Colorado Summer :
Yoga & Music Festivals
Beethoven in a Barn while Drinking Beer
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the finest restaurants in New England—go for it! I’m glad I did. Top it all off with the Oreo cookie chocolate parfait and a nice frothy cappuccino and you'll be ready for a romantic stroll around the village.
Breakfast 8 to 10:30 a.m.
Dinner from 6 to 9 p.m.
Closed for dinner Mondays and Tuesdays.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN:
Million Dollar Highway
In this part of the country, to get anywhere, you need to have a rental car and the patience to drive long distances. We’re off to Ouray, Colorado next. Take Rte. 145 to Rte. 62 until you hit Rte. 550 going south.
When I first heard of the “Million Dollar Highway,” I thought they had made a mistake because one of its most famous residents that live alongside it is a billionaire! You may have heard of him—Ralph Lauren and his "Double RL" Ranch. It’s amazing. Forty-five miles of perfectly manicured fence like only Ralph can spec out lines of property. If you get the chance, stop along the road to see the famous teepees that are in all the RL ads. I did and I could have sworn that I saw Darryl Hannah too. Actually, the road got its name from a weary, dusty traveler that vowed never to take the gravel road again, even if you paid him a million dollars. No worries, today it’s a beautifully paved road that goes from Silverton to Ouray. The journey offers unbelievable southwestern Colorado vistas at every turn. Caution! It twists and turns and eighteen- wheelers share U.S. Rte.550 with you. Be careful!
WHAT TO DO:
Four Wheeling Capital of the World
Ouray is an old gold mining town located in the San Juan Mountains. In fact, some Florida entrepreneurs bought the old Tom Walsh mine and struck the mother lode again! Not so bad when gold’s over $1,000 an ounce.
Off-Road Jeep Tour
This was billed as a little scary, but fear not! We went through On-Road Tours, which is the largest and most reliable company that offers excursions. You’ll board a customized four-wheel-drive, open air Swiss Army red jeep that holds up to twenty people.
The trip will take you up into the rugged mining country above Ouray. You will see the remnants of historic gold mines and, at the summit of the mountain, walk through fields of some of the most beautiful wildflowers (including the state flower of Colorado - a white and lavender columbine). We also saw the famous Coors beer waterfall that appears in all of their ads and on their label. Yankee Boy Basin is the most popular tour.
Prices: $60.00 per adult and $35.00 per child 4-12.
Contact: 1-866-990-5337
WHERE TO STAY:
Black Bear B & B
We stayed at a quaint little bed and breakfast called the Black Bear Manor. It’s a comfortable place to relax outside on the patio, sip some tea, and plan your next adventure. I especially liked the third story library with its 360-degree view of the river, surrounding countryside and the town below. Breakfast is served each morning and they were even kind enough to blend up a protein shake “on the fly” for us.
Rates: $99-199
Rooms: 9
Seasons: Year-round
Contact: (970) 325-4219
ON TO CRESTED BUTTE:
Crested Butte Music Festival
From Ouray, take Rte. 550 north to Rte. 50 east. Plan to drive two and a half hours to get there. The music festival attracts some of the most talented musicians and conductors from all over the world. Jens Georg Bachmann stepped up to lead the gala performance at the last moment. The venue was as interesting as it was creative. The event was billed as listening to Beethoven in a barn while drinking locally micro-brewed beer.
The Ein and Lynch Barn located just south of town hosted the event in their indoor riding ring which accommodated about five hundred people along with thirty horses and some musical barn swallows.
Bachmann conducted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in a very unusual way. He walked the audience through each movement and explained its significance as each section of the orchestra highlighted the key parts. Breaking down one of the most renowned musical arrangements in history this way shed an enormous ray of light on Beethoven’s intent. At one point, the obo and flute were playing mockingbird’s calls at the river’s bank. The little barn swallow seemed to steal the show when suddenly, at the exact moment of the mockingbird movement, he belted in some notes of his own and the conductor halted the performance to give him a bow and gracious encore request.
Festival Dates: August 12th– 14th, 2011
Contact: 970 349 0619
Mountain Biking, Crested Butte