Vail Shuttles

Vail shuttles are available in very good supply, and many travelers understandably rely on them, especially air travelers. There is no Vail airport for commercial flights, so shuttle companies pick up the slack and cover the rest of the distance by land. All the passenger has to do is sit back and enjoy the ride, which isn't hard to do thanks to the beautiful Rocky Mountains scenery.

Denver to Vail Shuttle

Many Vail visitors come from Denver, as the Colorado capital is where you will find the state's busiest airport. After the plane lands and baggage is collected, it is possible to hop on a shuttle that is destined for any number of Colorado ski resorts, including Vail. Various companies offer these kinds of mountain services, and they pick passengers up at Jeppesen Terminal Level 5, Island 2. Usually, the areas outside doors 507-511 and doors 506-510 are the pick-up, and drop-off sites. Making reservations for a Denver to Vail shuttle in advance is recommended, and it should be noted that some of the shuttle companies offer extra-convenient charter and on-demand services for an added fee. The regularly scheduled Denver to Vail shuttles usually operate between the hours of 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., and there are many to select from.

Vail to Denver Airport Shuttle

Getting from Vail to Denver by way of shuttle is just as easy as going the opposite route. All you have to do is make a reservation, and most companies will pick you up at your Vail hotel or vacation rental. If you are trying to get on one of the regularly schedule ones, they typically run between the hours of 5 a.m. and 7 p.m., with the drive taking about two and a half hours. The regular departure times can vary depending on the season, as is true of all Vail shuttles, so it's always a good idea to check in advance. Unless you arrange for pick-up at your hotel or vacation rental, you will most likely hop on your Vail to Denver Airport shuttle at the Vail Transportation Center, since it is the main transportation hub.

Vail to Breckenridge Shuttle

Since your Vail lift tickets are also good at Breckenridge, you might consider traveling between the two resorts in order to see what both have to offer. Whatever your needs, there are shuttles that travel from Vail to Breckenridge and vice versa. Many are charter or on-demand shuttles, though there is at least one company that offers a daily round trip. These pre-arranged shuttles also visit Keystone, and once again, your Vail lift tickets are good at this other sister resort.

Vail to Aspen Shuttle

The various Colorado shuttle companies can basically take you anywhere you want to go, especially when it comes to those who offer charter and on-demand services. This is good news for those who are interested in finding a Vail to Aspen shuttle. Much like Vail, Aspen is one of the country's most upscale ski resorts, not to mention one of the very best overall, so visiting both on a Colorado ski vacation is understandably tempting. You might also find that taking a shuttle from the Eagle County Airport to Aspen is an option that suits your needs, and you can also take a shuttle from this smaller regional airport to Vail if you so desire. You can find the Eagle County Airport approximately 35 miles west of Vail and 78 miles north of Aspen.

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Vail Ski Resort

Vail Ski Area has everything you could want on a Colorado ski trip. The mountain is enormous: with 5,300 skiable acres, it is the largest contiguous ski resort in North America. But a Vail ski vacation is about more than just the skiing or snowboarding. The Alpine-style town of Vail is a self-contained city, with a surplus of condominium housing, a lively après ski scene, and an impressive variety of restaurants, shopping, museums, movie screens, and traffic jams.

There are several other good ski areas within easy driving distance of the Vail ski resort. Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone are all within a 45-minute drive and share ownership and therefore lift tickets with Vail. But the variety of skiing at Vail Ski Area is such that you could easily spend a weeklong Colorado ski trip on its slopes without seeing the whole mountain.

Vail ski resort has three distinct areas: the Front Side, the Blue Sky Basin, and the legendary Back Bowls. The Front Side is a great place for beginners and intermediates. The green slopes at Vail Colorado are spread across the mountain, so novices are not limited to one part of the resort like at many mountains. The best beginners areas are at Golden Peak, Eagle's Nest, and at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola.

Intermediate skiers and snowboarders are spoilt for choices on a Vail ski vacation. Most of the runs on the Front Side are pleasant groomers. Some of the best are near the Avanti express chair and at Lionshead. Confident intermediates will enjoy the groomed trails in the Back Bowls (and if you visit Vail on a Colorado ski trip, you want to be able to say that you skied Vail's Back Bowls!). If you are used to skiing powder, then much of the terrain at the secluded Blue Sky Basin is easily manageable.

