A Village Built Around the Mountain
Vail is a ski resort town in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, known for Vail Mountain's vast Back Bowls, its Alpine-style village and a lively mountain community. The resort opened in 1962, and its creators planned the pedestrian village with a European sensibility, with covered bridges, flower-filled balconies and car-free lanes. Vail Mountain is among the largest ski areas in North America, with a wide range of groomed runs, tree skiing and open bowls that suit every ability from beginners to experts.
Vail Village and Lionshead are the two bases, each with its own atmosphere: Vail Village with boutiques, restaurants and slope-side hotels, Lionshead with a more modern, family-friendly layout. Après-ski is a social ritual, and the village is lively from dusk. The Vail Valley also includes Minturn, Edwards and Avon, which offer local character and slower pace. A tourist board has a ready-made story of adventure and Alpine charm.
Summer Music, Gardens and Mountain Trails
Summer in Vail is a different but equally appealing season. The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheatre hosts concerts, ballet and the Bravo! Vail music festival, with the Gore Range as a backdrop, while the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, among the highest botanical gardens in the world, display alpine flowers in bloom. Hiking, cycling, white-water rafting and fly fishing on Gore Creek and the Eagle River fill the days, and the Vail Farmers' Market adds a weekly local flavour.
Neighbouring Beaver Creek sits a short drive west, while Aspen and Telluride provide contrasting mountain towns for a wider tour. Denver, about 100 miles east, is the gateway city, and the Denver guide covers its museums and food scene. Across the Rockies, the Rockies offer ski areas for every taste, and a hotel group can feature stays from ski-in lodges to riverside inns.
Read the full Vail guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitVail.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.