Ski and board to your heart's content during the day, and drink and pick up snow babes at night. What more could a guy ask for?
before departure
Vail Mountain opens for business on November 21st and remains packed until it closes on April 18th. Still, tourists do tend to arrive in droves during certain times of the season, notably at Christmas, and during spring break. Avoiding these times will mean you will spend less time waiting in line at the lifts, and more time carving up Vail's 193 trails.Remember that it can get quite nippy at the top of Vail Mountain, so pack appropriately before heading to the airport. The average high during December, January and February is 21°F, not taking into account a strong wind-chill factor. Access to Vail is easy, with the Vail/Eagle County Airport, a mere 30-minute drive along I-70 to the resort, and Denver's International Airport, which is a two-hour drive to Vail.
where to stay
There are several accommodation options at Vail, but your lodging should be decided upon weeks, if not months, before departure. The obvious choice is Vail Village, where most of the action is. The Mountain Haus is a great, albeit, expensive place to rent a condo, while the Tivoli Lodge is slightly more affordable.Affluent East Vail is a community that offers larger condos and townhomes for big groups -- check out Timberfalls if you're traveling with buddies. Finally, there is plenty of affordable housing for one or two at Lionshead, the most functional of the Vail communities.
To grasp just how versatile Vail is, I've prepared a three-day itinerary which covers a slew of great activities. Read on and then take action fast, because Vail has no shortage of tourists scrambling for lift tickets and accommodations.
Day 1- Tradition
Your first day in Vail should be spent testing out the best of Vail Mountain's trails. It is not the most imposing summit you will ever see, but has been groomed in such a way that makes the 193 trails utterly perfect.getting a pass
A common practice is to buy a lift ticket online, either alone or as part of a vacation package. Visit vail.com for details and the latest discount information.There are dozens of passes to choose from; the Perfect Ten, which allows 10 days of skiing for $349 US, and the Half-day, for $57 per afternoon, are two of the most common. Getting this pass prior to arriving eliminates hassle and long lines.
hit the snow park
With lift ticket in hand, you are set to hit the slopes. Vail is divided into 3 sides, the Front Side, Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. Thought the last two are reserved for intermediate skiers and experts, even the most basic trails will be fun as Vail gets 60 inches of snow in each of its busiest months. Great warm-up runs are Born Free, Simba and Bwana in the Lionshead area.For thrill-seeking boarders and skiers, there's the Golden Peak Terrain Park, an absolutely sick area full of pipes and rails. Test your skills on the 400 ft. long, 15ft. high half pipe, five tabletops, a quarter pipe and 11 different grinding rails. Extreme sport junkies will love to spend a whole day in this immense snow park.
ride some more
All this physical activity will have you famished yet eager to try out new runs come lunchtime, so grab a quick meal at one of six on-mountain restaurants. The best ones are the Golden Peak Grill at the Terrain Park and Buffalo's, where you can pick up a hearty bread bowl with chili before heading into the Back Bowls.You don't want to exert yourself too much on the first day, so a few more runs should do it. Those who are confident of their durability can try Riva, Vail's longest run at four miles, while others can settle for Christmas, Cappuccino and Ramshorn off the Mid Vail Express Lift.
massage and bar before bed
Tired and content, you can finish your first day in style. First, you can call Heaven Massage & Spa back at your room for an hour-long pounding of sore legs and back. Then, you can follow it up with dinner at Nozawa in West Vail if you're in the mood for Asian cuisine, or Left Bank in Vail Village if you prefer French.Take it easy on your first night by chilling at The Tap Room sports bar in the village or at The Red Lion with live music.
