Snow...snow...snow! Tis' the 2023 ski season. As of today, Vail has gotten a whopping 240 inches of fresh powder this season and 100% of its terrain is open. It is on track to be a record season. So if you are debating going or wondering if you want to brave the elements to get to the slopes, let me be the first to say, "Do it!"
While living in downtown Denver, I met my husband in the gondola lift line of a ski mountain. Yep- it really does happen! And after a year of driving up and down the mountain passes, we pulled the trigger and I was able to call myself a mountain resident in the Roaring Fork Valley engaged to my husband-to-be. Living the outdoor mountain lifestyle had always been a dream for me. Skiing, hiking, biking, mountain climbing, camping, and simply breathing the fresh fresh air became my cherished daily lifestyle. And although after nearly ten years of being there and four years in Kaua'i, we are now enjoying family life back on the Front Range.
Skiing in the 80's in Colorado with my family made for the best memories with family and cousins, fresh air and fun snow, and the highly anticipated honey crust pizza stop at Beau Jeau's in Idaho Springs on our way home down the mountain. It also meant rear entry boots, hand-me-down ski gear with pants that were inevitably too short, cold hands and feet, slow chair lifts and steaming Cup-O-Noodles for lunch in the ski lodge.
Braving the elements is a bit different today than it used to be.
Now as a mom of two skiing kid dynamos living on the Front Range, the landscape has changed for parents like me trying to pull off ski days with their children. A typical day trip involves waking up by 5am, out the door by 6am in order to get a start on the insane traffic along I-70, silly parking fees - if you can find a spot, and walking in ski boots with kids shlepping their gear while begging you to carry it for them. My parents probably battled some of this also, but as anyone who grew up skiing in Colorado can attest, the traffic and parking experience has changed dramatically.
However, the mountains are always calling. So we have searched for ways to enjoy our high alpine backyard in both summer and winter. Our friends at Timbers Resorts have once again helped solve many of the challenges faced by us Front Range residents and allowed us to put the skiing back into ski trips.
So if you too are a mountain lover and live on the Front Range, then you are likely pretty familiar with these challenges. As with their other properties around the globe, the Timbers Resorts property in Vail, The Sebastian, is integrated with a local mindset and understanding of these sometimes daunting tasks we face as locals who love to ski. The team at the Sebastian have dialed in the details to help make for a seamless experience the moment you drive through the first round-a-bout in Vail.
Wave that magic wand and The Sebastian appears as the manifested family ski dream-resort-come-true right here in our Rockies backyard. Timbers' properties are worldwide and they pride themselves on recognizing their local communities while customizing the experience to each guest. They simply nailed our trip for me and my family.
Getting started.
The traffic on I-70 can be daunting. So what is the best solution?
Avoid it!
Driving west on I-70 in the evening, we sailed to the gorgeous front doorsteps of The Sebastian in just under two hours. Their 24 hour check-in service was a real comfort and allowed me to take my time driving. And knowing we would be able to get a lovely night's rest and not have to drive in the ski gauntlet on I-70 in the morning was such a comfort.
*Travel Tip - Check road conditions and closures with the My COtrip Planner app here:
Just two minutes off the highway, we were greeted with the sparkling tree lights and the welcoming warm glow of the Sebastian as we floated into the covered parking entry. As we stepped out of the car and into luxury, the valet greeted us immediately with a warm smile and all the right questions.
"May we take your ski gear off the rack and over to our Base Camp ski valet?"
"May we take your bags out of your car and up to your suite?"
"Would you like to go on into to the lobby grab a hot cider and check in while we handle all of this?"
Ahhhhh... as a parent accustomed to lugging all the luggage (that is why it is called luggage!) and gear while nagging kids handle their own stuff, this was melody to my ears. And while I firmly believe that kids need to carry their own skis and be capable on the mountain, at this point I was thrilled to have the helping hands.
Welcome home indeed. Owning at Timbers allows you the feeling of coming home and familiarity with staff and the luxury accommodations that await. We settled right in and within minutes were on our way to our suite with only a hot cider in hand.
Stepping out of our snow boots and onto the warm radiant floor heat and into plush terry cloth robes were moments to cherish. Once again, the extra lux features of their properties enhance the experience to truly feel like home away from home.
And what drink goes best with skiing??? Hot cocoa of course ;) !
After arriving, my daughter enjoyed a delicious hot chocolate peppermint pour over in one of the beautiful property restaurants, Leonora, while I enjoyed a sumptuous glass of Oberon Cabernet Sauvignon. Leonora's wine display case is stunning and imparts tantalizing elegance throughout the restaurant.
Probably one of the greatest treats to staying at the Sebastian is the ski valet program. The team scooped all our gear off our ski rack and magically curried it away to the Base Camp ski valet shop which sits at the base of the mountain in the heart of Vail Village. In the mornings and after skiing, rather than hefting all our gear and walking on sore feet to the car, we were able to simply wear comfy snow boots and leisurely walk the 5 minutes to the shop through the charming Bavarian style village and historic pedestrian walkways.
A true benefit to Timbers ownership is that you are able to utilize the parking, valet services and their other amenities all season long! Not just during your stay, but whenever you ski Vail! In this way, Timbers is crafting the experience to meet the needs of not just out of state and international owners, but also local Colorado residents.
Our family got to know the Base Camp crew well and loved their drop off and pick up systems.
*travel tip - do not forget to tip those who carry your skis for you!
