Autumn Color Alert!

The leaves are starting to turn in Vail~

Now that the leaves are just starting to turn in the Vail area, we thought we'd suggest a few great autumn hikes, drives and fun activities:

Hikes
Berry Picker: you can eat wild raspberries along the trail!  Begins at the base of the Vista Bahn chairlift and meander up the hillside. Easy-moderate, 2-3 miles.

Spraddle Creek:  trailhead opposite Vail Mountain through dense Aspen groves, with stunning high country views. Easy-Moderate, 2-3 miles

Minturn:  Grouse Creek trailhead, 1 mile south of Forest Service Ranger station on Highway 6 (approx. 4 miles from VCR).  Uphill though a pine forest along a rushing mountain creek, the trail emerges in a picturesque Colorado wildflower meadow with old-standing Aspens.  Moderate, 3-4 miles

Beaver Creek/Arrowhead:  Village to Village trail from one part of the ski resort to the western edge of the area, most of the trail is deeply lined with aspens and other coniferous leaf-changers.  Moderate, 3-4 miles

Soaking in the Sights

Beaver Creek/Helmut Fricker:  One of the first places that the Aspen leaves really get bright yellow, the short drive (less than 10 miles from the resort) to Beaver Creek will provide you with free parking until ski season, terrific shopping (lots of sales!) and ample opportunities to wander up the ski-slope hillside and revel in the autumn colors.  Fan of American Idol?  Sing in the shower?  Then you don’t want to miss a chance to yodel and perhaps play the alpenhorn with Vail area legend Helmut Fricker.  A perfect fit in Beaver Creek, the German native can be found strolling around the village plaza toting either an accordion or a long softwood carved alpenhorn.  Between the thin air and laughter, the sounds that are emitted by brave visitors that try a tune on his alpenhorn don’t usually turn out the same as the haunting echo that the 73 year-old Fricker creates.  Whether he is cajoling the audience while singing Barvian style songs, flirting with every lady who crosses his path, or convincing onlookers that they need to participate in his polka, Fricker is a character that you’ll never forget.   By the way, he’s also a master bookbinder, ask him about this ancient craft!
Wed, Sat Sunday starting at 2pm on the plaza
Visit helmutfricker.com for more information

Vail/The Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame
Steps off of the Vail Cascade shuttle in Vail Village, the top of the transportation center offers iconic views over the cobblestone streets directly to the ski slopes, with Aspen leaves and other coniferous color-changers.  Also within the transportation center is the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame.  This amazing  FREE museum was established in 1976 with the mission of telling the story of humans sliding on snow from simple wooden plank transportation to the latest ski and snowboard technology.  Chronicling over 130 years of skiing, the museum utilizes films, artifacts and helpful volunteers who share their passion for all things snowy.  Additionally, this landmark in Vail presents each year’s legends of our favorite winter sport in the Hall of Fame, and you can trace the paths of the skiing and snowboarding legends throughout the excellent exhibits.

Admission and 90-minute parking are FREE Open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Conveniently located on the 3rd level of the Vail Village Parking Structure adjacent to the famous Covered Bridge.  Find more info at skimuseum.net.

Greatness at the Vail Cascade

Vail Daily honors the Vail Cascade with annual "Best of Vail" awards

We were so pleased to see in an insert in this week’s Vail Daily listing the “Best of Vail” awards!  Vail locals (and some visitors) chime in for a “people’s vote” to determine the must-visit places around the area, and once again the Vail Cascade concierge team, Aria Spa and Aria Fitness have been recognized.  Winning “Best Concierge”, the team sites that a good concierge “has patience, listens intently, gives good suggestions, is flexible, thinks outside the box, is willing to give 110 percent, has good contacts, works well with local vendors, very rarely says ‘no’, and treats everyone with respect”  Whew!  That’s all?  From experience, we have watched the team go far above and beyond their own definition, and we congratulate Steve Trombetta and Sharon Geankoplis as well as the entire stellar concierge team on their special recognition.
With all of that hard work and play, no wonder that the concierge team, and all other visitors of Aria Spa need a top-notch place to chill.  Aria Spa won 3rd place in the “Best Spa” category.  The sanctuary area of the spa is tranquil yet rejuvenating, and the perfect retreat to recharge tired batteries.  The spa treatment menu has every option for body and soul that one can think of—make sure you swing by!
Rounding out the best-of awards in the Vail Daily is the admiral 3rd place win for “Best Gym” by Aria Spa & Club.  With 78,000 square feet of cardio fitness machines, dedicated Pilates and Yoga rooms, racquet sport courts, an outdoor pool, a basketball court and much more, it is easy to see why it might have won an award—but the real standouts are the people who guide you through your experience while working out.  Friendly and helpful, they are the fitness pros you want to know.

