Colorado Life Archives - Page 3 of 5 - DeckTec Outdoor Designs

Off the Beaten Path: Cortez

November 21st, 2018|Blog, Colorado Life|

About seven hours from Denver, but just 46 miles from Durango is Cortez, population 9,007 (and, yes, they’re counting!) Cortez has a quaint Main Street with brew pubs and coffee shops and goes to show that good things are found near small packages, at least when it comes to mountain biking. This little town (believe it or not, they call it the “City of Cortez”) is home to the 26.8 mile Phil’s World Mountain Bike Trail system. Phil’s World offers views of the Sleeping Ute, La Plata and Mesa Verde mountains and is ranked #2 for best mountain biking in Colorado and 10th for “all-time best rides” by the MTB Project and the International Mountain Biking Association – now that’s something to pop a wheel about. What else do you expect from trails built for and by mountain bikers and maintained by the Kokopelli Bike Club? Phil’s World parking lot [...]

Deck Worthy Snacks: Homemade Soft Pretzels

November 7th, 2018|Blog, Colorado Life, Outdoor Recipes|

Ingredients 1½ c. warm (110-115°) water 1 tbsp. sugar 2 tsp. kosher salt 1 package active dry yeast 22 oz. all-purpose flour (about 4½ cups) 2 oz. unsalted butter, melted vegetable oil, for pan 10 c. water 2/3 c. baking soda large egg yolk beaten w/1 tbsp. water pretzel (or other course) salt Directions Combine water, sugar and kosher salt in mixer bowl. Sprinkle yeast on top. Let sit for 5 mins. or until mixture begins to foam. Add flour and butter. Using dough hook attachment, combine on low speed. Knead on medium speed until dough is smooth and pulls away from sides, about 4-5 mins. Remove dough, clean bowl and coat with oil. Return dough to bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let sit in warm place for 50-55 mins. or until dough doubles in size. Preheat oven to 450°. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper. Lightly brush [...]

Oktoberfest In September?

October 24th, 2018|Blog, Colorado Life|

Ever wonder why Oktoberfest happens in September? Well, true to name, Oktoberfest was originally held in October – or Oktober, in German. The first Oktoberfest, held on October 12, 1810, was a wedding celebration and parade honoring the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen . Six days of festivities took place on the outskirts of Munich on fairgrounds named “Theresenwiese” (Therese’s meadow) after the princess, concluding on October 17 with a horse race. The festival was such a hit that it was repeated in following years. Additional features such as a Bavarian agricultural show and carnival booths were added as the festival grew. In 1819, Oktoberfest became an annual event run by the city fathers. This year marked the 211th anniversary of the world’s largest beer festival, with more than six million attendees consuming more than one million gallons of beer. Oktoberfest still takes place [...]

Down Old Durango Way

October 10th, 2018|Blog, Colorado Life|

Why not grab Fido and Spot and your family and friends and get off the Front Range for a change of scenery? Colorado doesn’t stop at Rocky Mountain National Park or even the Vail Valley, y’know! If you time it right, you might even catch some autumn colors along your six-and-a-half-hour Denver to Durango trek. Not too far from the New Mexico border, Durango is a perfect place to start exploring the area. Home to the liberal arts-oriented Fort Lewis College and 18,500 local residents, Durango is an interesting mix of college town and Old West in a setting of stark southwest beauty. The old downtown offers quaint and charming amenities, from brew pubs to coffee shops and galleries. Be sure to leave time for window shopping and wandering. When you’re in town, consider staying at the historic Strater Hotel on Main Street. The red brick hotel dates to 1887 [...]

Client Interviews: The Skibinski Family

October 3rd, 2018|Blog, Colorado Life, Customer Feature, Deck Project Highlights, Life On Deck|

Friends and family say that Mike and Korrie’s DeckTec deck has turned the already-beautiful Skibinski home into a luxury resort. But it’s not just about impressing others. The split-level Mahogany deck, which was completed in July, works for the Skibinski family on so many levels (no pun intended). Architecturally, the deck connects the house to the pool, creating a sense of flow that the Westminster property lacked. Korrie, who works in education, now has a place to relax after work and as she put it, “just listen to the rain.” For the Skibinskis’ 13-year-old daughter, the deck is a peaceful, quiet spot outdoors where she can concentrate better on her homework. And the deck brings people together. The family eats dinner together out there regularly and hosts large parties without it feeling crowded. In fact, the deck offers something for everyone – including the youngest Skibinski. “It’s not like the [...]