Peak Properties Vail

Go “Loca-vore” in Vail – Tour de market

Scott Mattson — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:26:48 +0000

I’m just finishing up Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma. So far, the conclusion I’ve come to is that if you are going to attempt to go “loca-vore” in Colorado, summertime is the easiest time to get started. A multitude of farmer’s markets spring up each summer allowing you to wander from tent to tent seeking out the week’s freshest and best ingredients of the season. Whether you are traveling to the area or a long time local, the Vail Valley has a few great Farmer’s Markets to choose from. If you are looking for a great way to get a true “taste” of the area, make a weekend of it and tour them all.

Here’s the ideal “Tour de market” for the Vail Valley:

Saturday morning, Edwards Farmer’s Market
Not so long ago, Edwards consisted of a gas station and a single restaurant. Today, the corner of Highway 6 and Edwards Village Road is booming with shops, restaurants, a movie theater and a gas station. Don’t worry, it’s still quaint and mostly local businesses. You won’t find Gap or Abercrombie in this little corner. On Saturdays, Edwards Corner turns its parking area into a small farmers market. About a dozen booths fill the small area with their goods and give you the opportunity to get in and get out with your “loco-vore” veggies or spend more time sampling the wares of these local vendors. If you are heading over on an empty stomach, have no fear. Avon Bakery has a tent and offers delicious local baked goods including excellent bagels and croissants. If you have more of a morning sweet tooth, splurge with some of Jajabelle’s greek pastries. Coffee and baklava could be the Farmer’s Market breakfast of champions. If you are stocking up on your “loca-vore” menu for the evening, you can choose from several different farm stands and organic meat vendors. My recommendation, get some smoked salmon. It’s perfect for packing a picnic for grass seats at Ford Amphitheater later in the week.

Saturday afternoon, Minturn Farmer’s Market
The Minturn Market is open until 2pm, so if you hit the Edwards Market early enough on Saturday, you can head down to the Minturn Market for a double dip of Farmer’s Market fare. While the Edwards Market is smaller and seems to be more food focused, the Minturn Market vendors include more artists than food. It’s a great opportunity to purchase unique gifts that you won’t find in every gift shop in town. Personally, I love to talk to the vendors about their arts, crafts, and goods. The story that you can get from them brings new meaning to your purchase, so that you are buying a memory, not just a piece of pottery. A great example of this is the Thanks-Dad t-shirt booth. Owner, Tom Kiddoo started the concept as an homage to his father after he passed away. Each shirt has touching artwork that captures the love that a father has for his children and the gratitude that we owe our father’s for teaching us the important things in life, like riding a bike for the first time or learning to fish. Spend your afternoon talking up the vendors like Tom and you might head out with a few great gifts, and a few great stories. (Oh and there is great live music each week as well!)

Sunday afternoon, Vail’s Meadow Drive Farmer’s Market
If you are going to do just one Farmer’s Market in the Vail area, this is the one. Rumor has it that this is the larger farmer’s market in Colorado. I can believe it. Vendors line both sides of the street on Meadow Drive in Vail Village (if you’ve been on the Village buses that run from Lions Head to Vail Village, you’ve been on Meadow Drive). In truth, the Vail Farmer’s market might be better described as a street fair. It’s true that the farm stands tend to get lost in the variety of other tents and vendors, but in my “loca-vore” quest I can still find plenty of options on a Sunday that make me feel good about supporting local farmers, vendors, chefs, and artists. There’s so much to look at, you might not know where to start. I recommend starting near Campo Di Fiori, just west of the new Solaris building. Here you’ll find a tent with a few chairs under it facing the outdoor Vail Jazz Festival stage. Every Sunday, a new set of artists takes to the “stage” and provides an intimate setting for taking in fresh mountain air and cool jazz standards. I start here because it gives me a chance to people watch and overhear the conversations of what people have found so far in their explorations.