Relatively speaking, the expert terrain at Vail Ski Resort takes up a small portion of the mountain, but this still means there are more advanced runs at Vail than most other ski areas. The Front Side has some challenging mogul runs like Highland and Prima runs and some fun chutes under the Vista Bahn lift. The Blue Sky Basin is a backcountry skiers delight, with a good variety of tree runs. And no Vail ski vacation is complete without a visit to the Back Bowls, perhaps the best wide-open skiing Colorado has to offer.

For snowboarders, in addition to the bowls, cruisers, and tree runs, Vail Colorado has four terrain parks, one of which features a huge superpipe suitable for performing X-Games style tricks.

Accommodation and dining choices at Vail ski resort are too numerous to list. The original hotel Lodge at Vail is still one of the best choices for overnight stays and the old Tyrolean Inn has been serving exotic game dishes in a classic Austrian setting for decades. Cheaper motels and fast food joints are also scattered around Eagle Valley, so a Vail ski trip — after the $70+ ticket price — does not have to break your budget.

Vail is located right off Interstate 70, so access is easy from Denver or towns in Summit County towns. Vail-Eagle airport is a short drive and offers flights from locations around the country.

Vail Ski Area has been the most popular in Colorado since the 1970s. Today, it remains the quintessential destination for a Colorado ski trip.

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Resorts in Vail

Vail resorts provide visitors to one of America's great ski destinations with some very tantalizing lodging options. For starters, you can find these resorts right at the bottom of a world-class ski mountain. It also doesn't hurt that they provide close proximity to some great shops, restaurants, and bars. Add in the facilities and overall comfort that the Vail ski resort provides, and it's not hard to understand why they have little trouble filling their rooms.

Being that Vail is an upscale ski resort, the Vail resorts maintain high levels of service and comfort on the whole. This is certainly the case with the Arrabelle at Vail, which is considered to be the centerpiece of the revamped Vail Square area. Guests can book a luxurious room or suite at the Arrabelle or opt to rent one of the numerous condo units. In the rooms and suites, fireplaces and private balconies are among the inviting amenities, and as you might expect at a high-class resort, an upscale spa figures among the Arrabelle facilities. Other facilities that guests can enjoy when they aren't on the mountain include a fitness center, a bistro, a pub, and a rooftop lap pool.

When staying at a luxurious resort is what you have in mind for your Vail vacation, another gem that should not be overlooked is the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa (pictured). As is true of many Vail lodges and resorts, the Vail Cascade offers both hotel guest units and condos, and they are all tasteful and well-equipped. Plasma TVs, luxury bedding, and a granite vanity in the bathroom are just some of the standard amenity highlights in the rooms and suites. In the condos here, a full kitchen and private laundry facilities are among the added perks. Facility highlights at the Vail Cascade Resort & Spa include a 78,000-square-foot health club and spa, a shopping arcade, and two outdoor pools that are heated. It might just be the true ski-in, ski-out access that seals the deal for some, however. Not many Vail hotels can provide such convenience.

Situated just 150 yards from the Eagle Bahn Gondola in Lionshead Village is the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa. Guests at this delightful lodging establishment will basically be in the heart of it all. The Vail Village core can easily be explored on foot, and the walk to the gondola shouldn't take more than just a few minutes. It's good to know that everything is close by, and it only means that you can spend a little extra time enjoying the comfort of your room or condo. The amenities at this upscale Vail resort are splendid and the facilities complete, so there will be plenty to do when you have down time to fill.

Should these Vail resorts be fully booked when you go to secure accommodations for your visit, worry not, as there are others that offer similar experiences. Among them are the Sonnenalp Resort and the Four Seasons Resort Vail. You can also check to see if the Vail lodges have any vacancies, as most of these lodging establishments are basically resorts with a different tag. Among the best in town are the Tivoli Lodge and the Lion Square Lodge.

