Who’s Ready for the Breckenridge Beer Festival? Great Beer, Live Music and Spring Sunshine

The Breckenridge Beer Festival is all set and ready to go for this Saturday April 3rd, 2010 in the Main Street Station Event Center.

Do you have your tickets and lodging yet? ResortQuest Breckenridge is an official lodging sponsor and it really doesn’t get any better than this... For as little as $175 a night you can stay right next to the festival and you get discounted mugs…seriously it is the best!

The Beer Festival is presented by KSMT “The Mountain” radio station and its fifth year, the festival is hosting an awesome spring afternoon with tastings from over 20 breweries, and live music from 3 different bands. The event goes from 1pm-5pm however for all you VIP you will be allowed in at noon. Tickets info below…

Taste delicious beers from breweries such as Alaska, Avery, Breckenridge, Boulder Beer, Del Norte, Deschutes, Odell, Great Divide, Left Hand, Kona, Oskar Blues, SKA, and more! All the while great music from Chuck Prophet, Filthy Children, and Fried Grease will be shaking up the bubbles as you dance the afternoon away.

Tickets are available to purchase on-line and can be picked up at will-call along with your tasting mug. Get your tickets now because pre-sale prices expire on April 1st. And don't forget- if you stay with us you will save money!

• Beerfest Unlimited Tasting Mug is $25 pre-sale or $30 at the door. Compare to our prices...
  
• Beerfest VIP Tasting is $55 pre-sale or $75 at the door.

Have fun in the sun and sample delicious brewer's best beers! See you there!

Keystone’s Closing Weekend Fun! Come Celebrate the Close of a Great Ski Season.

Is it already that time of year when the season is coming to a close???…alas it is. Keystone’s closing weekend is April 10-11th and we are sad to see the snow go but we are excited to celebrate with the great activities planned for this closing weekend.
Closing weekend activities:

• Volcom Peanut Butter and Rail Jam: The Peanut Butter and Rail Jam is Volcom's free amateur snowboard contest series dedicated to giving something back to the kids. To do something different than the regular rail jams, Volcom put their heads together and came up with a fresh format. Instead of having rails or features set up in a row, three rails are dug in side-by-each to create a single, large rail zone. The event is absolutely free, on a first-come first-serve basis and boasts tons of free prizes and PB&J sandwiches! Also, everyone who enters walks away with a Volcom PBRJ shirt plus other goodies. See the KeystoneResort.com to enter or for more info.

• Don’t miss the Free Concert with Seven Mary Three & Salem performing from 4-7pm. The Concert will be in River Run Village with beverages, alcohol and food sold á la carte. You will get a Free T-shirt with a purchase of $30 or more from any River Run Merchant. Show your receipt at the merchant tent from 5:00 - 6:00 PM!

Keystone may be closing but Breckenridge and the surrounding resorts like A-Basin are still rockin hard for the spring. Get in your last runs and stay with us at Breckenridge and receive great spring lodging deals for all of their Spring Massive celebrations.

Earth Hour Sat March 27th at 8:30. How will you participate?

Earth Hour is here again and we are ready to show our support by turning off as many lights and work stations in the ResortQuest Breckenridge properties on Saturday night at 8:30 pm. We will be asking all of our guests to participate as well and turn off any unnecessary lights in their condo or townhome they are staying in!

Earth Hour has recruited millions of people around the world along with 4000 cities in 88 countries who have officially switched off the power, to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

This 2010 effort is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet. Earth Hour is to show the world that there can be a solution to the threat of global warming and it is possible through collective action.


Need some reminders of why we need to protect our one and only planet… see the videos below.




Remember that you can continue this energy saving practice on a daily basis, it is not only saving precious energy, lowering your energy footprint but you will also save money and quite a bit of it.
They say that for every household who unplugs appliances like the toaster or hairdryers on a daily basis and turns off lights or the tv when they leave a room, they can save lots of money.

Be part of the effort! Go to Earth Hour and sign up yourself or sign up your business. The best way to help the effort is to spread the word!

Check out the before and after photos of some of the world's most famous monuments going dark for Earth Hour.

