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Luxury resorts, world-famous golf, culinary wonders, family attractions, spectacular year-round events and concerts, and a drop-dead gorgeous Colorado landscape combine to make the Vail Valley the ideal place for a day of serene pleasure. VAIL VILLAGE, VAIL RESORTS/JACK AFFLECK MORNING Vail Mountain — one of two world-famous ski mountains in the valley (Beaver Creek is the other) — has recently launched oodles of new summer activities under the theme of Epic Discovery (2), where visitors can access ropes courses, ziplines, an alpine coaster, a waterless tube track and more. Take the scenic gondola up and walk down amid colorful wildflowers, or for a more heart-pumping adventure, hike up the mountain and catch the gondola back down. Vail has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to bring interpretive elements to the Epic Discovery experiences — keep an eye out for their signs. There are also o.- road SUV tours and guided hikes for all abilities. EPIC DISCOVERY, VAIL RESORTS/JACK AFFLECK. Or, savor Colorado’s sundrenched mountain mornings with a round at one of 16 Eagle County golf courses. Take on the challenging but fair par 3 river and mountain courses at EagleVail Golf Club, or tackle the Beaver Creek Golf Club’s (3) narrow Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed fairways. AFTERNOON You’ve worked up your appetite; relax over lunch at one of Vail’s fabulous restaurants, such as Harvest, Sweet Basil, The Little Diner, La Tour or Mountain Standard. The Vail Valley has more than 100 unique restaurants and chef-inspired events, including Taste of Vail, Gourmet on Gore and Vail & Beaver Creek Restaurant Week. Then, stroll Vail Village (1) or nearby Beaver Creek Village for world-class shopping — fur coat shops, glitzy jewelry dealers and couture clothing outlets as well as more down-to-earth T-shirt shops, art galleries, home décor shops and more — open year-round. BEAVER CREEK RESORT Wind down your afternoon with an alpine-inspired treatment at one of the valley’s premier resort spas. After being pampered by luxuries such as the Warm River Stone Massage at Bloom Spa at The Sebastian Vail or Red Clover and Mountain Honey Body Mask at the Westin Riverfront Resort’s Spa Anjali, you’ll be refreshed and ready for an unforgettable night in the Vail Valley. BEANO’S CABIN, BEAVER CREEK RESORT EVENING Treat yourself to the delight of gourmet dining at 10,000 feet at Game Creek Restaurant, whose location on Vail Mountain provides unmatched views. Beaver Creek offers another unique restaurant option at Beano’s Cabin (4), a grand yet rustic on-mountain epicurean experience. Getting to either restaurant is half the fun, with transportation choices ranging from a gondola, wagon or horseback ride. VAIL INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL, MILES/ERIC GRAY After dinner, get an earful of the plentiful live music around town. Shakedown Bar and Pepi’s provide the best opportunities to linger over a cocktail while watching live musicians, and be sure to check the schedules for summertime special performing arts events such as the Hot Summer Nights Concert Series, the Vail Jazz Festival, the Bravo! Music Festival (6) and the Vail International Dance Festival (5), which brings dancers from top companies all over the world to a gorgeous outdoor stage. BRAVO! VAIL MUSIC FESTIVAL WINTER FUN Vail and Beaver Creek are two of the best-known ski destinations in the state. Vail practically set the standard for the modern ski-resort experience, and its famed back bowls and expansive and diverse terrain ensure fun for skiers of all levels. Beaver Creek Resort’s motto is “Not Exactly Roughing It,” which tells you delightful amenities like freshbaked cookies slopeside and 20-hour-a-day slope grooming await. Both towns have easy access to o.-slope attractions, from snowmobiling and snow-tubing to mountain-top dining and sleigh rides. BEAVER CREEK VILLAGE, VAIL RESORTS/JESSE STARR SIDETRIPS Eagle is always celebrating with summer events such as Concerts in the Park, a farmers’ market and the Eagle County Fair & Rodeo and winter events like the Holiday Bazaar, Christmas on Broadway and Twelfth Night. A network of mountain-bike trails and a new Eagle River takeout for rafters, tubers and kayakers also lure folks to this beautiful valley town. CITY OF AVON Avon’s a treat with meandering trails and Harry A. Nottingham Park, home to the state’s largest Fourth of July celebration, paddle boats, stand-up paddleboards, fishing and picnic spots. In winter Nottingham Lake opens for old-fashioned ice skating and hockey. In any season the 10th Mountain Division Huts provide backcountry stopovers for showshoers/ skiers and hikers. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Avon (page 196), Beaver Creek (page 197), Eagle (page 202), Edwards, Minturn, Vail (page 214) QUICK TIP The Town of Vail runs a free year-round shuttle throughout town — making it easy to go car-free without missing any of the action.
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