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 didnt 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 couldnt 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 (thats 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 thats going to be discussed in another 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.
The drive to Sylvan State Park from Eagle provides the perfect opportunity to experience Colorados natural beauty without having to spend hours in the car driving to larger national parks.
There are many hikers, mountain bikers, bird watchers, and amateur photographers who visit the park, and the lake harbors a variety of game fish species that keep 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 states 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.
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, Yetis 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 drinks and really tasty baked treats.
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. Theyve also got live music, foosball tables, darts and a great outdoor seating 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.
When Colorado thinks of BBQ, they think of Moes Original 😊 This 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 youre in creamy banana heaven its ohh so good!
With its mountainous terrain and open spaces, Colorado tends to attract people with big appetites.