“Lamb burgers at the Sweet Basil tent…found this great pop up dog bowl for Charlie…did you try the almond fudge toffee…beautiful wooden bowl set for the kitchen…” and they go on and on.
I make a mental checklist of what I’ve overheard before leaving behind the jazz tent and wandering through the market. Indeed, the lamb sliders from Vail Valley’s dining darling, Sweet Basil, are nothing short of superb, but if that’s not your cup of tea, you can choose from gyros, barbecue, authentic bratwursts, gelato, cupcakes, fudge, cookies, baked goods, and more.

Oh and Michael Pollan would be pleased to find that there’s not a single McNugget in sight, so feel free to chow down on that giant coconut macaroon with a clean conscious.

SONG FOR A DAY AT THE MARKET: TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROAD

(AS PERFORMED BY TOOTS & THE MAYTALS)

Adventure Ridge – Apres Ski Adrenalin on Vail Mountain

Scott Mattson — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:25:11 +0000

Play all day and well into the night at Vail’s Adventure Ridge (access via the Eagle bahn gondola in Lionshead) with ski bikes, a kids snowmobile track, a slippery slope of rip-roaring tubing lanes and more.

Tubing

Grab a tube, hop a lift, get a rush. The long multi-lane tubing hill whisks you downhill while the easy-access surface lift takes you back up quickly.

Tubing begins on the hour and the half-hour starting each day at 2:30 p.m. (based on availability). Session length is one hour. Children 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult on the hill. All tubers must be at least 36 inches tall.

*photo courtesy of Jack Affleck and Vail Resorts*

Ski Biking

Part bike, Part ski, All adventure. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast looking for something that includes a bit of a challenge, you’ll definitely want to sign up for the nighttime downhill guided tours. The Peak Properties staff went out with a guide last season and we cruised through 8 fresh inches on groomers, jumped through bumps, and carved our way through an endless glade of pine trees. All of us left with smiles running from ear to ear at the end of the night, and disbelief as to how much fun we had just had on the ski mountain at NIGHT!

Recommended for intermediate, expert or advanced-level skier or rider. Starting at 5 p.m. the guides show you how to ride the bikes and lead you down the mountain with the help of big head lamps. Children must be at least 14 years old and 4’6′ in height.

Kid’s Snowmobile

Kids cruise around Blizzard Speedway in specially crafted mini-snowmobiles. Designed for children 6-12 years of age and less than 110 pounds, the snowmobiles travel at a child’s preferred pace.

Sessions start every 30 minutes from 2:15 p.m. -8:15 p.m. *Weather permitting*

The adventure center is scheduled for the following dates – weather dependent:
Open December 18, 2007 – April 12, 2008
Tuesday through Saturday 2:00 – 9:00pm

Closed Sundays and Mondays

Call your Peak Properties Concierge at 970-479-9990 or the Resort Information Center at 970-476-9090 for more information or reservations.

VAIL SNOW DAZE – 2009

Scott Mattson — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:27:03 +0000

One of our favorite events of the year, this full week of events & concerts is geared to the people who love to enjoy the best of what a Rocky Mountain life has to offer!

(Click for more information)

2009 SNOW DAZE SCHEDULE:

Monday, December 7

Online Camera Phone Photo Contest

Tuesday, December 8

Online Camera Phone Photo Contest

Wednesday, December 9

Online Camera Phone Photo Contest
Snuggie Pub Crawl – Join us for a fun night in Vail Village and Lionshead! We have snuggies to give away and don’t miss the bar competitions and prizes!

Thursday, December 10

Online Camera Phone Photo Contest
Dummy Demolition Derby - Join us in Golden Peak at 5pm for the Dummy Demolition Derby under the lights. There will be a FREE Chili Chowdown, a DJ, give aways and more!
Eve 6 presented by Bud Light - FREE concert at Checkpoint Charlie in Vail Village at 7pm

Friday, December 11

Online Camera Phone Photo Contest
Epic Lounge – Open from 8:30am to 3:30pm at the base of the gondola
Yukon Kornelius presented by Bud Light – Ticketed concert at Dobson Arena with opening act Pete Kilpatrick Band. Stay tuned for more information on how to get tickets!