One of Vail's sister resorts, the Beaver Creek Resort, is just twelve miles away, and it offers more great lodging options for Vail Valley visitors to consider. In fact, the Beaver Creek area is home to what might just be the best ski resort in the entire state of Colorado. This resort is the renowned Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch.

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Vail Rentals

Vail rentals come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and as can be expected at a high-end ski resort, many have a luxurious air about them. The most impressive rental properties are the executive homes found in both Vail and Beaver Creek. These homes can offer 10,000 square feet of space or more and are very well outfitted with amenities. You can certainly enjoy a certain amount of extravagance when staying at some of the Vail rental properties.

Only some twelve miles separates Vail from its sister resort of Beaver Creek, and should you be visiting one of these resorts during the winter, your lift ticket will be good at both, not to mention the other Colorado sister resorts of Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and Breckenridge. These other three resorts are each about a 45-minute drive from Vail. When staying in the Vail Valley is the aim, then both Vail and Beaver Creek can make for excellent bases. Between the two resorts, there are rental properties to fit a range of preferences, and you might be happy to know that a considerable range of budgets are covered as well.

Vail condos offer many of the amenities that you will find in a home rental, and you might be surprised how big some can be. In general, the condos found in both Vail and Beaver Creek offer anywhere from one to five bedrooms, and there are living and dining areas as well. Full kitchens are among the standard amenity highlights, and should your budget allow, you can keep an eye out for units that feature things such as a fireplace and private laundry facilities. Ski-in, ski-out condos are available if you wish to enjoy such convenience, and many of the condo complexes boast some enticing facilities that can be taken advantage of on the side. The Charter at Beaver Creek, for example, features two restaurants, a health club, and a full-service spa. Guests who book one of the condo-style suites at The Arrabelle at Vail Square can enjoy similar facilities.

Should a spacious home be what you have in mind when it comes to the Vail vacation rentals, then you have some amazing options to consider. Some of the Vail rental homes rival upscale lodges in many ways, especially when it comes to the interior decor, and most are found right on the mountain. There isn't exactly room for these mansions down in the village. Once again, both Vail and Beaver Creek boast their fair share of home rental properties, and as long as your budget allows, they are arguably the best accommodations around. You'll certainly enjoy plenty of space when you book a Vail home rental, and since a good amount of distance separates most, added privacy can also be a key component.

A number of condos are located in and around Vail, and they can be ideal for those who are trying to keep their lodging costs down. In Vail proper, the Apollo Park Lodge offers some of the most affordable condos that you will find at the base of the mountain. Both one- and two-bedroom condos are available at Apollo Park, and while they might not be luxurious, they offer everything that some visitors will need. Amenity highlights include a small kitchen and cable TV. Some units have gas fireplaces.

Vail rentals are available throughout the year, though demand is highest during the winter season. As such, the winter rental rates are the highest. When spring approaches, the rates start to go down, and they don't exactly jump back up in the summer, which is very good news for warm weather visitors.

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Vail Condo Rentals

Vail condo rentals are available in good supply, and can be a great alternative to a hotel stay in this world-class mountain resort town. As you might expect at an upscale ski resort, many of these condos are expensive to rent, though there are options to fit a range of budgets when it comes down to it. As such, any and all visitors are encouraged to the give the Vail condominium rentals a look.

Condo rentals in general offer more space than your average hotel unit, and this is reason enough to keep them in mind when looking for your ideal Vail accommodations. They also boast full kitchens on average, and depending on how much you spend, things such as a private hot tub, a fireplace, and private laundry facilities might also be part of the mix. The more luxurious condos in Vail are among the most luxurious condos that you can expect to find anywhere in the country, so the amenity list can get quite extensive.

Many of the Vail condo rentals are individually owned, and you can find them spread out all over the village area. If you want to be in the heart of it all, Vail Village, Golden Peak, and Lionshead, which is home to Vail Square, are the areas to focus on. Those who don't mind being just a short distance from the town core will want to give both West Vail and East Vail a look. Wherever you choose to base yourself while in town, you won't be far from the slopes, the bars, the restaurants, or the shops. Free village transportation is available for getting from one area to another in case you don't want to do a lot of walking.

