Longs peak

[flyv65]

This will be my first time attending this event
How far in advance do I need tickets and hotel reservations?

You can buy tickets to most anything the day of (with the exception of the Sctoch tasting: that fills up by the beginning of August). Hotel rooms need to be booked *much* earlier-sometimes a year. If you don't mind moving dowm the canyon a few miles (6 to 8) you can find some nice, moderately expensive cabins and non-chain motels.

Bryan...or you can pitch a tent in RMNP-they keep the toilets open untill Octoberin the Moraine Park campground...

[flyv65]

Hope I get a chance to to meet you there,
I should be easy to spot, I'll be wearing my kilt.

Oh yeah- you'll stick out like a sore thumb. Smartazz.

Bryan...I will also be a kilted trendsetter...

[Joe Gondek]

Oh yeah- you'll stick out like a sore thumb. Smartazz.

I'm Sorry I couldn't resist

[Joe Gondek]

flyv65

Thank you for the advice on ticket sales
I will go ahead and buy the scotch tasting tickets well in advance as I've never been to one and it sounds interesting.

[Rusty]

Don't miss the Saturday morning parade down main street. It has to be one of the best parades I've ever had the pleasure of watching. ( Maybe we should be in the parade as a contingent for Xmarks) Bring your camcorder.
Rusty

[flyv65]

The Saturday Parade is free, by the by, but you'll need the dosh to get in the gate at the fairgrounds.

Bryan...the guys (and gals) at this Highland games are serious about their atheletics...

[GMan]

I agree, the parade downtown is great. I just loving hanging out at the festivities there, a great although crowded time.

[flyv65]

flyv65

Thank you for the advice on ticket sales
I will go ahead and buy the scotch tasting tickets well in advance as I've never been to one and it sounds interesting.

IIRC, the scotch tasting is a Friday early afternoon event: plan to stay nearby, or make arraingements for a driver. The one time I went, our Scotch host/guide (Buzz Dubowski) had a heavy hand, and we sampled 6 different scotches in about 2.5 hours. I thought it was well worth the money, even though Buzz was a Glen Livet man.

Bryan...he didn't care for our Macallan "sherry party" as he put it...

[Livingston]

I usually end up working at the piping competition, well the last 3 years anyway, and will be there again this year. For some unfortunate reason, I don't seem to spend much up there in Estes....lodging, well Mom and Dad will always put us up I will look forward to seeing any of you that show up this year. And planning on getting to the Scotch tasting

[ozone]

For what it's worth (if anyone is still reading this thread), the benefactor package was the best deal for my wife and I last year. This included pole-position parking next to the event, the whisky tasting, ceilidh, and many other cool tihngs. If you add up the cost of buying individual ticekts, you quickly realize that the benefactor package makes more sense, especially if you are staying for the full event (dont forget the sunday closing dinner as well).

The whisky tasting was indeed very good, but we sampled 9 and it was a bit much by the end of the evening. My recommendation for whisky tasting is to dilute the whisky like all the professionals do to at least 50/50 with water. Also, they always save the $300-600/bottle whisky for last, so taking only a sip of the first few whiskies and setting them aside will be well worth your time.