Vail Summer Guide

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WHITE WATER RAFTING
The next morning, I was off to experience white water rafting on the Arkansas River. It runs south along the eastern side of the Continental Divide and flows into the Mississippi. It's a 45-minute ride to reach the launch site from Vail. The short trip is spectacular, with expansive vistas of some of the tallest mountain peaks in Colorado, which locals call "Fourteeners".

It's a team effort to launch the raft and navigate the river. After donning life jackets, our guide Dana of Lakota Guides, gives us some instruction on safety and paddling techniques. She's heading back to Denver for an MBA this year, but it's clear that she's hooked. She's a mountain girl.

By the time we reach the Canyon Doors, we're a synchronized team. A family was aboard and they were bonding and having more fun with every twist and turn of the river. We enter Brown's Canyon, which is a Class III section of the river. It's plenty challenging. You'll get bounced around and wet, but most of all you'll laugh and have fun. With landmarks such as Toilet Bowl, Zoo Beach, Rainbow Rock and Smoking Indian, you feel like you're on a Disney ride. A pleasant midway stop for lunch gives everyone a chance to get to know each other and take some family snapshots. The Lakota Guides switch hats and prepare a picnic lunch along the bank of the river. The minimum age for this trip varies with the water levels. The full-day lunch trip for adults is $99.50; $89.50 for kids. Lakota River Guides, P.O. Box 4175, Vail, Colorado, 81658, Tel: 970-845-RAFT.

FLY FISHING
We got back from white water rafting a little late. Andres Ramirez from Gorsuch Outfitters (click here to contact him) was waiting for us in the lobby. He had top-of-the-line fly rods, reels and waders at the ready. It took a little convincing to head out in the rain so late in the day but Andres is laidback and easygoing. When he said, "Some of the best fly fishing happens right behind this resort," it wasn't hard to convince us to join him. We changed into our gear and were fishing in 20 minutes. Gore Creek is beautiful. The fish are wise and it takes some patience, luck and skill to catch them. The water is crystal clear and you can sight cast to fish, which is fun, especially for kids.

An old beaver dam is known for holding large trout. If you want to catch fish, wade to the opposite side of the river and sight cast into the swirling eddies of the current. We spotted a nice size native brown trout from this position. Cast after perfect cast was landed all around this fish. Not one bite. Not even a look. It was unbelievable! I was now late for dinner, with time left for one, only one more cast. The fly landed perfectly. It caught the eddy just right and swirled over the fish. Nothing. Suddenly a 22-inch rainbow trout came out from under the beaver dam and hit the fly. Fish on! It was the perfect ending to a perfect day. One-person half-day trips are $300 and a full day is $400. It's a good idea to call at least two days in advance to be worked into their busy schedule. Gorsuch Outfitters, 97 Main Street Unit E102, Edwards, CO 81632.

LARKSPUR RESTAURANT & BAR
I was running a little behind schedule but getting to the Larkspur Restaurant & Bar from the Vail Cascade Resort is easy. Take the shuttle bus to the Vail Transportation Center and get off at the next stop. The restaurant is in the yellow Golden Peak building. Walk up the stairs and you'll see the entrance on your right.

The decor at Larkspur Restaurant is inviting and contemporary. The menu features New American cuisine, which is a combination of fusion and California cooking. It features significant creative use of in-season produce and sauces. The Boston bib salad with avocado, sunflower seeds and Danish blue cheese appetizer and the certified organic free-range chicken entrée are two of the most popular items on the menu.

With 7,500 bottles of wine in their cellar, you'll have no problem finding a great wine to pair with your dinner. If you're a Pinot Noir lover, they have some excellent selections from the California Russian River Valley. These include wines from the exclusive boutique vineyards of Paul Hobbs, Rochilli and Williams Selyem. The dress code is casual. Larkspur Restaurant, 458 Vail Valley Dr. Vail, CO, 81657, Tel: 970-479-8050.

UP, UP AND AWAY
The next morning, I was up at 5am to take a ride in a hot air balloon. Ballooning is all about temperature and the best time to fly is at sunrise when it's calm and the rising thermals are gentle.

