Located in the foothills of the Gore Valley in the Colorado Rockies, Vail Valley is considered one of the United States’ premier skiing places. This beautiful region has more than 5,500 acres of skiing and snowboarding surfaces in the winter, excellent mountain biking and hiking roads in the summer and the gorgeous foliage in the fall that makes it a wonderful year-round destination.
The Best Time To Visit
Vail offers both summer and winter pastimes. The town itself is small, so visitors can have a great time at a spa or plan some excursions to hot springs. If a sports fan is interested in visiting the famous ski resorts, then the best time to book a trip is late November to March, when the snow is overflowing.
Meanwhile, summer sports-and-outdoors enthusiasts can have an unforgettable experience up in the mountains from May to August. The area has hiking trails that are just as impressive as the snowy mountains. Eagles Nest and Holy Cross are two wilderness areas that have extraordinary trails perfect for backpackers.
Getting To Vail
People can fly into Eagle County Regional Airport, which is the nearby point of entry, but it only serves commercial flights from 11 U.S. cities. For anyone looking for better prices, they can fly into Denver.
Once you arrive to the city, it’s a gorgeous, two-hour drive whether you rent a car or take the Colorado Mountain Express shuttle. The shuttle costs up to $100 per person and runs on the hour. When you’re in Vail, you won’t need a car, since there are plenty free buses that run between Vail Village and Lionshead.
A Premium Destination For Skiing
Vail ranks as the second-largest ski area in the US. Tourists from all over the world make it their winter destination, since it has the greatest skiing and snowboarding from anywhere on earth. Winter sport fans have a great time discovering new ways down the mountains given that the terrain is varied and expansive.
The Vail Ski Resort alone has 5,289 skiable acres. If that’s not enough snow, then visitors can go to neighboring Beaver Creek, which is quickly becoming a popular ski retreats.
A Versatile Town
No trip would be complete without visiting the Swiss-inspired town. Almost every building resembles a traditional European chalet. You can find Lionshead on the west and Vail Village on the east. Lionshead has a cozier feel, with family-friendly restaurants a great ice-skating rink.
Meanwhile, Vail Village is the scenario of town-wide events and concerts, renowned restaurants with vibrant après-ski bars. The view is spectacular, visitors can watch early evening as the sun sets over the mountain, leaving a rosy glow on the sky.
A Place Rich In Culture And Events
Former US president Gerald R. Ford made Vail his home. His foundation created the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater and the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, both are must-see attractions for anyone in town. There’s also the Nature Center for an all-natural spot.
The town is host of major annual events such as the Vail International Dance Festival, Bravo! Vail Music Festival, the Burton U.S. Open, Carnival and Taste of Vail in the winter.