Saturday, December 12

Online Camera Phone Photo Contest
Demo Daze & Reverb Expo Village – Open from 8:30am to 3:30pm at Eagle’s Nest. Stop by for free product sampling and giveaways throughout the day.
“Gifts that Give Back” – Holiday event at Roxy in Vail Village from 1pm to 5pm. This event will highlight vendors that give a portion of their proceeds back to various charities. Attendees can enjoy refreshments while shopping and will receive 20% off all Michael Star purchases.
Barenaked Ladies presented by Bud Light – FREE concert with opening band Pete Kilpatrick Band. The gates open at 4pm and the concert starts at 5pm at Ford Park.

Sunday, December 13

Online Camera Phone Photo Contest
Demo Daze & Reverb Expo Village – Open from 8:30am to 3:30pm at Eagle’s Nest. Stop by for free product sampling and giveaways throughout the day.
Epic Lounge – Open from 8:30am to 3:30pm at the base of the gondola.
Robert Randolph & the Family Band presented by Bud Light – FREE apres concert with opening act Bonfire Dub. The concert starts at 3pm at Checkpoint Charlie in Vail Village.

Alderhof Ice Rink & Black Family Ice Rink – Vail Square at Lionshead & Beaver Creek Village

Scott Mattson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:34:56 +0000

Those who have not had the fortune of gliding over the ice in the Vail Square at Lionshead have been missing a unique experience. One of the most photogenic environments in all of Vail, this Bavarian Village styled ice rink is must do for both the long time Vail traveler, or the rookie. Families find no better place to meet in the afternoons than Vail square. Great pizza, cocktails and people watching can be found for family members not wishing to carve up the ice in Olympic style.

For those staying in Beaver Creek, the Black Family Ice Rink within Beaver Creek Village has long been a popular meeting and social spot. Just adjacent to Toscanini (gourmet Italian) it makes for a good after dinner calorie burn. Also, don’t miss out on a cup of warm hot chocolate while sitting rink-side on one of the many new fireplace club loungers while watching the kids burn the final ounce of energy left within before going to bed.

(Photo courtesy of Vail Resorts)

Vail Valley Golf Tour

Scott Mattson — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:55:13 +0000

72 Holes of high altitude Rocky Mountain golf, a private mid-week massage, a hand-picked selection of Colorado micro-brew beers, a box of Titleist Pro-V1 balls, a free Taylor Made Monza Spider Tour putter, and 5 nights lodging at a Peak Properties luxury property- we challenge anyone to top this experience! Whether your handicap is in the single digits or you’re looking to lose less than a box of balls per round this unique package will stimulate your senses, push your game to the limit, and have you crushing high altitude drives all day long!

See our special offer below for more information and pricing!

VAIL VALLEY GOLF TOUR

Peak Properties featured in Departures Magazine

Scott Mattson — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:27:48 +0000

Peak Properties was featured in the December 2008 issue of Departures Magazine (p. 108). Departures Magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine and is received by premier American Express cardholders throughout the world.

To learn more about one of the properties featured by Departures see the home portal below and click on the photo for detailed information:

The Tyrolean Chalet
Platinum Rated – 4bd/6ba – Sleeps 10
Vail’s famous Tyrolean Restaurant has been renovated and converted into a spectacular 5800 square foot, 7 million dollar private chalet. This world-class luxury residence, built over two open floors is a clear choice for those guests demanding the finest accommodations possible within Vail Village.

Peak Properties Vail / Beaver Creek
970-479-9990 (Vail)
866-754-8245 (Toll Free)

Happy Holidays from Peak Properties

Scott Mattson — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:01:13 +0000

Peak Properties Vail/ Beaver Creek wants to offer everyone a special gift this holiday season – buy 5 nights or more for any December stay and receive a free night on PEAK!

