Via KEGE – Eagle County Airport & Vail Valley Jet Center
High atop the Rocky Mountains the air is crisp and the aspens are turning gold. It is September in the Vail Valley
A flight this time of year into the Vail Valley is a scenic painting highlighting the contrast of the mountains and the fall leaves. At Vail Valley Jet Center you are welcomed by a friendly staff and state of the art FBO including a fireplace for the cool fall and winter days. The VVJC is open 24 hours and offers fuel, eight heated hangars, coffee bar, flight planning computer room with printers, quiet room for a quick nap, 15,000 SqFt of office space, pilots lounge, A&P on site and line services. At VVJC you are able to book your hangar up to a year in advance if you pay in full and up to 90 days before your trip if you plan to pay for the services at the time of arrival. If like me, you are still learning to fly and hoping to get in some mountain flying lessons the Alpine Flight Training school offers 1-2 day courses that are conveniently located in the VVJC. The aircraft offered for lessons or rental are a Diamond DA20 and a Piper Archer. As you depart KEGE for Vail or Beaver Creek there are multiple options for transportation including shuttle service, car rental, and limo transport.
In Vail and Beaver Creek the September skies are blue and sunny and it truly feels like fall. Many refer to September as the shoulder season in this area due to the fact that the towns are closed for the month of October. That said, it is one of the most beautiful times to visit as the weather is great for hiking, fly fishing, horseback riding, zip lining, mountain biking, and a leisurely stroll through the quaint towns. In the Vail Valley area the towns of Vail, Lionshead, Avon, and Beaver Creek are nestled together and not more than a 10-20 minute drive from one to the next. After a full day of outdoor activities, shopping and live music the sun starts to set and you will see people congregate at in the hotel lobby bars and town center firepits with their favorite libation. In Beaver Creek the ice skating rink is in the center of town and such a treat given the daytime temperature was perfect for a t-shirt however you will want a cozy jacket in the evening.
For any transportation, accommodation, fuel or hangar needs at KEGE contact:
Allissa Hollis- AHollis@vvjc.com - (970) 524-7780
• http://vvjc.com/
• Affiliate Services: http://vvjc.com/affiliates/
Events In Late Summer/Fall:
In September Vail hosts Oktoberfest with booths and food stands galore. Enjoy a beer out of a ceramic stein or partake in one of Oktoberfest activities such as keg bowling, bratwerst eating contest, live music, or stein lifting competition.
• https://www.vailoktoberfest.com/
This year Beaver Creek launched it’s first Hike to Mic event which featured live music at Spruce Saddle which sits at 10,200 feet. Concert goers could hike, bike, 4x4 tour or take Centennial Express Chairlift up to Spruce Saddle for live music featuring Elvis Costello & the Imposters and Elephant Revival. In addition, the weekend festivities offered free yoga and pure barre classes in the village of Beaver Creek, art demonstrations, a free concert in the village, as well as a hike/wine/dine event.
• http://hiketothemic.com/
Another great activity while in the mountains is the Vail farmers market. The market offers 135 tents for the 16 Sundays of the summer. Enjoy strolling down East Meadow Drive in Vail while tasting treats from Colorado. Parking for the Market is at the Vail Village Parking or Lionshead Parking. The Market begins in June and goes through September.
• http://www.vailfarmersmarket.com