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Published: January 4th 2022
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My partner and I recently got back from a trip to Eagle, Colorado. We were visiting some old buddies of ours who moved from Vail to Eagle due to the rising cost of living in the Vail Valley. While I had been to Eagle a few times in the past, the last time was quite a few years back. At the time I was still a big Vail snob (and much more ignorant being younger), and Eagle didn’t impress me much.
It was with a fair amount of surprise that I learned that quite a few of my old skiing buddies were packing up and moving to Eagle, and even more surprising when they told me they actually loved living there!
So when a birthday celebration for one of my favorite friends came up, I was invited to go check out Eagle….. I just couldn’t resist the curiosity.
Dave and I decided to fly from DIA to Eagle Regional Airport and then rent a car rather than driving all the way from Fort Collins to Eagle (that’s a 4 hour drive in summer conditions, winter snow storms frequently shut down the roads going to Eagle altogether).
We also decided to do a little day
trip from Eagle to Breckenridge, but that's going to be discussed in another upcoming blog post (stay tuned for that 😊
We had a great trip, and we spent a few days just driving around and hanging out. This is a quick post about some cool and interesting places and activities in Eagle that I think some of my fellow travelers might enjoy for themselves.
Hiking in Sylvan State Park
The drive to Sylvan State Park from Eagle provides the perfect opportunity to experience Colorado's natural beauty without having to spend hours in the car driving to larger national parks.
There are many back-country hikers, mountain bikers, bird watchers, and amateur photographers who visit the park, and the lake harbors a variety of game fish species that keep anglers coming back for more.
Several of the campsites within the park are RV campsites, with dozens of individual sites. There are also a lot of hiking trails; along them, visitors can see some of the unique Colorado wildlife.
The most popular outdoor activity in Eagle is hiking. Taking a hike through the state's natural scenery can be exhilarating for the fit and the outdoorsy.
It is relatively easy for families to go on the Yeoman Park Discovery Trail with children, and it includes plaques that provide information on plants, animals, Native American cultures, and history.
Those who make it to the top of Mount Thomas Trail are rewarded with amazing views of town. During rain and snow, it can be icy and treacherous, despite its moderate difficulty.
The Best Local Coffee
In Colorado, independent operators are thriving in contrast to other parts of the country where large national chains dominate. When we needed a little caffeination,
Yeti’s Grind was the perfect answer!
These guys carefully select and roast their own beans, and customers agree that this attention to detail is evident in their coffees.
Known as one of the most popular coffee shops in both Eagle and Vail, the coffee shop also offers a variety of delicious non-coffee drinks and really tasty baked treats.
Amazing Local Beer at Bonfire Brewing
Although
Bonfire brewing in Eagle grew from humble beginnings in 2010, it has attracted a loyal following in recent years, offering more than two dozen different brews on tap at any given time. A wide variety of local ales, pilsners, porters and more are always on rotation. They’ve also got live music, foosball tables, darts and a great outdoor seating area complete with… yes a Bonfire lit every night!
Food is not available at Bonfire, but nearby restaurants can deliver food to you. Early evening is typically a busy time at Bonfire due to happy hour. We definitely had a blast here.
Moe’s Original Barbecue - Yum!
When Colorado thinks of BBQ, they think of Moe’s Original 😊 This local company has grown to several locations very rapidly thanks to their absolutely amazing sauces and delicious sides.
The BBQ pork sliders were fabulous, but the best thing here by far for me is their banana pudding. Just a few bites and you’re in creamy banana heaven… it’s ohh so good!
Garduno’s - Eagle’s Best Mexican Food
With its mountainous terrain and open spaces, Colorado tends to attract people with big appetites. Garciano's is a popular choice for those who enjoy traditional Mexican food including sopas, burritos, tacos, and carnitas.
Most diner's palates are sure to be tempted by the restaurant's menu, and they make their own salsas with fresh ingredients such as jalapenos, pineapple, green onion, and cilantro.
Glenwood Hot Springs
A bit of a drive along I70 will bring you to the larger city of Glenwood Springs. The commute is only about 15 mins, so it makes sense to include some of the cool interesting activities Glenwood has to offer when heading out to Eagle.
Glenwood Hot Springs is the world's largest mineral spring pool, an attraction that has been a landmark in the area for more than 125 years.
The springs were given a special name by the Ute Native Americans, which translates into 'big medicine' in English. Taking a soak in these waters will certainly heal sore bones and muscles.
It is relatively inexpensive and possible to visit the springs year-round.
Heading back to Fort Collins
All in all, checking out Eagle, Colorado once again (now that I’m slightly older and wiser) was a fun-filled adventure that Dave and I really enjoyed.
It was great to catch up with old buddies and great to visit some of the attractions I just mentioned. Bonfire Brewing in particular was loads of fun, with a real old country Colorado vibe to it.
The locals in Eagle are all very good friendly people, the kind that would pull over and help with jump starting a stalled car.
Would I want to live there? Nah, probably not. But it wouldn’t be a bad place to call home by any means.
Until the next time!
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