Great Vacation Spot, Summer or Winter

Vail, Colorado...that is where my wife and I spend a week every year, usually with our entire grown family and 14 grand-kids. Lots of things to do in the summer...golfing, hiking, bike riding, fishing, mountain climbing (plenty of 14,000 ft peaks around), all terrain vehicles, rafting down the Colorado or other rivers around, or just strolling through town and sampling the food and other items for sale. There are some wonderful sandwich, candy (yum yum chocolates) and ice cream stores at your service. Take the gondola to the top of the mountain, sample the fresh, crisp but thin mountain air and relish a view you will never forget. Or take a break and just sit by the pool at your condo and sun yourself while reading the latest novel of your choice.

Our kids are avid golfers. They prefer the golf course in Avon (10 miles West of Vail). It is less expensive and many of the greens are on the side of the mountain that makes for a very interesting and scenic experience. Saw two deer trotting by one time. Unless you are an expert golfer, make sure to take along plenty of extra balls, If you hit too wide a shot you are likely never to find it.

While you are there, drive on over to Beaver Creek ski area nearby and take a wagon ride up to Beano's Cabin for a visit to the past and enjoy fine dining with a 5-course dinner while you bask in the beautiful scenery. If you cannot tolerate a bouncy wagon ride up the mountain side some bouncy van options are available, or you can ride a horse. Advanced reservations is a must.

We stay at the Sandstone Creek Club condos on the North side of town when in Vail. They have lots of amenities...indoor/outdoor swimming pool and 2 large spa pools, inside paddle ball court, game room with pool table, table tennis, outdoor miniature golf and bean bag throws, tennis court, exercise room, etc. all at no extra charge. And it is located right alongside Sandstone Creek that you can watch gurgling and bubbling down the mountain side. Go ahead and stick your toe in the water to see what Icy cold feels like.

Then there are the winter sports. Skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, etc., etc. or drive an hour West to Glenwood Springs for a day warming yourself in the natural hot springs pools. On the way make sure you stop at Avon and go to the Columbine Bakery and enjoy some freshly made Scandinavian pastries (hazel nut & raisin almond Danish, boomerangs, cream cheese stuffed turnovers, everything you can imagine and then some...all delicious...and fattening...my mouth is already watering just thinking about it). We never complete a trip to Vail without stopping there several times. But do not get there too late in the morning as they occasionally run out of the best stuff early.

Sometimes in the summer we drive North up a dirt road (you have to ford a few creeks) for about 20 miles to secluded Piney Lake (see photos). It takes about an hour. There is small lodge there, place to eat and spend the night if you wish, and rent a canoe for an experience paddling around on the lake or take a nice hike around the lake or up the mountain. Saw a big moose there once, right by the lodge, but kept my distance.

Piney Lake, Colorado

Piney Lake, Another View

So if you want a change of scenery for your next vacation, visit Vail, Colorado in the heart of the scenic Rocky Mountains, about a 2 hour drive West of Denver on I-70. Just be prepared to drop a few bucks (or bitcoins). Oh yeah, and if you have your own private plane you can fly into the Eagle airport about 30-40 minutes West of Vail. That beats fighting the mountain traffic in and out of Denver, which sometime can get jammed up.

We just got back from there a week ago. Had another great time. I recommend it highly to anyone who wants a fantastic mountain experience.

Disclosure: I do not have any financial interests in the town of Vail, Columbine Bakery or anything else mentioned here other than owning an interval condo at the Sandstone Creek Club that we use EVERY year. So you cannot rent ours. However, there are usually others available and there are plenty of other places to stay in town. Just do not wait too long to make reservations, they tend to fill up.

Scrumptious Selections from Columbine Bakery