Timbers Resorts' four Colorado properties are all within easy reach of two must-see day trip destinations - Leadville and Glenwood Springs.  While staying at One Steamboat Place, The Sebastian- Vail, Dancing Bear Aspen or The Timbers Club, take a short drive  via the scenic Rocky Mountain highways to each of these towns for a mid-trip change of pace.

1. Leadville lies an hour south of Vail Village, along the winding and mountainous Highway 24. The highway itself is a designated scenic byway, offering jaw-dropping views of steep mountain ravines, running streams and long waterfalls.

You can also spot the ruins of historic Camp Hale -- a military training and ordinance facility active from 1942 to 1965. The area is now part of the White River National Forest.

Leadville itself features an array of Victorian buildings, geological exhibits and unmatched antiquing. Visit the Mining Museum while you're there. The historic footprint of Leadville isn't limited to just the town. A handful of ghost towns -- including the Climax Molybdenum Mine and surviving buildings -- dot the area nearby.

The Leadville summer race series has put this town on the map with its 100-mile mountain bike race, 100-mile running race and variety of other high country competitions.
2. Glenwood Springs is a resort community featuring the largest hot springs in the world. Have a soak or enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of this town just over an hour west along Interstate 70. Like other tourist towns in Colorado, you'll find more than enough opportunities for shopping or  dining.

The area hosts a variety of hiking and biking trails, many part of the national "Rails to Trails" effort that converts unused railroad tracks into public pathways. Hiking enthusiasts can enjoy a two-mile day hike up to Hanging Lake. The trail is steep, but relatively short and well-maintained.
Glenwood Caverns, also in Glenwood Springs, is the largest cave open to the public in Colorado. Tours range from easy explorations to "wild cave" tours for dedicated spelunkers. You'll see alien structures that are millions of years old, like King's Row and The Black Grottos. Above ground, the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park offers a discovery center, thrill rides and a laser tag arena.

For information on how to spend your time in Colorado, contact the concierges at any of our properties at [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].

Aspen and the Arts. Nestled in all the alpine charm of what is Colorado's best-loved skiing resort community, the home of Timbers Resorts' Dancing Bear Aspen is a haven as well for music, art, and culture.

It is a notion that Timbers Resorts cherishes, and one that Owners and guests are invited to discover when they explore the environs of their private residence club.

Because coming to Aspen is not just about that rare and all-important retreat. Of course there are the amenities: unique boutiques, fine dining and fine wine, spectacular scenery. The Aspen Idea of uniting mind, body, and spirit are nourished by all of these things. The team at Timbers Resorts is especially excited to highlight an example of what is also the best in performance offered by Aspen. Enter the Aspen Music Festival & School.

Dancing Bear Aspen is proud to support this important pillar of culture and education as an Encore Sponsor of one of its 2012 summer programs. On Sunday, July 29, Dancing Bear Aspen will be the underwriter of a special concert and post-performance reception, inviting Owners and guests to premier seating at the show with an invitation to join for an exquisite VIP reception afterward.

The details:

Date: July 29, 2012 || Time: 4 p.m. || Venue: Benedict Music Tent || Reception: Dancing Bear Aspen patrons meet in the VIP tent

On July 29, conductor Manfred Honeck — acclaimed music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra —  leads the Aspen Festival Orchestra on a journey through Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, op. 83 and Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life), op. 40.

Pianist Yefim Bronfman and violinist Robert Chen are featured.

The pianist, Bronfman, won a Grammy in 1997 for his Bartók recordings. The violinist, Chen, is concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and has won top prizes in major musical competitions around the world. He has collaborated with Itzhak Perlman and Yo Yo Ma, among others.

Dancing Bear Aspen Owners are invited as guests to this remarkable night. Contact Audrey Allen at Dancing Bear Aspen via email or by calling 970.920.2510 for details and visit the Festival's site to see all the offerings. We'll see you at the encore!

From monumental landscape prints by photographer Peter Lik to the metalwork of acclaimed sculptor Richard Serra to the operatic interpretations created by Nathalie Darbellay, Dancing Bear Aspen showcases the talents of various creative minds whose works grace the walls, credenzas and intimate gathering spaces. As a result, art and architecture magically come together at this unique Private Residence Club in downtown Aspen, Colorado.

