Vail, Colorado, is primarily known as a winter ski destination with an annual average snowfall of 360 inches. However, it’s a year-round outdoor recreation destination to those in the know. During winter, visitors can take advantage of this ski and snowboard hot spot on Vail Mountain and its idyllic Bavarian-style mountain village. During the rest of the year, Vail is a getaway for the whole family with river rafting, zip lining, spelunking, fly fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing.
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
In a destination that averages over 300 inches of snow a year, visitors probably wouldn’t expect to be able to visit gardens year-round, but that’s exactly what travelers to Vail can do. Betty Ford Alpine Gardens has five distinctive gardens to peruse – Children’s Garden, Schoolhouse Garden, Mountain Perennial Garden, Meditation Garden, and Alpine Rock Garden. There is also an amphitheater, museum and gift shop, and education center. There are public and private tours of the gardens during summer and guided and self-guided winter snowshoe tours during winter. The education center has a state-of-the-art alpine house, a pollinator garden, and a rooftop terrace.
522 South Frontage Road E, Vail, CO, Phone: 970-476-0103
Booth Falls Trail
Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate Booth Falls Trail, an out-and-back trail that’s roughly 10 miles round trip. Because the trail has a 3,000-foot gain in elevation from trailhead to summit, it’s categorized as an intermediate trail, though hikers who aren’t acclimated to the elevation may find it more difficult. Those who only want to hike to the 60-foot waterfall will find it two miles up the trail. The picturesque waterfall and stream present the perfect spot for a picnic or a place to rest. Those wanting to climb to the top and experience Booth Lake will be rewarded with conifer trees, wildflowers, and wildlife along the way. At the top, hikers enjoy both the feeding lake trout and the panoramic views of the Gore Mountain Range.
Vail Village Welcome Center, 241 South Frontage Road, Suite 8150, Vail, CO, Phone: 970-477-3522
Colorado Snowsports Museum
Visiting one of the premier ski and snowboard towns in the country almost begs a visit to the Colorado Snowsports Museum. The wealth of information presented by the museum is displayed in nine exhibits. The Colorado Skiing Timeline exhibit represents 140 years of Colorado’s skiing evolution, and there are several exhibits dedicated to the 10th Mountain Division World War II ski troopers, Vail Valley local history, and US Ski Team history dating back to the first Winter Olympics. Visitors will also find exhibits showcasing snowboards, skis, ski bindings, history of the National Ski Patrol, and the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame.
231 South Frontage Road E, Vail, CO, Phone: 970-476-1876
Deluge Lake Trail
Deluge Lake Trail is the most difficult of three trails that lead to Deluge Lake because of its steep, rocky incline. It begins at Gore Creek Campground and goes left at the first fork (Gore Creek Trail is to the right.) The trail travels though soaring aspens, then fir and lodgepole pine trees. Naturally, this makes for a colorful fall hike. A little over 2.5 miles up the trail, hikers will begin to see magnificent views of Gore Creek Valley. The last couple miles to the lake level out for a bit and the trail offers meadow views of wildflowers and wildlife, including deer and marmots. Hikers can spend some time appreciating the lake and panoramic views above the tree line before returning to the campground.
Gore Creek Campground, Big Horn Road, Vail, CO, Phone: 877-444-6777
Shrine Ridge Trail
Located in the White River National Forest, the Shrine Ridge Trail is one of the most spectacular wildflower viewing areas in Colorado. The mountainsides are blanketed with beautifully colorful flowers and incredible views of the Mount of the Holy Cross. Originally created by the Ute Native Americans, this pass winds through pine forests, rocky outcroppings, marshy meadows, trickling streams, and a few unique red sandstone rock formations. It is roughly a two-mile hike from the parking area to Shrine Pass with an elevation gain of roughly 750 feet, making it a beginner to intermediate level trail. Shrine Ridge is open each summer with wildflowers peaking in late July to early August.
900 Grand Avenue, Glenwood Springs, CO, Phone: 970-945-2521
Upper Piney Lake Trail
The Upper Piney Lake Trail is located in White River National Forest. It’s an easy to moderate level trail with an elevation gain of roughly 350 feet. Situated in a remote area, this scenic alpine hike is a little over six miles roundtrip and features open meadows covered in wildflowers, rivers, lakes, and even a waterfall. The trail can be traveled by foot or on horseback, and camping and picnicking are allowed as long as visitors are at least 100 feet away from any water spots. Upper Piney is also an access point for those who want to continue on to Mt. Powell or spend a few hours fishing at Piney River.
