La Tour is a French-American restaurant located in the heart of the Vail Farmer’s Market and offers natural and sustainable products. For brunch, which is when I was there, they serve lovely French toast with banana fosters brioche (pictured below), eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce, mussels, escargot, a trio of summer tomato salads, summer truffle grilled cheese and other delicacies including lovely madelines with lemon sauce all made by Chef Paul Ferzacca.  The handcrafted cheese plate includes goat cheese and assorted creameries, berries, pecan raisin bread and marcona almonds and is as divine as it looks (below).  The atmosphere is lovely and the dining rooms are adorned with world class sculptures, paintings, photographs and glass art. To top it off, the service was absolutely perfect…both cordial and accommodating. I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Location: 122 East Meadow Drive, Vail Village, Tel: 970-476-4403. Follow them on Twitter.

Terra Bistro is another of Vail’s favorites, offering free-range meat, poultry and vegetables from local markets. The restaurant is beautiful, with big glass windows in an intimate setting with a fireplace. The menu focuses on contemporary American cuisine that throws in a few Asian, Mediterranean, and Southwestern influences. For starters, we shared a few interesting dishes including Sprouted Quinoa Cups, crispy baked kale chips (YUM) and ahi tartare. Entrees include Grilled Amish beef tenderloin with Yukon mashed potatoes and cornmeal-crusted Rocky Mountain trout with sweet-potato hash and Sweet potato ravioli which is a signature and was delicious – I sampled an eating companion’s (pictured below). My main dish was Pan Seared Steelhead Filet, which was heavenly and akin to salmon, a fish I’d never had. They also serve excellent home made juice drinks and exotic wine. Kids can munch on their edamame, butternut squash ravioli or a meat dish while you explore your own palette. Location: Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa, 352 E. Meadow Dr., Vail Village, Tel: 970-476-6836. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

If you’re in the mood for something really special and exotic, and your kids can keep up with your palette, or you have no kids to worry about and want an exquisite night out, try Matsuhisa, Japanese and Peruvian fusion cuisine from Chef Nobu Matshuhisa. We went on a sample binge and tried multiple dishes including Jalapeño yellowtail, broiled black cod with miso and Tomato heirloom salad and I can’t even begin to describe my satisfaction. The food is as good as it gets and the only way to describe it is orgasmic. There were actually kids in the dining room and I was impressed and wondered how my kids would fare in such a restaurant. Nonetheless, I was glad to be on my own and able to explore dish after dish after dish.  I hung onto every bite. Location: 141 E Meadow Dr, Tel: 970-476-6628. Follow them on Facebook.

Disclosure: I was on a press trip so all these meals were complimentary.  However, as always, opinions are my own.

Disclosure: I was a guest of Vail Local Marketing District, who hosted my experience at the Vail International Dance Festival.

Last Saturday night I experienced something very special: a night at the Vail International Dance Festival.  I was in town for a few days which happened to coincide with opening night, which celebrated its 25th anniversary.  In celebration of that, the festival featured a bill of repertory highlights at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater stage.  We were privy to some of the finest dancers in the world, including Charles “Lil Buck” Riley, Maria Kochetkova from San Francisco Ballet, Jeffrey Cirio from Boston Ballet, Analia Centurion and Gabriel Misse performing tango, dancers from the NYC Ballet and best of all, a performance of “Serenade” by the Pacific Northwest Ballet, bathed in natural moonlight and accompanied by full orchestra.  Each act had something both interesting and beautiful about it, either in the performance or the message.

Sitting in the beautiful amphitheater, surrounded by art, music and dance lovers, smack between the beautiful mountains of Vail, I was struck by a city’s love of life and culture.  There were people who must come to the festival year after year and respect the Artistic Director’s opinion of who the most important dancers are in the world.

That person is Damian Woetzel, who has been Artistic Director since 2007 and since then, the festival has grown immensely and is considered a nationally recognized summer showcase for dance.  He also heads up the Director of Arts Programs at the Aspen Institute, where he creates programs aiming to further the value of the arts in society, focusing on education, economics and cultural diplomacy. Among his recent projects, he produced and directed an arts salute to Stephen Hawking at Lincoln Center for the World Science Festival, and directed the first performance of the White House Dance Series, which took place in the East Room of the White House and was hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama. He clearly puts a lot of thought into each act chosen to dance in the festival, based on his background, knowledge and passion.

The setting is also interesting because there is no curtain, it is totally outdoors and during intermission, we watched the Pacific Northwest Ballet warm up wearing fleeces, necessary in the chilly Colorado weather. Woetzel pairs up dancers from around the world with great skill.  Some of them have never met or danced before hitting the Vail stage.  He announced this being the case with the first act of the evening, “Don Quixote”. Choreographed by Marius Petipa, the father of classical ballet, and premiered in 1869 at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre, the re-staging for Vail was performed by San Francisco Ballet’s Maria Kochetkova and Jeffrey Cirio of Boston Ballet. You never would have known they had never met.

