This is one of the best times of year in Vail. While the leaves are turning color, people are outside hiking and also inside relaxing at some of the great local spas. It is also when Vail Restaurant Month takes place. Delicious.

Vail Restaurant Month is made up of four fabulous weeks of one-of-a-kind events, activities and special offers. Star chefs, singular dining experiences, wine and beer tastings, spa packages, romantic getaways, family fun, cooking demonstrations, fashion trunk shows, art gallery receptions, celebrity author readings and book signings, outdoor adventures, and many more special activities take place during this month-long event.

The full details can be found here and below is a sneak peak at what the different themed weeks have to offer.

Market to Table Week: September 20 – 26

Entertaining and inspirational events, seminars and dining experiences all tied to healthy living and delicious fresh food, highlighted by a special Vail Farmers Market.

Health, Wellness and the Outdoors Week: September 27 – October 3

Biking, running, yoga, golf, rafting, hiking, flyfishing, and ballooning – Vail in the fall is the perfect season for outdoor adventures, beer and food pairings . . . and unforgettable dining experiences.

LoveFest: October 4 – 10

Get ready for romantic activities for couples, champagne and wine tastings, late night romance, celebrations with friends, pampering spas, and thrilling surprises from Vail’s star chefs.

Family and Little Foodies in the Kitchen Week: October 11- 17

An old-fashioned family vacation, remixed for today. Family activities, dining and just plain fun featuring “Little Foodies in the Kitchen” cooking classes, parties and special events

If you are interested in renting a property during this stay or anytime, please contact me. I’m happy to help.

I’ve featured a ski report and golf report in this newsletter and am now happy to feature . . . the hiking report! Hiking is one of my favorite activities and Vail clearly has gorgeous mountains, creeks and trails that are perfect for hiking.

I recently read this great blog on the Huffington Post from a self-described New York “cityslicker” who hiked the Bighorn Creek Trail in Vail and had a great experience. That is a great trail. I’ll give you the highlights here.

Bighorn Creek Trail is a beautiful hike that isn’t too taxing . . . well, the beginning is a bit taxing as it starts with a sharp half-mile ascent. But it is worth the effort. The first two miles of the hike incorporates some eighty wildflower species and alternates between shade and sun. It’s amazing.

Quaking aspen trees, some of great girth, dominate the route. The trail ends at the peak elevation of the hike and at an old homestead cabin located on private property. A great, beautiful hike for August. So put on your hiking boots and enjoy!

Access from Vail: Travel east from Vail on I-70 to Exit 180 for East Vail. Exit here and turn to the right. Proceed on the south frontage road for 1 mile to Columbine Drive, turn left. Continue to the end of the pavement; the road passes under the interstate through a narrow passage. There is limited parking at the end of the road.

The stats:
Trail head: 8,600 ft at the end of Columbine Road.
Trail ending: 10,800 ft at the old homestead cabin.
Length: 3.6 miles one way. (5.8 km)
Difficulty: More difficult.
Elevation gain: 2,200 ft in 3.6 miles.
Recommended season: June through September.
Amount of use: High

I read a great article in the Vail Daily last month that really encapsulated a large reason why I love Vail so much and I thought I would share some of the highlights with you.

Anyone who has lived in the [Vail] valley for even a few months knows the saying that people move here for the winters and stay for the summers, the article began.

I have found this saying to be very true. Time and again, I work with clients who are looking for a vacation home in Vail so they can enjoy skiing and snowboarding in one of the world’s best ski towns. However, as they spend more time in Vail, they end up being very drawn to everything that the summers have to offer and quickly become more than just winter residents and, often, year-round residents. Vail is difficult to resist.

While Colorado lacks large bodies of water, there are plenty of water sports around that keep locals loving every minute of the summertime. From kayaking to rafting to fly-fishing, local rivers and creeks offer plenty to do once the ski resorts shut down.

There are fabulous areas to fish here in Vail and the weather is incredible. Between the weather and outdoor sports, there is no reason to stay indoors during the summer.

