Five Colorado getaways for fall

Gunnison National Forest, Smith Fork Ranch, Colo.

The beauty and  excitement of Colorado continues into the fall season as autumn paints the landscape in vibrant colors, bringing crisp weather and bounties of the harvest. Outdoor enthusiasts cans still hike, bike and horseback ride. Shutterbugs can shoot away at North America's most photographed attractions. Food and wine lovers can savor the season's harvest.  Fall brings a bounty of beauty, adventure and culinary experiences. Here's five destinations and activities to experience and celebrate the fall season.

Hike Beaver Creek

Experience the fall colors with the Beaver Creek Hiking Center which specializes in private, customized, interpretive nature hikes for all ages and abilities. Hiking excursions include Beaver Creek Mountain, Beaver Lake, and trails all around the Vail Valley, providing ample opportunities to experience the fall foliage. Take advantage of seasonal discounts when you stay at one of the area's premiere resorts, the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain. The resort is offering a fall getaway package which includes credits to Spa Anjali and Maya restaurant, as well a hiking trail map to explore the area on your own. Package starts at $225 per person.

Attend the Colorado Mountain Winefest

Food and wine lovers can celebrate the harvest at  this year's Colorado Mountain Winefest Sept. 17-20  in Palisade. Located in Colorado Wine Country, the state's largest and oldest wine festival features dozens of Colorado wineries, food and wine pairings, chocolate and wine tastings, live music, a grape stomp, live demonstrations and seminars. While visiting, take in a feast for the eyes and see nearby Grand Mesa, where the world's largest flat-top mountain offers majestic views of the Western Colorado landscape in autumn.

See the Maroon Bells

Just six miles from the Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness, Snomass is a prime destination to visit  one of the most photographed peaks in the North America in autumn glory. With its close proximity, there are numerous options to get to the peaks including shuttle and bike.  You can also take advantage of discounted lodging rates for the season in Snowmass starting at $89 a night, where 96% of lodging accommodations are located on-mountain.

Mountain Bike Winter Park

Known as the Mountain Bike Capital USA™ , riders who take who take on the steady climbs of the area's  numerous trails are rewarded with spectacular views of the fall foliage. Rogers Pass offers scenic views Continental Divide, Winter Park Resort, Williams Fork Range and Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. Riders looking for a challenge can tackle the Tipperary Trail, a local favorite used in Winter Park's Epic Singletrack Race Series.

Ride the Gunnison National Forest on Horseback

With access to 1.7 million acres of the Gunnison National Forest and West Elk Wilderness areas, Smith Fork Ranch is ideally located to experience the fall colors. The ranch also boasts one of the most versatile riding programs in the West, offering riders of all abilities the right instruction, horses and trails. The upscale dude ranch also features farm-to-table cuisine from word-class chefs, rounding out a memorable fall getaway.

Foodie Events: Wine & Wagyu at The Broadmoor's Summit

Summit at The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO
Photo: The Broadmoor

With the new partnership of The Resaurants at The Broadmoor with Emma Farms Cattle Company from the Roaring Fork Valley, Colorado Springs has been blessed as one of two places in Colorado to serve Colorado Wagyu beef. To celebrate this new "pairing," Summit Restaurant at The Broadmoor is having a Wine & Wagyu Dinner August 29, 2011 with cocktails beginning at 6:00 p.m. and dinner starting at 7:00 p.m.

The dinner will showcase what Wagyu beef has to offer, and will be paired with wines from Iron Horse Vineyards and Emeritus Vineyards.

Tom Waldeck, Emma Farms ranch owner, will be there to comment on the flavor and health benefits of Wagyu beef. Joy Sterling from Iron Horse Vineyards, and Brice Cutrer Jones from Emeritus will pair each course with their prestigious wines.

The dinner costs $99 per person, plus tax & gratuity.

Call 719-577-5896 for reservations.

Hotel Teatro Celebrates a Diamond Anniversary in Sparkling Fashion

Original Photo of the Denver Tramway Building, Now Hotel Teatro.
Photo: Hotel Teatro

(July 28, Denver, CO)- Standing room only, as the crowd mingled in the Chancellor's Suite on the ninth floor of the Hotel Teatro in Denver. While exchanging stories and laughs, most had a hand occupied with a special Diamond-Tini, featuring sparkling sake (Japanese rice wine), and diamond-shaped ice cube to help celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the building which is now home to the Hotel Teatro. New hotel manager Jim Turner and Kevin Taylor, owner of the Kevin Taylor Restaurant Group which operates two restaurants in the hotel played consummate hosts, thanked everyone for coming and begged everyone's pardon because the historic tour that was to take place, couldn't happen in it's entirety because some of the tour stops were in use.

Originally built in 1911 by W.G. Evans as the Denver Tramway Building, it has passed on to several owners over the years. After World War II, it became one of the main offices of the University of Colorado Denver. The Chancellor's Suite got it's namesake from originally being the university chancellor's office. In 1991, part of the property was purchased by the Denver Center of the Performing Arts. The main building itself stood vacant until 1997, when Aston Bridge Partners and David Owen Tyrba Architects began restoring it, and eighteen months later opened as the Hotel Teatro in 1999.

Celebrate with the Hotel Teatro

After being recently named One of the Top Ten Best Hotels in the World by Expedia, it remains one of the top destinations to experience Denver luxury, history, and culture. The hotel is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the building by offering a special 100th Anniversary Package to its guest, which features private history tours of the hotel and the neighborhood, as well as a five course dinner at Restaurant Kevin Taylor.

