Welcome to ThinkVail – we hope you find this article about Vail, Colorado helpful.
Vail is an idyllic, storybook town that boasts pedestrian-friendly, heated streets, gorgeous Austrian architecture and views of majestic mountains at every turn. There is also meandering bike paths, as well as window boxes overflowing with flowers in the summer and a never ending supply of snow in the winter.
It is the perfect place for a family stroll, to people-watch with friends, a shopping spree or to bar-hop and apres ski after dark.
Vail boasts the country’s largest free transportation system, and it runs frequently, making it easy to access most anywhere in the Vail area without the hassle of driving (and of course, parking). Come discover this fun, beautiful mountain town and all it has to offer.
The town consists of four distinct areas; Vail Village, Lionshead, EastVail and West Vail and is home to the largest ski resort in the state. However, nearby Beaver Creek Ski Resort and a handful of adjoining towns are also fun to explore and include Minturn, Avon, EagleVail, Edwards, Eagle, Gypsum, Red Cliff, Wolcott and Dotsero. You can also enjoy interesting, nearby outlier areas such as Glenwood Springs, Leadville and Steamboat Springs.
Enjoy the Eagle Valley Trail, a recreation bike path that attempts to connect Glenwood Canyon to the west to Vail Pass in the east. Nearly 22 miles of the bike path are currently completed, so its fairly easy to get from one area to another.
See Also: Best Ski Runs on Vail Mountain
Vail Village has a peaceful, small-town ambiance wrapped in classic Bavarian alpine architecture and it boasts world-class restaurants, shopping, cafes and late-night hot spots. Luxury hotels flank the streets here and in the winter offers ski valet and shuttles to make your journey to the slopes easy as can be and is home to Gondola One. In the summer, spend your days hiking vail mountain, rafting on Gore Creek or strolling the flower-lined streets of this charming alpine town. Home to opulent homes, condominiums, upscale hotels and and accommodations, Vail village is the original ski-in, ski-out destination.
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Pedestrian-friendly Lionshead village is completely closed off to cars and buses, offering a short walk to the Eagle Bahn gondola, Chair 8 (Born Free Express), Lionshead Children’s Ski School, the Arrabelle Square outdoor ice rink (with skate rental), and so many shops and restaurants. It is located just west of Vail village. Enjoy outdoor cafes, winding cobblestone streets and sunny decks with views of the mountain. Summer offers miles and miles of single track for mountain bike enthusiasts while in the winter Lionshead is an important base village for skiers and snowboarders.
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Golden Peak is east of Vail village and is a favorite area for skiers and riders alike, the Golden Peak Ski School, Vail’s Small World Child Care and Nursery facilities, and is the main access point to Vail Golden Peak terrain park and infamous half pipe. From the Golden Peak base, you can watch ski racers speeding through gates or even snag a front row seat to events like the Burton U.S. Open. Home to the Riva Bahn Express Lift and the latest ski resort expansion that includes a new mogul course, new T-bar lift and additional trails.
In the summer, it is home to one of the best pickleball courts in the state . In autumn, the golden Aspen leaves are stunning and is the perfect place to hike or take in the view from Larkspur restaurant. You will also find the Vail Golf Course here, which becomes the Vail Nordic Center during the winter months. Also climbers come from around the globe come each year to tackle Fang, Saphira, Octopussy and other world-class ice and mixed climbing routes.
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Vail’s sister resort, Beaver Creek is a beautiful, world-class resort full of quaint shops, art galleries, bars and restaurants, all conveniently linked by heated walkways and escalators. With four chairlifts and a gondola at the base of this resort, it is easy to access a variety of ski or hiking terrain. Beaver Creek enjoys a European village-to-village experience with Arrowhead Resort so there is a lot to explore both summer and winter. Home of Centennial Express Lift and the Centennial Gondola, Beaver Creek is a posh, gated community that boast sweeping views, an Alps-inspired atmosphere and lots of adventure.
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Bachelor Gulch is a private, gated and very ritzy village located entirely on Beaver Creek Mountain. It is part of the unique Village-to-Village™ skiing experience making it easy to access all the great terrain at Beaver Creek Ski Resort and Arrowhead Ski Resort. There are many ski-in, ski-out second homes in this area. Enjoy the slope-side Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch Resort. as well as world-class recreation including some of the best skiing, hiking, biking and golfing and so much more.
