Colorado Ski Resorts Raise the Bar on Summer Fun

Colorado Ski Country USA member resorts are hosting a variety of events this summer, from music concerts to wine festivals, from downhill dirt biking to fully loaded barbeques. Finding ways to beat the summer boredom blues is easy in ski country. Resorts have packed calendars for July and August featuring an abundance of events and activities for guests ready to exchange sweltering temperatures for cool mountain air and pleasant mountain scenery. Below is a menu of fun family activities and events that will appeal to everyone and keep the blues at bay. On Sunday July 1, the Arapahoe Basin Trail Run takes place. Guests are invited to test their legs and lungs during the inaugural trail run. The race will start at almost 11,000 feet above sea level and will end with a mid-mountain BBQ and live music. For those who aren’t running enthusiasts there is an alternative event that consists of a morning trail race followed by an all-you-can-eat BBQ and live music. Ride the lift up and cheer on the competitors before filling up with as much BBQ as possible. The Black Mountain Express will begin shuttling guests to mid-mountain at 10:15 a.m., and live music from local favorites High Five on the Black Mountain Lodge Deck begins at 11:00 a.m. The race is split into two divisions: Summit Division and Mid-way Division. The former begins at 10:30 a.m., the latter at 10:45 a.m. The entry fee for both divisions is $15. Arapahoe Basin’s unique Alpenglow Dinner and Wildflower Hike takes place on Thursday, July 20. Chef Chris Rybak and his staff will take over the Black Mountain Lodge and prepare a dinner and hike. Guests will dine on a selection of Colorado-inspired dishes before taking in the sunset and wildflowers as they hike along the Continental Divide back to the base area. The cost is $78 (includes gratuity); kids under 12 are $45. There will also be a cash bar. Yoga on the Mountain takes place on July 26, and yoga fans are invited to enliven their yoga routine at Arapahoe Basin. Under the tutelage of local instructor Allison Simson, there will be a morning of relaxation and rejuvenation at Black Mountain Lodge. After hiking to mid-mountain, there will be an hour long yoga session on the BML deck. Hiking in conjuncture with yoga offers an invigorating experience for newbies and advanced yogis alike. Yoga outdoors stimulates the mind as well as the senses. After yoga, enjoy a light spa luncheon at the Black Mountain Lodge. For the yoga session and luncheon it is $35. To showcase its new bike trails, Snowmass will host the first annual Master of the Mass, a new four-stage, three-day mountain biking race on July 13 – 15. This Enduro Mountain Bike Race includes a variety of terrain difficulties, including a chainless downhill, cross-country, downhill and super-downhill stages. The ultimate challenge is that all racers must choose one bike to race for all disciplines. Parties and events will surround the weekend of mountain biking in one of the most beautiful settings in the Rockies. Registration is now open at www.aspensnowmass.com/master. The second Annual Power of Four mountain biking race is set for August 25 and will challenge even the fittest athletes as they race up and down the four ski areas of Aspen/Snowmass – Snowmass, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Aspen Mountain. Solo riders and teams of two and four are invited to put their endurance to the test. Visit www.aspensnowmass.com/poweroffour for more information. The new Wanderlust Yoga Festival is a welcomed addition to Copper’s summer event lineup this year, as the unique gathering anticipates more than 2,000 people in attendance. Wanderlust is a one-of-a-kind festival bringing together the world’s leading yoga teachers, top musical acts and DJs, renowned speakers, prestigious chefs and winemakers, and much more – all in a setting of breathtaking natural beauty. For fun in the sun and dancing under the stars, guests can make plans for the July 5 – 8 event, where renowned yoga instructors like Seane Corn and Shiva Rea will feature alongside with entertainers and speakers, including Ziggy Marley and Aaron Ralston, upon whose story the movie 127 Hours is based. More information can be found at www.WanderlustFestival.com. The summer lineup also presents three charitable events hosted at Copper: Courage Classic, Hike MS & Benefit Concert, and Copper Triangle. The Courage Classic, from July 21 – 23, is a renowned cycling event and 23-year tradition in Colorado. This bike race challenges cyclists to tackle a 157-mile, three-day journey to raise funds for The Children’s Hospital of Denver. More information can be found at www.Couragetours.com. Then on July 28, the Hike MS event invites guests to spend a sunny afternoon hiking at Copper Mountain to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Colorado-Wyoming chapter. With several routes to choose from, ranging in difficulty from easy to expert, Hike MS is a great family event, and a free benefit concert by Rob Drabkin follows. More information can be found at www.NationalMSSociety.com. The famous Copper Triangle has long been considered one of Colorado’s classic alpine road rides, and returns August 3 – 5. Graced with 78 