And as is the story of the '23 season, the skiing was simply amazing. With a 70" base at the top of the mountain, and fresh snow each morning, there were fresh tracks to be found all three days. Vail boasts 34 ski lifts and 193 marked pistes. It is enormous and now that they just installed 6 pack high speed chairs everywhere it seems, we rarely waited in lines once we were on the mountain. They are on track to match the big historical snowfall seasons such as 1978, 1996 and 2011 which all crested over 500 inches!
But what would a good ski trip be without some après ski cocktails and hot tub sessions followed by family game nights?
Two of my favorite classic après ski spots are The Red Lion and Los Amigos right on Bridge Street in the Village. Watching everyone "slide for life" (as the locals say) down Pepi's Face while enjoying a jalapeno margarita is one of the best ways to wrap up a day. Listening to the live music and enjoying their famed nacho plate at Red Lion is always great. And mixologist Miranda at the hip Frost Bar in The Sebastian has come up with tasty flaming cocktails that welcome you back to your lodging with a smile.
In addition to the year round access to PARKING, SKI VALET, FITNESS CENTER, and the inviting HOT TUBS and POOLS, Timbers owners also get to enjoy the benefits and wonderful amenities of the OWNER'S LOUNGE. What a lifesaver this is when traveling with kids! It is open all day but private to owners. Breakfast is served each morning and wine and beer along with snacks are served during après hours. We LOVED this amenity. To know that this is available to owner's throughout the year is exceptional. It is a great way to settle in after a ski day and let the traffic subside before driving back home.
We especially loved all the caricature drawings of current members that adorn the walls as well as the friendly staff, Melissa and Alexa, that were there to help meet all our needs.
All Timbers properties are clearly super family friendly. Not only do they offer complimentary warm cookies, cocoa and hot cider for après day, but they also have a kids club for the little ones and a full on game room for the bigger kiddos. Not to worry though- no quarters required!
Bloom Spa is also located on property and is full service with gorgeous amenities. I will hopefully get to enjoy these services on my next visit!
Oh, and if winter is not your cup of tea... summer in the Rockies is AMAZING! Hiking, fishing, biking, waterfalls, wildflowers, festivals and concerts abound. The Sebastian is open year round with unlimited access to owners to stay if subject to availability - only housekeeping fees need to be covered!
This might be the greatest benefit of all.
*Travel Tip - some suggestions of what to bring... comfy snow boots, family games, art materials, a great book to read and goods to stock your refrigerator. The Sebastian staff was kind enough to supply us with other essentials - coffee, water carafes, fresh ski socks, sunscreen, lip balm, new beanies and a new coffee carafe.
If you are interested in experiencing The Sebastian in Vail or any other of the Timbers property, I am your Front Range resource. They have customized the experience to make trips to the mountains truly a luxury experience within reach. They have answered the question of how to own real estate in Vail without all the hassle and overhead at a reasonable cost. And because the benefits of ownership extend throughout the year, it really lets you feel like you have your own getaway waiting for you.
This is a path to own mountain real estate at a fraction of the cost of whole ownership.
Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or to find out how to book your exploratory trip.
rachel@rgoodliving.com or call 808-855-8780
But wait... there is MORE!
Timbers Resorts have properties around the globe. Each unique. And of course each has their own elegance and local community engagement with different ownership opportunities.
RECIPROCITY PROGRAM
In the event you want to mix up your destinations and do beach instead of snow, or wine instead of golf, The Timbers Reciprocity Program allows owners to exchange their deeded ownership with other owners to enjoy other properties around the world.
WORLD WIDE TIMBERS RESORTS
The Sebastian | VAIL, COLORADO | Own/Rent | Hotel & Private Residence Club |
Timbers Kaua‘i | KAUA‘I, HAWAII | Own/Rent | Private Residence Club – Fractional & Whole Ownership |
Casali di Casole | TUSCANY, ITALY | Own/Rent | Private Residence Club- Fractional & Whole Ownership |
Timbers Kiawah | KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA | Own | Private Residence Club – Fractional Ownership |
Timbers Jupiter | JUPITER, FLORIDA | Own/Rent | Private Residence Club – Fractional Ownership |
One Steamboat Place | STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO | Own | Private Residence Club – Fractional & Whole Ownership |
DANCING BEAR ASPEN | ASPEN, COLORADO | |
TIMBERS BACHELOR GULCH | BEAVER CREEK, COLORADO | |
Esperanza | CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO | |
Mayacama | SONOMA, CALIFORNIA | |
Rancho Valencia | RANCHO VALENCIA, CALIFORNIA | |
The Orchard at Carneros | NAPA, CALIFORNIA | |
The Residences at Kapalua Bay | MAUI, HAWAII | |
The Rocks Club | SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA | |
Timbers Bachelor Gulch | BEAVER CREEK, COLORADO | |
* Please note- this article makes no representation of exchange capabilities or current owner policies as ongoing sales will change current offerings and policies. Timbers Resorts will be able to answer questions about specific properties and their inclusions.
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Want to learn about their expanding Kaua'i property?
Check out my article on my visit to Timbers Kaua'i, Hokuala Resort and Spa to go from
Mauka to Makai (Mountains to Sea).
I am here for you to help answer questions and be your real estate guide!
rachel@rgoodliving.com or call 808-855-8780
Rachel Goodman
LIV Sotheby's International Realty | Broker Associate | Colorado & Hawaii
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