It's That Time Again!

It happens every fall—the collective buzz that ripples through the Vail Valley as locals start counting sleeps instead of days. The wax is hot, the skis are tuned, and suddenly everyone’s got that unmistakable “it’s time” twinkle in their eye.

Vail Mountain kicked things off on November 14, unleashing another winter of pure alpine joy. There’s nothing quite like that first chair ride of the season—faces grinning beneath frosted goggles, friends reunited in lift lines, and the satisfying click of boots into bindings echoing through the crisp mountain air. It’s part ritual, part reunion, and all adrenaline.

Just as the legs started to remember what skiing actually feels like, Beaver Creek joined the party on November 30—a few days later than intended as Mother Nature is taking a little while to wake up from her fall nap! But have no fear, afternoons punctuated by warm chocolate chip cookies, fresh from the oven, have been in full swing since the day before Thanksgiving.

From Vail’s sweeping back bowls to Beaver Creek’s buttery groomers, the valley comes alive with that infectious, can’t-stop-smiling energy that only ski season brings. Cafés fill with goggle-tan chatter, the base villages come back to life after a little fall “nap”, and even the most jaded of us suddenly find themselves humming “let it snow.”

So, dig out the puffy, dust off the helmet, and get ready to chase those first turns. Its that time again - see you at the base!

Dana Gumber & Mike Connolly

The early part of the ski season is full of some traditional events as we gear up for the holidays.

Vail has some outdoor music events including Friday afternoon concerts at Checkpoint Charlie in the Village, and Wednesday evening silent discoes in Lionshead - check out Discover Vail for more info.

And because it’s Vail, there’s not one but two Christmas tree lighting events - it happened in Lionshead on November 29, and the next one is on December 7 in Vail Village.

There is also a Kris Kringle Market in Vail from Noon to 5pm each day from December 11 through December 14th.

The Vilar – the latest Warren Miller ski movie gets two showings on December 4, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, a home grown Colorado band, plays a gig on December 5, and Vail Friends of Dance present the Nutcracker Ballet’s four performances between December 12-14.

An Insider’s Favorite

There is no question that Fattoria in Avon is one of our favorite dining out spots. Tucked in what locals affectionately (if somewhat sarcastically) call “the boat building” just off the main roundabout, Fattoria delivers the kind of dining experience that feels both elevated and warmly authentic.

Whether you sit at the bar (which is our go to) or reserve a table, you’re transported to an Italian trattoria —with a Rocky Mountain twist. The restaurant’s name, Fattoria, means “farm” in Italian, and the reason behind it runs deeper than just branding.

Fattoria grows its own produce in a greenhouse and garden that is a proverbial stone’s throw away from the restaurant.  The chefs incorporate that harvest into the Italian-inspired menu which sources as much as possible from within Colorado.

It is a sister restaurant to the Northside Kitchen and, as such, has a spectacularly diverse collection of fine wines to choose from.

The menu is at once simple, but tantalizingly difficult to choose from – there are no poor options!  Our favorites are the Polenta al Funghi to start followed by the Pappardelle Bolognese (a combination of beef, pork, and veal in the sauce).

Fattoria has white-tablecloth touches and an open kitchen aesthetic, but it oozes a perfect upscale-casual vibe.

A couple insider tips – reservations are highly recommended (in the peak of winter and summer it is nearly impossible to get a table just walking in) – you can find them on Open Table.  The bar is small, just 8 seats, so if you are only two and want to experience the wit and service from Kyle behind the bar, think about going early to beat the rush.

And parking can be challenging.  The top-secret tip is that after 6pm the garage under the building is available – spaces reserved during the day for the office suites are first come first served in the evening.  Worst case is to go across the road to the parking lot shared by Pazzo’s, Local Joe’s, and Ein Prosit – you get 3 hours free by scanning the QR code and registering your car.

Put this place on your must do list for your next visit to the valley – we’ll see you there!