In addition to the aforementioned talents, Dancing Bear Aspen also features works by guest artists on occasion such as Aspen-based Shelly Hamill. As a peek into Hamill's perspective, art has been an important part of her life since she was a child.  Hamill's grandmother is an artist and someone who has been an inspiration. Growing up in Texas, Hamill would keep herself entertained with a canvas or paper and brushes always at the ready.  She often visited the Kimball and the Amon Carter Museums - both great influences and resources upon her.  As a young adult, in her travels as a flight attendant, she visited numerous art institutions around the world, drawing inspiration everywhere she went.

Mosaic has been a wonderful outlet and medium for Hamill who has enjoyed working with many versions of this form and seeing pieces come together to create a whole with texture.  In Hamill’s words, “The opportunities and ideas are endless,” which translates into a career that will certainly continue to flourish. Hamill currently resides in Aspen with her family and has two pieces on display at Dancing Bear Aspen, shown above and at right.

To follow Hamill on Facebook, visit her page. To discover the artistic lifestyle at Dancing Bear Aspen, visit our site, stop by our Sales Gallery at 411 South Monarch Street in Aspen, or contact us via phone at 970.925.2510 or via email at [email protected].

The Pro Cycling Challenge is ready to roll back into town. From August 22–23, Dancing Bear Aspen celebrates the return of one of the country's premier two-wheeling sports events when Aspen plays host to two stages of the race. The USA Pro Cycling Challenge brings 135 of the world's best riders into one competition, and it boasts what may be the most challenging course ever offered on American soil. Here's how you can enjoy it from the vantage of our luxury vacation homes.

The Race

In a seven-day test of skill and pedaling endurance, August 20–26, the participants in the Pro Cycling Challenge tackle nothing less than the Rockies. In its inaugural year, in 2011, almost 1 million spectators watched the drama unfold. This summer promises to be an equally breathtaking 683-mile ride.

Originally envisioned by Colorado governor Bill Ritter and Lance Armstrong, since its start, the race has been a source of Colorado pride.

“The USA Pro Challenge was an event that shined an international spotlight on Colorado,” said current Governor John Hickenlooper to race officials. “Any expectations we had for success were surpassed ten-fold.  We want race week each August to be known as a Colorado Cycling Holiday to attract visitors from all over the world and to celebrate Colorado, good health and cycling.”

Dancing Bear Aspen and the Pro Cycling Challenge

Not only is Dancing Bear Aspen a bronze sponsor of the PCC, our luxury residence property provides a dramatic vantage as the riders pass through Stages 3 and 4.

Aspen is home to what's known as the race's Queen Stage. Cyclists will ascend well outside of most rider's typical altitudinal comfort level, climbing and descending mountain roads at thousands of feet.

It's here you'll find the opportunities to get up close with the action alongside the course that winds through Aspen's downtown It's here at the Stage 3 finish line, and the start of Stage 4, that you'll be able to brush shoulders with the athletes. All the excitement — and elegance — you'd expect while in Aspen, a venerable cycling capitol of Colorado - and at Dancing Bear Aspen, the most luxurious private residence club in town.

Owners at One Steamboat Place and The Sebastian - Vail can also watch the race when it rolls through Colorado by following the 2012 route.

To discover the exquisite lifestyle at Dancing Bear Aspen, visit our site, cycle on over to our Sales Gallery at 411 South Monarch Street in Aspen, or contact us via phone at 970.925.2510 or via email at [email protected].

Labor Day Weekend: It's summer's last hurrah, for many, and it's also one of the best reasons to schedule a stay as an Owner at Dancing Bear Aspen's luxury residence homes or at The Timbers Club in Snowmass.

From action at the net to wild times on the stage, all staying at Timbers Resorts' properties in the Roaring Fork Valley are in for an absolute treat this August 30 to September 2. Here's a rundown of what's hot and what's not to miss. 

