solairus aviation blog

The chairlifts have stopped running in Vail and the chic mountain resort is quieting down a bit during the slower spring off season. But, private charter jet visitors to Vail have a lot of great stuff to look forward to once Memorial Day Weekend hits and summer season is in full swing by July 4 – plenty of opportunities for hiking and biking in the mountains, as well as fabulous annual events, the Sunday farmers’ market and lots of al fresco dining options. Here are some new events scheduled for Vail’s warm-weather months, as well as some recently opened restaurants.

Gran Fondo Vail Cycling Race

Modeled after bike races in Italy, this long-distance event for amateur cyclists August 18-19 will cover plenty of mountain terrain, high elevation gain and some short stints on dirt roads. Spectators will be able to catch the cyclists flying in and out of town; participants of the 120-mile full course or 50-mile short course will enjoy a pasta meal and plenty of Proseco afterwards! The Vail event is part of a national series that includes San Diego, Beverly Hills, Philadelphia, Reno and Miami.

Vail Symposium: Living at Your Peak

At this two-and-a-half day summit September 13-15, participants explore ways to live longer and healthier through presentations by top fitness, nutrition, psychology and medical experts, plus interactive sessions and opportunities to enjoy outdoor activities in glorious area mountains. An on-hand concierge helps guide each guest to meet his or her health, fitness and longevity goals.

Matsuhisa Vail

This stellar sushi restaurant in the Solaris complex in the heart of Vail Village opened in late 2011. If you didn’t check it out during your private charter jet trip during ski season, stop in this summer for a meal on the patio, where you can sample outstanding yellowtail, shrimp tempura, and Nobu Matsuhisa’s famous Broiled Black Cod with Miso.

Elway’s

Another restaurant that opened just a few months ago, Elway’s is owned in part by former Denver Bronco quarterback and NFL Hall of Famer John Elway. The steakhouse replaced the oh-so-dated and frou-frou Wildflower restaurant in the Lodge at Vail. This welcome renovation to the space is sleek and modern, and the menu features steaks, seafood, Colorado lamb and a nice array of salads.

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.

Think mountain towns don’t offer much when it comes to sophisticated and trendy cuisine? Think again. Tahoe area restaurants offer the kind of dining experience that our private charter jet passengers expect in larger cultural centers, and Tahoe’s chefs, more importantly, have an easier time staying current when it comes to 2012′s hottest dining trend: locally sourced everything – from produce, meat and seafood to beer and wine. Add in that Tahoe is home to numerous Zagat-rated restaurants and the mountain escape you’re planning might turn out to be culinary-based.

Wolfdale’s Unique Cuisine, Tahoe City

If lakeview dining and inspired cuisine served in a creative display is your thing, consider Wolfdale’s. In operation since the late 70s, Wolfdale’s adventurous style is rooted in its farm-to-table ethos and sustainable choices when it comes to meats and seafood. We suggest you show up hungry and sample the Truffle fries rolled in Asiago cheese before moving onto menu mainstays such as Miso-glazed Alderwood Black Cod.

Pianeta Cucina Italian, Truckee

Once your private charter jet lands in Tahoe, immerse yourself in old-world European charm at Pianeta with their Italian and Mediterranean-style dishes. Prior to opening, owners Robyn Sills and Ed Coleman took the time to meticulously renovate the historic space that houses Pianeta. Their efforts paid off: the atmosphere conveys the authenticity and cozy intimacy of 500-year-old design. This classic theme extends beyond the dining space: every morning the kitchen staff hand-rolls pasta for the evening meal under executive chef Bill Arnoff’s watchful eye while he prepares Pianeta’s signature crispy duck with balsamic and basil infused demi-glaze.

PlumpJack Café, Squaw Valley

Obsessively seasonal menu, check. Locally-farmed produce, check. On-site sommelier, check. It’s no wonder PlumpJack Café excels at epicurean delights. Somewhat of a locavore, executive chef Ben Dufresne delivers on dishes like Fulton Valley Free Range Chicken Breast and Durham Ranch Sirloin of Prime Beef.

Dragonfly, Truckee

For Dragonfly, located in historic downtown, 2012s ethnic food trend comes easy especially with choices like lemongrass marinated New Bedford Diver Scallops and plantain and panko crusted Basa. Open daily, Dragonfly serves a sublime blend of Asian-influenced cuisine like Thai, Japanese, Indian and Malaysian. They also offer some of Truckee’s best cocktails and give beer connoisseurs unmatched access to west coast microbrews.

Petra, Village at Northstar

In December 2011 Petra opened doors in the Village and has received rave-reviews since. Self-assured proprietress Kali Kopley offers smart, tapas-style eats that are large on flavor and lets you pair them with limited-production wines from family-owned wineries.

Published with permission from Inspirato.com

About Inspirato

We're revolutionizing the way luxury travelers spend quality time with their family and friends.
At Inspirato, we've taken best-of-class service and resort amenities combined with the low cost of villa rental to bring you the premiere club for a new generation of luxury travelers. 

Our membership plan is simple and affordable. 
You pay a one-time membership fee of $15,000, a small annual renewal fee of $2,500 and that's it. You can book any home in our portfolio, as often as you like, even during peak times… and pay only for what you use. Depending on the location, your savings over market rates can cover the membership fee in just a few trips.