Starting at $399 the package includes:

·         A private historic tour of Hotel Teatro/the Historic Tramway building

·         A private historic tour of the neighboring D&F Clocktower (unavailable to the general public)

·         A five-course dinner for two at Restaurant Kevin Taylor, with wine pairing

·         A book celebrating the history of Denver

·         50% off a return visit

This package is valid Monday through Saturday, from now until Dec. 30th, 2011.

Restaurant Kevin Taylor New Tasting Menu

Getting in on the celebration, Restaurant Kevin Taylor is offering a seasonal six course tasting menu for $50. The menu features Colorado Striped Bass, Braised Pork Cheek, and Salted Caramel & Chocolate Fondant. For anyone familiar with the fare at Restaurant Kevin Taylor, it's an experience not to be missed.

For more information on the Hotel Teatro, call (888) 727-1200 or visit www.hotelteatro.com.

Pikes Peak or Bust Facebook Rush

Get a free t-shirt just for snapping pics

Pikes Peak Country Attractions Associations (PPCAA) is holding a Facebook photo contest for any and all visiting the Colorado Springs area. Each week, they'll be giving way free t-shirts with the slogan, Pikes Peak or Bust.

To enter the contest, just snap some photos at any of 26 PPCAA attractions and post the pictures on the PPCAA Facebook page, then invite friends to "like" the photos. Every Wednesday on Facebook, the top five entries with the most "likes" get the limited edition Pikes Peak or Bust t-shirt, while supplies last.

“It’s been over 150 years since the 59’ers discovered the treasures of the Pikes Peak region. Today, with all there is to see and do, the area is still a gold mine of adventure, activities, natural wonders and history,” said Michele Carvell, Executive Director, Pikes Peak Country Attractions Association.

This summer, there are a number of new attractions in the Pike's Peak region to see and enjoy including the new Wind Walker Challenge at the Cave of the Winds and bike tours riding down Pike's Peak itself from Challenge Unlimited. The old favorites including Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, the Garden of the Gods, and the Cheyenne will also provide numerous photo opportunities to snap and share.

For more information, visit the PPCAA Facebook page or visit www.pikes-peak.com to plan your trip to the Pike's Peak region.

Outstanding in the Field Offering Farm to Table Fare

3 Chefs, Outstanding in the Field 2010

Colorado is blessed once again as Outstanding in the Field, the roving culinary tour returns to Vail Valley's Copper Bar Ranch for the second consecutive year on July 20. A five course meal will be prepared at the ranch by acclaimed Vail Chefs Jeremy Kittelson of Restaurant Avondale and Armando Navarro of Larkspur. 

The farm to table event was started by California chef Jim Denevan, when in 1999 began bringing local farmers to his restaurant as special guests at his "farm dinners." It wasn't long before he thought of hosting dinners on their farms. 

Outstanding in the Field tours the U.S. from May 1 through December 4, stopping at 90 farms, and has local farmers, food artisans, chefs, and winemakers create a feast at its source. A single signature long table draped with linen is set for all guests to sit together and break bread in a beautifully rustic setting. The tour is currently making its way through California, where it's already sold out half of its remaining dates.

Tickets are now on sale for its stop at Copper Bar Ranch for $200 per person. For those who've sampled the fare at either Larkspur or Restaurant Avondale, you know it's more than worth it to go. For purchase tickets and for more info, visit www.outstandinginthefield.com.

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Hotel Teatro Named One of the Ten Best in the World by Expedia

Hotel Teatro, Denver, Colo.

Last week, the Hotel Teatro in Denver, Colo. was named among the top ten hotels in the world on its  2011 Insiders’ Select™ list, which recognizes hotels worldwide for their consistently excellent service, notable value, and  great overall experience. It's the second consecutive year that the hotel has earned the distinction. The full list ranks the top 500 hotels selected from more than 130,000 offered on Expedia®. 


The evaluation process for this year's Insider Select program were more rigorous than in previous years. Expedia required more reviews for each hotel and higher score per review to make the list. Other factors in this year's rankings included input from local market managers employed by Expedia, and a value rating scored by comparing rates with other similar properties.


Having stayed there, it is a well deserved honor for the hotel. It's boutique status makes the service more personal. It's architecture and decor capture the elegance, beauty, and spirit of the Denver theatre scene. The food served at Prima and Kevin Taylor are beyond fabulous. Definitely a hotel consider when staying for a night,  or a week in Denver.

Free Day Pass for Mom at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, located near Cañon City, Colorado, is offering a free day pass on Mother's Day, a $25 value, and includes a majority of the attractions and activities in the park. Dads will also get a free day pass on Father's Day.

May is also Military Appreciation Month, where members of the military and their families get half-off general admission and individual season passes.

New this year is the Royal Gorge Bridge Visitor Center, located about three miles from the its parent attraction. The 4,000 square foot facility will provide visitors a convenient place to get tickets to Royal Gorge,  stop, eat, and shop as well as provide info on the area's attractions, activities, accommodations. 

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park features one of the highest suspension bridges in the world, hanging almost 1,000 feet high over the Arkansas River and spanning a quarter mile across a three million year-old natural wonder that is Royal Gorge. Attractions and rides also featured at the park include an incline railway, an aerial tram, skycoaster, and wildlife park.  

Visit www.royalgorgebridge.com for more info on tickets and the park. 

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