Ten Mile Music Hall is Opening this Month

October 16, 2018 by Lora B

And this year’s winner for COUPLE of the YEAR…

Live MUSIC and BBQ!

Ten Mile Music Hall, on the corner of Frisco’s Main street and Summit Blvd, has it’s soft opening at the end of the month. There will be year round concerts, and it will be a hot venue for weddings and special events. Frisco is a stunning back drop anytime of year (so instagramable!) and the hall has all the Rocky Mountain rustic charm you’d want for wedding photos and atmosphere.

Kicking off Ten Mile Music Hall’s opening, unofficially, is Hymn for Her, a country blues duo with “kick you in the pants- ask you to dance” attitude. They play Friday 10/26 at 7:30 pm. Purchase your tickets from 10milemusic.com, Cool Inside or Lyte. See the current line up here.

The music hall has a large rooftop deck with awesome views of Tenmile Mountain Range. Moe’s Orginal BBQ is main course on deck- open daily for lunch, dinner and happy hour (warm months). Food is not served at concerts so fill up beforehand or hoof it to an eatery afterward. Ollie’s Pub & Grub, Peppino’s Pizza and Kemosabe Sushi are right next door.

The Hall’s grand opening is Tuesday and Wednesday October 30th-31st. Americana band, Leftover Salmon, is center stage for this celebration. In case you don’t know, they’re kind of a big deal! Leftover Salmon has been on the road for almost 30 years; their sound… bluegrass, folk rock, Cajun, country blues, jazz, and soul- a crafted brew of American roots. Be there or be square!

Winter Is Here

October 13, 2018 by Kevin W

It may only be early October but WINTER IS HERE again in Summit County! Start booking your flights and getting your winter gear organized. The snow is here on the peaks and in higher elevations and it is here to stay. I got my first few turns in for the season a few days ago and it was glorious. . . to say the least.

SNOW!!!! 10-9-2018

With -A Basin opening next weekend and snow already on the ground it is safe to say that winter is here to stay. After last years dismal winter and a very dry summer we are all ready for a good snow year. I’m sure all our future visitors are also ready for a good snow year.

SO take advantage of our Pre Season Sale and get some turns in before the masses start flocking toward the mountains. Our drivers are extremely friendly and can usually point you towards the right direction for some local fun. Don’t be afraid to get the inside scoop from us!

Local Tip: Use a shuttle service to get here. Renting a car in the mountains is not the glorified option that it may be at your typical beach get away. Driving from Denver to Summit is not an easy task in the winter and it only gets tougher once you are here. Plus, once you get up to Summit County there is free transportation ALL over the county. Check the Summit Stage out for all the details and routes.

Here is a list of our nearby resorts and tentative opening dates:

A Basin- 10/20*
Breckenridge- 11/10
Copper- 11/16
Keystone- 11/10
Loveland- 10/20*
Vail- 11/16

*opening this week

Local Tip: The snow is out there. If you can’t wait for the lifts then head up to Loveland Pass and enjoy some free riding at no cost. Just park at the top lot and walk toward either side of the road. Both sides offer riding down to Highway 6. Pick a line that gets you to the road. From here it’s easy. Stick your thumb out and get a free ride back up to the top. This is a known back country area so people passing by are more inclined to stop for good karma. WHAT YOU’LL NEED – Bring a rock board or skis (gear you don’t like) for the pre season riding and avalanche gear for your mid season riding. Avi gear is strongly recommended any time though!

Kovu and I enjoying the fresh snow

Enjoy the fresh snow everyone! If you see us out there be sure to say hello 🙂 PS 9 more inches in the forecast tonight

Escape the rain and escape the room!

October 9, 2018 by Lora B

The reviews are in:

“Surprisingly fun”, “Had a blast”, and “Great family fun”

are just a few of the 97% excellent ratings for the Frisco Escape Room.

Pictures not from local rooms…no spoiler alerts here!

So, what is an escape room and why do you want in?

It’s an interactive team puzzle; an adventure for about 4-10 players.
You and your peeps choose a themed room (ex: turn of the century hotel heist) with ambiance and story included.
Use the backstory and the clues inside the locked room to bust out.
It’s an hour of excitement and problem solving!

Summit county has 3 options for your next adventure. Beside Frisco Escape Room, there’s Escape Room Breckenridge and Mountain Time Escape Rooms, also in Breck.

Escape Room Breckenridge was the first of its kind in Summit county. Choose from one of three adventures using your noggin to crack codes and solve riddles. Your mission (should you choose to accept) is to escape the room in time.

Mountain Time Escape Rooms are designed specifically for Breckenridge, and why not?! There’s plenty of history and intrigue here to draw from. This locally owned company is a labor of love and passion for details.

Best skiing / hiking / dinner / date night / family activity

October 5, 2018 by Kevin W

FAQ’s: Where’s the best skiing, hiking, dinner, date night, and family activity in Summit County?

No matter what season it is these are some of the questions we see most commonly throughout the year. Giving you one correct answer is impossible due to difference of opinions BUT we will try and give you our most honest answers for each topic. I will start by saying that this is a very hard thing to do in Summit County, mostly due to the plethora of quality mom and pop joints and endless outdoor beauty we have out here. Ok, here it goes. . .