Fattoria - 48 East Beaver Creek Boulevard, Avon, CO 81620. 970.688.5378

If you are thinking it’s too late to plan a trip to the valley for the holidays, think again!

Some great private residences as well as hotels still have availability for some or all of the holiday window.

But you don’t want to wait too long - as the snow cycle begins to gather steam we are certain that what is still available will get scooped up.

As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, I will be posting options for private residences and luxury hotel stays this winter on my Facebook page at Connolly Travel, as well as in this space every month. To that end, there are some great options available with the folks at Ten Vail -

225 Forest Road - is a 4 bedroom + house that can sleep 10-12 people. It is located on the east side of Forest Road in Vail, a short walk down into the Village for ski access, shopping, and dining. There are nights available between December 18 and December 27.

2 North Fairway Drive - is a 7 bedroom home in the Enclave neighborhood of Beaver Creek, with access to skiing and Beaver Creek Village via the free on-demand resort transportation system. There are nights available between December 18 and January 3.

762 Holden Road - is a 5 bedroom home in the exclusive Holden Road/Borders Road neighborhood of Beaver Creek. Access to skiing and Beaver Creek Village is also via the free on-demand resort transportation system. There are nights available between December 18 and December 26.

Ten Vail is running some holiday specials for people that book directly, ranging from a free night to up to 15% off depending on arrival date and length of stay. Reach out to them directly on [email protected] for more info - or you can connect with me on [email protected] to explore other options. 

See you here in the valley soon!!

If you’ve been watching this space over the first few issues of the VVI, the “song remains the same”.

Preliminary October data for the valley real estate market confirms that supply in terms of new listings is still pacing ahead of 2024. The median asking price in the valley is $1.5 million and in general properties are selling for 95% of list price.

So, even with more available for sale than we have had for quite some time, prices are holding relatively steady, underpinning the long trend of real estate in the valley not just holding its value, but increasing in value over time.

The Four Seasons Resort in Vail is a highly coveted property and as such, units do not change hands very often.  5101J presents an opportunity to own a 1/12^th interest in a 2-bedroom south-facing unit (this is the only 2-bedroom unit in the fractional program).  Vail Village is at your doorstep and the exceptional standard of service of the Four Seasons makes every stay outstanding. 

4630 Vail Racquet Club Drive, Unit 15 is a charming 1 bedroom condo in the well regarded Vail Racquet Club community in East Vail. Overlooking Gore Creek, unit 15 is a platinum rated unit in the VRC’s program with access to all of the Club’s amenities - year round outdoor saline pool, fitness room and classes, tennis & pickleball courts, and more. This is a great long weekend getaway opportunity!

As always, my team and I are happy to connect and talk about opportunities to turn your “one day” view of ownership in the Vail Valley into a reality!  Please visit our website or connect with me by email at [email protected].

As much as we love Colorado and the Vail Valley, we have a little secret - we also love south Florida!

Notwithstanding the memes about Zohran Mamdani being Florida’s hottest real estate broker, south Florida is experiencing a boom in new condo development.

The West Palm Beach area is seeing it's fair share of this development with multiple condominium residences in various stages of completion. The Vail Valley Insider has a direct connection to one such project, Nautilus 220.

Nautilus is the first part of a multi-stage development along the intercoastal waterway at the border between Lake Park and Riviera Beach. Subsequent expansions to the local marina will accompany development of a hotel and another set of condo towers, all designed to create a sort community on the northern end of West Palm Beach.

There are a plethora of on site amenities including Seahawk Prime, a David Burke restaurant, a cafe, golf simulators, fitness facilities, two swimming pools and a whole host of services and social opportunities.

We just happen to know of a 2 bedroom/2.5 bath unit on the 7th floor, overlooking the amenity level that will be available for a long-term lease after the beginning of the year. If you are interested in learning more please reach out to [email protected], or [email protected].

And just because so many of you have asked… 🤥… We created a schwag shop. It’s got just a few things in it at the moment, but check back from time to time as we will be adding more all the time!