Vail

The purest mountain air, the world-class skiing, and the breathtaking allure of the Colorado mountains are only part of what make Vail so special. It has the most luxury hotels, the largest number of fine-dining restaurants and the greatest offer of spas of any ski resort in the country. Its own motto is “like nothing on Earth”, and we agree. This mountain is arguably the best skiing in all of America—with varied terrain, offering something for skiers and snowboarders of any level. The town itself, reminiscent of a cobblestoned, European Alpine village, is charming in every aspect: from the most luxurious and upscale accommodations to the finest dining in Colorado, this city is indeed something else.

GETTING TO Vail

Vail is located in the central Rocky Mountains. It’s just 100 miles west of Denver International Airport (DIA) and 30 miles east of Eagle/Vail Airport. It’s very easy to get to by car.

DINING IN Vail

Vail isn’t only an experience of a lifetime for its exceptional skiing, hiking and stunning nature. It’s also a melting pot of luscious fine dining and artisan fooderies ready to wow your palate. Vail is arguably the ski resort with the greatest selection of fine dining, with award-winning restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. Here are some of our favorites:

●      La Tour: This chef-owned French restaurant in the heart of Vail is one of the most acclaimed restaurants in Colorado. Enjoy specialty cocktails while waiting for your lovingly cooked meal, including dishes like oysters dressed in Sherry vinegar mignonette and Maine lobster bisque.

●      Beano’s Cabin: If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime mountain experience, this is it. In the winter, you can get to Beano’s Cabin with a 20-minute open-air sleigh ride up Beaver Creek Mountain. When you get there, it’s a rustic yet rustic Alpine-style cabin with vaulted ceilings and a view to die for. Dining is a five-course gourmet meal, including local favorites like lamb top sirloin and Colorado bass.

●      Game Greek Club: Another mountain favorite, Game Greek can be reached by gondola or snowcat. Serving fine American cuisine, this charming chalet serves beautifully plated dishes like crab with avocado and beef with achiote. There are several veggie-friendly dishes available.

Vail has a large selection of fine dining available year-round.

THINGS TO DO IN Vail

Nature. If natural landscapes were movies, Vail would win the Oscar for best picture. With an idyllic system of hiking trails, vivid sapphire-blue lakes for fishing and kayaking, and thick, luscious evergreen pines, Vail is a landscape you can’t forget. In the winter, it’s America’s favorite ski destination, holding the title for the largest single mountain ski resort. It has nearly 200 trails across 5,289 acres of skiable and varied slopes. Vail is also home to one of the best and largest ski schools offering group, private and semi-private lessons for all levels.

Off-piste activities. In the winter, Vail has more activities than any other resort in America. The range of things to do is wide, from Nordic, backcountry and snowshoe tours to cat-skiing, hot air balloon rides and snowmobile tours. In the summer, Vail is perfect for hiking, cycling, kayaking and all traditional summer mountain activities. But there’s more: you can also take a zip-lining canopy tour or even go hiking with a llama.

Enjoying the village. Vail is an ultra charming village, with not one but two, open-air ice skating rinks in Beaver Creek and Vail villages. There is so much to do here: enjoy a film and a cocktail in the deluxe movie theater, hit a strike at the luxe bowling alley-slash-cocktail bar, or try one of the several luxury spas available all over town. Vail also has fantastic upscale shopping all over town. It’s also a foodies paradise, but we talked about that.