Things to note:

This year's dry summer is rewriting the usual fall foliage calendar — and if the early signs hold, peak color in the Vail Valley is going to show up quickly but not last too long. Denver's FOX31 Pinpoint Weather team is now calling for the highest elevations to peak around the second weekend of September, with the broader wave hitting our valley by late September into early October, as drought stress pushes leaves to turn and drop ahead of schedule.

Click here for our break down on what the earlier, drier pattern means for vibrancy this year, the free tools worth bookmarking if you want to track the color yourself, and our picks for where to catch the best views — from the classic Shrine Pass Road drive to quieter spots like Tigiwon Road and the trails above Beaver Creek. Bottom line: don't wait too long to book lodging or plan your trip.
Next issue we will pull together info from a few sources to have a peek at this coming winter’s snow forecast.

Avon's building boom is showing no signs of slowing, and the latest proof is rising right along the Eagle River at The Kestrel. This 24-unit townhome project from Wahlen Properties is nearly through its final phase, offering three-story homes with private elevators, oversized heated garages, and top-floor living spaces designed to capture mountain and river views. Recent sales have topped $3.3 million, but with no clubhouse, pool, or on-site amenities, buyers are paying for location and design rather than resort trappings.

The Kestrel is just one piece of a larger transformation underway on Avon's east end — with Frontgate Avon nearly finished and Skjol breaking ground nearby, the long-dormant Traer Creek parcels are finally coming to life. Whether you're house-hunting or just curious about the valley's changing skyline, this week's issue takes a closer look at what's being built, who it's for, and why this stretch of Avon has become one of the busiest corners in the valley.

The Insider has been taking full advantage of the gorgeous fall weather and putting in appearances at the Oktoberfest celebrations in Beaver Creek and Lionshead! It wraps up in Vail Village next weekend and we’ll be there - of course!

Jean-Claude Moritz is back with another Stammtisch tale from growing up in Vail — this one about the summer he and his friends turned the Children's Fountain into an impromptu bubble bath. A quick trip to the old Craig's Market for a bottle of dish soap, a dump into the fountain, and suddenly every tourist kid in Vail Village was diving into a five-foot wall of suds. It's a nostalgic (and slightly apologetic) look back at the wild freedom of an '80s Vail childhood — and why the fountain looks a lot different today.

👉 Read the full story: Why Take a Shower When You Can Bathe in the Children's Fountain?