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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. MORNING Vail Mountain (1) — one of two world-famous ski mountains in the valley (Beaver Creek is the other) — has launched oodles of new summer activities under the theme of Epic Discovery, where visitors can access ropes courses, ziplines, an alpine coaster, a waterless tube track, SUV tours, guided hikes 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. Or, savor Colorado’s sun-drenched mountain mornings with a round at one of 16 Eagle County golf courses (2). 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 (April), Gourmet on Gore (September) and Vail & Beaver Creek Restaurant Week (September/ October). Then, stroll Vail Village (6) or nearby Beaver Creek Village (5) 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 — bustling year-round. Wind down your afternoon with an alpine-inspired treatment at one of the valley’s premier resort spas, including Bloom Spa, Spa Anjali, Spa at the Arrabelle and Aria Spa. You’ll be refreshed and ready for an unforgettable night in the Vail Valley. 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, 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. After dinner, get an earful of the plentiful live music around town. Shakedown Bar and Pepi’s (4) 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 and the Vail Dance Festival (3), which brings dancers from top companies all over the world to a gorgeous outdoor stage. 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 fresh-baked cookies slopeside and 20-hour-a-day slope grooming await. Both towns have easy access to off-slope attractions, from snowmobiling and snow-tubing to mountain-top dining and sleigh rides. SIDETRIPS Eagle is growing in popularity as a homebase in the valley. Centennial Park is a hub of activity in Eagle, with yoga, a playground, Cottonwood-shaded picnic areas, summer concerts and other events. The Eagle Pool & Ice Rink is another hot spot and the launching point for the town’s main trailheads for mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers. There’s also a pump track, BMX track and a new radio-controlled car track. Brush Creek and the Eagle River run through town and provide excellent fishing opportunities. Stop in to Batsons Corner Store to get the inside scoop on conditions. 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. The West Avon Preserve offers mountain-biking and hiking trails for all ability levels, and the beautiful Walking Mountains Science Center connects visitors to a stream, wetlands, pond, aspen forest and National Forest access. Minturn’s galleries, antique shops and summer farmers’ markets are worth a gander; Red Cliff is a jumping-off point to mountain biking, cross-country skiing, wildflower hikes and more; Edwards’ Riverwalk shopping district has a relaxed feel and several mountain boutiques; and Gypsum has a shooting range, fishing ponds, a championship golf course that’s usually one of the first to open in the mountain region for the summer, the new Dry Lake motocross track and access to BLM lands. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Avon (page 189), Beaver Creek (page 189), Eagle (page 195), Edwards (page 195), Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff, Vail (page 206) QUICK TIP Vail runs a free year-round shuttle throughout town — making it easy to go car-free and hop-on/hop-off without missing any of the action.
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