Visiting Vail

Visitors | Getting Here | Weekend | 7 Days | Kids | Facts

Congratulations on finally making it to Vail. It's more a valley of villages, really. It's not just Vail, but Avon, Beaver Creek, Minturn and Edwards. Each town has a sparkle all its own.

Of course, the most important things - the ski mountains - are Vail and Beaver Creek, both of which have an abundance of shops and restaurants conveniently packed around them.

Avon, at the base of Beaver Creek, is home to many of the valley's locals, replete with Wal-Mart, Home Depot, City Market and a series of non-resort-style bars and restaurants.

The cute, former mining town of Minturn is rich in character if not in assets ... yet. Ginn and Company, the developer that has moved in with a vision of a private ski area surrounded by mini castles, is likely to change all that in the next few years. Still, Minturn remains home to a handful of friendly and tasty restaurants and bed and breakfasts.

Edwards, 12 miles to the west of Vail, is a booming residential area for locals and also home to Cordillera, one of the valley's most luxurious neighborhoods. The Riverwalk is a great place for shopping, fine-dining and entertainment (upvalley's only movie theater is located here).

You're probably not sure where to sleep, where to eat, what to buy or what sort of silly hat will get you laughed at on the slopes. Let us help you. Here are some recommendations for all of the above that will make your first experience in Vail as memorable and enjoyable as possible. If your internal compass needs a visual reference, take a look at the map below.

Sleeping: Get Comfortable

If you want to be completely pampered, you've come to the right place. The valley has plenty of posh spas where facials, massages and fine dining are only a few steps away. If you're in for a truly high-end lodging setup, complete with all of the above, plus slope views and super-cushy bathrobes, head to the Park Hyatt at Beaver Creek. In Vail, you've got the entire spa setup, an athletic club, a four-star restaurant and, in our opinion, a 10-star tapas bar, not to mention a semi-private chairlift at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa. Then there's the castle on the hill West of town, better known as the The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera. The little Cordillera neighborhood sits atop the western part of the valley, complete with the area's most jaw-dropping mansions, elegant restaurants and 17 miles of cross-country trails.

You'll be hard-pressed to find something cozier AND more affordable than the Minturn Inn. The best part about this little log cabin bed and breakfast joint is that it's smack in the middle of Minturn, the humble little mining town full of some of the valley's friendliest and least pretentious bars and restaurants and within easy (10-minute drive) access to Vail and Beaver Creek. Elegant yet personal and homey, Antlers at Vail was one of the first lodges to spring up in Lionshead 25 years ago. Sitting at the base of Vail's gondola, Antlers is within walking distance to all Lionshead has to offer and a short walk to the village. Learn about all the pickings in our Lodging Directory Guide.

Eating: You've Earned It

Four-star dining isn't scarce around here, and surely you've heard of famed French spots, La Tour and Gerald Ford's old haunt, The Left Bank. One of the less-touted restaurants that should not be missed is Vail's Terra Bistro. Yes, it's food from the earth, and the freshness and creativity in which each dish - from Colorado lamb to Ahi tuna - is prepared is evident in every bite.

While you'll find four-star, five-course, French-flaired meals aplenty at Frites Bistro in Edwards, the elegant yet comfortable restaurant also offers a light menu of burgers and salads for less than $15. It's a hole in the wall, but the smoky goodness and affordability of the Q makes up for it at JB's Barbeque in Minturn. Get messy with a rack of ribs or power up with a smoked salmon salad. All options to temp your plate can be found in our Vail Dining Guide.

Aprés: Celebrate Your Turns

The Broken Arrow and Beaver Creek/Arrowhead is one of the best-kept secrets for afternoon specials and also the breeding ground for the best Bloody Mary in the valley. Weekends fire up with great live music. Have a cocktail or warm alcoholic drink while listening to après-ski musicians at The Fireside Bar at the Cascade Club. Chap's next door is also one of the best fine-dining restaurants in the area. Stick around Cascade where you'll find the valley's best tapas and martinis bar - Blue Tiger and has a great spa and athletic club.