Here is an awesome link to a power calculator so you can see what kind of power you are using and how clean it is. Do your part to help change the planet's energy use and our ideas about it.

Kid’s Easter Weekend Party in Breckenridge 2010.

Once again the Breckenridge Ski Resort is hosting the Free Easter Celebrations all weekend April 3 & 4th, 2010. This is a great weekend to get up to the mountains with the whole family for two days of awesome kid’s and family events! And the best part is that it is all Free!

Play in the Interactive Kid's Village at the Base of Peak 8, with face painting, Mini Snow Sculpture Challenge, Easter Egg Hunt at the Kid's Tent and Breck's Mascot Riperoo hosting a Mini World Cup with Prizes. And the Easter Bunny will be making appearances all weekend! This event is part of Breck's Spring Massive events. See the full Spring Massive Event Calendar.

Saturday April 3rd: 10:00am -4:00 pm

• SnowActive Kid's Activities: Kids Tent Base of Peak 8
  Snow painting, egg photo frame making, snowshoe obstacle course.
  
• Ripperoo's Mini World Cup: Free Event: Swinger Run on Peak 8
  At this race everyone is a winner. Just come to the start gate any time throughout the day with a parent and get to see how fast you race! The win prizes from Ripperoo!

Saturday 11:00am-1:00pm

• Avalanche Dog Expo: Top of Colorado Chair on Peak 8
  Meet and pet the Breckenridge Avalanche Dogs! There will be obedience demonstrations and Avalanche Dog Drills all led by the Patrol. And photo opportunities will be available.

Sunday April 4th:

• 6 am Sunrise Easter Service: Ten Mile Station at Peak 9
  Take the Quicksilver Super6 chair at 6:00am. So ski equipment allowed up and be ready for an early morning service.
  

Sunday 10:00am -4:00 pm

• SnowActive Kid's Activities: Kids Tent Base of Peak 8.
  Easter Egg hunts on the hour every hour with visits from the Easter Bunny.
• Ripperoo's Mini World Cup: Free Event: Swinger Run on Peak 8
  At this race everyone is a winner. Just come to the start gate any time throughout the day with a parent and race! The win prizes from Rippero.

For even better money saving vacation see our lodging deals with ResortQuest Breckenridge.

The Best Things About Spring Skiing at Breckenridge & Keystone, CO

Spring has sprung and it's time for Spring Skiing! Our gorgeous high altitude days are filled with sunshine, fun “mashed potatoes” snow conditions, and cold beverages. We tried to pin point what was the best part about spring skiing but we just couldn’t pick- we love it all! Check out our favorites and let us know what your favorite part is by leaving a comment!

Get yourself some spring skiing and save money while you do it! Stay with us at ResortQuest Breckenridge or Keystone and receive great savings on Spring Ski Packages!

The Ten Best Things about Spring Skiing:

Slushy Spring Snow: The snow has been freezing at night and melting in the day resulting in fun wet slushy snow referred to by many names such as corn snow, mashed potatoes, sand snow, or for those boaters, spring run-off.

The Ski Resort Turns into a Beach: After an amazingly beautiful day in the spring sun you plant yourself in a chair for a beer, some bbq, and some rays surrounded by your good friends! Can’t go wrong with these celebrations (at A-Basin)!

Spring Ski = Cheap Tickets. Lift Tickets are cheap this time of year, there are less crowds and you get great spring ski packages with lodging!


The Warmer the Weather, the Lighter the Gear: You finally get to wear all your lightweight performance gear that is usually hidden under a few layers in mid- winter! So light and free!

Sunshine! The layers come off and the pale white skin of winter sees the sun again. It literally turns everyone into lazy, sleepy, happy lizards basking in the sun!

Spring Massive Celebrations- Be entertained for weeks with Breckenridge’s party to welcome in the Spring season. Watch awesome big air competitions, hear live music, & enjoy the first beer festival of the new season. See our full schedule of events.

Goggle Tans: A.k.a. Raccoon Eyes. This is a sign of a true spring skier who can’t get enough of the slushy snow and sunshine.


Blue Bird Days: The sky is a deep blue with not a single cloud in the sky!



