Finding wildlife in the wild is never easy. An excursion hunting for bears, moose, deer or other mammals, while serving up amazing views of wild and remote areas, can still end up being disappointing if the wildlife doesn’t appear.
But if you can’t be sure you’re going to see wildlife, trekking with your own llama has to be a pretty good second-best option.
Lunch with a Llama, a new package at the Antlers at Vail hotel, allows guests to do just that. Participants search for Colorado wildlife in its native Rocky Mountain habitat, on half-day hikes accompanied by a pack llama.
Lunch with a Llama was inspired by a recent (and unexpected) visit from a baby moose, who took a brief respite in lobby of Antlers at Vail. The moose-on-the-loose made international news, but hotel staff assure guests this is not an everyday experience.
“We’ve had close encounters with wildlife before,” says Antlers General Manager Rob LeVine, referring to bear tracks outside, a trapped weasel once, and even a fox by the swimming pool, but “this is a first for a moose, or any animal, in the lobby.”
The moose’s unexpected visit inspired Antlers staff to create the opportunity for guests to experience the area’s bountiful wildlife – and be guaranteed a photo-op, if not with a moose, then a llama. “But, outside the hotel,” said LeVine.
The Lunch with a Llama package includes a half-day “Lunch with a Llama” trek to view wildlife for two, organized through Vail’s Paragon Guides. The package, which runs throughout the month of August 2014, includes two nights’ lodging in an Antlers one-bedroom suite.
The package starts at $690 for two, but can be upgraded for families traveling with llama-loving kids to $757. For the more adventurous, a full-day wildlife-viewing llama trek can also be arranged, for an additional charge.
The Antlers at Vail is located in a fabulous mountain setting on the banks of Gore Creek, just steps from restaurants, galleries, shops, free Vail town shuttle and the Lionshead Gondola.
The property was recently awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and GreenLeader status, and features condominiums ranging from studio suites up to four-bedroom penthouses. Every unit includes a fully-equipped kitchen, fireplace, private balcony, daily maid service, and complimentary wi-fi and parking.
Antlers at Vail
800-843-8245
www.antlersvail.com