The following properties are still available through New Years:

BEAVER CREEK / BACHELOR GULCH:

833 Strawberry Park Road
Platinum Rated – 7bd/8.5ba – Sleeps 14 Situated at the top of Beaver Creek Resort, this grand vacation rental home is one of the most sought after in our Beaver Creek portfolio. Featuring seven luxurious guest suites, custom stonework, hand crafted woodwork, fine art, premium electronics, and a 2.5 acre estate, this residence is one of the finest ski in/ski out homes in all the Vail Valley.

3698 Daybreak Ridge
Platinum Rated – 6bd/5.5ba – Sleeps 16
Nestled at the top of Beaver Creek and Bachelor Gulch, this 6 bedroom ski in/ski out residence is one of the finest offerings in the area. Custom stonework/woodwork, premium furnishings, rare art, and over 7500 feet of living space combine to make this home a unique gem within Beaver Creek.

Hummingbird Lodge B-201
Platinum Rated – 3bd + loft/3.5ba – Sleeps 10
Situated in the heart of Bachelor Gulch, this new ski-in,ski-out luxury condo is in high demand all year round. Whether you are coming to Beaver Creek for golf, world class skiing, tennis, or the Ritz Spa, this residence is one of the finest lodging options available in Bachelor Gulch.

VAIL:

706 Forest Road West Residence
Platinum Rated – 4bd/3.5ba – Sleeps 12
One of our most striking vacation rentals in an incredible on mountain location overlooking Lionshead Village – less than a block from Gondola ski access. Three floors of intelligent contemporary design, beautiful artwork, and modern furnishings combine to create a truly opulent environment.

29 Golf Terrace
Platinum Quality – 4bd/4ba – Sleeps 8
This is a 4 bedroom townhome located one block from the Vail Golf Club. Platinum furnishings, comfortable rooms, and classic mountain decor make this home one of our most popular Vail Colorado rental homes.

Call Peak Properties today at 970-479-9990 to take us up on this rare offering!

The Luxury Vacation Home Insider Report

1BlizzAdmin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:09:57 +0000

With the slowing economy and questionable investment returns on Wall Street, many people are turning to luxury home purchase and rental to bolster the diversity of their investment portfolios. Luxury rental homes in destination resort locations fetch respectable rates, many times exceeding the annual expenses of owners.

Contact Peak Properties for further information on protecting and getting the most out of your private luxury home investment!

