Vail Travel Guide

Travel in Vail

Destinations Near Vail

Mountain West Travel States/Provinces

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Blue Sky Basin in Vail, Colorado
Blue Sky Basin in Vail, Colorado (Jack Affleck/courtesy, Vail Resort)

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Vail Travel Tips

  • Take the Vista Bahn Chairlift or the Lionshead Gondola to the top of Vail Mountain, and take a spin on the resort's extensive network of mountain-bike trails. Explore the mountain on your own, sign up for instruction, or enjoy a guided tour down the slopes. If you're looking for a challenging workout, skip the lifts, and pedal up one of the mountain trails, and go on from there.
  • Race to the Back Bowls on a powder day. They're Vail's prized attraction, and when it snows, you'll have to get up early to beat the masses to the good stuff.
  • Adventurous and savvy backcountry skiers can take the Minturn Mile, a long run off the back of the resort that leads to the tiny mining village of Minturn. Hop a public bus back to town.
  • Hiking on Vail Mountain in the summer is one of the best ways to enjoy this popular winter ski mountain. There are hundreds of trails that you can enjoy from the base of the mountain, minutes from town, or at the top of the mountain via the Lionshead Gondola or Vista Bahn Chairlift.
  • Après-ski at The George, downstairs near the covered bridge on Bridge Street. Relax in the plush leather sofas and nosh on discount nachos and other hearty bar fare.
  • Other popular Vail-area trails are: Cross Creek Trail, Deluge Creek Trail, Fall Creek Trail, Fancy Pass Trail, Gore Creek Trail, Grouse Lake Trail, Grouse Mountain Trail, Half Moon Pass Trail, Lost Lake Trail, Meadow Creek Trail, Meadow Mountain Line Shack, Missouri Lakes Trail, Notch Mountain Trail, Piney River Trail, Pitkin Creek Trail, and Whitney Lake Trail.
  • Take in a performance of Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival.
  • Play hard and have fun on Adventure Ridge, winter or summer.
  • Pond skim—that is, ski down a hill and across a chilly pool of water—at the Pond Skimming World Championships held every spring. It is open to the public.

Vail Travel Guide

Consistently ranked the country's most popular ski resort by skiers and ski magazines almost since its inception, Vail is the big one. It's hard to imagine a more celebrated spot to schuss. Off the slopes, Vail is an incredibly compact Tyrolean village, frequented by almost as many Europeans as Americans, a situation that lends its restaurants, lodgings, and trendy shops a more transatlantic feel than other Colorado resorts. But the size of the mountain and the difficulty and excitement of many of its trails are still what draw the faithful. Read More

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Hotels

from: $499

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

0130 Daybreak Ridge
Avon, CO 81620 Map

Distance: 8.4 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 5 class stars

Sonnenalp Resort Of Vail

20 Vail Road
Vail, CO 81657 Map

Distance: 0.3 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 4 class stars
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
5.0
from: $339

Vail Cascade Resort and Spa

1300 Westhaven Dr.
Vail, CO 81657 Map

Distance: 1.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 4 class stars

Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
5.0

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Attractions

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

expert favorite attraction
Ford Park, east of Vail Village
183 Gore Creek Dr
Vail, Colorado 81657

Distance: 0.0 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

A wonderful place for a relaxing break from the rigors of an active vacation, these peaceful... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Mount Holy Cross

expert favorite attraction
Holy Cross Wilderness
Minturn, Colorado

Distance: 0.3 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Named for a snow-filled crevice on its northeast face that forms a distinct cross, the mountain towers 14,000 feet over Rocky Mountain National Park. ... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Adventure Ridge

expert favorite attraction
600 W Lionshead Cir
Vail, Colorado 81657-5218

Distance: 1.0 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Adventure Ridge park sits at 10,350 feet at the top of Vail's Eagle Bahn Gondola. Guests can enjoy... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Airports

Major Airports near Vail

Distance (mi.)
Denver International Airport 91.3 map
Colorado Springs Municipal Airport 105.5 map

Other Smaller Airports near Vail

Distance (mi.)
Eagle/Vail Eagle County Airport 29.0 map
Hayden Yampa Valley Airport 66.2 map
Fort Collins/Loveland Municipal Airport 94.4 map

Flight Deals to Vail

Originating From
Salt Lake City (SLC) to Denver (DEN) $106
Albuquerque (ABQ) to Denver (DEN) $106
Oklahoma City (OKC) to Denver (DEN) $139
Omaha (OMA) to Denver (DEN) $145
Kansas City (MKC) to Denver (DEN) $146

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Vail Vacation Rentals

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Rentvail.com - 4 Bedroom Platinum Rated Sleeps 10

Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3
Sleeps: 10
Amenities: BBQ, CD Player, Cable/Satellite TV, Coffee Maker, DVD Player, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Full kitchen, Garage, Hot Tub, Internet Access, Laundry, Linens, Microwave, Oven, Refrigerator, Stereo, Stove, TV, Utensils, VCR
check rates
from: $650

Privately owned beautiful 5,500 square ft. home

Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 4.5
Sleeps: 18
Amenities: Garage, Hot Tub, Jacuzzi, Microwave, Pool Table, Refrigerator, Stereo, Swimming Pool, TV, VCR
check rates
from: $300

Timbercreek #10B

Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Sleeps: 8
Amenities: Fireplace, TV, VCR


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