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The town of Avon enjoys boundless recreation options including the beautiful Nottingham Lake and Beach, the Avon Recreation Center and Aquatic Park, a lakeside concert park and pavilion, and a popular whitewater park hat is situated on the beautiful Eagle River that flows through the town. Enjoy extensive bike paths, mountain bike trails, boating and hiking adventures. Avon boasts a wide array of shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, bars and businesses.
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Arrowhead is the western gateway to Beaver Creek Mountain and is just minutes from the town of Edwards. The private, gated community of Arrowhead Village is one of the best-kept secrets of the Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Its convenient location and variety of lodging is ideal for families who want dining, amenities and activities on a family-friendly ski area. Arrowhead is connected to Beaver Creek and Bachelor Gulch Village via European-style, village-to-village skiing and complimentary shuttle transportation. Home of the Arrow Bahn Express Ski Lift and the Country Club of the Rockies, a private Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course.
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The community of EagleVail is just a eight miles west of Vail, CO and 7 miles from Beaver Creek Resort. It is also home to the EagleVail Golf Club, one of the top golf courses in the Vail Valley. Each hole boasts gorgeous views of the Gore Range and challenging fairways and greens. The “Green Mile”, as it’s playfully known to the locals has more than five marijuana dispensaries located within a short distance of each other on Highway 6 in EagleVail. This is a fun, friendly community that is situated between two world-class ski resorts and has plenty of pocket parks (seven) for kids and dogs as well as great hiking and biking trails.
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The historic town of Minturn and Red Cliff lie just minutes from Vail resorts but they feel worlds away. Minturn lies along the beautiful 82-mile Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway and is a breathtaking ride that offers stunning views and historical significance while crossing the Continental Divide twice and following the Arkansas River.
It is one of only eleven America’s Byways® designated in Colorado and should not be missed. The charming town of Minturn has a variety of quaint shops, restaurant, an elegant B&B, a local winery, and delicious coffee roasted on site at the Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea roastery and cafe. During the summer months, the weekly Minturn farmer’s market is a popular event for both locals and visitors
The town of Red Cliff is the gateway to Shrine Pass, which is popular for cross country skiing, snowshoeing and of course, snowmobiling in the winter and amazing hiking in the summer.
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Edwards is located just west of the Arrowhead ski resort and the Country Club of the Rockies. This modern, downtown area is built next to the Eagle River with a meandering bike path, large dog park with a pond, a field house for sports and lots more. The Riverwalk, is comprised of a pedestrian friendly space with many shops, restaurants and businesses and tons of underground parking. You will also find a movie theater here along with a grocery store, community college and lots of schools. Cordillera is perched at the west end of Edwards and is composed of four distinct neighborhoods, each with extraordinary views that never seem to end.
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Eagle is the Vail valley’s natural playground to the west. Come and enjoy tons of world-class mountain bike trails. Eagle has over 100 miles of single-track mountain biking trails that wind through high desert, aspen groves and dense evergreen forests and are just minutes from town.
It also has the biggest indoor climbing gym, an incredible world-class whitewater park, a fun, frisbee golf course, and a recreation path. There is also restaurants, shopping and craft micro breweries.
Just a short drive from Eagle you will find beautiful Sylvan Lake and Sylvan Lake National Forest, an idyllic spot for fishing, boating, hiking and picnicking. The Fulford Cave Campground is located 18 miles south of Eagle. Challenging rock climbing routes can be found in spectacular Lime Park.
The weather is typically more temperate here than up valley near Vail and Beaver Creek.
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Gypsum and Dotsero are the most westerly towns of the Vail Valley, and they are located just minutes from the entrance to spectacular Glenwood Canyon.
Gypsum is home to the Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) and brings skiers to Vail and Beaver Creek each winter. It is the second busiest airport in Colorado during the height of the season, and offers year round flights to Denver International Airport (DEN) and other destinations.
The municipal Gypsum Creek golf course is also found here, it is one of the first courses to open for the summer in the mountain region and usually the last to close.
Between Gypsum and Dotsero is the the River Dance RV Park, one of the only full-service RV parks in the area.
Dotserso has a new lively, local community located right on the confluence of Eagle River and the Colorado River. Because of this location, expect AMAZING rafting, kayaking and paddle boarding that is just a short drive from your hotel. The Dry Lake Motor-cross track is here as well and perfect for dirt biker, motor-cross riders and other adrenaline junkies. Don’t miss Stoneyard Distillery for locally made spirits.
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See Also: Best Ski Runs in Beaver Creek
We hope you enjoyed this article about Vail, Colorado
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Related Articles: Navigating Vail Mountain Ski Resort
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