The Lodge at Mountaineer Square

This week we were privileged with the opportunity to enjoy our annual Summer Meeting held at the Lodge at Mountaineer Square in Crested Butte, Colorado.  The Lodge is located right at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort and provides easy access to the mountain and the gorgeous, quaint downtown that accompanies it.  The accommodations are absolutely spectacular.  For starters, we were greeted by a wonderful valet and concierge service upon our arrival who helped get us all settled in.  The rooms are spectacular and so are the amenities.  During our event we were privileged with drinks and food on top of the mountain at the brand new wedding deck.

We arrived on Thursday and we’re blown away by the hospitality.  The valet takes your bags, parks your car and meets you in your room with your luggage while the front desk briefs you on the many activities available in the town.  Upon arriving in my room, it was no more than 5 minutes before I received a call to make sure everything was as expected; temperature, accommodations and anything else I might need.  If good service is an expectation of yours, you have nothing to worry about with this lodge.

The location is wonderful.  At the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort it makes for easy access to the mountain and they also provide a free shuttle bus to and from the town which is only about 2 miles down the road.  The town is everything you expect from a quaint, Victorian, national historic district.  It’s quiet, but not dead.  It’s humble and beautiful and provides some excellent shopping and dining options.

Thursday evening we took shuttle buses to the top of the mountain where they set up a giant tent and drinks aside their BRAND NEW wedding deck.  Of course if you’re not here with a large event, the chairlift takes you directly to this spot to enjoy the incredible scenic overlook; it’s also accessible via dirt road which you can easily drive up with your own vehicle.  The new wedding deck had me at a loss for words.  It’s a long, brick patio with dropped down seating to accommodate your guests while you walk down the aisle facing one of the more spectacular views Colorado has to offer.  Having personally been to Vail, Aspen, Colorado Springs and much more, this is my favorite view of them all.  Currently the mountain side is littered with yellow and purple flowers that light up the surrounding areas.  The deck overlooks the western half of the Rocky Mountains and provides layering unlike anywhere else.  The layers of mountains create an ominous dark blue backdrop to what would be a very memorable wedding ceremony and reception.

Whether you’re planning a ski trip this winter, a meeting for your employees or taking the big jump to tie the knot, this lodge will have everything you need.  While the town is a bit down the road, everything you would need (short of a grocery store) is right at the base of the mountain.  There are several options for dining and drinks as well as shopping.  If you want to enjoy the majesty that is the Rocky Mountains without the crowds and commercialized towns, Crested Butte is the town for you.

Wedding SPOTlight: Vail Racquet Club Mountain Resort

Planning a wedding is a TON of work.  Where will you have your wedding? Where do the guests stay? Where do you eat? There are so many options to sort through for your special day.  The first decision you must make is where your wedding will be held.  We would like to simplify that choice by directing you to the Vail Racquet Club Mountain Resort in Vail, Colorado.

Let’s start with the obvious; Vail, Colorado is one of the most beautiful places on the planet.  The mountainous views coupled with the luxurious lifestyle make for an ideal wedding location.  Aside from that, this is a bit of a tourist town, meaning everything your guests need from shopping, restaurants, accommodation and activities are all within city limits.  Not to mention the world class skiing, hiking, mountain biking and climbing that you can find in the area.

The Vail Racquet Club Mountain Resort is a notorious wedding location in Colorado for several different reasons.  They offer 3 different ceremony venues that offer expansive, scenic mountain views while maintaining the privacy of your event.  The venues vary in size ranging from a 17,000 square foot lawn to an 1,100 square foot indoor venue.  The indoor venue seats up to 100 while the outdoor venue does not list a seating limit—it will more than likely be big enough for your wedding.  Both of these venues include incredible views and 20 acres of scenic private grounds for your guests to enjoy.  Both of these venues are options for your ceremony and your reception.  Have one indoor and one outdoor, depending on the time of year and the weather you can enjoy the best of both worlds!

Of course the resort offers a tremendous value on condos and townhomes year round for your guest’s accommodations.  Each condo and townhome is privately owned and individually decorated making for a true mountain feel.  “All are complete with amenities such as fully equipped kitchens, decks or patios with electric barbecue grill, and cozy fireplaces or wood stoves with complimentary firewood.  Guests enjoy full access to our private club, pool & fitness center as well as Wi-fi in public areas in club house and wireless in condos.”

As I stated at first, planning your wedding is a lot of work.  The Racquet Club Mountain Resort features a special website dedicated to helping you plan your special day, the wedding planner!  The wedding planner features everything from venue selections, dining options, on-site lodging and the option for condos and townhomes for all of your guests!  This resort touts a modest list of accomplishments including; Gold Property Award, Platinum Service Award, Expedia Insiders Select Award and a 4.5 star guest rating!  You’re encouraged to come and visit and take a tour of the grounds and resort.

