Visiting Us in Colorado

Here’s a little information to help you plan a visit. We are up in the mountains, at around 9,000 feet above sea level, little over an hour and a half from Denver International Airport, about an hour west of Denver on I-70.

We are close to the major ski resorts and tourist areas, including Copper Mountain, Arapaho Basin, Keystone, Vail, Breckenridge, and Loveland. A little further north is Steamboat Springs. We are located in Silverthorne, close to Lake Dillon, the town of Dillon, and Frisco. Most folks familiar with this area will recognize the Silverthorne Outlet Mall.

Important Note for Fall 2022…we are trying to get settled and are about to start construction on an addition to the house before winter. We currently have one dedicated guest room, with a second cabinet bed in my art studio as a backup, but the studio will be under construction at the end of August.

Suggested Itinerary

The itinerary that works best for us is a long weekend, with guests arriving on Thursday afternoon and departing on the following Tuesday. Since we work during the week, this accommodates our work schedule the best. It also takes advantage of the most affordable flights.

Also something to note…we work during the week at a local coworking space, and are sometimes not available to do things during the day. We can suggest options for things to do in the area, but may not be able to accompany guests on all outings. See the What to Do section towards the end for ideas.

Getting Here

Flights

Fly into Denver International Airport. Flights into Eagle/Vail are always more expensive, and the shuttles are traveling about the same distance.

We have found that the most affordable flights are usually available from Southwest Airlines. Planning ahead puts flights in the $170-230 range. The most affordable days to travel are usually Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

If you use something like Google Flights, Southwest Airlines does not appear in their results. You can download the Southwest Airlines app to your phone and look there.

Frontier Airlines has the smallest seats and least amount of legroom in the industry. We would not recommend them.

Expect a little turbulence when flying into DIA. The wind coming over the mountains will make the final descent a little bumpy.

Keep in mind that we are about two hours away from DIA. If you book a flight that arrives at 10 p.m., there are most likely no shuttles available. A flight arriving at 5:00 p.m. will put you in Silverthorne around 7:30 or 8:00 p.m., about 2 to 2-1/2 hours later. Flights arriving late morning or early- to mid-afternoon work better.

On the return, please do not book a flight that leaves early in the morning, because you need to allow about 4 hours to get to the airport. For example, if your flight is at 8:45 a.m., you will need to leave the house by 4:45 a.m., and again, there may not be shuttles available. Late morning or early afternoon works well.

IMPORTANT: Once your flights are booked, please use the function in the airline app or confirmation to add the flight to your calendar, then use the invite function to add your flights to our calendar. The airline app will adjust the time difference automatically. Send the invite to kat@mac.com.

Driving

With two drivers, you can drive from Austin and get here in a (long) day. We usually drive up through Amarillo, through Clayton, NM, then Trinidad, CO, and up I-25 to Denver. If you’re driving alone, you can overnight in Amarillo, which is a good halfway spot. If you’d like to save a few bucks, you could camp at Palo Duro Canyon outside Amarillo. Hotels can be pricey in Amarillo or Dumas. Here’s a link to the Google Map Route. It’s about 16 hours. If you’re in an EV (Tesla), the ABRP route adds a little over 2 hours for charging.

Mountain Shuttles from DIA

If you are coming in by yourself, the most convenient way to get to us is to take a mountain shuttle, but they do not run early in the morning or late at night. There are several that service the area. You’ll choose the option from DIA (Denver International Airport) to the Frisco Transit Station. We will pick you up there. Door-to-door service is more expensive, so avoid that if possible. Shuttles are generally around $60, although in ski season it may be more like $80. They will text you information about your arrival and will pick you up outside baggage claim. Allow for about 2 hours for the shuttle to reach us. Don’t forget to tip the driver…you can sometimes add a tip to your reservation on the website or app.

• Epic Mountain Express is one we use most frequently.

• Summit Express

• Peak 1 Express

If more than one person is coming in, we may decide to drive down the mountain, but it’s a 4 – 5 hour round trip. However, we will usually use Kat’s car, which cannot handle a lot of luggage. Don’t overpack! 😃

Regional Bus/Train

There is another option that we’re in the process of evaluating…Denver has a wonderful train system that goes between DIA to Union Station ($10.50), then connects with two different bus systems that go into the mountains (about $11). Bustang is a larger bus run by the Colorado Dept of Transportation that only runs twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. Bustang Pegasus is more like the shuttles, and during the summer runs about once an hour; both come into the Frisco Transit Station. This is definitely more budget-friendly, but might require a little more coordination.

Light Rail

You would take the A Line/University of Colorado from DIA to Union Station. It takes about 37 minutes, and the trains run every 15 minutes. Click here for more info.

Bustang

Leaving Union Station, you would look for the Westbound Schedule from Denver Union Station. In this example, if you left on the 3:00 p.m Route 730 bus, you’d arrive at the Frisco Transfer Station at 4:55 p.m.

Bustang Pegasus

Pegasus only runs on weekends at the moment, and occasionally on Thursday. Check the schedule here.

Getting Around

Rental Cars

Rental cars can be very expensive these days. There are car rentals at DIA, which are convenient. If you wanted to rent a car for a day or two for a special outing, there is an Enterprise Rent a Car down the street from us. If you wanted to rent a Tesla from Hertz, there are several superchargers in the area (Denver, Idaho Springs, and Silverthorne).

Summit Stage

If we are working, there is a free shuttle in the area that can take you around town. There are pickups nearby, and the Summit Stage goes to Breckenridge and other nearby towns. These buses also connect with other regional buses to Leadville and Fairplay. Click here for the app.