It should be noted that some of the Vail condominium rentals are ski-in, ski-out units. This means that you can access the slopes right from your complex. You can also return home by way of skis, or by snowboard if that's what you're riding. As you might expect, the Vail rentals that enjoy ski-in, ski-out convenience are generally more expensive than those that don't.

The condos in Vail provide excellent homes away from home for those who are interested in enjoying some mountain fun. Winter is when the rates are at their highest, as Vail is first and foremost a ski resort. That being said, Vail summer vacations can be just as rewarding as winter ones, and even a spring or fall visit is bound to impress. Especially during the peak winter season, a stay of more than one day might be required when it comes to booking a condo, so you might keep this in mind when searching for your ideal property.

Condo rentals can be found all over the Vail Valley, so you might expand your horizons when trying to find the perfect fit. The sister resort of Beaver Creek, which is just around the bend, offers some amazing condos, for example, and you can access both the Vail slopes and the Beaver Creek slopes with the same lift ticket.

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Vail Village

Vail Village offers numerous amenities for the visitor, and it all unfolds right at the base of the mountain. After a full day on the slopes, skiers and snowboarders can glide right into town more or less. Once the skis and snowboards are off, they can walk to any number of bars and restaurants. Right around 4 p.m. daily is when the apres-ski fun begins, and it often doesn't stop until the morning hours.

Vail Village is set at an elevation of 8,120 feet and has the feel of a ski village that has been plucked out of Austria's Tyrol region. Since it is relatively compact and mostly car-free, you can basically park your vehicle upon arrival and forget about it until you are ready to leave. Free shuttle transportation is available to get Vail residents and visitors alike around town, so it isn't necessary to walk longer distances if you don't want to. Ski and snowboard racks are spread about in the heart of Vail Village and in the Vail Square area, so if you are coming off the mountain, you shouldn't have trouble finding a place to stash your stuff once you get to the bottom. If you are worried about your skis or snowboard getting stolen, which isn't a common occurrence, you can always put them in your vehicle, or better yet, your hotel room or vacation rental.

The Vail Village hotels include some true gems, and visitors can also consider booking an enticing condo rental in the heart of things. Some of the village's hotels are actually a mix between a resort and a condo complex, as they offer condo-style units to go with their rooms and/or suites. Such is the case with the Arrabelle at Vail Square, which has helped to transform the Lionshead part of Vail Village into a very visitor-friendly area. Some of the best Vail Village restaurants are found at Vail Square, and the revamped environs are also home to boutiques and an ice rink, among other things.

The restaurants that are located in Vail Village also offer a lot in the way of quality, not to mention diversity. You can grab a slice of pizza or a sandwich at some if that is all that you have in mind. You can also go the fine dining route and indulge in things such as foie gras and lobster. Whatever you have a taste for, you can likely find it at one of the Vail restaurants, especially if you head to the Vail Village core and the adjacent Lionshead/Vail Square area.

It's not all about the lodging and dining options in Vail Village. At the base of this upscale ski resort, you will also find a healthy collection of shops and galleries. The shops sell all kinds of things, including top of the line ski and snowboard gear. Also helping to make Vail Village such a complete ski resort village is its lively nightlife. At some of the bars and clubs, you can dance the night away. At others, you can relax over a martini, and there are a few pubs and sports bars if that is the scene that you seek. Big name performers are known to pass through Vail, so you never know who might be headlining at one of the local venues during your visit.

Parking is available for a fee in Vail Village if you need it. Those who aren't driving in typically take a shuttle from the airport. You can also arrive by way of bus, which is what many people do when coming from the nearby sister resort of Beaver Creek. Barely more than ten miles separates Vail from Beaver Creek, so trips back and forth are very easy to manage. Beaver Creek also has a charming alpine village appeal, it should be mentioned, and thanks in part to its smaller size, it is less subdued than Vail on the whole. Both are wonderful places to explore when you're not spending time on the mountainsides.

