Ever wonder how snow is made and prepped on the mountain for you to enjoy on your skis and snowboards? Here is a video by Vail Resorts showing how the teams prepped Vail for the 2011-2012 season. Have you booked your trip to Vail yet?  We’re gearing up for a great winter here in the Valley, snow on the way this weekend, so head up the hill and have some fun! 12/02/2011

Early Winter on the Vail Golf Course  November 30, 2011 No Golf today but there are obviously other benefits found in a hike around the back 9 of the Vail Golf Course.  Of course, it helps that we are experiencing one of our 300 sunny days today!  The National Weather Service is calling for 10" over the next couple of days.  Skiing has been excellent thanks to the hard work of the Vail Resort snowmaking, trail, and Cat crews but a little new snow would help to add to the variety as currently only 600 acres (of 4,000+ acres!) of trails are available. All things considered, a little hike on the Vail Golf Course looks pretty inviting!   Photo:  NilssonImges.com 12/01/2011

When Kimberly Spahmer gets in her car to drive to her volunteer shift at the Vail Valley Medical Center, she says, “I’m instantly in a good mood!  Between the friendly medical staff and employees, the patients and visitors from all over the world, and the other wonderful volunteers, I really feel like I'm a part of a family as a volunteer at VVMC." I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kimberly to discuss her volunteer experience at VVMC.  After volunteering with other organizations in the valley, Kimberly has been with the VVMC Volunteer Corps for 1 1/2 years and has already logged an impressive 800 volunteer hours.  "My mother and mother-in-law both volunteered with the hospital, so I knew what a great experience it would be,” she said. Kimberly works every Friday at the Information... 11/30/2011

  Vail, CO Daily Photo - Blue Sky, Late Afternoon -  So what if the snow is a little thin?  The weather is absolutely great and the football game is on.  This dramatic view is from the 5th floor deck of a Landmark Residence condominium in the heart of Lionshead...a nice way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon in Vail - even without 6" of new snow! Photo:   NilssonImages.com 11/28/2011

The newest Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate Update is ready to view.  Check out the new look of the Update, now matching the new look of our company website:  www.VailRealEstate.com  Click the image below to open this online Real Estate Update magazine featuring properties for sale in Eagle County by Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate. If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in the Vail Valley, please contact me.  I’d love to help you call the mountains home! 11/28/2011

Vail, CO Daily Photo - Anticipation Base of Bachelor Gulch, early morning.  Not a cloud in the ski but 7" of new snow last week has resulted in lots of open terrain.  While the majority of open trails are beginner and intermediate, the packed powder conditions are surprisingly good for this time of year. Vail Mountain now has 11 of it's 31 chairs open and lots of top to bottom skiing.   For a list of what's open, visit www.vail.com and click on "Mountain Info" under the "Moutain" tab. Photo:  NilssonImages.com 11/27/2011

Vail Colorado Daily Photo:  Ready for Thanksgiving While this view of a quiet Bridge Street taken yesterday morning seems rather tranquil, we are suiting up for a big, big weekend here in Vail.  Bookings are up dramatically over last year and Vail Resorts has opened over 450 acres of ski terrain to serve early skiing appetites.   After a long off-season, it's great to have folks coming back into town.  More snow due on Friday!   11/23/2011

Vail Mountain is open for the Season!  After what seemed like an interminable off-season to us locals we all awoke this morning to the realization that the 2011-2012 ski season on Vail Mountain is off and running!  For the last several weeks VR (Vail Resorts) has been gleefully touting the great snow making weather (real cold and gray) and waiting breathlessly for several promised blizzards that have come and gone without much flakery. Still, Vail mountain is enjoying one of it's better opening days today with a greatter portion of the mountain open than normal for a week before Thanksdgiving.  It's a local joke around here that the first few weeks of the season usually find us skiing on lower Born Free to the tune of edges scraping on blue ice.  It's no wonder this patch of sliding is... 11/18/2011

I am happy to report that I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mike Russo, VP of Project Management for Concierge Auctions as a guest blogger for the Vail, Colorado area on their Concierge Auctions website. Focusing on the Vail luxury real estate market, in the blog I wrote for Concierge this month I was happy to report some good news for sales in the valley.  Please take a look at the good news I had to report about Vail, CO featured at Concierge Auctions!  Vail Luxury Real Estate Market 11/17/2011

Who's ready to go skiing and snowboarding?  Vail opens 11/18 and Beaver Creek opens 11/23.  Hope to see you here in the valley for Thanksgiving! Please click below to view the real estate sales activity in the Vail Valley resort communities of Vail and Beaver Creek during the month of October.  Real Estate Market Update October 2011 October Highlights: -  20 properties closed in the areas of Beaver Creek, Arrowhead and Bachelor Gulch with Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate representing 19 of those sales. -  A Vail Golf Course single family home closed at $9,250,000.   September Highlights: The sales data for all of  Eagle County has been collected for September in the Land Title Guarantee September Report. -  September saw the highest number of real estate transactions, 132.  This is t... 11/08/2011

Vail Valley Daily Photo: Between Seasons - Not much going on today - Saturday November 5.  This old farming impliment is sitting on a closed golf course......and the Mountain doesn't open for two more weeks.  The lawn doesn't need mowing and it's too wet to ride the bike.  It's nice to kick back and have absolutely nothing going on.  When the Mountain opens this will all change!   11/05/2011

What?  Did you just say “Christmas?”  But today is Halloween, silly, why the heck are you already talking about Christmas?  The answer is, it’s never too early to start collecting Christmas toys for children! I am a volunteer with the Vail Valley Medical Center Volunteer Corps.  One of the goals for the Vail Valley Medical Center this winter is to collect 2,400 NEW UNWRAPPED TOYS for the Salvation Army “Santa’s Store” where qualified families will be able to “shop” for toys for their children.  Here are the details on where to deliver toy donations: 10/31/2011

