Vacationing in Vail
What do you know about Vail?
I had heard it was a beautiful resort town in Colorado, perfect for travelers who like to ski. It’s the same size as Aspen, with a similar high-end reputation.
In college I interned at a company called Plum Network that had a TV network in Vail amongst several other domestic luxury markets across the US like Nantucket, Martha’s VIneyard, Telluride, The Hampton’s and Sun Valley. Though relatively small, it also seemed exclusive with 5 star hotels, designer stores, and fine dining.
Log cabin estates between the yellow colored aspen trees. Steam rising from their heated pools against a snowy backdrop. The pictures and videos I’d review for work made me want to transport myself there.
Even though it seemed beautiful I knew it wasn’t the most convenient location to reach from NYC. But after spending a long weekend there this Fall, I’d say this gorgeous mountain town is absolutely worth a visit.
And you should add it to your bucket list :)
Of course, I can’t take all the credit here. While I did my research, I was spoiled and my besties planned out every detail of the trip. They even shared an adorable itinerary with us! They did an incredible job as our vacation planners, 10 out of 10!!!
Read on for recommendations in Vail, Corado!
I’ll share some details from our epic girls trip to Vail this Fall, and how to strike a balance of a relaxing yet fun vacation.
From horseback riding on a ranch to skiing down the mountain
From scenic hikes to to a luxurious spa day at the Four Seasons
From dining at some of the most famous restaurants to exploring a sleepy mining village
Need more help? Reach out to Request a Trip Itinerary!
Explore Vail Village & Lionshead
This seems like a no brainer, but I beg of you, build in time to walk around town during the day. While there are a lot of activities you can cram in during your visit, strolling up and down Vail Village can take some time.
There are so many shops and restaurants in the main part of town alone. And keep in mind that Lionshead VIllage is about a 15 minute walk from Vail Village and absolutely worth checking out too!
I was struck by the beautiful Alpine architecture of the buildings, and how even though they had similar features each structure was unique.
I can see where it’s possible to only make it here for dinner after a long day on the slopes. But it’s worth squeezing in time to just stroll from shop to shop, grab a coffee, or relax at lunch! I loved that there were areas to sit and take in the views of the mountains or the little creek that flows through town.
Some of the Best Shops in Vail
Blitz Boutique - Adorable women’s clothing store
Aviator Nation - Brand known for their cozy graphic sweats
Gilded Spruce - Cute Christmas and Holiday decor
Kemo Sabe - High end western wear (if you want a pricey hat like on Real Housewives)
Lionshead General store - Great gifts and souvenirs!
Gorsuch - Winter accessories and cashmere
Or need some ski gear? Try Burton, Salomon or Helly Hanson in Lionshead Village
Explore Lionshead Village
While we spent more time in Vail Village, I loved visiting Lionshead too. It felt like a good place to stay if you plan on skiing, it would probably even be possible to ski on and off from the resorts at the base of the mountain like Lodge at Lionshead. And an epic place to wrap your day up with apres ski at Garfinkel’s or nearby Bart & Yeti’s.
If you’re staying in Lionshead, be sure to check out The Little Diner for it’s legendary breakfast. You know it’s good when the line is out the door, and the dutch baby pancakes are piled high.
Go Hiking or Take A Walk
If you want to be outdoors and active, there is plenty of that in Vail. You can ski, take a hike, or bike down the Gore Valley Trail.
If you want to enjoy the beautiful scenery and experience nature without the physical exertion, you can modify with a little walk down Gore Creek Path! This runs about 2 miles along a beautiful river, connecting Vail Village to Lionshead Village.
Rather than taking a shuttle to Lionshead Village, I definitely recommend walking along the Gore Trail there. In the opposite direction, the trail will eventually take you to the beautiful Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, another nice activity in the area during the spring and summer! There’s no admission fee, just a suggested donation.
Take a Gondola Ride Up 10,000 Feet
A gondola ride is a great relaxing activity, and a way to get a new perspective. Take a trip up the mountain and see the whole town below from the top. Rides are offered through summer season as a scenic gondola ride, or you can buy lift tickets during the winter season.
You have two options, Gondola One pictured below in Vail Village, or Eagle Bahn Gondola in Lionshead Village.
Try Horseback Riding at Eagle Ranch
I thought I was slightly scared of horses before this trip, but horseback riding at 4 Eagle Ranch was by far my favorite activity of the weekend! We ventured about 20 minutes to the beautiful property, and met our guides at the stables. They helped us each get helmets on, and on horseback. After a quick tutorial we were ready to take a little adventure.
First, let me introduce you to my beautiful horse Brussel Sprout!
I felt a rush of nerves when our horses left the confines of the fences and out into the valley. But even just a slow walk following a guide felt like a thrill. The views were breathtaking.
Brussel wanted to follow the leader so we were still up at the front to start, but eventually he went off to munch on some grass and we ended up at the back.
