Spring Break
Spring Break in Pagosa Springs
Pagosa Springs has become a very popular vacation spot in recent years, and for good reason! With stunning views around every corner and friendly people in every store, it really is a great place to go and relax. With spring break fast approaching; we decided to put together a list of some of the best activities available to do in Pagosa! If you don’t see your favorite Pagosa Springs activity on this list let us know so we can add it to the next one!
- Ski/Snowboard Wolf Creek – Wolf Creek Ski Area is a 1,600 acre ski area located just 20 miles from Pagosa Springs. Wolf Creek is well known among avid skiers and snowboarders for the deep powder snow it gets every year. The mountain gets more snow than any other ski resort in Colorado, topping out at 430 inches per year! With 10 lifts, including 2 conveyor lifts, there is something for skiers of all skill levels! If skiing isn’t your thing, there are popular sledding hills less than a mile from the resort at the entrance to Lobo Overlook!
- Drive To Williams Creek Reservoir – Williams Creek Reservoir is a large reservoir located approximately 23 miles from town. Take Piedra Road (CR 600) and enjoy views of mountains, large valleys, and wildlife on your way to the lake! Once you have arrived there are opportunities to hike, camp, and fish! Ice fishing for trout and salmon is very popular at Williams; you can call the forest service to see what lures or bait have been working for local anglers. If you plan on spending the day, be sure to pack food and water as the general store near the lake is closed during the winter months.
- Soak In The Hot Springs – Pagosa Springs is know for it’s hot springs above all else. The “mother spring” located behind The Springs Resort, is the deepest geothermal hot spring in the world; so deep that the measuring equipment maxed out at 1,002 feet! The geothermal water is believed to have healing properties that can help with many different conditions. People come from around the world to soak in the hot springs. There are several places in town that offer soaking tubs for a small fee. The Springs Resort offers many pools with different temperatures and sizes right on the San Juan river. Healing Waters, across the street from The Springs, is smaller but offers a geothermally heated swimming pool! Lastly, the Overlook, located on Main Street, offers rooftop pools with a view of downtown Pagosa! You can’t go wrong with any of these options for a relaxing evening after skiing! If you want to save a little money, ask a local to point you towards the Hippie Dip; a small natural hot spring located right on the San Juan River! This is a popular spot for locals to take a quick dip!
- Have a beer & listen to live music – While Pagosa Springs is known mainly for the hot springs and it’s plethora of outdoor activities, music is also a huge part of the culture! If you walk through downtown Pagosa on a Friday night you are bound to hear live music echoing out from the restaurants. Go to Riff Raff On The Rio to see musicians playing by the river or up to Pagosa Brewing to listen to local bands jamming under the tent. Pagosa Springs is full of talented musicians who like sharing their music. If you like beer, there are many local brews available at most restaurants and bars in town! Both Riff Raff Brewing and Pagosa Brewing have won several awards for their beers! If you find a beer you love, you can buy a metal growler to take home as a souvenir from your spring break adventure!
- Shop On Main Street – Need a break from skiing or soaking in the springs? Shopping Main St. is a fun way to burn some time! Pagosa Springs’ Main Street is full of shops; from rock shops, to the local bookstore Bookends, to The Lost Cajun restaurant, there is plenty to explore! We recommend starting by The Malt Shoppe and working your way all the down to Memory Lane Antiques. Definitely stop at Pagosa Baking Company for a fresh baked treat! During the busy season parking can be hard to find. Luckily, there are larger parking lots located on either end of Main Street.
- Satisfy Your Sweet-Tooth at The Choke Cherry Tree – If you grew up in Pagosa, or have visited before, you probably know about The Choke Cherry Tree! This awesome business opened in Pagosa Springs in 1999 and has been a favorite ever since! The Choke Cherry Tree is known for their choke cherry jams and amazing homemade caramel, but that isn’t all they do! They make candies, caramels, infused oils, every sauce you can think of, and more! I personally love their salted caramels and pickled okra. If your mouth is watering like mine is and you can’t wait for spring break, just order online and have these delicious treats shipped to your door! They even offer gift baskets!
- Search For Your Own Vacation Home – If a week during Spring Break isn’t enough time in Pagosa Springs for you, you may want to consider finding a vacation home here! There is so much to do here throughout the year that owning a home can be extremely advantageous! Here at NextHome we manage several vacation rental homes; you can use your home whenever you want and we can rent it out the rest of the time! This means you can actually make some extra income by owning a home in Pagosa Springs! If you would like to learn more, give us a call at (970) 507-8655 and we can talk you through our rental options!
We hope this blog post gave you some ideas for your spring break trip! If you have any questions, let us know! We would be happy to help. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook to keep up to date on what’s happening here at NextHome!
Winter Emergency Kit
Be Prepared This Winter! Pack an Emergency Kit.
Driving in snow can be unpredictable and sometimes dangerous; 17% of all car accidents occur in winter weather conditions! It is important to be prepared for whatever is thrown your way, whether you hit ice and slide into a ditch or your car breaks down. We recommend keeping a basic emergency kit in your car at all times so you are prepared if something happens. This list covers the basics on what you need!
Emergency Kit Essentials:
- First Aid Kit – A first-aid kit is something you should always keep in your car. While it won’t help with major medical issues, you can at least bandage any scrapes or cuts! If you are prescribed any medication, keep some labeled in your first aid kit in case you are stranded.
- Flashlight – It is really, really dark at night during a snow storm! Pack a good flashlight or headlamp in your emergency kit. This can be extremely useful if you need to work on your car in the dark. USB charging is a big plus on these!