miles of breathtaking scenery, gorgeous roads and three challenging climbs, the Copper Triangle exemplifies cycling in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. This event works in partnership with the Davis Phinney Foundation to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease research. More information can be found at www.CopperTriangle.com. This summer Crested Butte is celebrating Free Fridays. From 4:30 to 7 p.m. every Friday throughout the summer, guests can ride the Red Lady Express lift for free. This includes access to the lift-served biking in the Evolution Bike Park and the ability to hike the lower areas on designated trails throughout the mountain. Afterwards guests can enjoy a refreshing beverage and live music on the 9380 deck, with nightly happy hour and outdoor grill specials. Burgers, Brews & Views is back at Echo Mountain beginning Saturday, July 7. The summer fun continues at Echo Mountain every Saturday and Sunday through September 2, as Echo will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For those ready to take in burgers and brews, a drive, pedal or hike is the way to ascend to Echo Mountain this summer to enjoy a relaxing afternoon with breathtaking views of the Continental Divide. Whether heading to Mt. Evans or just looking to escape the city, guests are invited to make the stop by Echo Mountain. Echo Mountain is also partnering with Vital Yoga this summer to offer an assortment of yoga programs starting on July 11. A great place to practice physical, mental and spiritual discipline, Echo’s secluded mountain lodge will host single workshops during the entire four week series, as well as a full-day Blissful Retreat. All sessions include highly interactive practical demonstrations led by trained professionals that are all greatly respected amongst the yoga community. Visit www.echomt.com/groups/yoga for more information. On August 25, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Powderhorn will host its Summer Celebration. Guests are invited to join the resort to beat the heat and enjoy fun in the sun. The event will feature live music, activities and food and beverage choices at The Sunset Bar & Grille. For pass holders, there are plenty of Powderhorn Perks to enjoy around the valley, all at discounted prices. Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort Starting on July 6, Guests can take in the fresh mountain air and incredible scenery of the San Juan Mountains as they listen to live music under the starry night sky at Dante’s on the backside of the mountain with Purgatory’s Rock Out under the Stars during Dante’s Summer Concert Series. Dante’s will feature its summer concert series on July 6, August 3 and August 17, with rock and reggae musical artists that will have attendees dancing the night away under a million stars. They will watch the spectacular sunset and enjoy refreshing beer, a full bar and dinner from Dante’s grill. Concerts are $5 per person, and the shuttle is available from the resort to Dante’s for $10 as parking is limited at Dante’s. On August 5, guests can test their legs at the Backcountry Experience Trailburner 10k at 9,000 feet and enjoy 6.2 miles of spectacular trails. There will also be giveaways, and guests can contact Backcountry Experience for more details at 970-247-5830. On August 11, Purgatory will host Muck & Mire on the Mountain, a mud adventure race and exciting, new event. Families can get down and dirty as they slide through mud holes, scale rock gardens, cargo nets and more in a 5K race, and for more serious athletes who want to test their moxie by conquering obstacles such as slack lines, a tunnel crawl, log jam, slip-n-slide, pond swim and more, there is a 10K competitive race. From start to finish, the 10K will test endurance and mental fortitude with 12 obstacles spread across the mountain. The post-event celebration will feature awards and prizes, as well as a beer garden and soda party. The Granby Ranch Summer Fling will take place this Saturday, June 30, from 2 to 8 p.m., as guests can enjoy a day of family fun filled with activities including a fly-fishing casting clinic, face painting, putting contests, live music, free chair lift rides, games and more. The games and activities will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m., followed by a summer BBQ and dance party from 5 to 8 p.m. The resort’s  Twilight Golf Series starts on July 10, and takes place every Tuesday through July 31. It begins at 5:30 p.m. with a shotgun start. Guests can sign up with teams of four for a nine-hole course. At least one player must be a woman. On Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15, Granby Ranch is bringing back the Triple DHip. Triple DHip is a lift-served, G3-formatted mountain bike stage race, and will feature professional and amateur racers competing in three stages. Racers will compete on three separate racetracks at Bike Granby Ranch, host of the USA Cycling National Championships in 2009 and 2010. The event promises to deliver thrills for top-tier cyclists and spectators alike, with a full schedule of weekend festivities to be announced shortly. With a 9 a.m. shotgun start, the Ladies’ Open at Golf Granby Ranch will take place on Wednesday, August 