Day 2- Adventure
You need to be pumped up for this full day at Vail, so be sure to eat a full breakfast before heading out. On your first day in Vail, you probably noticed that it is a resort that is not exclusive to skiers and snowboarders. The village itself is quite large in comparison to equally great resorts like Whistler (in British Columbia, Canada), and offers a lot of activities both on and off the mountain.
on the mountain
Visit the Adventure Ridge, a mountain-top activity center, for an array of hair-rising and potentially bone-breaking experiences. The best of all these, in my humble opinion, is snowmobiling. For $62 per single rider, you can go from summit to summit at blinding speeds. All you need is a driver's license and you're good to go. Be aware, however, that riding one of these machines is much more difficult and dangerous than it seems, so take it easy at first.If you want to feel G-force pushing you back, hop on an inner tube and zip down the mountains time and again. This activity is less likely to cause injury than others, but will still cost you $18 per hour session.
The cheapest and yet the most exciting experience may possibly be a new rebound trampoline installed at Adventure Ridge. Tied to a bungee cord, customers jump off, fall to a trampoline and then rebound high in the air. It costs $10 to try this out and by many accounts, is well worth it.
off the mountain
Surely, you'll need a strong drink to calm down after those hair-raising activities on the mountain. The best place to do this is at Kaltenberg Castle in Lionshead. This German microbrewery offers authentic beers, great food and a lively atmosphere. As dinnertime comes head here for a full plate of sausage and a tall stein of suds. Getting through the filling meal will be an adventure in and of itself.With a buzz from the beer, it's time to get your mack on. Vail attracts tourists from all over thanks to its skiing and popular European-influenced village, so take advantage. Visit Fubar or Sanctuary nightclub for dancing, more drinks and a chance to scope out the women.
Who knows, you might even catch a glimpse of Kelsey Grammer, supermodel Kim Alexis or resident and ex-president Gerald Ford. Celebrities from all over flock to Vail to ski and party it up during the winter months.
Day 3- Exploration
Shake away the cobwebs remaining from the night before and get set for another packed escapade. Think of this final day not as the last in Vail (since tourists habitually stay much longer in order to take in more skiing), but as your opportunity to try things that you normally wouldn't have time to do.On top of everything else, Vail has a lot of backcountry areas where you can blaze your own trail. Taking advantage of these will leave you with experiences you'll never forget.
different ideas
First, try out some animal-related activities. There's an organized dog-sledding trip where strong huskies drag a two-person sled across a magnificent Rocky Mountain backdrop. If you're not afraid of damaging your groin, you can horseback ride with Eagle Ranch. Riding with horses is a wise idea if you've met a pretty young thing the night before, as there are sleigh rides day and night in Vail (read: very romantic).For those who need some relaxing time after working their muscles by skiing and snowmobiling for the past two days, snowshoeing is offered back at Adventure Ridge. With a $10 suggested donation, you can rent a pair of snowshoes and follow a guided tour atop Vail Mountain.
Following a late lunch at one of Vail's mountainside eateries, you can take advantage of a half-day ski pass and try out the famous glades and back bowls. Now that you're three days into your trip, your body will be ready to take a ride on the Mountain Glade in Blue Sky Basin or Milt's Face in the Sun Up Bowl. These backwoods trails allow for hours of exploring. Just don't get lost...
vail's best eats and clubs
Culinary exploration should be part of your trip to Vail as well. Once you've wound your way down to the base and have settled in the village, get set for a high class dinner. Try out Japanese fair at Nozawa or pasta at the pricey Cucina Rustica -- your taste buds will thank you.The final area left to truly explore is potential hunnies. Sure, you scoped out the scene at nightclubs the night before, but this night is different. You should club-hop between The Platz'l and The Bridge, as this is where locals and tourists alike love to dance the night away. In the altitude of the mountains, you'll definitely get the infamous "Rocky Mountain High."
make yourself a-vail-able
If this is what you can do in three days, imagine what fun Vail can bring on a two-week romp in the Rockies. The incredible skiing and snowboarding is merely the tip of the iceberg here, as the village and mountain itself offer dozens of different activities. This winter, pack up your gear and head to Vail for an unforgettable vacation.tips for the trip
Resources:
http://www.concierge.com/destination/vail/overview
http://www.vail.com/
http://www.vail.worldweb.com/
http://www.vail-colorado-skiing.net/
http://161.58.195.153/cgi-bin/search/hyperseek.cgi?search=CAT&Category=Vail
Vail Travel Guide
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