Jean Shop USA 6

11/27/2023

Great weekend to visit Westcliffe: Andy Mast's open house on Friday afternoon and festive Christmas parade on Saturday night. Off-season rates at all our properties.

We promote travel to Westcliffe, Colorado, a Dark Skies community, and offer vacation-home rentals t

11/13/2023

Fall perspective of the Milky Way from one of our properties. A guest from the the Washington DC area is becoming a frequent guests. Several vacation rental properties will soon be priced for monthly rentals from December though March.

08/29/2023

A new friend and visitor at the Smoky Jack Observatory took this photo last weekend. About five nights of a new moon (e.g. 9/14, 10/14, 11/13, 12/12) is optimal for viewing the Milky Way. Recent rains have greened up the Wet Mountain Valley. Vacation rental rates are lower now that kids are back in school.

08/29/2023

Head to downtown Westcliffe for the annual High Altitude Horsepower Car Show on Saturday, September 2. Cars will be on display along Main Street beginning at 3rd Street heading west and on 2nd Street, one block north and one block south. A portion on Main Street and 2nd Street will be closed beginning at 6:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

08/29/2023

Once in a Blue Moon -- here's your chance! Although it will appear no bluer than on any other night, it fits the modern definition by being the second Full Moon in a calendar month. Get outside and enjoy our gorgeous Blue Moon!

The best thing about stargazing is there’s always something cool to see. For example, on the overnight of August 30-31, 2023, you can see the moon and Saturn pair up. What’s more, both of them are at their biggest and brightest for 2023!

08/24/2023

Planning to venture to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve? The Dunes are a beautiful 2-hour+ drive from Westcliffe around the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Check out these (hilarious) reviews left by actual visitors.

Here's some advice – any time you need a chuckle, head to the Google Reviews page for one of Colorado's iconic natural destinations and sort the reviews to show those

08/10/2023

Do you love beautiful scenery, cooler weather, and all kinds of festivities? If so, Fall in Colorado is second to none. Plus, you'll typically find that there are fewer crowds in Colorado during September and October than you'll find in the spring and in the summer. That being said, it's important to note that the fall season in Colorado can be a bit unpredictable. It can snow in the mountains and temperatures can drop drastically. In short, be sure to expect the unexpected!

If you're looking for a peaceful, relaxing getaway, plan your trip to The 'Cliffs (Westcliffe & Silver Cliff) and the Wet Mountain Valley now. BOOK YOUR STAY at https://darkskies.vacations

08/10/2023

🌟 Exciting Astronomical Events in August 2023! 🌟

Mark your calendars for these breathtaking astronomical events:

🌕 August 1: Full Sturgeon Moon (Supermoon)
🪐 August 3: Moon passes 2°28' from Saturn (mag 0.6).
🌗 August 8: Moon passes 2°39' from Jupiter (mag -2.4); Last Quarter Moon.
✨ August 9: Moon passes 1°30' from Pleiades (mag 1.2).
🌟 August 10: Mercury at greatest evening elongation.
🌠 August 13: Perseids’ peak (ZHR = 100) ; Moon passes 1°42' from Pollux (mag 1.2); Venus at inferior conjunction; Mercury (mag 0.4) passes 4°42' from Mars (mag 1.8).
🌑 August 16: New Moon.
🌠 August 17: κ-Cygnids’ peak (ZHR = 3).
✨ August 18: Moon passes 6°56' from Mercury (mag 0.7), 1°55' from Mars (mag 1.8).
✨ August 21: Moon passes 2°36' from Spica (mag 1.0).
🌀 August 23: Mercury begins retrograde motion.
🌓 August 24: First Quarter Moon.
🌝 August 25: Moon passes 1°6' from Antares (mag 1.1); lunar occultation of Antares (visible from the USA, Mexico, and Canada).
🪐 August 27: Saturn at opposition.
🌀 August 29: Uranus begins retrograde motion.
🪐 August 30: Moon passes 2°16' from Saturn (mag 0.4).
🌕 August 31: Full Blue Moon (Supermoon).

Learn about the visibility of planets, comets, and constellations from our article 👉 https://starwalk.space/news/night-sky-tonight-august

Don't miss these celestial wonders! 🌌 Use the Sky Tonight app to discover the exact times and locations for each event, ensuring you have a front-row seat to the cosmic magic! 🪐✨

08/08/2023

Have you started planning for leaf peeping? Fall is coming up QUICK! Who can believe it’s already August? The best time to see fall foliage in Colorado is typically from mid-September to mid-October, but it can vary depending on the elevation and weather conditions. For the best chance of seeing the leaves at their peak, it is recommended to plan your trip for late September or early October.

BOOK NOW at https://darkskies.vacations

08/03/2023

Dark Skies Vacations makes top ten best places for stargazing... world wide:

07/25/2023

The FREE Sunday concert series presented by KLZR "Summer at Summit Park" runs from Sunday, July 30 thru Sunday, August 27, from 2-4:30 p.m.

Everyone is invited to bring lawn chairs, shade (to supplement that supplied by KLZR), coolers with food and drink (but no alcohol, please) and dogs on leashes. In case of rain, concerts will be held at All Aboard Westcliffe, 110 Rosita.

Come join the fun!

Kay
Darkskies Vacations

07/16/2023

🌙✨ Explore the Moon's Different Phases! ✨🌙

The moon goes through different phases during its monthly journey around the Earth. These phases can be divided into four main and four in-between (growing and shrinking) phases:

1️⃣ New Moon: The moon is not visible as it is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, starting a new lunar cycle.
2️⃣ Waxing Crescent Moon: A small, thin crescent of the moon becomes visible as it starts to grow.
3️⃣ First Quarter Moon: Half of the moon is illuminated, showing interesting details on its surface.
4️⃣ Waxing Gibbous Moon: The illuminated portion of the moon continues to increase, creating a bright and captivating appearance.
5️⃣ Full Moon: The moon is fully illuminated, casting a radiant glow and captivating our attention.
6️⃣ Waning Gibbous Moon: The moon begins to shrink, and its illuminated portion decreases, but it still maintains a noticeable brightness.
7️⃣ Last Quarter Moon: Half of the moon is illuminated once again, but on the opposite side compared to the First Quarter Moon.
8️⃣ Waning Crescent Moon: The moon appears as a thin crescent again, becoming less and less illuminated.

These phases happen because of the positions of the Earth, moon, and Sun. The entire lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days, just under a month. You can learn the upcoming lunar phase from our Moon calendar in the Sky Tonight app 🌙✨

07/16/2023

07/07/2023

We're looking forward to welcoming you to The 'Cliffs (Westcliffe and Silver Cliff) and the Wet Mountain Valley. You might be wondering about this piece of heaven on earth. Check out this video to learn about the place we call home. 😁❤️

A documentary of the Westcliffe area in the Wet Mountain Valley in Custer County Colorado

07/06/2023

Looking for a great way to get outside and explore the Wet Mountain Valley? Rent an e-Bike😁

https://www.facebook.com/100063722613908/posts/739293314871416/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Public attention goes to electric cars in conversations about the future of transportation. Locally, however, the electric bike has been embraced quietly and without fanfare. Five years ago, one pa…

07/02/2023

July is heating up with lots of great local events -- and you're invited!

Check out What's Happening in the Wet Mountain Valley at https://mailchi.mp/visitcustercounty/jul23pt1-e-newsletter-a?e=bf87d74cd5.

For more information visit the Custer County Tourism website at https://visitwetmountainvalley.com.