- Ice Scraper – Your car’s defroster doesn’t always work as quickly or as well as it needs to. Put an ice scraper in your kit so you can clear your windshield in icy conditions. Low visibility through your windshield can be very dangerous!
- Jumper Cables – The rest of your car emergency kit isn’t much good if you can’t start the car! Jumper cables allow you to start your car with a dead battery using another car. These can be really helpful year-round. Just be sure you’re putting them on correctly, or you risk damaging the electrical components in your car.
- Snow Shovel – This one is pretty straightforward… If you are stuck in the snow, a snow shovel can help you get out. You don’t need a full size shovel in your emergency kit, smaller shovels are made for this specific purpose!
- Bag Of Cat Litter – The main reason cars get stuck in the snow is lack of traction. If you find yourself in a position where your tires are spinning on ice or snow you can simply sprinkle cat litter behind the tire to add traction! We recommend keeping at least a couple gallons bagged up, as you may go through a lot!
- Cell Phone Charger – Your phone is pretty much useless without a charge! Keep a car charger and a portable battery charged up in your car to be sure you’re never stuck with a dead phone. It’s also a good idea to keep your emergency contact numbers written down somewhere in your car, so you can still call them on someone else’s phone.
- Water – Dehydration can be a serious problem if you are stranded. Keep at least a gallon of water in your emergency kit. Keep in mind water expands when it is frozen, so if you’re filling your own container leave some room at the top.
- Blanket – Winter is cold! Pack at least one good, thick blanket to keep you warm if you need to stay in your car. If you have room for a second blanket, pack a tough one that you could lay on under your car if needed during repairs. Military wool blankets work well for everything.
- Tool Kit – Just like the first-aid kit, a basic tool kit can be useful year-round! From small repairs to tire changes, there are many uses for tools. If your car requires any special tools (European cars often use Torx bolts) be sure to pack those into your tool kit.
- Roadside Reflectors – Breaking down on the side of the road can put you at risk of being hit by passing drivers; especially in low visibilty scenarios like a winter storm! Roadside reflectors or road triangles help other drivers know where you are and that you may need assistance. They take up little room and are definitely a good item to keep with you.
- Non-Perishable Food – If you are stranded in your car, you will probably need an energy boost at some point. Keep non-perishable snacks such as granola bars, dehydrated fruits, and jerky in your emergency kit for that little extra energy kick! Don’t forget to rotate snacks out every few months so you are never stuck with bad food.
- Matches/Lighter – Matches or a lighter can provide you with some light and warmth in an emergency. Pack waterproof matches so they can’t be ruined by moisture. Disposable lighters such as a bic or clipper lighter are best as they won’t leak fluid and they work in cold conditions.
- Insulated Work Gloves – If you need to work on your car in the snow, you are probably going to want a good pair of gloves! Insulated work gloves are the best choice for an emergency kit. They will keep you warm and hold up to any abuse you throw at them.
This list should give you a good base to build your own emergency kit from! Winter driving can be treacherous so we hope this kit can help you this winter season! If you are reading this wishing you lived somewhere snowy, give us a call at (970) 507-8655 and we can help you find your Next Home in the mountains! Don’t forget to like us on Facebook for NextHome updates and our bi-weekly virtual open house series.
It’s Cookie Season
Make Your Own Snickerdoodle Cookies This Holiday Season!
Cold December air and short Winter days mean the Holidays are fast approaching! Christmas parties and family gatherings are always better with treats; especially a good cookie. Impress your friends this year by baking some delicious Snickerdoodle cookies… from scratch! Here’s a great recipe to get you started:
Yield: Makes About 3 1/2 Dozen Sugar Dusted Snickerdoodles
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1⁄2 cup vegetable shortening, softened
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 3⁄4 tsp. kosher salt
- 2 eggs
- 2 3⁄4 cups flour
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400°. Combine 1 1⁄2 cups sugar, butter, shortening, baking powder, vanilla, and salt in a bowl and beat on medium speed of hand mixer until pale and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, and beat until smooth. Add flour, and beat until just combined.
- Using 2 tablespoons, portion and roll dough into 1″ balls; combine remaining sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and roll balls in cinnamon-sugar to coat. Place balls 2″ apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets, and using the bottom of a glass or measuring cup, press each ball to flatten into a disk; bake until lightly golden and set, about 10 minutes.
- Enjoy your delicious baked goods!
This recipe is courtesy of Todd Coleman, Executive Food Editor for Saveur.com
If you’re wanting to sell your home or buy a new one this Holiday Season, give us a call at (970) 507-8655.
Holiday Lights Tour
Pagosa Springs Holiday Lights Competition
The Pagosa Springs Annual Holiday Lighting Contest is officially underway and 24 businesses and residential properties have entered this colorful contest so far! Lighting is guaranteed to be on every Friday and Saturday night until New Years, so you have plenty of time to tour Pagosa and see all of the Christmas decorations and lighting that has been put up. Downtown Pagosa Springs is already covered in lights!
To participate in this fun tradition, just download the Visit Pagosa Springs App! Like us on Facebook to keep up to date on NextHome Rocky Mountain Realty & Rentals.
Happy Halloween!
Do Something Nice Day
Today is National Do Something Nice Day!
October 5th is National Do Something Nice Day! It’s a day to remind everyone how easy it is to be nice and to do kind things for one another.
There are so many ways to do something nice, the possibilities are endless and most of them are easy! What are you going to do to celebrate this holiday? If you would like to talk with someone from our office, give us a call at (970) 507-8655. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook to view our weekly Virtual Open House Series!