Gore Creek

As nice as the amenities at the Vail Cascade Resort are, its best feature, at least as far as I'm concerned, is its proximity to Gore Creek.  This photo was taken just steps away from the resort's back door.

So beautiful!

During the winter, guests can ride this lift up to the ski slopes.

These guys would have preferred a winter ski trip over our fall colors extravaganza.

Not me!  As far as I'm concerned, fall is the best season to visit Colorado's high country. 

September 2012

Vail Cascade Resort

While we were in Vail, we stayed at the Vail Cascade Resort and Spa.

Usually we're a Motel 6 sort of family, so this was a significant upgrade.

The kids were wowed by the fireplace in the lobby... 

and the generally upscale surroundings.

Our room. 

Ryan immediately set up camp in the sitting area... 

while James lay claim to one of the beds.

See?  It's James' bed. 

Seth and I both liked the balcony best. 

The view from our balcony. 

Some of the resort amenities included an indoor fitness center,

an outdoor porch overlooking Gore Creek,

and two outdoor pools.

Cowabunga! 

September 2013

Fall colors

Every year we try to take a mini family vacation to a not so faraway part of Colorado.  This year's destination was Vail.  We left early Saturday afternoon.

We tried to time our trip with the peak of the fall color viewing season.   Despite that, we had to do a fair amount of driving...

before we saw the aspens peeking through the pines.

As we drove along,  the sightings became more and more frequent.

We pulled over to take some photos... 

 and James found his all time favorite sign!

The scenery just kept getting better... 

and better...

and better! 

This particular section of I-70 is always pretty...

but I've never seen it look like this. 

Amazing! 

Another stop... 

more pictures! 

Because of all the photo breaks, our two hour drive took nearly twice that long. 

Eventually, however, we made our way into the Vail Valley. 

September 2012

The Wild Animal Sanctuary

A couple weekends ago, the Buxton family visited the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary is the oldest and largest nonprofit sanctuary in the United States dedicated exclusively to rescuing captive exotic and endangered large carnivores.   Although, the Wild Animal Sanctuary has been in operation for over thirty one years, it was not open to the visiting public until 2003.

Because large carnivores do not consider the air above them to be part of their territory, visitors to the Wild Animal Sanctuary view the animals from a series of elevated walkways and decks.

 It was quite hot on the day we went, and a lot of the animals were sleeping.

In fact, I don't we saw a single tiger who wasn't lying down!

Although some of the lions were just as lazy...

others were up...  

and moving about. 

The black bears were also fairly active. 

Most of the wolves were sleeping, but not this guy. 

So handsome! 

James and I watched this big Grizzly dig a hole.  We're not sure what he was looking for. 

Wolf pack. 

I really, really love the Wild Animal Sanctuary, and I look forward to going back on a cooler day! 

August 2012

Roy girls

Jeanne, Simone, Helen and Terry.

1948