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Vail Square

Vail Square is the result of a $200 million renovation project that was initiated in recent years. Found in the Lionshead Village area and close to the heart of Vail Village, it offers numerous shops and galleries that can fill hours on end. That's not all, however. The Eagle Bahn Gondola offers high-speed access to the slopes from Vail Square, and the hotels that are found in the immediate area are among the best around. Add in the ice rink, and it only gets more enticing.

Over the years, Vail Resorts management started to feel that the experience in Vail Village had deteriorated. It was especially believed that the resort's village just wasn't competing with the villages at competitor ski resorts, such as Aspen and Park City. As such, the Vail Square notion was born, initiating a greater renovation process that aims to put the village experience on par with the skiing experience.

Lionshead Village unfolds to the immediate west of the Vail Village center. This basically puts Vail Square visitors in the heart of it all, and it also means that the hotels found in this area can make excellent vacation bases. Stay at one of the Vail Square hotels, and you won't have to go far to find all kinds of things, including boutiques, ski shops, and eateries of various kinds. Lively bars and clubs also call this part of Vail home, as does the Arrabelle Ice Rink, which is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Rental skates are available if you need them.

At Vail Square, the Eagle Bahn Gondola is complemented by the Born Free Express chairlift, which provides a shorter ride to some of the runs. Because of both lifts, Vail Square basically enjoys a ski-in, ski-out location, and at least one of the local hotels promises true ski-in, ski-out bliss. This hotel is the Arrabelle at Vail Square, and it is easily one of the best Vail luxury hotels.

The Vail Square hotels are all enticing, and this has a lot to do with their locations. It also has to do with the high levels of comfort that they provide. At the Arabelle, you can indulge in personal concierge service, for example, and the well-equipped guest units are arguably the best that you will find anywhere in Vail.

Another lodging gems that figures among the Vail Square hotels is the Antlers at Vail, and the area is also home to the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa and inviting condo establishments such as Vail Spa Condominiums and Montaneros Condominiums. For those who are trying to save on lodging, the Lionshead Arcade and the Lionshead Inn offer some of the cheapest rates in the Vail Square area.

Vail Square plays host to various events, including outdoor concerts during the warmer months, and winter visitors who have kids in tow might be happy to know that it is where you will find the renowned Vail Children's Snowsports School. Also found at Vail Square is a Vail Information Center where visitors can get help with all kinds of things, including finding a place to stay, purchasing Vail lift tickets, and getting in touch with the area tour options.

If nothing else, you might keep Vail Square in mind when trying to figure out where to park at Vail. Just steps from the heart of this area is the Lionshead Transportation Center. It offers paid parking, and after 3 p.m. on summer days, you can park there for free. Vail Valley buses also stop at the Lionshead Transportation Center, and it is home to an information center of its own for visitors to take advantage of.

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Vail History

A visit to Vail Colorado is a visit to the history of skiing. Back in World War II, when the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division trained in the Colorado high country, they had no idea these grounds would one day become a popular winter recreation paradise. Where soldiers were once taught to watch for snipers and enemy ski patrols, modern-day skiers and snowboarders today now enjoy the excitement of the rugged mountainous wilderness of the area surrounding Vail Colorado, Leadville, Beaver Creek and Aspen.

The 10th Mountain Division had its beginnings at Camp Hale Colorado during World War II. Soldiers were trained to fight and survive under the most brutal mountain conditions. The troops saw action during World War II in Italy and the Alps. When the soldiers returned home in November 1945, many were responsible for the postwar growth of skiing. They created ski magazines, improved ski equipment, built ski lifts and founded resorts such as Vail Colorado, Aspen, Sugarbush, ME, and Whiteface Mountain, NY.

Peter Seibert, who was born on 7 Aug 1924, in Sharon, MA, founded Vail Colorado. In 1943, he joined the U.S. Army and volunteered for the 10th Mountain Division, where he trained for high-altitude winter combat. His training took place at Camp Hale, which was the Colorado training camp that was named after General Irving Hale. The National Ski Patrol was given the authority to recruit skiers for this decision.