The ride was beautiful, we learned a lot about the horses and the alpine dessert, and had so much fun watching each of our horses do funky things. We also got to meet a few other animals on the farm when we got back like adorable little baby goats, donkeys. and mini horses.
It was a great day for the girls! Some magical memories made and lots of fun riding around. I would 100% recommend this as an activity if you visit Vail between Spring and Fall.
There are also some other things you can do at 4 Eagle Ranch too if you want to spend a whole day including wine tasting, glamping, ziplining, fly fishing, rock climbing and more!
We had a lot of fun dressing up for a day on the ranch.
And shout out to my bestie Veronica, who is a brilliant photographer, and took a lot of really pretty photos like the one below.
Explore The Nearby Towns
The 2 hour drive to Vail from Denver was beautiful, and so scenic. We stopped along the way for gas in adorable Idaho Springs, and to swing by shops in Silverthorne where there are so many outlet stores.
If you’re looking for a nice place to grab lunch along the way, another option is Copper Mountain.
One day we drove about 10 minutes to a nearby town called Minturn which was so sweet. We grabbed latte’s from Sunrise Cafe, some Christmas ornaments from Alpine Kind and a thrift store called Holy Toledo.
But there is actually several towns nearby that warrant more than just a quick drive by, and are big enough to spend a whole day! Depending on the length of your vacation, it would be wonderful to spend a night or two at another one of these towns! Here are a few favorites that seem wonderful:
Beaver Creek
Bachelor Gulch
Breckenridge
Frisco
Aspen
Crested Butte
And just know that even if the destination is an hour or two away, the ride is beautiful and scenic.
So is it worth flying into the local airport to Vail? We went to pick up a car in nearby Eagle, and it was a mere 30 minute drive compared to about a 2 hour drive from Denver. But honestly I felt like the long drive went by so fast, because it was so pretty! We even pulled over at points to take photos by lakes and viewpoints at the base of Mountains.
I’m sure in the winter on icy roads it could be different or prompt more anxiety, but I really loved going back and forth from the airport in Denver. So I think if it saves a lot of money it’s worth considering. Overall the 3 hour flight from NYC felt like nothing, so easy.
Where to Dine
So many great restaurants, not enough time! I was surprised by what a range of options, and quality dining there was in Vail Village.
We selected restaurants that were great for groups, including Root & Flower which had a delicious eclectic menu, and sushi spot from Chef Nobu called Matsuhisa. Both so good!
One of our favorite meals of the trip was at Sweet Basil. We had heard great things before going there, and the food came highly recommended, but we weren’t sure if they could accommodate our group. They had no trouble seating us when we showed up, which was such a wonderful surprise given how popular it is!
We shared delicious plates like the feta dip, fried calamari, stacked burgers, great salads, and such tasty drinks.
We also had a great lunch at Fall Line Kitchen. As I’ve said before, we love to share food and try more things so we split plates like hummus, tuna, mussels and grilled cheese.
It was such a great vibe! Lots of girl groups like us were having wine, cheese and champagne in the afternoon.
Here are some other top restaurants in Vail that are on my list for next time! Make note that some of these spots are only open during peak high season in the winter, and schedule reservations accordingly since some are very popular!
Looking for a bite or bevy on the mountain? Let’s be honest, this is a highlight for someone like me who is not skilled at skiing or snowboarding, and probably only has a few runs in her. Check out The Dawg Haus for a quick bite up top, Two Elk Lodge, or The 10th.
Plus plenty of places to grab a drink in town too including:
Red Lion - good for live music!
Where to Stay
There are many great hotels in Vail, but I highly recommend where we stayed. The beautiful Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Vail.
The hotel was impeccable. From the warm and helpful service, to the comfortable yet spacious rooms, down to the cozy fire pits and places to gather. It was welcoming while still feeling so grand and impressive, like the mountains around us.
We opted to spend even more time at the hotel as a result of all this. We used the latte machine, the valet, and gathered by the fire pits for drinks every afternoon into the night. We sipped cocktails at The Remedy Bar, lounged by the heated pool, had breakfast at Flame Restaurant and some of the girls even booked spa treatments.
There are so many ways to maximize your stay.
The cost to stay there was relatively affordable in the off season because there were 12 of us, and we could have 4 girls in each room. But I felt like we got so much out of the experience and it would be worth it to stay at a resort like this when visiting Vail.
One more tip! The Four Seasons is famous for its hot chocolate, and every day in the afternoon the restaurant has the guests gather for smores by the fire pits. You don’t want to miss it if you’re staying in Vail, but especially at the Four Seasons.
Other Top Accomodations in Vail
I hope this post was helpful to plan out your visit to Vail, or provide you with inspiration to book a trip and explore everything Vail has to offer!
While it may have a reputation as a ski town, my Fall visit opened my eyes to the year round beauty and enjoyment that could be had in a beautiful mountain town like Vail. Reach out if you need any help planning!
Xx
Gab