My favorite act of the evening was the kooky and vibrant “I Can See Myself in Your Pupil,” performed by Jonathan Royse Windam and Francesca Romo. Apparently, it was his return to Vail, where he first performed at age 10 in a community production of Annie.  And I loved “Gangsta Walk” performed by the hip hop dancer Charles Riley, who is currently a featured performer in Cirque di Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE in Las Vegas.

Source: DenverPost.com

The Vail International Dance Festival, going through August 9th, is quite an experience, so there is still time to get tickets and go.

Monday features five new pieces by choreographers Paul Taylor, Larry Keigwin, Fang-Yi Sheu, Brian Brooks and LilBuck.

Tuesday offers a “Dance for $20.13″ program that brings back LilBuck and adds Tiler Peck and Robert Fairchild from the New York City Ballet, Keigwin + Company and others. Thursday’s main event is the legendary Paul Taylor Dance Company.

All tickets on the lawn are $20 each for every performance and offer good views.  Food and drinks are served at every performance, and the menu is very varied.

All performances are at 7:30 p.m. at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Prices vary. 970-845-8497 or vaildance.org.

Disclosure: My visit was sponsored by Vail Summer but all opinions are my own.

During a recent stay at Arabelle at Vail Square during a weekend getaway, I was completely transported from every day life. From the minute I walked into the lobby, just me and my bags (no kids in tow), I knew I was in for a treat. Clearly I knew that in the winter, the hotel is a winter oasis for skiers, but I really didn’t understand how nice it (or Vail) would be in the summertime. Between the service, decor and proximity to central Vail, I was set. The property is steps from the Eagle Bahn gondola and Born Free Express lift; Vail Village is a short (5-10 minutes) in town, a shuttle ride away (which happen to be free all day, all night) and there are plenty of great restaurants, bars and shops close by.

Immediately upon arrival, I was struck by the hotel’s look and charm. The lobby is a combination of mahogany and antiques and offers an element of comfort and style. Service was immediately responsive upon check-in and I instantly felt the vacation vibe settling in.

My room was also exceptionally cozy.  Despite my busy agenda, I milked very moment I had at the Arabelle.  Decked out in lush antique furniture that is reminiscent of another time and place, the hotel offers unusual touches like pumice stones in the shower, fresh, plush towels (not just 2 or 3 like other hotels, more like 4 or 5 so you never have to ask for more), a Keurig coffee maker, free fresh water, a shower with two valves so two people can shower at the same time (very romantic), plush robes and slippers, fully thick curtains that shield the light from the room, a dramatic balcony with a new of Vail, a flat-screen TV, free Wifi and…ready for this? An electric fireplace built into the wall with an armchair that is easily pulled up in front for rest and relaxation.  I have to say, at the end of a busy day, coming back to the room for a break before dinner to a lit fire (set by the room attendant when turning down the bed) is pretty wonderful.

Breakfast on the balcony, reading the NYT, wasn’t bad either. Looking out at the lovely view of Vail was one heck of a way to start my day.

My zen state that resulted from my stay at the Arabelle really culminated with a visit to their spa. Voted #19 out of the top 270 spas in the world in the 2012 Conde Nast Reader’s Poll, it was easy to see why.  Guests of the hotel get free access to its relaxation room, whirl pool, sauna, steam room and Swiss showers.  So I took advantage of these facilities each day and also indulged in a aromatherapy massage which was HEAVENLY.  The 10,000-square-foot spa complex also includes a full-service nail salon and a retail shop with professional skin care lines, lotions, soaps, oils, meditation books, cards and other spa products.  The Spa uses only the most advanced botanical technologies in its treatments. Treatments feature organic ingredients, indigenous massages and wraps, rejuvenating facials, and other special amenities.  The Arabelle Spa is definitely one of the nicest hotel spas I’ve ever been to and I highly recommend a visit.

If you’re thinking of going to Vail this summer (what’s left of it), the Arabelle is offering a weekday summer saving where you can save up to 33% off when you stay between Sunday and Thursday. In addition, if you spend 3 nights there this summer, you can get a 4th night free.  

If you are organized and want to book early for the winter, book by July 31st and save up to 40% off. Stay 10 or more nights this winter and save up to 40% off. You can also book next year’s winter vacation by September 15th and save up to 33% off.

There are really a lot of reasons to go to Vail, both with and without the kids – I’ll be writing more about them in the upcoming days.  Stay tuned.

Summertime in Colorado is something special, alright, who knew?  Posting about the trip here and elsewhere shortly.

Disclosure: My visit was hosted by Vail Summer but all thoughts expressed are my own.