“It used to be that locals wanted to keep summer’s beautiful weather and recreational opportunities for themselves, said Beth Slifer, chair of the Vail Local Marketing District’s Advisory Committee. “But the times are changing,” she said.

When you find a diamond like Vail, often people do want to keep it a secret. However, that’s really changed, especially with Vail hosting international competitions and, in turn, bringing a lot of attention to the area and everything it has to offer. The community is incredibly welcoming and warm to visitors.

The climate is one of Vail’s best summer assets. There are always blue skies, bringing with them something to do all day, every day

I love hiking and being outdoors. That’s one of the many reasons I love living here: the weather just makes being outside enjoyable, no matter what time of year.

Some of the other things people reported as their top reasons for loving Vail in the summer included: the farmer’s market, art shows and outdoor concerts. What are your favorite things to do in the summer? E-mail me and let me know. I’ll be blogging about the best summer activities in Vail and would love to share your comments and feedback.

You can read Vail Daily’s full article here.

The road to the 2015 FIS World Alpine Ski Championships will run right through the Vail Valley (again!) as the International Ski Federation (FIS) Council voted last month to award the 2015 Championships to Beaver Creek/Vail. We defeated both Cortina, Italy and St. Moritz, Switzerland in the bid.

This is only the sixth time a United States location will host the 43-year-old championship yet the third time that Vail will be hosting it. This is further recognition from the international skiing community of the world-class facilities that we have here in beautiful, mountainous Vail. And it couldn’t be more exciting. Vail has been hosting international competitions for years and it’s always an awe-inspiring time in the community when the best athletes in the world take to our ski slopes.

Beaver Creek/Vail garnered the absolute majority in the first round of votes, recording eight votes to Cortina’s four and St. Moritz’s three.

Lindsey Vonn, the American downhill and super-G winner at the last World Championships in 2009 at Val d’Isere, France, lives in Vail. She will be 30 years old at the time of the 2015 event and may be competing, offering an opportunity for a very thrilling hometown victory.

The Reuters announcement can be found here.

Between rafting, hiking, biking, golf, tennis, fishing, horseback riding, camping, and a number of special events, there is an endless supply of things to do in Vail in the summer. (Browse the array of warm-weather activities at http://web.vail.net/local/summer.cfm).

July 16 – 18 – The Vail Antique Festival
The Vail Antique Festival will be held July 16-18 with dates in Beaver Creek the following week. Managed by MC Presents that coordinates high-end art and antique shows in premiere resort areas.

July 19 – The Music of ABBA
Arrival’s show, titled “The Music of ABBA,” not only pays homage to the high-energy rock songs of the band, but this all-live, 12-person show is the most accurate and renowned tribute to ABBA touring today. Arrival has exclusive permission from original ABBA wardrobe designer Owe Sandström to use identical versions of his one-of-a-kind outfits. The band even boasts two original ABBA members – guitarist Finn Sjöberg and drummer Roger Palm.

Arrival performs all of ABBA’s greatest hits with authenticity and authority, including “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo,” “Mama Mia” and “Take a Chance on Me,” to name a few.

Tickets for The Music of Abba are $58 and are available online or by calling the Vilar Center box office at 888.920.ARTS (2787).

All summer! – Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival
Celebrating 23 years in the Vail Valley in 2010, the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival brings in three venerable ensembles, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. The six-week festival will be punctuated with a truly unique recital featuring Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott, world renowned violinists Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg Gil Shaham & Anne Akiko Meyers, as well as 40 acclaimed soloists and chamber musicians.

All summer! – Vail Farmers’ Market and Art Show
The Vail Farmers’ Market & Art Show is the largest farmers’ market in Colorado. There are more than 100 vendor tents weekly along with two live music venues and activities for kids. Vendors in colorful tents sell farm fresh fruits and vegetables while local artists display and explain their finest works.

Attend to buy the freshest foods, have lunch, and to browse the many tents and nearby shops and galleries or to simply enjoy all the activities.

All summer! – Yoga in the Gardens
Join a group of fellow yogis at the tranquil Betty Ford Gardens. The regularly scheduled summer program of Yoga in the Gardens is Mondays and Fridays from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. Cost is $12 and they run thru September 2010.