As we turn the page on 2025, I wanted to take a moment to look back at where Trail Mix started a few months ago.

When I launched Trail Mix in July, it was a small idea rooted in a big love for this greater Vail community. I never could have imagined how quickly this local love letter would grow. Whether you’ve been here since our first week, shared our stories with a neighbor, or simply read along every Thursday morning, your presence here means the world to me. Truly.

The Highlight Reel 

The absolute highlight of our first year was seeing the Local Passport come to life. Seeing hundreds of you out in the wild, exploring our town, saving money, and supporting the local businesses that make our area unique was incredible. It was a tangible reminder of what happens when we choose to look local first.

What’s Ahead for 2026 

I have so many fresh ideas in the works for the new year all designed to bring this community even closer together. You can expect more curated local guides, deeper deep-dives into the hidden gems of our area, and new ways to support the local economy that keep Vail thriving.

But at its heart, Trail Mix is for the community and by the community. Your voice matters to me. I welcome you to hit reply and share what you’ve enjoyed most this year, what you’d like to see more of in 2026, or any other thoughts you have for our neighborhood.

Have a wonderful, safe New Year. I look forward to seeing you out on the trails and in our local shops in 2026.

With gratitude,

Kimberly
Publisher of Trail Mix

Trail Mix is 100% free to read, independently owned, and locally operated (heck, it’s just me). It’s relevant ads for the greater Vail area from businesses and fellow local organizations that our readers want to know about, which lets us keep Trail Mix going so we can have more fun and build community.

If you’re a local business wanting to reach your neighbors, now’s a great time to secure your ad spot for 2026!

Fry (A882072) arrived at PACC as a stray, like many dogs will do over the next week or so, due to holiday celebrations. The week after New Year's has historically been PACC's second-busiest intake period, just behind Fourth of July.

Reminder: If you see a friendly, healthy stray in your neighborhood after the fireworks, try knocking on doors to see if it belongs to a neighbor. The lines to surrender found dogs at PACC are likely to be very long, resulting in long wait times. (Meaning if you knock on some doors, you'll likely have it home quicker than the time it would take to get help at PACC lol)

If you find a sick or injured stray pet, please bring it to PACC during open hours or call Dispatch at 520-724-5900, ext. 4 for immediate assistance.

Some notes on Fry:

This year, we’re skipping the city lights for the crackle of a mesquite fire and a batch of "Sonoran S’mores." There is something about the scent of desert woodsmoke and the sharp, clean chill of a Vail midnight that resets the soul. Swap the traditional chocolate for a disk of Mexican Abuelita cocoa and a dollop of prickly pear jam for a local twist on a classic. It’s a simple, rugged way to toast to the open road—and the open trails—awaiting us in the year ahead.

December 31

Add an upcoming event to the Trail Mix calendar! It's free right here. ⤵️

​On Snack Works​

Sunrise: 7:23 AM

Sunset: 5:28 PM

Air Quality: Fair (29 AQI)

Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous

Publisher, Arizona Trail Mix
Southern Arizona's Unofficial Hype Woman