2022-12-03 09:27:53
Luxury resorts, world-famous golf, family attractions, events and stunning vistas make Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, Minturn and Eagle ideal for pleasure-seekers. Days 1 & 2 Savor sun-drenched mountain mornings in the Vail Valley, where plenty of options draw you outside. Vail Mountain has oodles of summer fun at Epic Discovery, where visitors tackle ropes courses, an alpine coaster, mini golf and more. Or grab a round at several Eagle County golf courses to see your ball fly farther in the thin, alpine air. There’s also the nearby West Avon Preserve trail system, with winding trails for all difficulty levels. Trailhead parking in the area fills up quickly, so hop the free bus to hike and bike. Learn more at discovervail.com/hike. Lunch at one of Vail’s many fabulous restaurants. Then indulge in a spa day or stroll Vail Village and nearby Beaver Creek for world-class shopping — from glitzy jewelry and couture clothing to T-shirts and artwork. Animal-centric adventures are plentiful, too: Goat Yoga at Vail Stables combines the bliss of yoga with the adorable energy of baby goats. Paragon Guides’ Take a Llama to Lunch hikes pair you with a llama and guide you into evergreen forests and aspen groves. And Sage Outdoor Adventures offers fly-fishing trips on private waters. Be sure to check for special summertime events such as the Hot Summer Nights Concert Series, the Bravo! Music Festival and the Vail Dance Festival, which brings dancers from all over the world to a gorgeous outdoor stage. Day 3 Choose another valley town for today’s adventures. Avon’s a treat with meandering trails and Nottingham Park, home to the state’s largest Fourth of July celebration, paddleboats, SUPs, fishing and picnic spots. Summers on Nottingham Lake bring the heat with sunset SUP races. Walking Mountains Science Center provides a special place for learning and discovery through guided hikes, camps and other family activities. Eagle is growing in popularity as a home base in the valley. Town Park is a hub of activity, with yoga, a playground, cottonwood-shaded picnic areas and summer concerts. The Eagle Pool & Ice Rink is another hot spot and the gateway to main trailheads for mountain bikers, runners and hikers. Eagle River Park has whitewater waves and holes for surfing, kayaking, rafting and tubing, as well as a beach area. Check out Minturn’s galleries, antique shops and the Minturn Market, with crafts, prepared foods, farms, live music and more. The town’s Everkrisp Trail delights outdoors lovers and connects to 222 miles of Forest Service trails for hiking, biking, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing. Grab trail maps at Town Hall. Gypsum has a shooting range, fishing ponds, a championship golf course and the Dry Lake Motocross Park. For OHVers, the Middle Middle rockcrawling trail boasts large boulders, undercut ledges and waterfall climbs. Red Cliff is a jumping-off point for mountain biking, cross-country skiing, wildflower hikes and more. Edwards’ Riverwalk shopping district has a variety of mountain boutiques. Wolcott is home to Zip Adventures — six separate lines and the Canyon Plunge free-fall ride. Year-round, the 10th Mountain Division Huts provide backcountry stopovers for snowshoers, skiers and hikers. Book early — these huts fill up fast. Winter Fun Vail and Beaver Creek are two of the most famous ski destinations in the state. Vail is famed for its back bowls and expansive terrain. Beaver Creek has McCoy Park’s terrain, lifts and learning area. Both towns have easy access to off-slope attractions, from snowmobiling and snowtubing to mountaintop dining and sleigh rides.
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