Free is key
Deals abound in Eagle County — you just have to know where to look

By L.S. Burns

Don’t be bashful — most everyone is looking to score a deal these days, be it dining discounts or free entertainment. The Parent’s Handbook

has done the leg work for you. Read on to find out about some of the best ongoing deals in the valley.
Nottingham Lake, located in Avon, offers free ice skating for those with their own equipment. The lake is suitable for skating Dec. 20 through

Feb. 18 and the log cabin rents skates from noon to 8 p.m. daily. Call 970-748-4086 for info. The Black Family Ice Rink in Beaver Creek offers

disco skate night, with complimentary ice time from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday nights from Dec. 21 through March 29. Skates are available for rent or

bring your own. The Alderhof Ice Rink, located at the new Arrabelle at Vail Square resort in Lionshead is open daily throughout the winter. Ice

skates are available to rent.
If you’re stationed in Vail, consider checking out Nature at Night. Naturalists from the Gore Range Natural Science School will lead free nature

talks (30 to 45 minutes) about astronomy, nocturnal animals and more on Thursday and Saturday at 6 p.m., no reservations  required. Call

970-754-4675. The Gore Range Discovery Center also offers free scenic snowshoes on Vail Mountain. Expert naturalists talk about everything

from animal tracks to the mountain pine bark beetle on the tours, which take place daily at 3 p.m. Call 970-754-4675.
Ski with a ranger every Monday at 1:30 p.m. at Beaver Creek from Dec. 14 through April 5.The free 45-minute tour of beginner and intermediate

trails meets at Ski Patrol Headquarters at the top of Cinch Lift #8. Complimentary snowshoe tours of the mountain, followed by cookies and

cocoa take place each Tuesday (Dec. 22-March 30) from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Snowshoes and headlamps are provided and guests should sign up in

advance by calling 970-754-5313. Visit www.beavercreek.com to learn more.
Wednesday’s mean free Street Beat concerts. The first one is Jan. 13. People crowd the streets for the 6 p.m. concerts, held at either

Checkpoint Charlie or Solaris in Vail Village or Arrabelle at Vail Square in Lionshead. Don’t forget to dress warmly – hats, scarves, mittens and

the rest are a must for the outdoor events. For dates and bands, visit www.vilarpac.org.
Don’t forget to take advantage of Vail’s early season party: Vail Snow Daze runs December 7-13. Barenaked Ladies will headline the event with

a free concert, but there will be plenty of free activities like a snowball eating contest and the Dummy Demolition Derby under the lights. Visit

vailsnowdaze.com.
Spring Back to Vail, the town’s annual springtime celebration is April 12-18. From free concerts to snowman building contests and the World

Pond Skimming Championships, there is plenty of free entertainment the whole family will enjoy. Visit springbacktovail.com.