Merlin of Camelot Balloons picked us up and drove the 30 miles to his staging area near the Eagle County Airport. Two balloons were being inflated, which is interesting to watch. Those gondola wicker baskets can carry four to eight passengers. My Captain, Rocky Sullivan, has been flying balloons for over 18 years. These guys know their stuff. Merlin is an FAA-certified instructor, who trained around the world with ballooning record-breaker Steve Fossett. It's a little scary at first when the balloon lifts off the ground. It's a surreal experience and you may find yourself holding on tight for a few minutes. But soon, it's peaceful and calming to be floating 1,200 feet above the ground in the Rocky Mountains. The scenery is breathtaking.

The flight lasts an hour and chase vehicles follow each balloon. There's no set flight plan, since Mother Nature controls the drift. Camelot has performed hot air balloon weddings and many a passenger has popped the question, too. Not so long ago, an adventuresome couple even joined the Mile High Club on a flight. We all got a good chuckle out of that story. Excursion flights for adults start at $275; $225 for children. Camelot Balloons, Inc., P.O. Box 1896, Vail, Colorado, 81658, Tel: 800-785-4743.

THE PINES LODGE
After ballooning, it was time check out of the Cascade Resort and head 11 miles up I-70 to the quaint village of Beaver Creek and The Pines Lodge. Passing through the gates of the resort you feel protected and safe. The Pines Lodge is perched up on a hill just below the Ritz Carlton. It has a commanding view of the Beaver Creek resort and the mountain.

As a guest, you'll have access to the Beaver Creek and Red Sky golf clubs, which are two of the finest tracks in the area. During your stay you can also take advantage of some great amenities such as the in-room massage, concierge service, fitness center, outdoor heated pool and Jacuzzi.

If you're driving your own vehicle and would like to save the $18 per day parking fee, then self-park at the Beaver Creek entrance and take the complimentary resort shuttle. Valet parking is also available. If you're without a car, the resort was running a great test drive program with Volvo. It enabled the use of a complimentary Volvo during your stay, so you might want to look into that option as well.

The scale of this property isn't really apparent due to the fact that it was built into the side of the Scott Hill Road. The entrance is a semi-circular drive, protected by a portico. The front desk is located off the lobby to the left and the room elevators are located opposite the lounge to the right. Use the elevator bank on the left side to gain access to your floor; it's more reliable.

The property has 60 guest rooms, deluxe condominiums and town homes. The rooms are equipped with complimentary high-speed Internet access, refrigerators, CD players and coffee makers stocked with Starbucks coffee.

The Superior Room I stayed in had a king bed with a firm mattress and French doors that opened to a small balcony that overlooked the resort. The bathroom had marble counter tops and a large soaking tub. The decor was what you might call mountain-style, with light pine furnishings and neutral colored fabrics. The bellman explained that the property is scheduled to undergo renovations and that air-conditioning will be added to all the rooms. The project should be completed by the summer of 2008. This will be a big plus since it was hot in the hallways and the guest rooms during the day and it took a while for them to cool down at night. I recommend having breakfast on the veranda of the Goose Mountain Grill, then taking a 10-minute trail walk to the village for some Starbucks coffee. Listening to the live piano music in the lobby lounge at night was a delight, too. Summertime rates start at $139 and it's a good idea to call ahead and inquire about any specials. It could save you a bundle. The Pines Lodge, 141 Scott Hill Road, Beaver Creek, CO, 81620, Tel: 866-605-ROCK.

THE BEAVER CREEK VILLAGE
Just after checking into The Pines Lodge, I had the opportunity to spend a few hours exploring The Beaver Creek village and experienced first-hand their "not-exactly-roughing-it" lifestyle.

Everything you need is at your fingertips. The European alpine architecture makes for a pleasant surrounding for adults to explore the retail shops, art galleries, bars and restaurants. The resort is also geared toward kids and offers many fun activities, which include a day camp, children's theatre, miniature golf and ice skating.

During the summer, there are some great sales going on. All Mountain Sports and Base Mountain Sports had Spyder ski jackets at 40% off. Gotthelf's Jewelers has a great selection of David Yurman, Patek Philippe, Rolex and Franck Muller. If you're looking to pick up some Beaver Creek souvenirs, then The General Store is a great place to find gifts, T-shirts and coffee mugs. Be sure to get your coffee mugs triple wrapped if you're flying home and be careful putting them in the overhead bins on the aircraft.

