On Saturday night the Vail International Dance Festival will continue with a performance by the Pacific Northwest Ballet.  This will mark the Ballet’s third tour to Vail in the past four years.  They are scheduled for three different performances, the first of which will be on Saturday, July 31^st at 7:30 pm.  The program is titled Ballet Masterworks and includes three separate performances; Square Dance (George Balanchine), Red Angels (Ulysses Dove), and Serenade (George Balanchine). Pacific Northwest Ballet will be performing a total of nine ballets at the Festival, and in case you miss Saturday’s performance, they will be performing an encore of Red Angels on Tuesday during Dance for $20.10, the third annual showcase of this type featuring Festival favorites.

The Pacific Northwest Ballet is based in Seattle and was founded in 1947 and is recognized as one of the top three ballet schools in the United States.  The school offers training to more than 900 students, though only 38 will be performing at the Festival, under the direction of Artistic Director Peter Boal.

The performance will take place at the Gerald R Ford Amphitheater, with ticket prices at $17 for lawn seating and $55/$75 for reserved seating, depending on section.

For more information about the Vail International Dance Festival or to plan your stay in the Vail Valley, please contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305.

When tennis junkies come to the Vail Valley, they flock to the Bill Wright Tennis Center, and for good reason. With eight Har-Tru clay courts and four hard courts in the heart of the Rockies, playing tennis never looked so good. Stunning views of the Gore Range surround the courts and the beautiful Vail weather can usually be counted on to create memorable moments on the court. The Center’s full-service pro shop provides guests with rentals, private lessons and clinics for all ages and levels.

Below is a schedule of the Leagues offered, as posted on vailrec.com:

• Doubles 4.0 or Better, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays for those with a 4.0 or above ($8)
• Men’s 60 and Over, 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays for all skill levels ($8)
• Ladies Day, 9 to noon on Wednesdays for all skill levels ($8)
• Men’s Night, 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays for all skill levels ($8)
• Men’s Single Ladder, 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays for all skill levels ($8)
• Ladies Double Play, 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays
• Men’s Doubles, 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays for all skill levels ($8)
• Sunday AM Play, 9 a.m. to noon on Sundays for all skill levels ($8)
• Mixed Doubles, 3 to 5 p.m. Sundays for all skill levels ($8)
• Cardio Tennis, times and dates to be determined

The rates are $15 for one hour or $20 for 90 minutes. Season passes are $140 for outside guests, $115 for Vail Recreation District residents and $75 for youth ages 17 and under.

The Tennis Center closes for the season on September 30, so if you’re itching for some time out on the courts, better get moving. Summer will be over before you know it. Contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals for more information or to book your stay in the Rocky Mountains, 1-888-866-2305.

Photo by Laura S

Get ready for the 43^rd Annual Aspen Ruggerfest in September! The Ruggerfest, sometimes claimed to be the Super Bowl of Rugby, is a popular four day rugby tournament in Aspen, Colorado. The Aspen Rugby Club, popularly known as the Gentlemen of Aspen, became official in 1977. They were first formed by England native Steve Sherlock who wanted to put a team together in the mountain town of Aspen. Of the few that had formed the first rugby team in Aspen, there were only 3 who actually had experience in playing rugby. After the first year, the team began to get serious and practiced on a regular basis. Since that first year, Aspen has seen over 1,000 players from all over the world to compete in this strenuous sports competition. People love to come to this competition not only because of the Gentlemen, but also because of the awe-inspiring mountain views that Aspen provides to its locals and visitors alike. The Gentlemen were the National 7s champions in 2008 and U.S. Division 1 champions in 2009.

The Aspen Ruggerfest goes through September 16-19. To register a team visit here. For more information on the Ruggerfest and the Aspen Rugby Club, visit their website here.

If you are still searching for lodging for the weekend of the Ruggerfest, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals by visiting their website or by calling 1-888-866-2305.

If you have a love for food, wine, or art then you are in luck because the inaugural Snowmass Culinary & Arts Festival is on August 13-15. This festival features exquisite wines, well known chefs, an art exhibit and more all while being in the middle of the beautiful Snowmass Village. Some of the celebrity chefs that will be attending include Chef Albert Portale, Ryan Hardy, Laurent Tourondel, Frank Bonanno, and Christy Rost. Not only does the festival feature well recognized chefs, but also local talent as well. A few featured artists include Joel Alpers, Fernando Benally, Gretchen Cox, Kelvin Schartz and many more.

Tickets are $65 and include workshops, celebrity chef cooking workshops, panel discussions, and a Palette of Pairings with Colorado wines. The art exhibits are free of charge and open to the public. You must be 21 or older to attend this event. For more information on the festival and for a schedule of events, visit their website here or call at 970-922-2285.

If you are still searching for lodging for this event, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals by either calling at 1-888-866-2305 or visit their website here.

Photo taken by: Stephen Eberle

Episode III

Welcome to the weekly blog that reports my adventures throughout the general area of the Vail Valley.  I am recently new to the Vail Valley and have a passion for exploring all the beautiful nature around me while also informing anyone planning to visit the Valley or current locals on the incredible activities the Valley has to offer.  Every week I plan on going somewhere remote to experience the Rocky Mountains by participating in the acts of hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, tubing, cliff diving, and whatever else I can think of.  During these activities I will be observing the nature around me with my camera to produce breathtaking photos and informative videos if possible.

The adventure I embarked on this week was a rugged hike to Lost Lake.  After work one day a few co-workers and I headed back up Red Sandstone Road. This road leads to Piney Lake (episode I), but if you stop about halfway through the road there is a parking lot on the right for the Lost Lake trail head.  After we parked, we put on our hiking shoes and made sure everything was packed up in my A-frame. Here is a list of things you should bring for a half day hike:

• Water!!!
• Dry food
• Flashlight
• Pocket knife
• Fishing gear
• Rain gear
• First aid
• Compass/map

The Lost Lake trail winds into the trees and through the wilderness, steadily inclining the whole way up. Along the way, you are greeted by breathtaking views of the horizon.  As you continue through, the trail begins to narrow and twists and turns.  After about three miles the trail begins to decline.  Once you hit the decline there is only about a half mile left before you reach Lost Lake.  You may think you are lost, but just continue following the trail and you will eventually see an old wooden post sign pointing to the right that reads “Lost Lake.”  Lost Lake will appear through the woods, a beautiful sight!  My coworkers and I did some fishing up there but not for long because the mosquitoes were really bad.  The abundant bird species in the area make Lost Lake a great place for bird watching. There were two what I believe were finches hanging out with us the entire time. It was very amusing.  We stated to head back before it got dark.  The roundtrip took us three and half hours and was about 7.5 miles long.

The Lost Lake Trail is a great hike for any level of hiking experience. The amazing views and entertaining wildlife make it a great hike for anyone. This trail would be great for mountain biking and also a magnificent place to camp.  Please be properly prepared before venturing into the wilderness for your safety and my piece of mind.  If you are planning on visiting the Vail area make sure to book your trip through Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, your friendly, knowledgeable locals.