Besides the obvious, (Colorado is the most beautiful state there is, duh!) this resort offers extensive venue, dining and lodging options for your guests.  With luxurious accommodations for your event it’s no wonder this place receives so many good reviews.  When considering where you want your special day to be held, remember this; plan your wedding in Vail and everyone will want to show up.  Sure the wedding will be spectacular, but after that your guests can enjoy the wonders of Vail.  From hiking to shopping to fine dining this town is a tourist’s dream come true to experience all that Colorado has to offer!

http://www.vailracquetclub.com/

Wedding Planner: http://www.eastvailweddings.com/

Lodging Options: http://www.vailracquetclub.com/lodging/

SPOTlight: The Cliff House at Pike’s Peak

The Cliff House at Pikes Peak is a four diamond Colorado Springs Hotel that will absolutely blow you away.  This hotel is perfect for weddings, meetings or your next getaway.    As the premier historic hotel of Greater Colorado Springs area, this location has been a piece of history in countless ways.  This hotel has been in operation longer than the State of Colorado itself and has played host to famous historic figures and served as a barracks for soldiers.  With such history and luxurious accommodations, it only makes sense to check it out on your next visit to Colorado Springs, but here’s a little more about the hotel if you haven’t already been convinced!  They were also recently awarded the 2013 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor!

When staying at The Cliff House at Pikes Peak, you are presented with several options in terms of accommodations.  They have a variety of rooms from studios and junior suites to the celebrity and premier celebrity suites!  While the studios and junior suites have a less exciting name, don’t judge a book by its cover! The studio suite is essentially your standard hotel room while the junior suites feature two person spa tub or steam showers, a fireplace and most of them have mountain views!  As for the more exclusive accommodations, stay in the celebrity or premier celebrity suites which are decorated according to a celebrity who has stayed at the hotel in the last 130 years!  Some of these themes include Charles Dickens, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford!  No matter which room you stay in here you are guaranteed luxurious accommodations that do not disappoint.

Plan your wedding at The Cliff House!  As I’m sure you’ve already gathered, this hotel boasts its modern day luxuries and Victorian elegance which will make your special day absolutely perfect.   American Historic Inns named this location “Top Ten Romantic Hotels in the USA.”  The hotel offers several different wedding packages to accommodate up to 150 guests. 

Impress your employees with an amazing meeting location!  Want to increase employee productivity? That’s easy, just keep them happy!  “Enjoy 19^th Century charm and atmosphere of the Rocky Mountains with the technology and service of the 21^st Century!”  With a variety of meeting rooms and conference centers available, The Cliff House will find a venue to match your needs.  They also offer “pick a pair” meeting incentives; by reserving a block of 20 rooms or more you receive free incentives that can include complimentary overnight parking and coffee/pastry break for your meeting!

What will your guests do while they visit the historic Cliff House at Pikes Peak?  It’s all in the title!  Pike’s Peak is known as “America’s Mountain” sitting at over 14,000 feet in elevation and providing over 80 miles of scenery.  There’s a few ways to get to the top of Pike’s Peak.  The Manitou Incline is the world’s largest stair set and is now legal to hike (it used to be considered trespassing, which didn’t stop anyone).  This is the exercise-enthusiast’s dream come true as it provides a challenge you probably won’t succeed at your first time.  For the less ambitious travelers, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway will take you on a ride unlike anything you’ve ever seen!  The railway climbs up the mountain and through curves and grades to see areas that are only visible from the train route which is now open year round!

Aside from Pike’s Peak, which is a hiker’s dream come true, you can also explore the The Cave of the Winds, The Garden of the Gods or the Manitou Cliff Dwellings!  The Cave of the Winds offers two types of ours to accommodate the more timid spirit as well as the more adventurous—“the Lantern Tour is not for the faint of heart!”  Finally you can also explore the Manitou Cliff Dwellings constructed by the Anasazi tribe or Native Americans.  These cliff side dwellings help you to step back into a piece of American history right in our own backyard!

Certainly the sights are enough reason to come and visit Colorado Springs but when you stay here try to enjoy the city for its history and unique amenities by staying at The Cliff House at Pikes Peak!  This luxurious spot is perfect for your next business meeting, wedding or simply to getaway and enjoy an incredible vacation spot.

Want to see more? Check out some of the links below!  We post twice a week and feature events and happenings around the state of Colorado as well as various cabins and hotels!  This blog is a great place to discover that “cabin in the woods” for your next vacation!

http://www.thecliffhouse.com/meetings

http://www.thecliffhouse.com/

http://www.thecliffhouse.com/manitou-springs-attractions-activities