In Vail, it doesn’t matter if you are a kid or a kid-at-heart adult, Halloween is for everyone!  The parties got started last night and continue tonight through Monday.  There are plenty of opportunities to put on a costume, and head out for some fun. Need a good last minute costume idea?  A couple years ago my husband and I dressed up as contestants on The Price is Right.  We had a group of us, each  with name tags and message tee-shirts, and had a rousing audience participation everywhere we went.  People singing the theme song and yelling "come on down!" all night long. Here are just a few opportunities for you to get your spook on in the Vail Valley this weekend: SATURDAY: What: Halloween Bash at The Club. Ted Hammock from The Jersey Shore Boys will perform. Includes costume contest... 10/29/2011

I have to say, I just love the office I’m in at Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate.  We are located right in the heart of Vail Village at the new Solaris.  This residential and commercial building, which was completed last summer, has quickly become the buzz of Vail Village.  With galleries, shops, a local coffee house, movie theatre and bowling alley, Solaris is a fun place to be.  An outdoor ice skating rink in the winter which turns to a grassy field for children to play in the summer is at the center of the courtyard. So, with an impending snow storm on the horizon (should be starting any time now!) my office decided to head out for an evening of fun last night after work.  We went bowling!  BōL is the bowling alley located in Solaris.  Fully equipped with personal lane service of ... 10/25/2011

The Best Exercises To Prepare for Ski Season Ski season is here!  With A-Basin and Loveland ski areas open, and the others soon to follow, the following is a list of exercises to help you prepare for the 2011-2012 Ski Season! Buy a new pair of gloves and immediately throw one away. If you have children, buy at least 10 pairs of gloves and throw out all the right hands. Soak your gloves in water and store them in the freezer prior to every use.   If you wear glasses, begin wearing them with glue smeared on the lenses. Throw away a $100 dollar bill - now. Start wearing a helmet as part of your daily outfit. Find the nearest ice rink and walk across the ice 20 times in your ski boots carrying two pairs of skis, accessory bag and poles. Pretend you are looking for your car… for at least 30 ... 10/20/2011

Vail Valley Medical Center Volunteer Corps Recruiting New Volunteers I am a volunteer with the Vail Valley Medical Center Volunteer Corps, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  About 1 ½ years ago I attended a fashion show that the Volunteer Corps puts on every year for a fundraiser.  I was so blown away by what a production the show was, and by all the enthusiastic volunteers who made the event happen that I decided right then and there that I had to be a part of this organization. Though I do work full time, the Volunteer Corps has found a place for me and I love the behind-the-scenes work I am able to do for them.  This year we have a goal to recruit 52 new volunteers, and as a part of that effort we are being featured on our local morning news program. ... 10/11/2011

I can’t believe I’m about to say this but…. Are you ready for WINTER!!?? Now that the autum colors are at their finest, we know what happens next here in the Vail Valley.  No stopping it.  The leaves fall and it starts to snow! If you’re like me and already dreaming of fluffy white snow covered mountains, then here’s a quick list of the Vail Resorts opening and closing dates: 2011/2012 VAIL RESORTS WINTER SEASON DATES: Keystone : November 4, 2011 - April 8, 2012 Breckenridge : November 11, 2011 - April 15, 2012 Northstar-at-Tahoe : November 17, 2011 - April 15, 2012 Vail : November 18, 2011 - April 15, 2012 Heavenly : November 18, 2011 - April 15, 2012 Beaver Creek : November 23, 2011 - April 8, 2012   But for now, enjoy the lovely golden autumn sunshine!  Here's the view from my office... 09/30/2011

Vail Restaurant Month Continues with Week 2 "Health & Outdoors" Information & image courtesy www.VailRestaurantMonth.com Vail is renowned for its amazing culinary offerings, and September 19-October 16 those tastes will be celebrated during Vail Restaurant month.  We are into Week 2, “Health & Outdoors Week” with events focusing on healthy living and the outdoors.  With the Valley in full autumn colors, it’s the perfect time to visit, eat, drink and celebrate the end of a lovely summer season.  View from my office today located at Solaris in Vail Village! This week, enjoy special coursed menus at some of the finest restaurants in the Valley, outdoor Happy Hour celebrations, “to go lunches” for your outdoor back pack, hiking and biking adventures, wine and spirit tastings and more. Calen... 09/29/2011

Yesterday marked the last day of summer.  Though the Summer season took her pretty time getting to us here in the Vail Valley (we had snow through June!), once she arrived it was an amazing season. I hope you were able to visit our beautiful slice of heaven this summer.  And as we say goodbye to Summer and hello to Fall, be sure to head up during the next few weeks as the Aspen trees are just starting to change colors.  The Vail Valley will be blanketed in gold very soon!   09/23/2011

Vail is renowned for its amazing culinary offerings.  For the next four weeks those tastes will be celebrated during Vail Restaurant Month.  The month starts today, September 19, 2011, with the first week’s events focusing on healthy living and fresh foods that celebrate this harvest time of the year.  This week, enjoy special coursed menus at some of the finest restaurants in the Valley, Happy Hour celebrations, “Heart-Smart” menus, wine and spirit tastings and more. Calendar of events for this week: Vail Restaurant Month Week 1 Plan ahead!  Get your taste buds ready for the weeks ahead: Week 2, September 26-October 2: Health & Outdoors Week 3, October 3-9: Family Week Week 4, October 10-16: Love Fest Week Image and information courtesy: Vail Restaurant Month Weekly updates and specia... 09/19/2011