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.

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 from http://kayceree.blogspot.com/

Aspen is one of many cities around the world that participates in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The annual race is held to help raise money for breast cancer research in the Pitkin, Garfield, and Eagle County areas while also aiding local non-profits with grant money. This invigorating and inspiring event gives women and their families a chance to help give back to everyone in the community who has known someone with breast cancer or has suffered themselves from breast cancer. This is the 20^th anniversary for the Race in the Aspen area.

The Komen Aspen Race for the Cure is on Saturday, July 17, 2010 at Rio Grande Park. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. and the race begins at 8:30 a.m. Men, women, and children of all ages are and athletic abilities are invited to participate in this philanthropic event. In addition to the race, there will be a silent auction and shopping centers open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

To register or to learn more information about the Race for the Cure in Aspen, visit their website at http://www.komenaspen.org or give them a call at (970) 920-0250.

If you are still in need of lodging for the weekend of the Race, call Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305 or visit our website at http://rockymountainvacationrentals.com/.

People have been enjoying fly fishing for centuries. The first recorded use of an artificial fly to catch fish was in the 2nd Century. Since then, the sport and its equipment have been refined to an art. But people today continue to enjoy the quiet thrill and tranquility that comes from fly fishing like they have for hundreds of years.

Fly fishing involves using artificial flies, usually created out of natural or artificial feathers and fur, as bait for the fish. The flies are cast using a flexible fly rod and a heavy fly line. The casting method is unlike that of any other form of fishing. It’s a true skill that takes a lot of practice and time to master. With fly fishing, if you don’t know how to cast properly, you won’t catch anything. In her book Fly Casting Techniques, Joan Wulff writes, “If you don’t know where the fish lie but can cast well enough to cover all of the water with finesse, you are likely to solve the mystery and catch fish. If you know where they lie but can neither reach them nor present the fly naturally, you are not even in the game.”

Colorado’s bountiful rivers are the perfect place to learn how to fly fish or perfect old techniques. Dozens of fly fishing companies cater to every need of the novice or expert. The rivers are teeming with trout and some even have salmon. With good luck and good training, you will have tight lines. Contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals’ concierge service for help finding a company that’s perfect for you 1-888-866-2305

In general, the higher the altitude the longer it takes the body to adapt. At high altitudes there is a decreased availability of oxygen, so the heart must work harder. This increases endurance in athletes, but those not accustomed to the reduction of oxygen can suffer serious consequences, such as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Altitude sickness usually is the culprit of headaches, nausea, fatigue and shortness of breath. Luckily, this can easily be avoided just by being prepared and knowing when to take a break.

Things to Do:
1. Ascend and descend gradually.
2. Stay hydrated.
3. Spend the first day at a lower altitude than during the rest of the trip.
4. Avoid alcohol and caffeine before or after exercising.
5. Take long, deep breaths at intervals.

Always listen to your body. If you feel weak and sick, don’t exert yourself or go higher. A day of rest can easily get you acclimated, but for some it may take longer. Only you know your limits. You can have an amazing, active vacation in the Rockies as long as you take the proper precautions.

Aspen Cycling Festival – Aspen

May 22-23

The Festival will include two races: Ride for the Pass (May 22) and Aspen Cycling Criterium (May 23). Ride for the Pass is a charity race to benefit the Independence Pass Foundation. The 10-mile race goes from Winter Gate to

Bikers racing

Independence Ghost Town, with cyclists ascending a total of 2,500 feet in elevation. Aspen Cycling Criterium is the main race of the festival. Cyclists will be competing for ribbons, $500 and bragging rights. The race is only .9 miles long and cyclists will reach speeds of 28 mph as they race through the heart of downtown Aspen. Other events planned for the festival include a party at AJAX tavern, an undemanding group ride from Aspen to Woody Creek Tavern and then to Lenado, and film screenings at the Wheeler Opera House. Advance registration for the race is available. Fees are $10 for Citizen Junior racers and $20 for Citizen Women and Men and USAC.

Blues, Brews and BBQ – Beaver Creek
May 29-30
Blues, Brews and BBQ brings together the best things out there: music, beer and BBQ. Guests will have the opportunity to sample microbrews from across the country and eat delicious BBQ while listening to live entertainment. BBQ vendors will come from Oklahoma, Missouri, New Mexico and across Colorado to share their specialties. Entertainment will be performed throughout the day by Big Daddy Lee and the King Bees, The Delta Sonics and Alto Reed’s “Blues Entourage.” Kids activities and culinary demonstrations are also planned. The event is free except for the beer tasting, which requires purchasing tickets. An event schedule is available online.

Music, food and beer. What could be better? Photo from beavercreek.com

9th Annual Festival of the Brewpubs and Shakin’ at the Basin - Summit County
May 30
This is Arapahoe Basin’s largest party of the year. The day will be spent tasting Summit County’s finest brews while listening to That Eighties Band, a local 80s tribute band. Breweries expected to attend include Pug Ryan’s, Breckenridge, Dillon Dam and Backcountry. Tickets are $20.

Need help finding lodging or other things to do? Contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals. We will help you organize your entire Colorado vacation!

Enjoy the scenic ride up play a high altitude round then jump back on the lift and head down the mountain. And no matter where you are or what your fitness level you are at all of the Colorado Rockies have great hiking. A personal favorite of mine is the Berrypicker trail. This takes you from the base of the gondola in Vail and you end at the top of the Gondola, best part is you get a free ride down after gaining just over 2000 feet of elevation!

