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Make the most of mud season with activities for you and your family

Jennifer Geisman
Special to the Daily
Local band The Platonics will play at the second-annual Eagle Jamboree at The Dusty Boot from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 15.
Cherie Chavis | Special to the Daily |

Know the weather

Offseason weather is tricky and can change in a matter of seconds. Although you are no longer getting snow reports on your phone, it’s wise to sign up for Travel Alerts from the Colorado Department of Transportation (cotrip.org). The up-to-the-minute travel alerts can determine whether you drive over Vail Pass for a day of outlet shopping in Silverthorne or hunker down and catch a movie Edwards’ Riverwalk Theatre.

Mud season: As a local, you either love it or hate it. If you live here in the Vail Valley, then the offseason is now at your doorstep, but that shouldn’t stop you from continuing your active lifestyle or taking advantage of what the valley has to offer once the powder hounds abandon the mountain.

Things to do



with your family

1. On Sunday, May 15, local band The Platonics will play at the second-annual Eagle Jamboree at The Dusty Boot from 2 to 6 p.m. The band has an artistic repertoire ranging from pop to rock to dance to country and features all local musicians: Nicole Greener on lead vocals, Alan Chavis on lead guitar and vocals, Stacey Jones on guitar and vocals, Chris Weather on bass and vocals, Kelly Moser on keyboard and vocals and Brian Brugger on drums and percussion.

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The Jamboree will benefit Mountain Tots Preschool and offers a little something for everyone, including a silent auction, food and drink specials, games and bouncy castle, as well as the live music. Find the Eagle Jamboree on Facebook to learn more.

2. Stop by Zibby’s Ice Cream on Main Street in Minturn, now officially open daily from noon to 8 p.m. for the spring and summer seasons. For its seasonal kickoff, the old-fashioned ice cream shop offers signature flavors including Sweet Cream, Oreo, Lemon Crunch, Cap’n Crunch, Coffee, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Oatmeal Creme Pie and Dulce de Leche. Visit http://www.zibbysicecream.com or call 970-470-4033 to learn more.

3. Your four-legged friends are part of the family, too, so consider getting your pooch amped for summer by signing him or her up for one of the DockDogs competitions at the upcoming GoPro Mountain Games, Thursday, June 9, through Sunday, June 12. Competitions include Speed retrieve, extreme vertical and outdoor big air, and now is a good time to start training.

Have a dog that’s not too keen on water? Consider the Rocky Dog Trail Run instead. The run teams up runners and their furry friends for a 5-kilometer run or one-mile run or walk on and around Vail Mountain, with a start and finish in Golden Peak. Sign up for DockDogs events ($30) or the Rocky Dog Trail Run ($35) at http://www.mountaingames.com.

Things to do

outdoors

1. School’s in session at Minturn Anglers. Held every weekend from now through November, the fly-fishing class is a perfect activity for the whole family. Minturn Anglers is offering an all-inclusive Vail Valley Special for $89 per person. The only thing you need to purchase is the tackle.

The fly-fishing class offers a Saturday classroom portion that will teach you the basics and a Sunday hands-on session, in which you will put your knowledge to the test on local rivers, streams and lakes. Classes begin promptly at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and between 8 and 9 a.m. on Sundays. Call 970-642-3014 or visit http://www.minturn anglers.com to learn more.

2. Jumpstart your mountain biking season. As the mountain biking trails begin to dry up, the Mountain Bike Eagle website (mountainbikeeagle.com) is an excellent source for as-it’s-happening trail information and conditions, written by locals. If you have reception, then you can access the website from your phone and find your exact coordinates.

3. Join Walking Mountains Science Center on a free nature hike, in which you and your family will be led by one of the center’s naturalists on a gentle, educational hike through aspen forests and streamside communities. The hikes will teach you about the ecology and animal adaptations to the mountain environment.

Walks are conducted on snowshoes, depending on snow levels (snowshoes are provided). Reservations aren’t required. For more information and to view the full schedule of hikes and other programs offered by Walking Mountains, please visit http://www.walkingmountains.org.

Things to do

with your significant other

1. After a brief hiatus, 4 Eagle Ranch is bringing back its First Thursday Country Western Line Dancing, held on the first Thursday of each month. Get ready for Country Jam (Thursday, June 16, to Sunday, June 19 in Grand Junction) and learn a few line-dancing tricks from the 4 Eagle Ranch experts from 6 to 7 p.m., and then continue to kick up your heels until 10:30 p.m. There is a $15 cover charge, a cash bar and an a la carte buffet. Call 970-926-3372 or visit 4eagleranch.com to learn more.

2. Sometimes, a change in scenery is good. The short drive to Breckenridge will certainly pay off when you take advantage of the Breckenridge Dining Passport. The $10 passport is valid for two people, and the proceeds fund scholarships awarded to local students by the Breckenridge Restaurant Association.

From now until Wednesday, May 25, stop by Apres Handcrafted Libations on Main Street and enjoy $10 Passport Beer Flight and $10 Passport Whiskey Flight. Other participating restaurants include Downstairs at Eric’s, Kenosha Steakhouse, Park & Main, Twist and more. To view the complete list of dining specials available with the Breckenridge Dining Passport, visit http://www.breckenridgediningguide.com/our-events.

3. Last-minute luxury: Looking for a last-minute staycation? The HotelTonight app was designed because the company “believes in a life less planned.” Featuring hotels at amazing last-minute rates anywhere in Colorado — for tonight, tomorrow or next week — the app allows you to be flexible and book a romantic rendezvous on the fly.

Things to do

just for you

1. Learn something new with continuing education courses at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards. Courses available for May include yoga, tap dancing, ceramics, art appreciation, oil painting, fly-fishing and more. For more details on available courses, visit coloradomtn.edu/campuses/edwards, or call 970-569-2900 to register.

2. Pampering during peak season can get pricey, so when the spas give back to the locals with steep discounts on services, you won’t want to miss it. Now through Friday, June 24, Allegria Spa at the Park Hyatt at Beaver Creek (970-737-4335) has launched a Your Day Your Way promotion that offers a 50-minute Swedish massage, plus the choice of 30-minute Custom Facial or Signature Pedicure.

The Four Seasons Resort Vail (970-477-8600) recently announced its Spring into Spa special, which is available through Tuesday, May 31. The Spring into Spa features a 50-minute Swedish massage and a 50-minute Ginseng Facial, as well as 20 percent off all other services (salon services excluded).

3. The offseason is the perfect opportunity for you to start on that honey do list of do-it-yourself projects around the house. Whether it’s updating your bathroom or finally putting in that kitchen backsplash, The Home Depot in Avon offers free workshops for do-it-yourselfers of all ages and experience levels.

On Saturday, May 21, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., learn to become the tiling expert you’ve always wanted to be. This workshop will teach you the skills you need to properly install a tile backsplash. The lesson will cover tile options, preparing the wall before tiling and mounting the tiles.

And, if that isn’t enough for your creative instincts, then on Sunday, May 22, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., join Home Depot experts in the Easy Bath Updates workshop, which will include skills to upgrade your bath, how to adjust plumbing connections and how to set in the vanity top and caulk it into place. Learn more by calling 970-748-9483.

Arts and entertainment editor Krista Driscoll contributed to this story. Send questions or comments to kdriscoll@vaildaily.com.


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