However, help with the recruitment process came in an unexpected way, from, of all places, Hollywood. Darryl Zanuck, head of 20th Century Fox Studios, was an avid recreational skier. After producing Sun Valley Serenade, he decided to make a film about the latest techniques in ski instruction. In the hopes that the film would give troops a paradigm to follow, the 87th allowed five of its best skiers to be in the film. Zanuck asked Otto Lang, one of the first ski instructors from St.Anton to come to the US, to direct the film. Ski filmmaker John Jay assisted the production. For the action sequences, Lang put anoraks and caps on his 10 best instructors. One of these was Fred Iselin, who would eventually become the director of the Ski Schools of Aspen.

After the war, while working at Loveland Ski Resort in 1957, Peter Seibert and his longtime friend Earl Eaton took a look at what is now called Vail Mountain. After they survived seven-hour the climb that was probably the mountain's first descent on skis, Seibert and Eaton became decided to build "the most beautiful ski resort in the world."

On 9 Jan 1960, Peter Seibert gathered a group of nine men together for the first meeting of the board of directors for what would eventually become Vail Resorts Inc, America's largest ski company. You can read about Seibert in his book, Vail: Triumph of a Dream.

You can also experience the 10th Mountain experience by taking one of the most unique Vail ski vacations, the 10th Mountain Division Hut to Hut Tour. These Vail ski vacations usually last three days. Although there are a variety of routes, one of the most popular goes from Vail to Aspen. This Vail vacation not only lets you practice your backcountry skills. You get to stay at the same huts that were used by the 10th Mountain Division.

Another option for your Vail vacation is to explore Colorado ski history by visiting the Colorado Ski Museum. The museum features the Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame, which is located at the top of the Vail Transportation Center

Of course, Vail ski vacations at the actual Vail resort, as well as the nearby Beaver Creek, can also be a fantastic experience. Both of these areas are huge! They offer a wide variety of trails for all levels of skill. Although Vail is famous for its back bowls, any who enjoys wide-open cruisers will feel as if they have died and gone to heaven. Many people take Vail vacations in order to enjoy some of the fantastic ski workshops, such as the Integrated Skiing workshop given in December.

A Vail vacation allows you to take a close look at Colorado's skiing history, along with a chance to enjoy some of the best skiing and riding in North America.

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How to Get to Vail

If you are trying to figure out how to get to Vail, you will be happy to know that it is relatively easy. Whether you plan to arrive by car, by plane, by bus, or by shuttle, there are many paths to get to this cool ski resort.

You can find this world-class Colorado ski resort just off of Interstate 70, and this means that anyone who is planning on arriving by way of car will have little to stress about. Ample parking is available at the resort for a fee, and you can all but forget about your car or truck until it is time to leave. That is unless you wish to indulge in scenic drives and numerous side trips.

Denver is both the capital of Colorado and the state's largest city. Also worth noting is the fact that is home to Colorado's busiest airport. Many Colorado visitors, regardless of where they are ultimately headed, arrive at the Denver International Airport and go from there. As for how to get to Vail from Denver, renting a car at the airport or taking a shuttle are the two most popular options, with limo service also being among the considerations. Colorado Mountain Express offers the most Denver to Vail shuttles, and you can arrange for transport as you need.

When searching for Vail flights, you don't have to limit yourself to the airport in Denver. Many visitors choose to arrive instead at the smaller Eagle County Airport. Found just 30 minutes west of Vail, this airport accepts planes both big and small, and direct flights are available from numerous U.S. cities. Once again, anyone flying into this airport can rely on a rental car or shuttle service when it comes to making the final journey to Vail proper.

High Mountain Taxi is another company that you might keep in mind when trying to figure out how to get to Vail, and there are other such companies in Colorado that can likely help you out as well. Typically, these companies use vans to transport their customers, and they can drop you off right at your Vail hotel or vacation rental. When you are ready to leave and need to get back to the airport, they can schedule to pick you up, making everything as easy as possible.

As a side note, public buses and shuttles run routes between Vail, the nearby sister resort of Beaver Creek, and other area destinations, such as the town of Edwards, so you might keep that in mind when it comes to general transportation. Taxis cover the region as well, and they can come in handy in any number of circumstances. In other words, you don't need to worry about driving when it comes to Vail vacations. That can be left entirely up to someone else.