Bikini Skiers: Some take the removal of layers a step farther than the rest! Don’t forget the sunscreen and don’t fall! Both will result in a painful spring skiing.


Last Chance for Snow! Get in your last runs of the season before it’s too late! You’ll have to wait all summer long…

St. Patrick’s Celebrations are at High Altitude in Breckenridge and Keystone, CO.

The Green luck of the Irish is here today in Breckenridge and Keystone for St. Patrick's Day. The green beer is keeping the town afloat in the beginning of melty spring conditions and the Irish spirit is making for delicious drinking and eating.

For all day festivities in Breckenridge head to the two Irish Pubs in Town, Napper Tandy's and Burke & Riley's. You’ll get all the Irish you want from traditional Irish breakfasts, Irish music and dancers and green beer to bar specials and revelry.

Burke & Riley's features bagpipers, drummers, a live Irish Band from Denver named Canned Haggis, Irish step dancers, a DJ for late night, Irish breakfast, Irish lunch with corned beef and cabbage and all kinds of giveaways.

Napper Tandy's “Corned Beef & Chaos” Bar opens at 11 a.m. The Bill Byrd Band plays from 1-4 p.m., Irish dancers take the stage at 5 p.m., and DJ Stavros takes over at night.

Also pub crawl your way to MotherLoaded Tavern, for car bombs, The Whale's Tail, Bubba Gump’s, for jell-o shots, shot luge, and shrimp eating contest, and The Park Avenue Pub will have drink specials (and green beer) all night long,

If you are in Keystone, the Goat Soup & Whiskey continues its St. Patty's Day four-day Bash, which started with Seneca, with American Beauty at 10 p.m. Rob Eaton of Dark Star Orchestra and former members of Shakedown Street play Grateful Dead all night. Also, the Out of Bounds Saloon hosts a country dance night from 6-10 p.m.

Check out more events happening in Breckenridge this spring and check out ResortQuest’s spring lodging deals for Breckenridge or Keystone that will make your vacation even better.

Banff Film Festival Stop in Breckenridge, CO.

Banff Film Festival will be adding a wild element to this year’s spring break in Breckenridge. Nine adrenaline packed, gorgeous films will be shown about rock climbing, ice climbing, speed flying, skiing and mountain biking! The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center is hosting this screening being held at the Breckenridge River Walk Center on March 19th at 7:30.

The Banff Centre, located in the heart of Banff National Park in Canada, hosts the film festival. The mission of the Banff Centre is to inspiring artists and leaders from around the world to create and perform new works of art, explore ideas and share skills.

The Banff film festival receives over 300 films from over 35 countries around the globe and they manage to narrow it down to 55 films! From there, an international jury choose the best films, awarding prizes in eight categories.

If you haven’t bought you tickets yet call the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (970) 453-6422 x 20, or marci@boec.org. General admission is $20 and it includes a drink ticket for a draft beer or soda, and a chance to win door prizes. Reserved seating, including a private reception, is $75. All proceeds benefit the BOEC.

ResortQuest Breckenridge still has great lodging deals for spring break if you are planning your trip to Breckenridge!

It’s a Spring Paradise – March Events in Keystone, CO

Spring is beginning to show here in the mountains and with Spring comes exceptional activities for the sunny weather. Keystone is a town that caters to many different visitors, skiers/boarders and travelers and there are events that make each a happy camper. Do not miss out on some of these high altitude events going on around Keystone this March that will make for a fabulous spring vacation for the whole family. ResortQuest also has the perfect spring lodging deals to make that Spring trip even better.

Common and Fun Occurrences:

• The Swing Crew at Last Lift Bar: Every Saturday
  Every Saturday head to the to the Mountain House base area for some apres ski festivities and live music from the Swing Crew every Saturdays throughout the rest of the season. The Last Lift Bar is located in the newly revamped Mountain House base area. There is also free parking in this base area in the Pika Lot.