Needing some more good old fashioned fun? Head to Breckenridge and check out the Fun Park on Peak 8. This is great for families and the Fun Park has an alpine slid, a mini golf course, bouncing castle for the kids, and a bungee trampoline. Even if you are traveling to the mountains for another event be sure to hop on the closest lift and take the ride up- the views alone are worth it! See you soon!

Courtesy of TravelInParadise.com

1. Travel during mid-week days. By avoiding busy travel times such as the weekends, you will save not only on flights but lodging rates, adventure tour discounts, and save time by avoiding long, and stressful lines. Many summer events, such as the Teva Mountain Games, South of the Border Fiesta, Vail Arts Festival, and Vail America Days are not restricted to the weekend only.
2. Research staying in a vacation rental, where you will have extra sleeping space, a fully stocked kitchen (save by cooking a few meals), and plenty of other amenities. Have a very large family? Rather than reserving several rooms, look into a large family home. In resort areas, such as Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, Breckenridge, and Keystone are lush with others’ large vacation homes that can sleep up to 20 people in some cases!
3. Find a family of travel buddies! By traveling as a larger group, you can split up during the day so that everyone can enjoy their vacation! Perhaps one day one adult takes the children boating, rafting, biking or fishing while the other adults have spa treatment, and then switch off on the next day. All kinds of large groups receive discounts on dining, outdoors activities, and more. Plan you trip in advance and you will more than likely experience less fees.
   

   Photo by Savvy Cafe.com

4. Split up mom and dad bonding time. Take shorter trips, and take turns between parent and child. Mom can take the girls to the spa one weekend, and a few weeks later Dad can take the boys to learn golf or on a Jeep Adventure! Keep switching off until the family can find time and money for a longer ski trip next winter.
   

   Large family homes such as this one are available for summer vacationing

5. Join the locals! Ask about local events, farmers’ markets, and what locals do in general. They will know the best place for 50% of your meal, kid friendly parks, and easy day hikes that will take you off the tourist-beaten path. Don’t forget to ask how you need to be prepared for wildlife, safety, and weather. Attend a local church gathering, social club, visit the local library, or enroll in a onetime cooking lesson for a change of pace.
6. Make a travel itinerary but be flexible! Running around trying to stick to a schedule can be a true buzz kill! If you travel to a destination, research your options that way when you arrive for your raft trip and the ever changing Colorado weather brings too much lightening, you will know where the nearest science or ski museum is located!
7. Keep snacks in your travel bag. By keeping food readily available, you can intercept hunger (and tantrums) with them if you end up waiting longer than expected for your next meal. Apples, oranges, bananas, cheese and crackers, pretzels, granola bars, trail mix, and similar snacks will keep your family happy and healthy.
   

   Life vests are a quick and easy safety precaution.

Top professional and also amateur athletes from all around the world will compete in eight different sports in overall 24 different disciplines for over $ 100,000 in prize money. The eight sports are biking, climbing, dogs competing, running, fishing, kayaking, rafting and stand up paddling.

As of today, the 2010 Teva Mountain Games will start off on Thursday June 3 at 10am with the Bud Light Lime Steep Creek Championship which will be presented by Thule at the Homestake Creek, Red Cliff. Homestake Creek is dropping 480 feet per mile which makes this competition one of the most popular and interesting not only to race but also to watch. If you want to compete in the quarter mile creek race register fast- there is only a limited number of starter places for the first round- so make sure you get in there! The ten fastest female and the ten fastest male will then compete in a second round and the fastest time will determine the winners.

Registration for the race on race day opens at 8am at the Homestake Creek – Red Cliff. At 8.30am there will be the possibility to practice in the Steep Creek. At 9.30am the time trail will start. So if you are only there to watch the challenging race- try to make it there by 9.30am to see all competitors. And then at 10am the Steep Creek Championship will kick off. Check regularly the Teva Mountain Games website to see if there were any changes in the schedule!

The Steep Creek Championship is gone be a popular and promising competition since there will be professional athletes from all around the world to win the $ 2000 Price money for the first man and for the first woman. The second man and woman can each win $ 1000 and the third will get $ 500. The 2009 winners of the Steep Creek championship are Mike Dawson from New Zealand and Nikki Kelly.

To round the first day and the first competition of the 2010 Teva mountain games up- there will be a free concert in the heart of Vail Village. Starting at 7pm at Checkpoint Charlie there is gone be the first half of the Bud Light Mountains of Music show where DJs and Band will rock the village.

Try to make it to Vail to the first great day of the 2010 Teva Mountain Games. If you need some great lodging deal to stay for the whole games check this out!

Ideas in Aspen

The Ideas Festival has attracted the most brilliant minds from around the planet, presented by the Aspen Institute and Atlantic magazine, and has evolved into an opportunity for great minds to gather and discuss some of the worlds’ most pressing issues.  According to their website, “the Aspen Institute now seeks to engage a broader audience in a discussion of some of the significant ideas and issues that touch all parts of our society as found in the arts, science, culture, religion, philosophy, economics, and politics,” and I couldn’t be more excited!

Going to the Aspen Ideas Festival could spark a few wires in your brain, and you never know- one small silly idea can turn into the cure for cancer, end world hunger, stop violence, or save a life. Being a curious person by nature, I always find my mind wondering how to solve every problem, and I think that bringing the most creative and driven thinkers to one place is the best idea any of them ever had.

I  am excited for this years’ Aspen Ideas Festival this July, and who knows, maybe I will even have an idea.