WINE SPECTATOR AWARD AND NEW TASTING MENU

Atwater is hot!  Winning awards, debuting new a new menu and really cool fish (read below!)~

Continuing to be recognized as one of Colorado’s most notable dining destinations, Atwater on Gore Creek at the Vail Cascade Resort was recently honored with the 2010 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.  The award is designated for wine lists that offer a well-chosen selection of high quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style. Typically, these lists offer at least 100 selections; Atwater offers more than 285 hand-picked selections ranging from exceptional wines by the glass to true celebration wines such as a 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild. 
 
Atwater on Gore Creek joins only a handful of other distinguished restaurants in Vail in this special recognition for the establishment’s comprehensive and in-depth wine list.  Sommelier and Atwater General Manager Adam Lewis worked closely with Executive Chef Adam Votaw to select the offerings which are as diverse as the newly unveiled Chef’s Tasting Menu. 
Atwater on Gore Creek debuted the new Chef’s Tasting Menu this week; a choice of either three or four courses of inspired menu options focusing on locally sourced produce and meats, and food items procured from businesses that utilize sustainable food principals, such as the “Green Olive and Pistachio Crusted Salmon” dish—with story of its own: the fish is carefully farm raised and hand fed in the Atlantic waters of Scotland’s Northwest Coast (for more information on Wester Ross Salmon, visit http://www.wrs.co.uk/).    The Atwater team painstakingly researched and chose menu items and wine selections that would fit the diverse needs of the diners:
“This menu is the best expression of the culinary team’s skills and talent by creatively displaying flavors, textures and aromas that are guaranteed to impress even the most discriminating palate, and it further enhances the list of different experiences that the Vail Cascade provides” stated Adam Lewis, Atwater general manager.
Inspired by fresh, natural and organic ingredients from regional farms and purveyors, each selection on Atwater on Gore Creek's menu features uniquely unexpected twists and perfectly paired ingredients for an elevated creative American cuisine experience.   Additionally, many of the dishes are adorned with herbs from the chef’s garden on the resort’s property, and every diner is offered several selections in each category of appetizer, entrée, salad and dessert.  The current menu (included below) will change slightly to accommodate seasonal availability and customer demand, and is priced at $45 prix fixe for three courses, and $55 for the four course option.  The award winning wine list can be viewed upon request from media contact Kirsten Texler at ktexler@destinationhotels.com. 
Reservations are welcomed when calling Atwater on Gore Creek at 970-479-7014 or the Vail Cascade Resort at 970-479-7111. 

TASTING MENU ~ AUGUST 2010
YELLOWFIN TUNA POKE
Sesame Crisps, Yuzu, Mango, Avocado, Jalapeño
SEARED HUDSON VALLEY FOIE GRAS
Ginger Spinach, Melted Leeks, Phyllo Tuile, Corn and Vanilla
TARRAGON GNOCCHI
Vegetables a la Grecque, Wild Mushrooms, Ricotta Salata, Brown Butter Vinaigrette
COLASSAL BLUE CRAB PANZENELLA
Artichoke and Mushroom Crudo, Upland Cress, Pommery Mustard
Red Pepper Sabayon
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GRILLED ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH SUGAR CURED BACON
Tangerines, Hearts of Palm, Gem Lettuce, Black Truffle Carpaccio
SUMMER GREENS & GARDEN HERBS
Yellow Peaches, Hazelnut Praline, Marinated Manchego, White Balsamic Vinaigrette
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COLORADO VENISON RACK
Celery Root Pierogi, Pickled Cherries, Spinach, Nutmeg, Lemon
SEARED DIVER SCALLOPS
Basmati Risotto, English Peas, Preserved Lemon, Greek Yogurt
Madras Curry, Candied Mint
BLACK PEPPER NEW YORK STEAK
Brown Butter Tater Tots, Blue Cheese Stuffed Mission Figs
Grilled Heirloom Tomatoes, Shitake Demi
WILD MUSHROOM TAGLIATELLE
Lemon Rosemary Emulsion, Gruyere, Mushroom Chips
GREEN OLIVE & PISTACHIO CRUSTED SALMON
Grilled Fennel, Radicchio, Oranges, Chilies, Cucumbers, Potato Galette
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CARROT CAKE STREUDEL
Carrot Cake Ice Cream, Burnt Orange Caramel
CHOCOLATE & RASPBERRY NAPOLEAN