Best Skiing:

For me this is an easy pick. Most of you would picture the iconic Breckenridge Resort but these days the fact that most people would guess that is the exact reason why it’s not #1. The best skiing is Copper Mountain. The in bounds terrain is unbeatable at around 2,456 sq foot, which offers long groomers, endless tree runs, and one of the best parks in the country.
Local tip- Copper is usually WAY less crowded then the popular resorts offered on Vail’s Epic Passes.
This year they also introduce two new lifts, one using the bubble chairs (allowing you to stay even warmer) and the other lift featuring both gondolas and open chairs. One of the best parts of copper is the ease of access throughout the whole mountain. The other stand out for me is the simple fact that you can tell the employees like working there. It really creates a great atmosphere. The town at the bottom is also perfect placed for all your drink and food needs 🙂 Oh, did I mention they have extremely convenient free parking. Well, they do.

A method via Copper Resort: Rider-Summit Express Dispatcher Jordan

Best Hiking:

This one is certainly a tough one to pick just one. Using a mix of hikes that locals love to do frequently and a popular hike for vacationers, Lily Pad Lake seems like the stand out option. Lilly pad offers a 3.2 mile moderate round trip so it’s not too short but can be done in just a few hours.
The trail winds through dense forest, water ways, and ends with two large lakes (one filled completely with lily pads). There is slow and steady elevation gain, which makes for the perfect hike up and back down. Bring your dogs but be sure to bring a leash. This trail can get crowded. Best times to hike here are late afternoons or early mornings.

Lily Pad Lake

Local Tip: I’ve seen 3 moose up there so far so keep your eyes peeled. There is lots of wildlife up here.

Best Dinner:

I won’t take too much time on this one since this topic really does depends on the person doing the eating and their personal preference. So, The Dam Brewery is my pick. Reason being; they have a very open menu for all types of foodies. This place can cater to your meet lovers, vegetarians, and vegans. Not to mention they brew all their beers in house, which makes this place perfect for the beer lovers too. The restaurant has two seating levels as well as outdoor seating so the atmosphere is perfect through all seasons. They always have a friendly staff and keep things very clean.

Local Tip: The beer cheese soup is a great way to start of your meal!

Date Night:

I wish I had more experience to help everyone out with this one but the couple’s of Summit County might tell you it’s the Hearthstone. Even in the slowest of seasons the Hearthstone always has a wait. But read any of the online reviews, the wait is well worth it.
Beyond just the sheer beauty of the actual building going inside only gets better! This is an extremely classy establishment with a very skilled staff. So take your special someone out for a night of food and fun to remember.

Local Tip: After the food is done take a short walk down to Main Street and enjoy the rest of the night enjoying beautiful views and great drinks.

The Hearthstone in Winter

Family Activity

I unfortunately didn’t make it out to Colorado until I was 23. But with that being said if I was able to come out as a kid I would’ve certainly had my family chose the Frisco Adventure Park. It is open all season long and offers plenty of family fun. The adventure park offers Disc Golf: a bike park, lake Dillon, a trail system, a brand new skate park, snow tubing, a seasonal snowboard/ski park, and a few ball fields.
In the middle is an information center with a helpful staff to direct you in the right direction for some family fun. The adventure park is located right in Frisco, which is also right next to the Marina and close to all the businesses on the Main Street.

Myself at the Frisco Adventure Park. Fun for all ages!

Here is my best attempt at picking one winner for each of these topics. Thanks for reading. I hope it helps!!

Ice Castles’ Triumphant Return to Dillon this Winter!

October 3, 2018 by Lora B

Bundle up and bring someone you love, or someone you want to get cozier with. Wonder at the magic of imagination put to hard work, wonder at the beauty of ice and light, and wonder at the simple, but profound, pleasure of a rare landscape.

These cool citadels are made using sprinklers to build icicles, the icicles are hand placed then fused together with water to create the towering spires you see above. Caverns and tunnels are warmed with colorful LED lights, transforming what could be foreboding and cold, into a welcoming fortress. It will still be quite cold, so wear your ski gear and wool socks; bring hand warmers or a hot cup of cocoa.

The opening dates are usually in late December or early January depending on the weather, of course. Last year the ice castle in Dillon saw tens of thousands of warm souls, and area businesses greeted them with open arms. Buy tickets online for priority entrance and keep in mind weekends will be much busier than weekdays. ICE CASTLES website has tips for a great experience and offers the most up to date information.

Do you need a car in Breckenridge?

October 2, 2018 by Lora B

Nope.

There are times when it’s nice to have wheels, but consider that Breckenridge is a wee mountain town with a HEFTY tourism industry. Parking spaces are scant and traffic gets… cozy. If you’re able-bodied consider nixing the expenditure (time and money) of a car rental.

Your better options:

You can hoof it in Breck- most attractions are snug as bugs in a rug laid on or near Main Street. Many snowboarders and skiers stomp from their hotels or air b&b’s to the downtown gondola with boots on and gear in tow.
Summit Stage is a free bus for Summit county, click here for schedules and locations.
Resort shuttles buzz around Breckenridge. Check out this list of lodging that offers shuttles for their guests.
Rent or purchase bikes for any season in Breckenridge. Yelp has them neatly listed and ranked here.
Travel with a group to another mountain to ski, shop and dine. Summit Express charters go where you wanna go and get you there safely. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend stay we’re happy to roll with you! Call our reservation team at 970-668-6000 to get prices and availability. Our phone services are FREE, and we’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.

Summit Stage Free Bus stops at grocery stores, shopping centers, downtown hubs, and nearby cities: Frisco, Keystone, and Silverthorne to name a few.

Biking is enjoyed year round in Summit County. It makes for convenient parking and a great workout for any fitness level. There are bike lanes almost everywhere and motorists are pretty aware of cyclists. Word to the wise- helmets, mirrors, blinking lights and vigilance save lives.