Motherlode Volleyball Classic

Time was, Labor Day could be a little low-key around Aspen. Then, in 1972, a few of our local business folk put together the first Motherlode Volleyball Classic. Since then, in the span of 40 years, it's become one of the most popular doubles volleyball tournaments of its kind.

As many as 700 teams compete, men and women of all ages, from all over the world, fighting (as good sports) for the tourney's championship titles. Come see the proving ground for future AVP players. Join an after-match party in town, or duck back to Dancing Bear Aspen for a bit of bubbly and a cool dunk in the pool. First serve at the net is on Thursday.

Want to take your own shot at the tourney? Pre-registration takes place through August 20 at the Motherlode website.

Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival 

The tunes kick off on Friday, with nothing less than a full-on set from the Steve Miller Band. As you can tell, already, the Jazz Aspen fest is cut from broader cloth than its namesake. Since 1991, the folks at JAS have been bringing jazz, yes, but also all kinds of related music to these mountains.

This is its 22nd season and it turns Snowmass Town Park into a party for 72 hours. Be sure to catch the following big names:

Friday August 31: Don't miss Steve Miller. Saturday, September 1: Mumford & Sons bring their rootsy, banjo-inflected tunes to Aspen. Sunday September 2: Talk about polar opposites! You get the Southern rap-rock of Kid Rock, but also don't miss the idea-heavy (and sometimes political, but always progressive) world jams of Michael Franti and Spearhead.Enjoy your Labor Day. As always, touch base with your Dancing Bear Aspen concierge with any questions or for help in setting up your weekend. We'll see you in all the action!

For more information about Timbers Resorts, contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone, 888.366.6641.

No matter how beautiful the rooms and residences at Timbers Resorts properties are, you'll want to venture beyond them on gorgeous sunny days. That’s why no effort was spared in making the resorts’ outdoor gathering spaces spectacular places to sun and socialize or sip a cocktail and cozy up with that special someone.

For example, the roof of Dancing Bear Aspen, designed by Shayne Smith of Shayne Interior Design Group, incorporates revolving beds with removable canopies. Put the roof down and rotate to face the sun and get a tan or put the roof up for a bit of shade and privacy. The rest of the roof includes a variety of lounge areas as well as floating fireplaces, bars, two Japanese soaking tubs and, of course, a Jacuzzi.

For a more classic Colorado experience, you might want to opt for One Steamboat Place, designed by J. Banks Design Group whose work graces many properties in Timbers Resorts' portfolio, where the social scene revolves around the firepits. Curl up with a book during the day, warm up with hot chocolate or an après ski cocktail around happy hour, and then roast s’mores after the sun goes down.

Does a few glasses of Napa Valley wine get your competitive juices flowing? At The Orchard at The Carneros Inn you may have so much fun playing bocce in the courtyard outside the resort's acclaimed restaurant FARM that you forget there’s a table and delicious "farm-to-table" cuisine waiting for you inside. After you tear yourself away from bocce, have a post-dinner glass of wine in the cozy chairs around the fireplace on the outdoor patio.

Poolside or beachside at any Timbers Resorts property is the perfect place to enjoy the atmosphere either solo or while striking up a conversation with friends or fellow Owners. The pool terrace at Castello di Casole's boutique hotel offers exquisite views of the Tuscan countryside, as well as canopied tents and lounges for total relaxation. Esperanza Resort offers a series of pools on all levels of the property with chaises-lounges, terraces, sculptures and water features.

When The Beach Club at The Preserve at Botany Bay debuts in 2013, head down a winding path through palm trees and ruins to access the infinity pool and beach bordered by chic private cabanas.

For more information about Timbers Resorts, contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone, 888.366.6641.