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Restaurants in Vail, Colorado

The Vail Colorado restaurants can satisfy a wide range of tastes, and if you have trouble finding you're looking for in the village, then the towns of Eagle-Vail and Avon or the nearby ski resort of Beaver Creek just might have the answer. Also, since there are plenty of vacation rental properties with full kitchens in and around Vail, preparing your own meals and snacks from time to time can also be a possibility.

The Vail Valley is home to more than 100 eateries, so visitors should have little trouble satisfying their dining wants and needs. In Vail proper, most of the restaurants are found in the Vail Village core and the adjacent Lionshead Village area, which is home to Vail Square. In terms of what they offer, the often-blue Colorado sky is virtually the limit. You will find pubs, sports bars, cafes, Mexican restaurants, and eateries that specialize in American and/or French cuisine in Vail, and there are a variety of fine dining establishments for that special occasion.

The Vail dining options aren't limited to what you will find at the base of the mountain. Up on the slopes, there are various lodges that serve up tasty comfort food such as hot chili, hot sandwiches, and hot soup to help keep skiers and snowboarders happy. You can also indulge in some hot chocolate at the on-mountain eateries while you also treat yourself to a muffin, a chocolate-chip cookie, or something the like. Some of the mountain lodges offer a variety of dining stations that specialize in different things, such as wraps and pasta dishes. This makes it easy to satisfying the dining needs of everyone in the group both in the village or on the mountain.

But this isn't to say that Vail is a place with quick comfort food only. In general, the Vail Colorado restaurants aren't cheap. This ski resort town is quite upscale and many of the fine dining establishments reflect this. There are ways to keep your dining budget in check, however. A few fast food eateries are found in and around Vail, and they can come in handy here and there when trying to save on dining costs. Also, if you have a hotel room or a vacation rental with kitchen facilities, you can save money by preparing your own budget-friendly meals. Across from Vail along Interstate 70 are some grocery stores, and you can also drive around the bend to the town of Avon and get some groceries there.

Food enthusiasts who are planning a Vail vacation might interest themselves in the area food festivals. One such festival is the Taste of Vail, which revolves around both food and wine. Held in the spring, this Vail Valley affair has been going strong for more than twenty years now.

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Vail Flights

Vail flights are what many travelers start searching for when the urge to enjoy some high mountain fun sets in. As a year-round resort, Vail provides activity options for all seasons. That being said, most Vail visitors have winter or summer flights in mind, as these are the peak times of year. In winter especially, the rates for Vail flights are at their highest, though good airfare deals are often easy to come at any time.

Direct Flights to Vail

Direct flights to Vail are the most appealing flights of all, as they allow visitors to enjoy more time on the mountain and less time in transit. Many of the nonstop flights to Vail depart from the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and arrive at the Eagle Vail Airport. There are usually nonstop flights that depart from Atlanta and Chicago as well.

These aren't the only cities that are featured when it comes to direct flights to Vail. During the peak winter season especially, the nonstop flights that arrive at the Eagle County Airport can also come from Miami, Houston, Newark, and Minneapolis-Fort Worth.

Denver Airport Flights

Many Vail visitors fly to the Denver International Airport and then rely on ground transportation from there. As such, you might keep this in mind when searching for Vail flights. When traffic is normal and there isn't a ton of snow on the roads, you can drive from the Denver International Airport to Vail in about two hours. As is true when arriving at the Eagle County Airport, those who arrive at the Denver Airport can rent a car or take a shuttle. The main shuttle service provider for such commutes is Colorado Mountain Express, and you can also consider other companies, such as High Mountain Taxi.

Eagle County Airport Flights

When searching for Vail flights, you won't likely come across anything that involves arriving at Vail proper. Instead, most air travelers fly into the Eagle County Airport, which is about 35 miles away to the west. A number of major airlines offer flights to the Eagle County Airport, and large aircraft are often used. Once at the Eagle County Airport, you can rent a car to get to Vail or rely on shuttle service. These are the two most popular options, though something like limousine service might also pique your interest.

