- Guests can choose from four- or seven-day itineraries featuring the best of Colorado from Rocky Mountain National Park to whitewater rafting to scenic mountaintop picnics
BROOMFIELD, Colo.—May 27, 2009—This summer, Vail Resorts is offering for the first time ever an all-inclusive, guided vacation experience, “Epic Summer, A Colorado Family Adventure”. Guests can explore the best of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains – Keystone, Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek and Rocky Mountain National Park - in an exciting, adventure-packed trip with their own personal expert guide for $1,195 for the week-long trip (adult all-inclusive price for the seven-day itinerary) which equals approximately $199 per person per night. Scenic gondola rides, mountaintop picnics, gentle hikes, horseback riding, white water rafting, gold panning and wildlife viewing are highlights of the Epic Summer experience.
“There is perhaps no better time than this summer to take a classic family vacation right here in the states, exploring the majestic national parks and forests of the West. Our ‘Epic Summer’ vacation showcases the best of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains with everything included at one very attractive price,” said Rob Katz, chief executive officer of Vail Resorts. “Our expert guides have taken all of the planning and guesswork out of the trip to create a memorable experience for families.”
The Epic Summer guides will lead guests through the entire itinerary from the moment they arrive until it’s time to say farewell. They have been hand-picked because of their knowledge of and passion for Colorado and the mountains. Experts in the history, culture and ecology of the areas visited, they have taken care of all logistical planning so guests can make the most of their vacation experience.
Seven-Day Epic Summer Itinerary
On the six-night, seven-day itinerary, families will experience all of the following included activities:
• The wonder of standing at the top of the Continental Divide in a trip to world-renowned Rocky Mountain National Park.
• The thrill of whitewater rafting down a scenic Colorado river.
• The serenity of horseback riding through groves of aspens, pines and fields dotted by wildflowers on Beaver Creek Mountain.
• The awe of a gondola ride to the summits of Vail and Keystone mountains, followed by family-friendly naturalist hikes and mountaintop picnics.
• The delight of an historical walking tour through the old Victorian mining town of Breckenridge, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.
• The excitement of an authentic gold mine tour and hands-on gold panning.
• The reward of a Wild West cowboy campfire dinner, complete with wagon rides and storytelling.
The itinerary also allows plenty of time to explore the unique shops and boutiques in the towns of Estes Park, Vail and Breckenridge, along with other optional activities such as outdoor ice skating, orienteering and bicycling.
All of the meals are included and carefully planned to reflect the character and flavor of the Rocky Mountain West. Three of the lunches are mountaintop picnics where guests enjoy magnificent sweeping views of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, while another is enjoyed on the banks of a river during the rafting excursion. Dinners take place in iconic Colorado restaurants as well as an outdoor cowboy campfire dinner.
Four-Day Epic Summer Itinerary
Families looking for a weekend escape can enjoy an abbreviated version of the seven-day guided trip featuring white water rafting, a scenic gondola ride to an easy guided hike and mountaintop picnic, horseback riding and time for shopping in the towns of Vail and Breckenridge.
Environmental Education & Carbon Offset
To round out the guest experience and engage family members of all ages in the unique natural settings of the Epic Summer adventure, key messages about local flora and fauna, geology, geography and history of the region will be artfully integrated into guest activities. As a further complement to the experience and in keeping with Vail Resorts’ commitment to environmental stewardship, the carbon impacts associated with the lodging and transportation portion of each guest’s trip will be offset to support development of renewable energy throughout the country.
All-Inclusive Pricing
The Epic Summer trips run from June 25, 2009 through Sept. 6, 2009. Both packages include experienced guides, accommodations in well-appointed condominiums or lodge rooms in Keystone or Breckenridge resorts, all featured activities, transportation to and from all activities, ground transfers to/from Denver International Airport and all meals. Airfare is not included. The Epic Summer trips are recommended for children ages 6 and older.
The six-night, seven-day all-inclusive package is priced at $1,195 for adults and $895 for children (ages 12 and under). It begins on Sunday evenings with a welcome reception and dinner in Keystone Resort and ends after breakfast on Saturdays.
The three-night, four-day package is $695 for adults and $545 for children (ages 12 and under). It begins on Thursday evenings with a welcome reception and dinner in Keystone Resort and ends after breakfast on Sundays.
For more information and reservations, call 888-538-EPIC (3742) or visit www.epicsummer.com.
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Media Contacts:
Amy Kemp, (303) 404-1863, akemp@vailresorts.com
Katie Wohlschlaeger, (303) 404-6466, kwohlschlaeger@vailresorts.com
About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties at the Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, the Heavenly Ski Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.