Tag Archives: adventure

The Vacation Rental Market is Hot in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Here’s Why You Should Buy Now

12/18/2018 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

With all of the responsibilities of the holidays I often find myself needing a vacation from my holiday vacation. Which is why I love the idea of having a winter vacation property to retreat to after the New Year. Now, if you’re like me,having a house you visit only once a year may seem like an unattainable luxury but purchasing a rental property in a winter vacation destination could actually be a wise investment. Especially when you want a place that offers a fun-filled family adventure!

The key to finding an amazing rental property isn’t just knowing the best locations, it’s knowing what locations are up and coming. I discovered a new report from the vacation rental pros at Vacasa that has confirmed something that I’ve believed about the Pagosa Springs, CO winter rental market for a long time.

It’s primed to explode.

Vacasa applied their prodigious data analysis skills to the copious amounts of data they have on vacation rental markets around the country and pin pointed the Top 10 best places to buy a winter vacation home right now.

Winter month occupancy in winter vacation destinations are up almost 25% year over year since 2016.That means that winter vacation destinations are a real trend. But there’s more to finding a truly lucrative vacation property than proximity to skiing and snowboarding.

Vacasa’s Winter Vacation Report identifies the markets with the highest average occupancy increases in the winter months and chose the ones with the best one-year return on investment.

Pagosa Springs, CO was #7 on the list.

Here’s a little more detail on why Pagosa Springs, CO made the list:

Pagosa Springs, CO‘s Stats:

Median Annual Rental Revenue: $21,720

Median Home Price: $287,500

One-Year Return Rate: 4.6%

As you can see, Pagosa Springs, CO’slow median home price and relatively high amount of annual rental revenue offers a very competitive one-year return rate. It’s considered one of the best-kept secrets with it’s devoted skiing enthusiasts willing to travel a little longer for top notch skiing and shorter lift lines.

You can check out the report here. So if you’re in the market for a winter vacation home, Vacasa has the information you need to help you get into Pagaso Springs, CO.

Guest Post

Best Safety Gear For The Adventurous Motorcyclist

01/20/2017 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

For most motorcyclists, the experience of riding is more than enough, even if it’s a trip to the gym or work. However, plenty of bikers like to go outside of the beaten path and explore new places on the back of their ride.

If adventure is part of your motorcycling experience, then you want to make sure that you prepare yourself beforehand. Part of it is making sure that you have the best Yamaha accessories, and the rest is knowing your limits, so you don’t put yourself in danger.

Full Face Helmet

If you are a casual rider, then a half or three-quarters helmet is more than enough to protect your grey matter. However, to protect yourself on your wild adventures you will need an Arai full face helmet, just in case of a wipeout or collision while out on the road or trail.

All Weather Gloves

Part of being adventurous is heading out regardless of weather. While it’s nice to bike when the sun is shining, if you’re committed to getting the best experience, then rain or other weather shouldn’t prevent you from going out. Therefore, make sure your hands don’t freeze by giving them all-weather gloves.

Thick Riding Suit

Along with decent gloves, you need to have an all-weather suit to protect the rest of your body. You should already have something to keep you safe on the road, but when it comes to exploring the great unknown, you want an extra layer of comfort, so you don’t get too cold (or too hot).

Touring Bag

While most bikers ride for a few hours at a time, the most adventurous ones will take a long road trip and see where their bikes take them. If that’s something you’re interested in, then you will need a weatherproof touring bag to hold all of your stuff. Because you don’t have a trunk on your motorcycle, a bag will be the only way to stay prepared out on the road.

Overall, if adventure is what you seek, you have to make sure that you go about it in the right way. Be sure to upgrade your Yamaha accessories and bring all the proper gear for any eventuality. Just be sure to check your EBC brakes before you head out.

Life, Parenting

Exploring the Casey’s Clubhouse Playground in Grapevine

09/29/2016 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

We have a few playgrounds around us in Roanoke, but when a friend told me about Casey’s Clubhouse, I put it on my Things To Do With Avery list right away.

Located in Grapevine, TX, Casey’s Clubhouse is part or Dove Park which has a waterpark and splash pad. All are free except for the waterpark. The playground is just a short drive from our home in Roanoke and pretty easy to get to.

Without telling her my plans, I loaded Avery up in my Blue Rocket aka Subaru Outback and “blasted off” for the park. She could see the unique playground equipment as we parked and started calling out the familiar ones. We excitedly entered stopping only to pose with the turtle at the entrance.

posing-with-turtle-at-caseys-clubhouse-in-grapevine

Then it was off to play! With a cool tree house to explore, a zip line, several slides, swings (small, big, and gianormous), a rock climbing wall, and more, deciding on what to investigate first was challenging. Since we were already challenged, it only made sense to attempt climbing a steeper-than-ever, rock wall.

grapevine, tx, casey's clubhouse, dove park, playground

With slight hesitation at first, then a short panic pause in the middle, Avery proudly escalated the wall all by herself in her Soft Star Shoes. The first ascent was a bit slow, but each repeated attempt showed her gaining more confidence and speed. The big red slide on the other side was a great motivator too.

grapevine, tx, casey's clubhouse, dove park, playground

Sticking with the red theme, we ventured over to the gianormous swings. I tried it out first, and after a friendly mother took the time to try and get it over my big head, I decided it’s not so gianormous after all. But for Avery, it was huge, and she like it….kinda.

grapevine, tx, casey's clubhouse, dove park, playground

Zip lining seemed to be quite popular among the other kids on the playground, but after one zip down with Daddy, that was all Avery cared to do. Maybe we’ll try again next time. To make up for me hanging on the cable with her, Avery gave me a ride on a boat. I asked if I could stand up while riding, but she shot me the “don’t you dare” look.

grapevine, tx, casey's clubhouse, dove park, playground

I know that look from Going Mom and decided to keep seated in the interest of my safety. We played on various equipment that we’ve never seen before and wrapped up our time by running around the treehouse to see what there was to discover.

at-top-of-clubhouse-on-grapevine-texas-playground

There were multiple levels with spiral staircase and ramp as choices to navigate the structure. This makes it a great choice for kids of all abilities to make use of the fun, adventurous equipment in Casey’s Clubhouse, and I can attest that parents will love it too.

With many things to do on the playground to wear your kiddos out in hopes of a successful nap (something we’re seeing much less of at home…..), I recommend anyone in the area to stop by. It’s nothing super extravagant, but it’s clean, FREE, and big enough for a small crowd. We’ll be sure to make it back soon!