If you're hungry for some lunch, try Coyote Café, which is located right next to The Beaver Creek Hiking Center. They serve Mexican food, burgers, sandwiches and salads. I had the chicken fajita outside on the patio, which was delightful. You could also try Foxnut Restaurant (Tel: 970-845-0700) where they serve sushi and Asian food. Sit at the sushi bar for faster service and try the spicy tuna and salmon hand rolls.

TOSCANINI RESTAURANT One evening, I dined at Toscanini. It's an easy place to find because it's located in the Beaver Creek Village next to the ice rink. The restaurant has a lively bar that makes great martinis.

The menu is Italian and offers an array of wood-baked pizzas and home-style Italian pastas. I especially enjoyed the baked bread and olive oil that our server brought out for the table. The caprese salad with heirloom tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, roasted peppers and basil oil was delicious and just $8. The whole-wheat fettuccine scuri pasta entrée came highly recommended and cost $22.

Toscanini has been a recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the past eight years. The restaurant specializes in Italian wines and I'd highly recommend the Gaji Barolo or the Brunello offerings. The dress code is casual and prices range from $16 to $30. Reservations are recommended by calling in advance: 970-754-5590.

NATURE HIKE
The following morning, I walked down the trail behind The Pines Lodge to the Beaver Creek Hiking Center. The staff can outfit you from head to toe with everything you'll need to go hiking. Planning is everything when you're hiking in the mountains. Safety first. Bring layered clothing including a waterproof windbreaker, backpack, bottled water and sunscreen. If you forget some, rub birch tree bark on your skin. It's just as effective. Band-Aids will come in handy, too. Your feet can rub up against the top of your boot on the way down the mountain, which can really cause discomfort.

Our destination was Beaver Lake. Just below Beano's Cabin, we began our ascent up the Beaver Lake Trail. The hike is approximately five miles and you'll reach an elevation of 9,500 feet. Along the way, you'll have a chance to encounter wildlife like golden eagles and foxes. The Aspen groves towering overhead like cathedrals will cause you to pause and reflect.

Various species of wildflowers are blooming along the trail. If you're lucky, you'll come across a wild strawberry patch. On the way back, cut across onto Elk Trail. This will take you through some spectacular terrain and you'll have a chance to spot birds of prey. The hike ends at the Spruce Saddle Lodge where you can rest and have a great lunch and then ride Centennial Lift back down the mountain. (See our route highlighted in orange on this photo.)

ALLEGRIA SPA
After a long hike, a 50-minute Swedish massage at the Allegria Spa feels like heaven. It's a busy place so be punctual or you'll eat into your valuable treatment time. If you get there a little early, check out the state-of-the-art Caldarium steam room and the Cascada rain shower! You may just decide to skip your treatment because it's so relaxing. Treatments start at $60.

BEST EVER
It doesn't take long to ease into the rhythm of the mountain lifestyle at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa. This was the best summer vacation! It was filled with exciting, over-the-top activities that invigorated me mind, body and spirit. You'll come home relaxed, refreshed and healthier than ever. So the next time someone says to you that Vail is only for skiers, you'll know differently. But don't go and spoil a good thing by telling everyone about this secret or there'll be no room for us next summer!

Check out Chuck's YouTube video of this trip!

Chuck Taylor loves adventure. Whether it’s single-handed, deep-sea fishing 75 miles off of Montauk, flying, or hunter jumping equestrian, Chuck is an adrenaline seeker. He is also an avid photographer and has photographed over 100 golf courses from around the world. A self-proclaimed entrepreneur since five-years-old, Chuck holds four patents and founded Great Marketing Ideas, LLC and Threshold Media, Inc. He conceives, implements and manages consumer marketing initiatives and promotions for national and international clients including: Titleist, Sports Illustrated, PGA TOUR, Coca-Cola and Time Warner.

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Note: This trip was sponsored by the vail Resorts.

More Pics From Chuck's Beaver Creek-Vail Summer Trip