Rocky Mountain High

Our annual AGC Management conference took us to Vail, Colorado this year.  It's always nice to hit the mountains in the summer for some beautiful scenery and a break from the Texas heat. We checked in a day early to The Sebastian hotel in downtown Vail.  Let me tell you this place is top notch!  I've been to some nice hotels with good service but The Sebastian blows all of those out of the water.  They were overly attentive and took amazing care of everyone.  If you're in Vail, check out this hotel.  You won't regret it. 

What to do?

•  Day trip to Golden        

We met up with some dear friends in Golden for lunch and a tour of the Coors brewery.  We had a great lunch but didn't make the brewery tour...too long of a wait...bummer!  All was not lost because we got quality time with some of our favorite people!  The town is super cute, so grab some lunch, walk around and drink a beer or two!

• ATV tour at Nova Lodge   

A beautiful 30 minute drive to Nova Lodge, located at Camp Hale.  Here you can rent ATV or 4 Wheelers for a guided or unguided tour.  Chris and I chose unguided and spent 2 hours on our own exploring the roads outlined on the map.  We went at our own pace and had a blast! Even built a few snowmen at the snow line. 

• Walk around Vail Village                         

 A cute little town with shops and restaurants.  You can easily tour the whole place in an hour.

• Mountain Views 

 Ride Gondola 1 up to the top of the mountain for hiking and lunch.  Great views!

 

• Fly Fishing 

With the big snow melt and flooding from rainfall in the area, the main rivers and creeks were bank to bank full and not really conducive to fishing.  However there were other options, so we headed out with Cooper Anderson at Gore Creek Fly Shop to fish Homestake Creek.  Cooper was an amazing guide and if you're looking for a guide in Vail Valley...book him!  The creek was flowing pretty big but we still caught a few fish.  Plus the scenery is gorgeous!  Can't beat being out in the middle of nowhere with a wet line, flowing waters, birds chirping under a beautiful sunny sky!

Where to eat?

In Vail...

• Bully Ranch

                Located in the Sonnenalp Hotel, they offer a great menu and best of all they have Hoffbrau Original (plus some others) on tap.  Delish! I highly recommend the Caprese salad with steak.  You won't regret it!

• Mountain Standard

                A nice spot right along Gore Creek with an unique menu.  Chris and I shared the Frog legs (perfectly fried) and the warm Pimento cheese topped with bacon jam and served with grilled bread.  Oh my!  Both were amazing. Then Chris had the Muffuletta with onion rings (swoon!!) and I had shrimp and grits.  Hellllllooooo taste buds!  SO GOOD!

• Sweet Basil

                Our last night we ate here with a group and while it was a set menu with a few selections, let me tell you it was all good.  This restaurant and Mountain Standard are siblings and run by the same chef.  Most definitely different but the quality of both was amazing.  The passed apps included black truffle deviled eggs (Amazing)!  I had the marscapone stuffed Anglotti (pasta similar to ravioli but different shape) for a starter which was killer! Then steak with whipped potatoes and dessert was a caramel toffee thing. Can't explain how good it all tasted!  Plus it was the right size portions to be full but not stuffed.

Outside Vail...

• Sticky Fingers in Minturn

                Chris and I stopped here for breakfast on our way to Nova Lodge.  Adorable restaurant with large breakfast burritos and lots of coffee options.  The menu board had a ton of sandwiches and wraps for lunch too. We love local spots!

• Mango's Mountain Grill in Red Cliff

                Spencer, the awesome hotel concierge, sent us here for our lunch after our 4 wheeler adventure.  Now you have to want to go to Mango's because it's not on any main route and the road into Red Cliff is a little unnerving.  In its hayday, Red Cliff  boasted a population of 3000 and a booming mining industry.  Now it's about 250 people with no cell service and during the winter sometimes the only way out is by snowmobile.  The beer here is cold and the tacos are great.  A beautiful (somewhat scary) drive to a fun place if you're in the area. 

• Woody's Woodfired Pizza in Golden

                Delicious.  Amazing.  We ate the buffet and it was great!  The place is very well run.  The buffet stays full of hot, fresh pizzas and the salad bar is constantly restocked.  You will not want for anything...well except more pizza!!!

Whew!  What a fast and furious 6 days!  I love experiencing new places and doing fun activities but man that trip wore us out.  Now for a few slower weeks before July 4th. Yay!

Until then, many laughs and happy travels...