Get rowdy with après singers ... if you're into that kinda thing. Join the swarm of revellers at The Red Lion or The Tap Room after your day on the hill and (after discarding your ski boots and gear in a locker. Don't want to be cuttin' a rug in those things). The legendary Phil Long has The Red Lion bouncing with rock favorites every afternoon.

Find exactly what you need to satiate your post-skiing appetite in our dining guide.

 

Nightlife: Take Off Your Ski Boots

The baby grande is alive every night of the winter at Splendido at the Chateaux in Beaver Creek. Sip champagne or an exotic martini while listening to pianists' fingers dance to the beat of classical or showtunes. Also, simmer down with a Hot Toddy and live folk, jazz or rock at The Fireside Bar at Cascade Club.

Ray's in Edwards has big, comfy chairs and bartenders who pull up their sleeves and embark on every martini like a work of art. The wine menu and apps are exquisite and not too pricey. Casual nightclubs abound in Vail Village (Samana Lounge, Ski Bar, The Club), but Loaded Joe's in Avon is the best place to catch live music and a beer or coffee and the party gets crazy at The Sandbar in West Vail. With a hole occupying the place where Club 8150 and Crossroads once stood, The Sandbar is the best bet for live, national music and also home to such frequented events as White Trash Wednesday and Monday Night Football. There's even a shuttle to take you home if you get a little too tipsy.

Shopping: Made in Vail

Whether it's a watercolor depiction of the Gore Range, a bronze masterpiece of a black bear or any matter of abstract contemporary rendering that falls in between, this valley has no shortage of original art. Some of Vail's classic galleries include the Masters Gallery, International and Pismo Glass. Also, if you want some chic Italian fashion, hit the newly opened Luca Bruno on Meadow Drive.

A keepsake that has Vail written all over it is an elegant pendant or necklace from The Golden Bear. The jewelry shops in Vail Village and Beaver Creek sport dozens of manifestations of the original bear figurine, from toe rings to mama, papa and baby bear-sized gold, silver and white-gold pendants. Everyone walks - or skips, really - away from their favorite ski mountain with a fun magnet and maybe a new pair of merino wool socks. In Vail, though, you'll want to find a more authentic memento, grab a topography map (you know - the ones taken from satellite that show all the area's peaks and elevation details) at The Bag and Pack in Vail or Avon or Ptarmigan Sports in Edwards. Naturally, you won't go far at the Vail or Beaver Creek base areas without finding yourself a place to purchase anything and everything to do with skiing and snowboarding. The newest in rentals and retail can be found at Vail Sports and Beaver Creek Sports.

 

Activities: Outdoor and Indoor

Take a night-time stroll through Vail Village. The holiday lights are glimmering from the trees and bridges all winter. If it's snowing, you just can't beat the ambience.

Make sure to explore the mountain. Even if you find one you really love (and you will), don't ski the same run all day. Vail is the largest ski area in the United States and has 5,289 acres of skiable terrain. You could ski all day every day for a full week and not see everything. Pick up a map. Do your best.

Go snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. If you're into getting your heart rate up in the cold, this is the way to do it. If you've never been on skinny skis, take a lesson at the Vail Nordic Center or Beaver Creek's McCoy Park and discover the magic and grace of gliding on snow. Alternately, rent a pair of shoes (no lesson needed for snowshoeing. Just remember to keep your step high) and head out on the trails.

Spend at least one day skiing or riding at Beaver Creek. Yeah, it's a lot smaller than Vail (1,625 acres), but it has a charm all its own, including free chocolate chip cookies at 3 p.m. every day straight out of the oven, lots of yummy restaurants from high end (Spendido) to casual (The Dusty Boot) and a whole performing arts center - The Vilar Center. This winter Vilar features it's usual array of entertainment from The Beach Boys to famed Russian orchestras to stand-up comedy.

Spend an afternoon or evening in Edwards. Edwards is 12 miles west of Vail and is home to many locals (yes, a lot of people who live here year-round). The Riverwalk area boasts one of the valley's two movie theaters, lots of fun shops and boutiques, and some great bars and restaurants. 39.644990; -106.382650  Visiting Vail vail co United States