2019-12-09 03:36:58
Luxury resorts, world-famous golf, culinary wonders, family attractions, year-round events and concerts, and a drop-dead gorgeous landscape make the Vail Valley’s Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon and Eagle the ideal places for serene pleasure. DAYS 1 & 2 Vail Mountain — one of two world-famous ski mountains in the valley (Beaver Creek is the other) — has launched oodles of summer activities under the theme of Epic Discovery (1), where visitors can access ropes courses, ziplines, an alpine coaster, a waterless tube track, SUV tours, guided hikes and more. Take the 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 more than a dozen Eagle County golf courses (2). You’ve worked up your appetite; relax over lunch at one of Vail’s fabulous restaurants, such as Heirloom, Sweet Basil, Alpenrose, Pepi’s or Mountain Standard. Stroll Vail Village or nearby Beaver Creek Village for worldclass shopping — fur-coat shops, glitzy jewelry dealers and couture clothing outlets as well as more down-to-earth T-shirt shops, art galleries, home-decor shops and more — bustling year-round. Wind down with an alpine-inspired treatment at one of the valley’s premier resort spas, including Bloom Spa, Spa Anjali, Spa at the Arrabelle and Bloom Spa. You’ll be refreshed and ready for an unforgettable night in the Vail Valley. Less luxurious but equally delightful options abound, as well: Goat Yoga at Vail Stables brings together the Zen of yoga with the adorable energy of kids (the goat kind)! The stables also have excellent horseback-riding trips, naturally. 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 a fly-fishing trip on private waters of the Piney River. 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. Transportation to either place ranges from a gondola, wagon to a horseback ride. Be sure to check the schedules for summertime special performing arts events such as the Hot Summer Nights Concert Series (3), the Vail Jazz Festival, 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, paddle boats, stand-up paddleboards, fishing and picnic spots. The new Destination Jump, Splash, Learn playground in Nottingham Park offers natured-themed swings, a zipline, climbing features and more. In winter Nottingham Lake opens for old-fashioned ice skating and hockey. The West Avon Preserve, just north of I-70, offers winding trails of all levels of difficulty. There’s also the Walking Mountains Science Center, an innovative natural science learning campus with a stream, wetlands, pond and National Forest access, which provides the valley with a special place for learning and discovery through guided hikes, camps and other family activities. Avon’s Zagster bike-share program provides an easy way for residents and guests to get around town. Eagle is growing in popularity as a homebase in the valley. Town Park is a hub of activity in Eagle, with yoga, a playground, cottonwood-shaded picnic areas and summer concerts. 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. More than 100 miles of trails can be accessed within 1 mile of town. There’s also a pump track, BMX track and MHOR R/C Raceway radio-controlled car track, and the new Eagle River Park whitewater park just off I-70 has waves and holes for surfing, kayaking, rafting and tubing, as well as a beach area and fire pits. Stop in to Eagle Pharmacy and Batsons Corner Store to get the inside scoop on conditions. 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, diverse terrain ensure fun for skiers of all levels. Beaver Creek Resort has delightful amenities like 3pm Cookie Time, wine-and-snowshoe excursions and a First Tracks program for early risers. Both towns have easy access to off-slope attractions, from snowmobiling and snow-tubing to mountain- top dining and sleigh rides. SIDETRIPS Gypsum has a shooting range, fishing ponds right in town limits, a championship golf course that’s usually one of the first to open in the mountain region for the summer, the Dry Lake Motocross Park and access to BLM lands. For rock crawlers with off-road vehicles, the Middle Middle rock-crawling trail north of town looms with large boulders, undercut ledges and waterfall climbs. Farmers’ Market Fridays starting in June bring local flavors and 18 town parks are perfect for picnics. Minturn’s galleries, antique shops and summer artisans’ 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 a variety of mountain boutiques. In any season the region’s 10th Mountain Division Huts provide backcountry stopovers for showshoers/skiers and hikers. Book early — these unique stopovers get snatched up fast by those looking to live in relative backcountry comfort. TRIPS ESTABLISHED IN 2017 Be sure to visit COLORADO.com/ColoRoadTrips for even more itineraries! STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Avon (page 192), Beaver Creek, Eagle (page 197), Edwards (page 197), Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff, Vail (page 205) 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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