Things to Do in Vail

The tony mountain town of Vail, along with its neighbor Beaver Creek, sits along the Gore Range of the Rocky Mountains and is best known as a prime Colorado ski resort. Located about two hours by car (100 miles) from Denver, Vail is a great winter weekend getaway from the Mile High city. It’s the second-largest ski mountain in North America and boasts more than 5,000 acres and 190 trails of perfect downhill slopes.

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, winter activities in Vail include tubing, snowshoeing, wildlife tours, and dogsledding. It’s particularly cozy in winter, blanketed in snow, with the twinkling lights of shops, restaurants, and bars illuminating the car-free town. But Vail is equally exciting during the warmer months. Hiking, mountain biking, white-water rafting, horseback riding, golf, fishing, and hunting are all popular during summer, and there are enough spa treatments to keep visitors busy any time of year.

Vail also plays host to several spectacular festivals and events throughout the year. In December there’s Snow Daze, a week of concerts and musical performances that kick off ski season. September brings beer and bratwursts for Oktoberfest and Gourmet on Gore, a celebration that showcases the town’s food and wine. And in summer, the weekly Vail Farmers Market is the place to be on Sunday mornings.

Visitors to Vail can also check out the resort town of Beaver Creek; there’s just 32 miles between the two towns with frequent shuttle service offered for just a few dollars.