900 Grand Avenue, Glenwood Springs, CO, Phone: 970-945-2521
Vail Adventure Ridge
A stadium-sized winter wonderland, Vail Adventure Ridge is an outdoor playground that opens every winter and doesn’t close until mid-April. They offer a wealth of fun and exciting activities for the whole family, including snowshoeing, tubing, snowmobiling and skiing. At this all-day thrill park, guests can keep the adventures going well into the evening on gondola runs, ski bikes, and a bungee trampoline. They also feature a kid’s snowmobile track, slippery slope tubing lanes, various trails, a delectable family restaurant at Bistro 14, and the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster, a raised alpine coaster that winds its way 3,400 feet down the mountain.
600 W Lionshead Circle, Vail, CO, Phone: 800-649-9960
Vail Nature Center
Managed by the Walking Mountains Science Center, the Vail Nature Center is located in a farmhouse nestled between the forested shores of Gore Creek and a mountain meadow. This tranquil seven-acre property is the perfect place to enjoy a multitude of nature-centered activities led by knowledgeable staff. They host a variety of informative tours and backcountry hikes that focus on wildflowers, birds, and a nearby beaver pond. They also provide several classes on topics like stargazing, nature, fly-fishing, and art. The Vail Nature Center is open every year from Memorial Day weekend through the end of September. Visitors can find it on the east side of Vail Village.
601 Vail Valley Drive, Vail, CO, Phone: 970-479-2291
Vail Ski Resort
Vail Ski Resort is the ultimate winter sport resort featuring over 5,000 skiable acres and a wide variety of terrain. It averages over 370 inches of snow and more than 300 days of sunshine each year, making it one of the premier destinations for snow activities. Surrounded by the Sawatch and Gore mountain ranges, visitors are treated to scenic vistas while they enjoy thrilling and adventurous activities all year long. They offer a multitude of activities during both winter and summer such as skiing, tubing, ski-biking, snowmobiling, zip-lining, hiking, and adventure courses. Vail Ski Resort also boasts three restaurants. Game Creek is a fine dining mountain chalet, casual restaurant Bistro Fourteen is a casual restaurant, and The 10th is an on-mountain restaurant.
600 W Lionshead Circle, Vail, CO, Phone: 800-649-9960
Vail Stables
Situated roughly a mile northwest of downtown Vail, Colorado, Vail Stables is a small, rustic outfitter that offers various activities to adventure seekers. This company is geared toward families with children at least fifteen years old, corporate retreats, and honeymooners. The seasonal outfitter does business each year from late May until winter. Specializing in cowboy life with a twist, activities include horseback riding through dense forests and along steep cliffs and one-hour goat yoga classes. The latter is both a relaxing spiritual escape and a fun and entertaining experience where baby goats lovingly assist visitors in all their poses.
915 Spraddle Creek Road, Vail, CO, Phone: 855-743-3824
Gerald Ford Amphitheatre
Affectionately known as The Amp, the Gerald Ford Amphitheatre brings together the best of entertainment and the splendor of the majestic Rocky Mountains. Here, against a stunning natural backdrop, you can attend a summer outdoor concert series which attracts artists from all over the US. The vibrant Amp Summer Concert season includes all kinds of music from rock and pop to country and blue grass, presented by big-name artists. Tuesday nights see the Hot Summer Nights free music concerts, sponsored by the city of Vail. At the end of July the Amp presents the Vail Dance Festival, a 2-week celebration of dance and the Bravo! Vail festival of classical music runs from June to August.
Gerald Ford Amphitheatre, 530 S. Frontage Road E, Vail, CO 81657, 970 777 2015
Yeti’s Grind
Yeti’s Grind is a quaint, local coffee shop located in the heart of the Vail Valley serving up incredible craft coffee, delectable teas, pastries, sandwiches, and burritos. Designed with mountain life in mind, this is a cozy and rustic place where the only aspect of “city-style” is seen through their perfectly poured lattes boasting artistic foam designs. Owned and operated by husband and wife duo Nate and Tara, Yeti’s Grind is a “hangout” coffee shop created to bring the coffee-loving Vail community together. As an added bonus, they created a Vail mountain bike team that encourages all visitors to join in the fun and explore the rich, verdant mountainous region.
