Vail

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A Glimpse of Vail

I, Zeb the Duck, and Soapy Smith Duck went to Vail. This fantastic ski resort is about 100 miles west of Denver on I-70. We go there for festivals and sometimes just for lunch. We want to show you a few things that make Vail a great destination. You will find great shopping, including this nice jewelry store.

Our moms love jewelry stores

Our moms love jewelry stores

There are many statues in Vail. We love these bears.

Happy bears. Safe for tourists

Happy bears. Safe for tourists

This bear with a fish is also nice.

Successful fishing trip

Successful fishing trip

Of course, the Rocky Mountains require a statue of a moose.

Moose certainly are big

Moose certainly are big

The flowers are beautiful in Vail.

Flower carts are so cheerful

Flower carts are so cheerful

The higher altitude and many daily hours of sunshine enhance the vivid colors. These skiers seem to be having fun.

Skiing fun

Skiing fun

The ram is nice also.

We look good on the ram's head

We look good on the ram’s head

Many of Vail’s streets are pedestrian only, so these Pedi cabs are very convenient.

Great taxis

Great taxis

This statue is unique and we like it.

Look at this sculpture

Look at this sculpture

This area is for kids to play ball.

Soccer anyone

Soccer anyone

A very nice addition to the town. Another way to get around town is the free downtown buses.

Free bus

Free bus

You will want to visit both Vail Village and Lionshead. After so much walking and shopping, it may be time for a drink and light snack. Yeti’s Grind looks like just the spot to visit.

Have a snack and enjoy the view

Have a snack and enjoy the view

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Vail Oktoberfest

Our moms, Soapy Smith Duck and I, Zeb the Duck went to Vail, Colorado for Oktoberfest.

Vail Oktoberfest

Vail Oktoberfest

Soapy’s dog Steve went too.  It was wonderful.  But, why is Oktoberfest in September?  Moms said it’s a German thing???  Many places are having Oktoberfest now, but we decided to visit Vail.  In addition to the beer tents and live music, Vail had extra events.  Let’s begin with the adult keg-bowling contest.  Another first for the ducks.  Contestants must be at least 21 years old.

Keg Bowling

Keg Bowling

Bowler hurls a keg on wheels down the lane at a pyramid of empty kegs with the intention of bringing down the pile.

And they fall

And they fall

Almost like regular bowling??

Keg on wheels. Use as bowling ball

Keg on wheels. Use as bowling ball

Also Vail had Klement’s Bratwurst Eating Contests.  Eat as many brats as you can in 3 minutes.  The moms decided not to watch that.  We wandered around and the rascal Soapy grabbed a mug of beer and posed here.

That rascal Soapy with a mug of beer

That rascal Soapy with a mug of beer

That duck!  We walked by the gondola, on the bike paths so Steve could play too.  Coming back down the mountain, this sign made us laugh.

Caution people!!

Caution people!!

It is telling bikers to slow down as they enter Lionshead area.

We ate brats.  Soapy and Zeb sat on the table watching a bowl of sauerkraut.

Our first bowl of sauerkraut

Our first bowl of sauerkraut

Lots of typical German food here.  Also had big pretzels and schnitzel.  And strudel!   Of course, lots of German beer is available at Oktoberfest.

German beer for Oktoberfest

German beer for Oktoberfest

The last contest we watched was Stein Lifting.  The ladies competed first.  The steins, with a pint of beer, are on the platform. When somebody yells start, the ladies pick up a mug and must hold the full stein at shoulder level.

Ladies, lift your steins

Ladies, lift your steins

Other hand must be at side.  These are heavy.

Still holding steady...

Still holding steady…

The winning time for the ladies was 2 minutes and 45 seconds.  Then the men competed.

Men Stein Lifting

Men Stein Lifting

This man won.

The champ

The champ

Strong arms are needed for this contest.

USA Today says Vail is one of the top ten greatest Oktoberfest celebrations in the United States.  There was also square dancing, Bavarian music and dancing, yodeling, alpenhorn blowing and a costume contest.   To buy food and beverages, money was not accepted.  We needed das token.

Zeb and Soapy with Das Token

Zeb and Soapy with Das Token

We had a great time at Vail Oktoberfest.  Oktoberfest will be celebrated again this weekend in Vail.  We hope you visit Vail sometime during September 12-14, 2014.  For more information visit www.vailoktoberfest.com

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Riding a Gondola in Vail, Colorado

I, Zeb the Duck and Soapy Smith Duck rode on a gondola.

Entrance to Eagle Bahn Gondola in Vail

Entrance to Eagle Bahn Gondola in Vail

It was exciting for us. And, we love Vail. The entrance to the Eagle Bahn Gondola had ropes for lines, but it was not crowded. We are on!

The ducks first gondola trip

The ducks first gondola trip

This is our first gondola. Our moms had ridden before and were with us. From the gondola we saw many bike paths.