Biking

We ride our bikes everywhere here. We have a couple e-bikes, two mountain bikes, and a road bike. There are safe trails all over Summit County, and the Blue River Trail starts across the street from our home.

Our bikes are best-suited for taller riders, and Bobby’s bikes have clips for bike shoes. If you need a shorter bike, there are bike rentals in town. You will want to lock the bikes if you stop anywhere, because thefts of bikes—especially ebikes—are becoming an issue.

Important Health Info

We live at a high elevation, and this can have interesting effects on your body. On the first day, your oxygen levels will probably drop down in the 80s, but should come back up over 90% on the second day. You will feel a little out of breath, and altitude sickness can be a real thing. An oximeter is in the guest bathroom so you can monitor your levels, or newer Apple Watches have an oxygen sensor. We also have a portable oxygen concentrator for emergencies.

You need to stay hydrated, so drink PLENTY of water. If you don’t drink enough, you can will feel tired, have a headache, and almost feel “drunk.” There is filtered water in the fridge, water bottles, and a water flask in the guest bathroom.

We also have very little humidity, so your skin and lips will be very dry. We have plenty of lip balm, moisturizer with sunscreen, and shampoos/conditioners/treatments for dry hair.

Weather & What to Wear

Click here to see the historical weather for the month you’re visiting.

What to Wear

We are in an “alpine environment,” and it can get chilly at night. In summer, the days can reach the mid 80°F range, and shorts and t-shirts are appropriate. In the evenings, it can be a little chilly, so bring a light jacket or fleece. During the winter, it might be 20°F during the day, and near 0°F overnight. However, we don’t have much humidity, so even a “cold” temperature will be different than Texas.

LAYERING is how we deal with the fluctuations in temperature. Instead of bringing a heavy coat, we wear layers that can be removed as it warms up during the day or as we go indoors. You might wear a tank top or thin short-sleeve shirt underneath a thin long-sleeve shirt, then if you get chilly add a light jacket or fleece. Also, the Columbia Outlet Store, an REI, and the Silverthorne Outlets are nearby, so if you need to pick up some layers, they can be found just down the street. Click here to learn more about layering from Columbia Outerwear.

ALSO, BRING A SWIMSUIT! We have a hot tub that is super relaxing while you watch the stars. You can also wear shorts and a tank top/sports bra if you don’t want to wear a swimsuit.

Things We Have on Hand

Don't worry about bringing a hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, most toiletries. We have towels, bathrobes, pillows, air mattresses, and fans. If you forget a toothbrush, we have extras.

What to Do

Summit County Events Calendar

Start here at the Summit Daily Events Calendar to find lots of fun stuff to do. It lists historical tours, hiking, social, and recreational events.

Working Remotely

We work at a local coworking space called EVO3 in downtown Frisco, which is about 15 minutes from the house. You can sign up for a desk for a day, or there are weekly packages. It also features craft beer on tap, and there are nearby restaurants. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to work in my art studio on a limited basis. This area will be under construction, however, in Fall/Winter of 2022.

Hiking

There are hiking trails literally everywhere! One of our favorites is a short hike to an old gold dredge up in Breckenridge. We can drop you off, or several are accessible through the Summit Stage bus.

Lake Activities

We live near Lake Dillon Reservoir, which has many available water activities. At the Frisco Marina or Dillon Marina, y​ou can rent SUPs (paddle boards) or kayaks. We recommend VERY highly that you schedule these activities in the morning, and also wear a life jacket (even if you are a strong swimmer), because sudden and strong afternoon storms can be dangerous. There are also sailboat rentals and boat tours at the Dillon Marina. Swimming in the lake is not allowed because of the cold temperatures in the lake.

Fishing

There are several fly fishing outfitters in the area that offer fishing outings.

Art Activities

BreckCreate is an awesome collection of historical buildings with classes and art activities in Breckenridge. You can sign up for drop-in classes or hang out with their visiting artists. There are also art galleries in the area, with some of the nicer galleries in Vail Village (about 30 minutes away).

Music

There is live music almost every day in Summit County. In Breckenridge, there is the Riverwalk Center with national acts, and at the Dillon Amphitheater there are outdoor movie events and big names as well. Local restaurants and brew pubs also have local live music nightly.

Red Rocks Amphitheater is about an hour’s drive toward Denver. Larger concerts are held at this venue, but tickets are EXTREMELY expensive; be cautious of online ticket sellers. Boulder Theater also has smaller acts.

Bluebird Market

Recently opened in Silverthorne, this event space is like a food court with live music and events. We go here for trivia night and ice cream.

Interactive Map of the Silverthorne/Lake Dillon Area

A note about weed…

We are trying to come up with some guidelines about weed that will accommodate guests but also keep everyone healthy. As you all know, Kat is extremely allergic to smoke, and even being around someone who has smoke in their clothing, hair, or skin is enough to set off asthma and breathing difficulty. So far, this is what we’ve come up with:

• Edibles are fine. There are all sorts available from local dispensaries, including gummies, chocolate bars, and drinks.

• This one’s going to seem like a hassle…if you must smoke, you need to go downwind of the house to ensure it does not blow into the house. We keep the windows open because we don’t have central AC. Your shirt needs to go immediately into the washer, and if it’s right before bedtime, we request that you take a shower so it doesn’t get into the bedding. Any smoking materials must be contained in a sealed plastic bag. Also, if it’s cold out, please do not smoke in a coat that will be hung with others in the mud room. We recommend wearing something that can be washed, like a hoodie, or a long-sleeve t-shirt. Please don’t be offended if we gently remind you. 😃

We also trust that people will be responsible…if you partake, please know your limits. We cannot be held responsible for accidents for anyone under the influence.