1. This 18-hole tournament costs $75 and includes greens fees, cart, range balls, lunch and prizes. A USGA approved handicap is required. On Saturday, August 11th, from 2 to 8 p.m., guests are invited to don their cowboy hats and get ready for old-fashioned western hospitality and family fun. Granby Ranch will host The Jackman Brothers for engaging family entertainment. The afternoon starts with picnic games including sack races, three-legged races, juggling, and horseshoes, stick horse races and fun family relays, and the entire family can learn how to rope and ride before finishing the night with a Wild West Show and a Hoe Down Dance Party. Throughout the afternoon, The Granby Ranch Grill will offer a western-style BBQ and drink specials. On July 7, Steamboat’s ultimate mud race, the Steamboat Mad Mudder will take place. From the base of Steamboat Ski Resort through Bashor Bowl, and back to Gondola Square, this inaugural event is a 5K high octane race that will take contestants through muddy obstacles and fun physical challenges. During the same weekend, on July 7 and 8, the 32nd Annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo and the 38th Annual Art in the Park will launch. This unique double event offers visitors the opportunity to watch balloons inflate and take off, followed by the rodeo, which will feature fun contests. Art in the Park offers visitors the chance to take in local artistry as balloons fly overhead. On July 21, the resort offers another of its Summer Free Concert Series with The Samples, a Boulder-based band. The music kicks off at 5 p.m. in Gondola Square. Then, August 2 – 5, the Steamboat Wine Festival takes place, a destination event where master winemakers, culinary greats, and distinguished guests gather to play, wine, and dine in the town. Aside from the date-specific attractions, there are plenty of other summer long events in the city, including the Pro-Rodeo Series every Friday and Saturday night, the Downtown Farmers Market every Saturday morning, String in the Mountains and the Free Music Concert Series. The Telluride Wine Festival takes place on June 27 – July 1, featuring winemakers’ luncheons, cooking demonstrations, reserve programs, seminars and tastings for novices. The perfect event for those interested in arts, culture and food, the wine festival enables visitors to experience a fun summer event in an iconic Colorado town. Later in the summer from August 3 – 5, the Telluride Jazz Festival comes to town for its 36th year, bringing internationally recognized acts in classic, mainstream, blues, Brazilian, African and Latin jazz. Performances are staged outdoors in the daytime and in intimate clubs and historic concert halls at night. From August 16 – 19, the Telluride Mushroom Festival comes to town, and coincides with the Telluride Festival of the Arts, which takes place August 17 – 19. For foodies, foragers and folks searching for something more unusual, the mushroom festival educates citizens, both visitor and local alike, about the many incredible aspects of the amazing world of mycology, while the Festival of the Arts is the annual weekend-long, culinary and visual arts event held in Mountain Village. Telluride also welcomes its brand new The Ride, which takes place August 25 – 26. The event brings a dozen acts to Town Park, including Ben Harper and the Relentless 7, Los Lobos and Big Head Todd and the Monsters. On Saturday, July 7, Winter Park will host The Village Uncorked! Wine, Art & Cheese Festival. Attendees can stroll through The Village at Winter Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and visit with local Grand County artists as they show off their talents in this one-of-a-kind arts festival. Regional wines and cheeses will also be available for sampling and sales. There are also hands-on interactive “Learning Tents,” which will feature adult and youth art classes and demonstrations, cheese workshops, and a wine and cheese pairing course. The 7th Annual MINIs in the Mountains will be hosted by Winter Park Resort this summer from August 2 – 5. Join MINI5280 and 500 MINI Coopers from across the nation for family-friendly events, including a cruise to Hideaway Park and a car show in the Village at Winter Park Resort. From August 9 – 12, Winter Park Resort and The Village at Winter Park will be home to this year’s Vettes on the Rockies, an annual gathering in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for Corvette owners from all across the United States. For the first time in its 39 years Vettes on the Rockies is being held at the Winter Park Resort.  Guests are invited to bring their Corvettes and mingle with other Corvette owners from all across the country. On Saturday, August 25, New England-based children’s book author/illustrator Tracy Kane, known as the “Fairy House Lady,” will visit the Village at Winter Park for the Second Annual Fairy House Festival. She will read from her Fairy Houses Series of books and teach families how to create their own fairy house along the Winter Park Village River Trail. A fun family event, both adults and children are encouraged to bring their imagination, creativity and love of nature. Assorted natural plant materials will be provided, but whimsical additions are welcome.