As you come in for a landing in Colorado en route to one of the Timbers Resorts private residence clubs like One Steamboat Place, The Sebastian - Vail, The Timbers Club in Snowmass or Dancing Bear Aspen, you can’t help but fall in love with the breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. Therefore, it’s only fitting that you take along some of the world’s best mountain climbing books, which provide awe-inspiring looks into the danger and glory of climbing the world’s highest peaks. Here are five of our favorites:

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Into Thin Air has been one of the most popular books about climbing Mount Everest for more than a decade. The book is the author’s account of successfully summitting the world’s highest mountain while examining what mistakes led to five fellow climbers losing their lives. These events in May 1996 have become a significant part of Everest’s history and lore. Guide Anatoli Boukreev wrote a competing account of the events, The Climb, after taking exception to Krakauer’s portrayal of him. Be warned though — once you start this book, you won't be able to put it down until you've finished it. Timbers Resorts tie-in: Neal Beidleman who was a guide on the famed 1996 climb is an Aspen, Colorado, resident and friend to Timbers Resorts.

No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks by David Roberts and Ed Viesturs
There are only 14 mountains on the planet higher that 8,000 meters, and mountaineering legend Ed Viesturs set out to climb all of them without the aid of bottled oxygen. It took Viesturs 18 years to accomplish the task before publishing this memoir in 2007. To be inspired by one of the world’s most incredible achievements (and men) No Shortcuts to the Top is the perfect vacation read. Timbers Resorts tie-in: In 2008, One Steamboat Place brought Viesturs to town for a slideshow presentation from his 8,000-meter peak quest, which drew a full house at the Community Center. Ski mountaineer Chris Davenport of Aspen, Colorado, opened the presentation with an account from his "Ski the 14ers" project where he skied all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks in a record-setting time of one year.

Annapurna: The First Conquest of an 8,000-Meter Peak by Maurice Herzog and Conrad Anker
Annapurna claims the life of more than half of those who attempt to reach its summit. Not only is it 8,100 meters high, but the approach is one of the most treacherous in the Himalayas. All of this makes the tale of the men who reached Annapurna’s top for the first time in 1950 – without oxygen or modern climbing equipment – all the more amazing. This book is Maurice Herzog’s account of the climb, dictated from his hospital bed after barely escaping the mountain with his life. Timbers Resorts tie-in: Conrad Anker was the keynote speaker at the 2010 5Point Film Festival sponsored by Timbers Resorts in our hometown of Carbondale, Colorado.

Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home by Nando Parrado and Vince Rause
On October 13 1972, a plane crashed in the Andes carrying 45 people including a Chilean rugby team. After being unconscious for three days then waiting for a rescue that never came, Nando Parrado led a group of survivors 45 miles through the Andes to find help, then lived to tell the tale.

Savage Summit: The True Stories of the First Five Women Who Climbed K2, the World's Most Feared Mountain by Jennifer Jordan
K2 is not as high as Everest, but it's far more dangerous. At the time this book was published in 2005, only six women had reached its summit, compared to Everest’s 90. Three died on the way back down. Jennifer Jordan tells the stories of these courageous women.

Got a favorite arm-chair mountaineering book we didn't list? Share it with us in the comments section below.

For more information about Timbers Resorts, contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone, 888.366.6641.

Set in the heart of town, Dancing Bear Aspen is an exquisitely sophisticated, artfully decorated and endlessly seductive Private Residence Club. The décor and amenities surprise at every turn, from a private movie theater to the spectacular mountain-view rooftop lounge. Dancing Bear Aspen is quintessentially Aspen, and undeniably "One-of-a-Kind."

Take a video tour of the property and discover all that it has to offer...

To discover the exquisite lifestyle at Dancing Bear Aspen, visit our site, stop by our Sales Gallery at 411 South Monarch Street in Aspen, or contact us via phone at 970.925.2510 or via email at [email protected].

Autumn in Aspen is a spectacular season to relish all that this international destination has to offer. As the leaves on the trees transition from green to gold, enjoy the stunning natural beauty on the hillsides and surrounding town.  Throughout September and October, the rivers are prime for fly-fishing; trails beckon for hiking, biking and horseback adventures; and restaurants offer prix fixe menus with attentive service – all intriguing reasons to plan a visit to this special mountain town, home to Dancing Bear Aspen.

To discover the exquisite lifestyle at Dancing Bear Aspen, visit our site, stop by our Sales Gallery at 411 South Monarch Street in Aspen, or contact us via phone at 970.925.2510 or via email at [email protected].