and Arapahoe Basin.  These are 6 world-famous ski resorts.  Prior to the 2008-09 winter season when the Epic Pass was first introduced, you couldn't get this kind of unrestricted pass for less than $1,600.  That's if memory serves - it may have actually been a few tho

There are so many things to do during the summer in Vail.  You could spend weeks exploring and trying all sorts of different things.  I think that's why locals like this season so much!  The plethora of options and the beautiful weather, of course.

I guess you could say I've been inspired.  Rain, hail, sunshine, rain, hail, sunshine...that's what yesterday looked like.  Today, we've been socked in all morning.  While rain may not be the most preferable weather, there are some positives - less fire danger, gorgeous flowers, cooler temps and an excuse to do something different.  Here are some ideas for rainy day activities:

There were happy feet indeed last night at Ford Amphitheater in Vail, Colorado.  The world-renowned tap dancer and man behind Happy Feet - Savion Glover - performed in front of a packed house to open the Vail International Dance Festival.  For the next 10 days, world-class performances will be the norm at Gerald R.

The 70th Annual Eagle County Fair & Rodeo starts today.  While it may not be the rodeo you're used to - I grew up in Texas where bigger is always better - it is still a great slice of the American West.  You'll see all the usual stuff like bull riding, bronc roping, bare back rider, barrel racers and 4-H activites.  There will also be tons of live entertainment through the weekend and next week.  

This week each summer, Lodge at Lionshead hosts families and coaches from the Bob Johnson Hockey School in Vail.  The school takes place right next to our property at Dobson Ice Arena.  Our lodge is the perfect location for them and they love our condos.  They can walk to and from the arena and relax in our pool and hot tubs at the end of the day.  We have hosted this group for at least the past 10 years and love having them back each and every summer!