• Ski with a Ranger: Every Friday at 10am
  Have you ever really thought about how a ski resort comes to be? Well this interactive guided interpretive tours are for the purpose of highlighting the resources of the National Forest and the resort’s environmental commitments. Volunteer Rangers guide a 45-minute ski or snowboard tour down an intermediate trail on Dercum Mountain at Keystone Ski Resort. Participants meet at the River Run Gondola at 10:00 a.m. on Fridays from Friday, December 18 2009 through Friday, April 2, 2010. The Ski With a Ranger tour is free to participants, but a lift ticket and at least intermediate skiing ability are required. Each tour follows the naturalist guide through several planned stops on the mountain to learn about topics of interest.Topics include, but are not limited to: Local Wildlife, Life cycle of the Mountain, Pine Beetle,Tree Types and Identification, Avalanche Awareness, Local History, Resort Environmental Programs

Don’t Miss Events:

• Kidtopia: March 18-21st
  Not all ski resorts are kid and family friendly however Keystone is an exception to this, especially during their Kidtopia weekends that a kid’s dream come true. These special festivals are designed just for the wee-ones! Play all day at the Kidtopia Activities Center for winter crafts, take the whole family to race at the NASTAR Family race center, squeal at the glow in the dark Skate Night, hang out with Smokey the Bear & the avalanche dogs, go disco tubing, eat yummy bbq cowboy style and build the biggest snow fort of your life. Parents don’t be too jealous! See full schedule .
  
  

• Betty Fest: March 27-28
  Betty Fest brings together women for two days of skiing and riding in a fun, non-intimidating environment. This program includes extensive on-hill training on Keystone’s Ski and Ride School’s trails, video analysis and discussions about nutrition, women’s specific concerns and equipment. All women’s programs are taught by PSIA – certified, women instructors, including Annie Black – Colorado’s Ski Instructor of the year – and each group is small and supportive.

• Dave Attell in In Breckenridge: March 18th 8pm River Walk Center $27:
  Don’t miss this great performance hosted by the Comedy Works in Breckenridge, Co of Comedian Dave Attell. He is the host and writer of Comedy Central's Insomniac with Dave Attell. The hit series is a travelogue of after-hours experiences in cities across the country. Laugh the night away with this hilarious comedian.

Usher in Spring in style with some high altitude events! Book your spring vacation now and receive great Keystone lodging deals and more.

1 Travel Tip for a Light & Cheap Ski Vacation

There are a lot of factors that go into the vacation that you are so anxiously awaiting. We at ResortQuest have one tip that can greatly minimize your stress and save you money on your trip to Breckenridge!

Leave your old worn out ski gear at home.

I know, you are convinced that those ancient skis will make it one more year without killing you or someone downhill from you and you don’t want to spend money on rentals.

Actually the way the airlines are working today you will be charged for every bag you check! United for example will make you pay up to $35 dollars per checked bag and $125 for Oversized bags, while American Airlines charges $150!!! (63-115 inches). With a group of 4 that is easily 2 bags per person totaling $280 dollars just in checked luggage fees for just one way - before you even pay for your ski bags! Delta just raised their Oversized Baggage fee to $175! Southwest - who "Loves Bags" - does charge $50 for oversized bags. No matter how hard you try those 210 babies wont pass for carry on.

By renting from our ResortQuest Ski and Sport Shop you will save 30% off 3 or more days of ski rentals when you book a 3 or more nights of vacation through April 2010. That means on an average rental you will save $18 a day for a group of four, and saving you well over a couple hundred dollars in checked luggage.

By renting your equipment from us it will not only save you money but offers you unsurpassed convenience and service with two rental locations in Breckenridge right next to check-in locations, and one shop centrally located in Keystone.

And our team at ResortQuest Ski and Sport will help you choose from top-of-the-line, name-brand ski rental equipment for skiers and riders of all abilities. Our experienced techs are trained in all the latest ski technology and are guaranteed to outfit you with the perfect skis or board for your skier level and experience. That way you will have fun with your skis not battling them all day.

I know it sounds like we are bragging but after renting from the shop you will see the benefits of traveling light, the fun of skiing on new gear, and you’ll save money and the hassle of checking extra bags at the airports.

Call to book your ski rentals today and also receive additional coupons and tune discounts.