GO AHEAD, TAP THAT CLASS
GO AHEAD, TAP THAT CLASS
In 2019, a few girlfriends and I took a girl’s trip to Nashville, Tennessee. At that time, we thought it would become an annual trip….but COVID hit in 2020, and we had to postpone our trip. Then, in 2021, we decided to make the trip happen as we all needed a break from kids, work, spouses, COVID-19, and life in general. After a quick discussion, we decided to escape to Vail, Colorado, for a long weekend in October.
Where we would be staying was a significant concern for me as I wanted to ensure we were as BOUJEE as we could, within our budget. As we did in Nashville, we knew we would rent a VRBO, so the search began.
When traveling in a group and selecting accommodations, I highly suggest you identify the priorities for accommodations. In our situation, we decided the location was critical. We wanted to stay in Vail Village or within walking distance of Vail Village. In addition, outdoor space would be excellent, as well as a hot tub, modern decor, and four bedrooms and four bathrooms. We narrowed it down to three options and ultimately selected a condo in Lionshead Village because it checked all the boxes of our priorities…. we were pleased with our choice.
Upon arriving, we were welcomed to beautiful flowers on the counter, various water options in the refrigerator, and different coffee options. It was stocked with everything you could imagine. Each room had a portable fan and humidifier (Colorado can be dry – so be prepared). Each bathroom had marked bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and extra bedding and towels in each bedroom.
The view and the outdoor balcony were amazing. We spent the first-morning drinking coffee on the balcony, taking in the beautiful fall scenery. The next few mornings were cold and rainy outside, so that we would admire the view from the huge living room windows.
We loved that the condo unit was within walking distance of everything. And if you didn’t want to walk, there was a bus station directly across the street to take you to Vail Village, just a few minutes away via the bus.
Directly across the street from the condo was a grocery/liquor store. Underground secured parking was available with the unit, providing easy access to the elevator by the condo.
The complex also had an outdoor pool and two outdoor hot tubs. It was too late in the fall season for the pool to be opened, but we did enjoy the hot tub daily!
The condo was perfect for our needs.
ATV Tour: We knew we wanted to do something fun and extraordinary, so we researched a few options, including hiking and lunch with a llama, a gondola to the top of a mountain in Vail Village, hikes, etc. We decided to do a four-wheel tour (the gondola was closed as it was in between seasons). Of course, I quickly researched some options (have I mentioned yet that I love to research travel stuff?) and selected Nova Guides. They are located about 30 minutes from Vail Village, and if you are without a car, they will come and pick you up.
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When we woke up, the weather was a little sketchy; it was gloomy and rainy, which didn’t seem like ideal four-wheeling weather. We called Nova Guides, and they told us it was sunny where they were…huh? Really? The weather the next day was supposed to be worse, so we decided to give it a try and drove to the Nova Guides location…..and they were right – it was sunny there!
We checked in at the main desk, were fitted with our helmets, and waited for our tour guide. The views at the home base for Nova Guides were beautiful, as were the views throughout the ride. We were starting when it was sunny outside, yet the tour was going up to the top of a mountain with snow.
The tour was three hours long, and it was perfect for a group of beginners like us! We followed the guide; the trail was a gravel road traveled often. There were a few bumpy parts, but for the most part, it was manageable. The guide stopped twice on the way up to ensure everyone was okay and told us a little history about the Aspen trees surrounding us.
The view from the top of the mountain was incredible. There was snow on the ground, and it was lightly snowing. Clouds were moving in, and more snow was expected. The guide allowed us to take some pictures, and he shared with us the mountain names and if there was any history associated with them.
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens: While we had a car for this trip, we did a ton of walking. We walked between Lions Head and Vail Village, about a 10-15 minute walk following Gore Creek. One afternoon, we walked past Vail Village exploring and found Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. While it was beautiful in early October when we were there, it would be jaw-dropping a few weeks earlier. The Betty Ford Alpine Garden is 8,250 feet above sea level and is the highest botanical garden in the United States. The garden area has a beautiful waterfall where we relived our prom years by posing for photos. In addition to the waterfall, there is a children’s playground and an Education Center.
What else would you do on a girl’s trip except for a lot of eating, right? We spent time in Vail Village and Lionshead Village, which were close to the condo. We ate in Lionshead a couple of times. We had pizza at Blue Moose Pizza, which was delicious. We had dinner at El Sabor (we are queso and chips connoisseurs, and it was delicious there) and lunch at Garfinkel’s Sports Bar. We had breakfast at The Little Diner, which was amazing!
TIP: The wait at The Little Diner can be long. However, you can add your name to the list via their website before arriving, which we highly recommend.
In the Vail Village area, we had dinner at Elway’s, which was a nice, more formal but not too formal dinner. We did a whiskey tasting at 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Company and bought a bottle or two as gifts for significant others.
Vail, Colorado, is the perfect destination for couples, families, or friends! Vail includes the perfect balance of activities and socialization. Our little group of four girlfriends would highly suggest a long weekend trip to Vail to relax, unwind, and be together with friendship and laughter. Let us know if you have any questions about Vail, Colorado. We are happy to answer questions or share more suggestions.
If you dream about taking luxury vacations, wearing designer fashions and carrying yourself with class, then you are in the right place! Welcome to BEING BOUJEE, where we’re all about living your best life and indulging in the products and experiences that bring you joy.
-Gustave Flaubert