Bike paths seen from gondola

Bike paths seen from gondola

People brought their mountain bikes to the top of the mountain on the gondola and rode them down. Soapy’s mom saw one biker fall. A friend was trying to help, but the fallen rider did not get up. When we got to the top of the mountain, Soapy’s mom reported the accident and help was sent.

The day we rode the gondola, the weather was cloudy, cool and quite windy. We went to the restaurant and ordered food.

Sandwiches at the top of the mountain

Sandwiches at the top of the mountain.  And a big brownie!

Here is a pulled pork sandwich, California chicken sandwich with avocado, French fries and diet cokes.   That huge brownie looks great and it tasted fabulous!  Everything was so good. The flowers were so bright, the mountains so magnificent and the sky was deep gray.

Vail is so pretty

Vail is so pretty

We returned to Lionshead Village in Vail on one of the last gondolas of the day.

Going back to Vail

Going back to Vail

In the winter Vail is a premier ski resort.  These ski runs are covered with snow and the skiers have a wonderful time.

Ski run in the summer

Ski run in the summer

We had so much fun. Zeb and Soapy hope to ride again, just like human kids.

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Duck Races in Vail, Colorado

I, Zeb the Duck, and Soapy Smith Duck watched 13,000 of our yellow cousins race down Gore Creek in Vail. It was incredible! Here come some of them.

Ducks racing on Gore Creek

Ducks racing on Gore Creek

Many cousins got stuck along the bank of Gore Creek.

They can make it!

They can make it!

Humans watched from International Bridge in Vail.

Watching from Vail's International Bridge

Watching from Vail’s International Bridge

The end of the race got a little congested.   Wow, this looks like the traffic jam on I-70.

Some of the 13,000 ducks

Some of the 13,000 ducks

So many ducks!

This festival in Vail hosted so many food booths and other venders.

Venders and visitors

Venders and visitors

This booth is for Macanudo Cigars.

Macanudo Cigars

Macanudo Cigars

Didn’t I just see their sponsorship for a televised golf tournament?  Here little humans ride the mechanical bull.

He had a good ride

He had a good ride

He held on for several seconds. Seems that ducks are the guests of honor. A new game here, Pluck A Duck.

Pluck A Duck Game

Pluck A Duck Game

We like anything with ducks. This duck cut out is awesome.

Handsome ducks!

Handsome ducks!

Looks just like us!

The Vail Rotary Club sponsors these ducks races. The ducks are the primary fundraiser for this organization. Humans pay $5 to adopt a duck for the race. The first 20 ducks receive a prize. The grand prize is $5,000. There are over 13,000 ducks and more than 10,000 human spectators. That’s more ducks than humans!

Soapy, Zeb, and our moms had a great day in Vail. Vail is about 100 miles west of Denver on I-70, so it is an easy drive to get here. The scenery is stunning. Vail is a great resort, for a day or several weeks.   We hope you will experience Vail soon.

We love ducks!

We love ducks!

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Celebration of the USA in Avon, Colorado

I, Zeb the Duck, loved the 28th annual Celebration of the USA in Avon, Colorado.  This festival was held at Nottingham Park in Avon.

Nottingham Park by Nottingham Lake is great for festivals

Nottingham Park by Nottingham Lake is great for festivals

When it is dark, fireworks will explode over this lake

When it is dark, fireworks will explode over this lake

Avon is a few miles west of Vail.

Of course we were hungry and such choices.

Alligator on a stick and Shark on a stick???

Alligator on a Stick and Shark on a Stick???

After chicken on a stick, burritos and gyros, we concentrated on desserts.  Did you see that sign?  Deep fried pickles, Baconade  (Bacon lemonade?)  Also deep fried PB&J.    We decided on funnel cake and mini donuts.

We love funnel cakes and mini donuts!

We love funnel cakes and mini donuts!

Yum!  Greer and Rachael liked the festival, too.

My friends, Greer and Rachael

My friends, Greer and Rachael

And I like them.

We saw a man on stilts

So tall. Don't fall.

So tall. Don’t fall.

and then we saw this artist with his paints.

He can paint.

He can paint.

This juggler is tall.

Don't drop those!

Don’t drop those!

He is also my friend.

We are friends now.

We are friends now.

Do see this guy—

Juggling fire while standing on a ball???

Juggling fire while standing on a ball???

standing on a ball while juggling fire.  I really liked this man.

A human bronze statue

A human bronze statue

He is so still, he looks like a bronze statue, but he is alive.   For little ones only.

This looks like fun!

This looks like fun!

Small humans have fun in this bouncy house.

After dark, we watched the fireworks.  I love fireworks.  I also liked the patriotic music during the fireworks.  In Avon I watched 10,000 shells exploding over the lake.

Beautiful!

Beautiful!

I am so glad we went to the Celebration of the USA in Avon, Colorado.  Happy Birthday United State of America!

Celebrate the USA!

Celebrate the USA!