Getting a good deal on Vail flights is often possible. One of the best ways to go about saving on airfare is to book your flight well in advance. You can also consider including your flight in a vacation package deal that has built-in discounts. Other things that can also be included in a Vail vacation package are ground shuttle transportation, a stay at one of the wonderful Vail hotels, and even your lift tickets. That's just the start, however, and you might be interested to know that all inclusive Vail vacation packages are even available for those who wish to take care of everything up front

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Vail Colorado

Vail Colorado opened in 1962 and has been one of the best ski resorts in North America ever since. Situated in the Colorado Rockies about 100 miles west of Denver, it is also the largest North American ski resort after Whistler Blackcomb, and this translates to one great skiing or snowboarding experience. A year round resort, Vail offers much more than great skiing, however. There's actually a saying around these parts that you come for the winters and end up staying because of the summers.

The town of Vail started to grow significantly in 1966, and its expansion was largely attributed to growing popularity of the Vail Ski Resort. Right at the base of the ski mountain is where the town unfolds, and it offers many things for the resident or visitor to enjoy. In the heart of it all is Vail Village, which is home to some of the best Vail restaurants, nightlife hangouts, and hotels. You can walk to the lifts in no time from any point in the charming Vail Village core, though it would be understandable if you got distracted along the way. Should time allow, a stroll along Gore Creek can be a good way to spend some time in Vail Village, and you might also drop by the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame. It offers excellent insight into the history of skiing and snowboarding on the whole and can fill an hour's time with ease.

Next to the Vail Village core is the Lionshead Village area, which is home to Vail Square. At Vail Square, there is an ice rink that is open daily, and visitors can also interest themselves in the satisfying collection of shops and eateries. During the warmer months, Vail Square is known to host fun outdoor events with live entertainment, and regardless of the time of year, it can simply be a great place to hang out. A free shuttle makes its way around both Lionshead and the Vail Village core should you wish to hop aboard, though you can easily navigate this central area by way of foot. Ski and snowboard racks are in good supply if you need to stash your stuff while visiting the shops and eateries. As for getting on the mountain, the main gondola is found at Lionshead, and you might be interested to know that it can take you to the high-altitude recreation park that is Adventure Ridge.

To the west of Lionshead is West Vail, and it is home to a variety of accommodations, including condos and other vacation rental properties. Also found in this neighborhood are grocery stores, casual restaurants, and sporting goods outlets. As you might expect, there is also an East Vail, and it too offers some enticing accommodation options, especially for those who wish to stay outside of the busier Vail Village core. A bedroom community of sorts, East Vail enjoys a delightfully relaxed atmosphere, the likes of which is accentuated by the surrounding evergreens and mountain peaks.

In addition to private residences, East Vail is home to the Vail Racquet Club. This club offers luxurious condos and townhouses, not to mention excellent recreational facilities. When Vail Racquet Club guests aren't spending time indoors playing tennis or something the like, can engage in a variety of outdoor activities that help to make East Vail such a good base. These activities include fly fishing and snowshoeing.

Regardless of where you find yourself in the town of Vail, getting to another area won't be difficult. Many distances can by foot, and if you don't want to hoof it, free in-town shuttle service is available. If you are staying at one of the Vail hotels or condo rentals, especially those that are found in the main village areas, you really won't need a vehicle, unless you wish to have one for side trips to places such as nearby Beaver Creek. Between the free shuttles, your own two feet, and the lifts that serve wonderful Vail Mountain, you can get where you need to go.

When planning a trip to Vail Colorado, there are a few tips that you might keep in mind. The town of Vail is found at an elevation of 8,120 feet above sea level and Vail Mountain has a peak elevation of around 11,570 feet. As such, you might want to take it easy on the first day or first few days so that you can acclimate. Applying sunblock and keeping a good pair of sunglasses or goggles handy is also recommended, especially when hitting the slopes on sunny days. The reflection of the sun's rays off the snow can cause vision problems galore if you are without UV protection for your eyes. Also, you might find that you can get sunburn rather quickly while up on the mountain, even on cloudier days.

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