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Service is in our genes

MikeC — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 19:52:27 +0000

I arrived in the Vail Valley in October of 1998 newly married and anxious to reacquaint myself with mountain living after a short stint in Colorado in 1994. We had previously been living in London, working for a joint venture between National Geographic Television and Docstar, the documentary subsidiary of French pay TV giant Canal +.
My wife Carolyn and I had used our spare time to travel extensively within the UK, as well as continental Europe, always staying in small bed and breakfasts or traditional inns. We loved the intimate feel of these places and the opportunity to sit with the owners and learn about the local culture firsthand as well as to share perspectives on the wider world.
My mother’s family, a mix of Italian immigrants and first generation Italian-Americans, were engaged in various bits of the hospitality industry. Some cousins were restaurateurs in New York City and my grandfather was a liquor distributor and retailer. I can remember my mother telling me and my sister, Mary-Katherine, that we should never go into the hospitality industry (particularly the restaurant business) as it was all consuming – no time off and seven day a week work in order to build and then maintain a reputation.
The combination of my personal experiences and a seeming genetic predisposition had left me with a strong desire to open a small inn of the European variety and cater to a select group of clients wishing to experience the fullness of life here in the Colorado Rockies.
Practicalities required that I take a position in the corporate finance group at Vail Resorts, then still headquartered in the heart of its ski resort empire. In the meantime I began investigating the details of bringing my romantic dream into reality. I quickly discovered one of the Vail Valley’s universal truths: buildable land is scarce and therefore expensive, very expensive!
By the time my sister, who harbored a similar desire to serve guests, moved here in May of 1999, I had begun to adjust my dream based on economic realities and was contemplating a move within Vail Resorts to its hotel division to start a new career. For the second time in my professional life serendipity worked its magic and the opportunity to take over Peak Properties was offered to us.
Peak’s business was not exactly what my sister and I had in mind – it was even better! In exchange for providing caretaker services for homes in Vail’s premier residential neighborhood, the owners of many of those homes allowed us to rent them out to vacationing tourists. We were in the hospitality business with zero investment in real property!
In the first few years our enthusiasm carried us through some dreadful business mistakes, most of which stemmed from our strong desire to provide a unique level of service to renters of vacation properties – we knew what we wanted the experience to be, we just could not get all the pieces to come together and function consistently. We were definitely “kissing a lot of frogs”!
Today, we have hitched our enthusiasm to good business decision making processes and the results have been outstanding. While running a business like this is a constant work in progress, I firmly believe that we have never been better at what we do than we are now.
Proof has come most recently in the form of our expansion within Vail and into Beaver Creek and Bachelor Gulch. Our reputation for quality physical maintenance services and outstanding guest service has led to the addition of the Vail Mountain View Residences on Gore Creek and 5 outstanding residences in Beaver Creek and Bachelor Gulch to our management portfolio. We are most privileged to have the Former Home of President and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford in Beaver Creek in our rental portfolio. The fact that we had it rented for Christmas within 2 weeks of taking it on to a repeat client of ours speaks volumes to us about how much our rental guests trust and appreciate what we do.
Notwithstanding the growth we have experienced, our mission remains constant: provide the owners and rental guests of luxury property in the Vail Valley with the services necessary to make their visits here as memorable as possible.
We look forward to seeing you here soon!
Michael Connolly

Staff Picks: Late Season Hikes

Scott Mattson — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:55:37 +0000

Easy: Sylvan Lake Trail

Trail follows shoreline of Sylvan Lake. Picnic tables and benches are available. Wildflowers are abundant, as well as ample areas to enjoy this wonderfully scenic alpine lake.

The Basics

Location:

Sylvan Lake State Park south of Eagle

Difficulty:

Easy

Length:

2 mile roundtrip

Trailhead Elevation:

8,500 feet

Time to Allow:

1 to 1.5 hours

Directions to Trailhead

Sylvan Lake State ParkExit I-70 at Eagle and head south. Take Hwy 6 west. Turn left on Broadway (second left). Turn left on 5th Street and right on Capitol. At the next stop sign, turn left. Travel south on Brush Creek Road (CR 307) for 10 miles. Veer right at the fork in the road and travel an additional five miles on West Brush Creek Road to the park.

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Intermediate: Dotsero Ute Trail

The Dotsero – Ute Trail climbs from the Colorado River at Dotsero to the Flat Tops through mountain brush and pinyon – juniper woodland, eventually reaching forested land. The scenery is panoramic, and wildlife watching is good. The Ute Indians originally used the trail until late 1800s for access over the Flat Tops to the Meeker area. It was also used by prospectors to access the Caronate mining area for a short lived silver rush in the early 1900s and later became a National Forest trail and wagon road until replaced by the Coffee Pot Road.You’ll access the trail from the Colorado River Road at the trailhead north of Dotsero. The Dotsero Ute connects with Coffee Pot Road, but is very rough around the private property.

The Basics

Location:

17 miles northeast of Glenwood Springs

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Length:

4 miles/6.4 km one way

Elevation:

1,850 feet

Trailhead Elevation:

6,150 feet

Time to Allow:

3 to 3.5 hours

Season:

April – October

Map:

USGS 1: 24,000 quads: Dotsero

Directions to Trailhead

From I-70 at Dotsero drive north on the Colorado River Road. (Eagle county 301) about 0.5 miles to trail head on the West Side. Although the trail connects to other trails into the Flat Tops, presently it lacks public access over several segments and therefore dead-ends about 3 miles above the trailhead. Use limited to hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding; motorized vehicles are prohibited.