141 E Meadow Drive #108, Vail, CO, Phone: 970-476-1515
Vail Brewing Company
Vail Brewing Company, situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, is dedicated to providing their mountain adventuring communities with a consistent assortment of quality hand-crafted brews. They feature two separate locations, one in Vail Village and one in Eagle. Each boasts a rustic, hipster vibe with beautifully designed outdoor patios where leashed dogs are more than welcome to hang out. Each location is equipped with its own tasting room so visitors can try samplings of a few of their favorite brews, including the Tourist Trap, Pete’s Stash Pale, Hot Mess Blonde, and Rum Barrel Aged Coconut Porter, as well as simple yet delicious snack menus.
141 East Meadow Drive #209, Vail, CO, Phone: 970-470-4351
AVA Rafting & Zipline
AVA Rafting & Zipline, located about 50 minutes away from Vail in Breckinridge, Colorado, offers whitewater rafting excursions on four local rivers, the most popular of which take place on the Arkansas River. Adventurers meet at their Granite Outpost where rafting trips range from family-friendly to Class V extreme trips. The Blue River trip is geared toward families with Class III rapids and meets close to Vail. The other two trips are Upper Colorado, which is a scenic float trip, and Shoshone Rapids, a family whitewater trip. The zip line is located on their 44-acre Breckenridge property. AVA offers discount packages for combined rafting and zip lining.
116 Huron Road, Breckinridge, CO, Phone: 970-423-7031
Vail Film Festival
The Vail Film Festival is an annual celebration of films in the ski resort town of Vail, Colorado. Taking place in America's biggest ski resort, the Vail Film Festival has been running on an annual basis since 2004 and typically features four days of film-focused fun and intrigue, with many special guests in attendance and some terrific films on display, vying for the festival's awards.
The Vail Film Festival will be held in the Colorado mountain town of Vail.
Minturn Anglers Fly Fishing
Outdoor enthusiasts who love fishing will appreciate Minturn Anglers Fly Fishing guides. They provide guided fishing trips with knowledgeable guides who know the best fishing spots in the Vail Valle to make the most of your time on the water. There are a number of experiences to choose from including walk and wade fly fishing, fly fishing float trips, and overnight float trips. Specialty guided fishing is available with a kids fly-fishing camp and several combination trips. Anglers can combine fly-fishing with horseback, helicopter, and airplane rides or a romantic gourmet dinner. During winter, visitors can choose from guided ice fishing or winter walk and wade experiences.
Phone: 970-479-7132
Alpenrose
Alpenrose is a German-Austrian restaurant in Vail, serving up high-quality traditional European specialties since 1974. The restaurant, which is currently owned by the restaurateurs behind Almresi, is known for its delectable homestyle cuisine, emphasizing German, Austrian, and Swiss delicacies such as goulash, dumplings, and Kässpätzle. Hearty entree options include truffle ricotta pasta, knusprige entenkeule served with duck leg or veal knuckle slices, and foie gras bratwurst served with red cabbage and mashed potatoes. A fine selection of Alpine desserts is available at lunch and dinner, including marillenknödel, palatschinken, dampfnudeln, and classic apple strudel. Liters of imported German beer are available to complement all meals, along with imported wines, spirits, and aperitifs.
100 E Meadow Dr STE 25, Vail, CO 81657, Phone: 970-476-8899
Montauk Seafood Grill
Montauk Seafood Grill has been one of Vail's top fine dining destinations for more than three decades, housed within the city's beautiful Lionshead Village area. The intimate, inviting restaurant is known for its laid-back seafood classics, including wasabi-crusted Scottish salmon, steamed Alaskan crab, miso-glazed Maine sea scallops, and Jamaican jerk-style mahi mahi. A full raw bar menu offers East and West Coast oyster shooters, Alaskan Dungeness crab, and Baja jumbo white prawns served cocktail style. Fine land fare is also available, including red chili-braised beef short ribs and black Angus filet mignon prepared with warm gorgonzola butter and red wine reduction. Guests can enjoy extensive wine and whiskey menus, complemented by handcrafted cocktails and a selection of draft and bottled beers.
549 E Lionshead Cir, Vail, CO 81657, Phone: 970-476-2601