Aspen Colorado

Posted on May 9, 2021May 9, 2021 by Dusty Roads

Aspen Colorado

Now there’s a familiar name. Hearing someone say they are going to Aspen is like hearing someone say they are going to Vail. We all know what they mean. This is what google has to say about Aspen: Aspen, in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, is a ski resort town and year-round destination for outdoor recreation. It’s also known for high-end restaurants and boutiques, ( read expensive $$$$) and landmarks like the Wheeler Opera House, built in 1889 during the area’s silver mining boom. The Wheeler-Stallard House is a local history museum set in a 19th-century, Queen Anne–style home, while the Aspen Art Museum displays contemporary artworks.

Google also says you should plan to spend around $235 per day on your vacation in Aspen, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, $68 on meals for one day and $45 on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Aspen for a couple is $271.

I can cut off the hotel cost because I will be staying in my time share.

Speaking of Time Share- Which resort is an option?

There appear to be several options for Time Share resorts. The one I like the best is Shadow Mountain Lodge at Aspen. This is what Diamond Resorts has to say about it:

Along with a great location, the resort offers a heated outdoor pool/Jacuzzi and a sauna. From late November to early April, skiing is the undisputed favorite outdoor sport. Summer in Aspen brings hiking, Jeep tours, horseback riding, and biking. Lakes, rivers, and streams offer gold-medal fly fishing, boating, and white-water rafting. Aspen also has an18-hole golf course, several tennis courts, and many cultural activities.

We knew Skiing was the top activity but it’s nice to see the other summertime options as well.

A possible Itinerary

So what might we do on a sunny, summer Saturday in Aspen? I located a suggested Saturday action plan

SUMMER SATURDAY

Saturdays in the summertime are always jam packed with fun! Start your day at the farmer’s market and finish it by showing off your billiards skills!

8 am – 10 am

Pick up a coffee from Spring Cafe and stroll through the Aspen Saturday Market. The freshest produce goes early in the morning, so don’t delay. Also for sale are a variety of homemade jewelry, crafts, and clothing.

11 am

Head out to the Aspen Animal Shelter, just past the Airport Business Center (ABC), and borrow a dog to take on a walk with you on the Rio Grande Trail. Afterward, enjoy lunch at the ABC. Delicious eateries include Roxy’s Market, Franck Therion Café, and Louis Swiss Pastries.

2-3 pm

SUP Northstar Preserve. Rent a SUP from one of our local outfitters and then put in at the South Gate to float the flat water and take in the stunning scenery.

7 pm

Dine al fresco on one of Aspen’s many patios. Let the children play in the fountain or at the “tooth” park on the corner of Wagner Park, where you can find clowns offering balloon animals or face painting for added entertainment.

8:30 pm

Head over to Paradise Bakery for ice cream on the corner while listening to the Aspen Music Festival Student’s play.

10 pm

You can show off your billiards skills during a game of pool at Eric’s before heading over to Bootsy Bellows to dance the night away.

Not what I would expect from a Colorado vacation but I guess it fits with the Aspen Vibe.

Mystic Dunes Resort

Posted on October 9, 2017October 8, 2017 by Dusty Roads | 2 Comments

Mystic Dunes Resort and Golf Club

Mystic Dunes is a family resort in Orlando Fl. I’m creating this post for my sister. Sandy always wants to see what the resorts are like and where I stay when I travel. Since I am a Timeshare owner through Diamond Resorts International I’ve always found the resorts to be top notch.

Mystic Dunes is no exception. Its located close to all the family attractions, Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld. If you try to squeeze everything in you’ll be singing “And I Had The Time of my Life”.

Mystic Dunes and Hurricane Irma

My scheduled trip coincided with Hurricane Irma’s visit to Florida. With the Orlando Airport closed it was clear my trip was on hold. A few phone calls later my new dates were 2 days after Irma. I had no idea what to expect. Was I headed to a disaster area? The Golf course was closed but not because of the hurricane. It was just getting a face lift.

My home away from home at Mystic Dunes

No Phone, no Cable, no Internet

Living area of the condo at Mystic Dunes

The first thing I noticed when I arrived was that reception had no air conditioning. The second was the large hole in the ceiling. But the resort personnel were intrepid. They sat at card tables with lap tops checking in the guests. My unit had A/C. in fact it was downright cold but the tables and chairs for the deck were in the corner of the living room. The phones, cable and internet were down but expected to be back on sometime before I left.

Amenities

I didn’t spend much time at the resort but I made a check of the grounds to see what damage there was. A few trees were down. Grounds keepers were busy cutting them up and repairing the decorative fountains. The club house restaurant, Kenzie’s, was open for business.

The pool was clean and waters flowing. Even the grill area was all set up and ready to go. By the time my brief vacation wrapped up, the hole in the ceiling at the reception area was repaired and the A/C was on for them. They were still on generators but it was business as usual. Kudos to the dedicated staff. They made sure the hardships of Hurricane Irma never touched their guests.

Concierge

Posted on May 6, 2014May 6, 2014 by Dusty Roads

I got a phone call. The caller identified herself as Jessie from Bent Creek Golf Village, the concierge. My first thought was that there was a problem with my reservation. I figured that would be par for the course (pun intended) after the way Smokey’s cancer went so I braced myself disappointing news.

To my surprise she wanted to know if I got her email with upcoming events. I confirmed that I had so she went on to welcome me, telling me how much she was looking forward to meeting me. She wanted to know if I had any questions but then she surprised me once again.

She gave me her phone number and told me to program it into the phone. She said she liked to do that if she knew she had someone traveling alone, especially a woman traveling alone. She told me any problems en route to just give her a call and if she could help she would!

All of the Diamond Resort properties that I’ve ever stayed at have a concierge desk. Often I’ve gotten a call from them once I’ve checked in making sure everything is satisfactory. They are very useful for tickets, often with discounts and they know which places, from attractions to restaurants, to recommend. But I’ve never had one go so far as to call me at home in advance of a trip. I think that’s a pretty special touch.

If you saw an episode of Undercover Boss you might not find it so unusual. The Diamond Resort slogan is “We love to say yes.” In the episode on Diamond Resorts the extra touch was what the boss was looking for.

I will have to be sure to fill out a comment card when I get there and give Jessie some high praise for going the extra mile. Do you think it might be a southern thing?