Things to do in Vail
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Vail Mountain
Vail Mountain is our favorite in the state, with 5289 skiable acres, 193 trails, three terrain parks and the highest lift-ticket prices in the country (OK, so they only out-price Aspen by $1, but still…). If you're a Colorado ski virgin, it's worth paying the extra buck to pop your cherry here. Especially on a sunny, blue, fresh-powder day.
If you're low on coin check the parking lots to see if anyone needs a buddy to split their 2-for-1 lift ticket coupon before paying top dollar at the ticket window. You can also try City Market grocery stores, which often sell reduced-price tickets. Experts will go gaga over Vail's shoots, tree glades and four wide-open, powdery fres…
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Fishing Gore Creek
- Vail, USA
- Activities › Fishing
It’s hard to believe that a stream so close to a freeway would be included among Colorado’s Gold Medal waters, yet four miles of Gore Creek from Red Sandstone Creek to its confluence with the Eagle River is prize trout fly-fishing water. Expect to find rainbow, brook and big brown trout, plus native cutthroat in its tributaries. Regulations permit anglers to take only two fish over 16 inches from the creek.
The Eagle River, once too polluted to sustain large mature fish, now also yields decent catches, due to EPA Superfund cleanup of the Gilman mill tailings above Minturn. If you’re willing to go for a hike, there are nearby mountain lakes and streams offering great f…
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Gore Creek Trail
- Vail, USA
- Activities › Hiking
From the USFS Gore Creek campground, the popular Gore Creek Trail (USFS Trail 2015) leads to Gore Lake in the Eagle's Nest Wilderness Area. This strenuous six-mile trail, best attempted between June and October, climbs about 2700ft through spruce and fir forests into the alpine tundra.
Another trail option from near the campground is Two Elk Trail (USFS Trail 2005), an 11-mile hike that climbs to Two Elk Pass, passing prime elk habitat before leaving the forest and Vail’s back bowls at Cemetery Rd in Minturn. Elk bugling during rutting season is best observed in late summer. This hike can be done in a day or as an overnight trip – consider leaving a second vehicle at the …
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Osaki's
- Vail, USA
- Restaurants › Sushi
There is no finer sushi in all of Vail, and possibly the state of Colorado, than here. Osaki is a star disciple of Nobu Matsuhisa (yes, that Nobu). He worked in the LA restaurant, when Nobu only had one shop, and eventually opened this hole-in-the-wall temple devoted to all that is sweet, tender, raw and holy (we're talking about fish!).
It's not cheap, but what Vail haunt is? Plus, if you go with one of the combo dinners you'll get out for under $50. And whatever you do, do not leave without tasting the salmon. It's simply spectacular. Osaki offers 30% off rolls in the summer, and reservations are advised in peak season. You'll find it hiding behind Campo de Fiori.
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Bike Valet
- Vail, USA
- Activities › Cycling
Based in Lionshead. In winter it's run as Ski Valet and offers some of the best discount ski rentals on the mountain, and overnight repair service. But in the summer, it's known as Bike Valet, one of two independently owned bike shops in Lionshead. Rent path bikes, road bikes, electric bikes, as well as full-suspension mountain bikes for the hardcore.
Owner-operated, Bike Valet will gladly offer riding tips, repair your bike, and they do tours for all levels as well. The Shrine Pass tour includes a vicious two-mile ascent and a twelve-mile coast down the backside of Vail mountain into Red Cliff. The Vail Pass downhill tour on the bike path is also popular, especially with…
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Westside Cafe
- Vail, USA
- Restaurants › Diner
Set in a West Vail minimall right off the freeway, this is the most popular breakfast spot in the area among locals, and for good reason. It does terrific breakfast skillets, like the 'My Big Fat Greek Skillet' with scrambled eggs, gyro, red onion, tomato and feta served with warm pita. The 'Southwestern' comes with scrambled eggs, black beans, peppers, onions and tomatoes.
Staff will pour you freshly squeezed orange juice or a steaming large mug of coffee. The Bloody Marys get good word of mouth, and the always satisfying 'Local Special' never fails to bring a smile to the face of weary menu readers (and writers) everywhere.
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Kelly Liken
Young chef and cable-TV personality Kelly Liken shows off her skills in the lower lobby of the Vail Gateway building. Cooking with seasonal, and mostly local, foods (Elk Carpaccio anyone?) she blends exquisite ingredients into tasty dishes such as shrimp and grits, pan-roasted duck served with Colorado plums and wild rice salad, and honey-rosemary-glazed local lamb loin.
Sunday's harvest menu features whatever caught her eye at the Vail Farmers Market in Vail Village that morning. Be warned: serving size is small and prices are high, but flavor, presentation and celeb-chef panache should make up for it.
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Vail to Breckenridge Bike Path
- Vail, USA
- Activities › Cycling
From the West Vail Market you can ride along N Frontage Rd, crossing I-70 at the pedestrian overpass to Lionshead. On the south side of the freeway, a paved bike route extends from W Gore Creek Dr through Cascade Village, Lionshead and Vail Village and continues east on the 10-Mile Canyon Trail through auto-free road-bike heaven over Vail Pass to Frisco.
From the road closure at the east end of Bighorn Rd, 6 miles from Vail Village, it’s an 8-mile climb to Vail Pass; there you can turn back or continue 11 miles to Frisco, the hub of Summit County bike trails and the gateway to Breckenridge.
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Bōl
Set in the striking, new Solaris condo complex, there has never ever been a sleeker more upscale bowling alley. Ever! This is damn near space age and at research time was by far the dopest hang in Vail.
With high energy, progressive rock pumping, balls decorated like billiard balls (finger size printed large and central), big-screen TVs strobing at the end of the lanes, and a sleek bar in the neon lobby, Vail's young and pretty hang here. And it serves food too. Think pork buns with ponzu sauce, honey-glazed ribs, balsamic-tossed arugula and pan-roasted baby artichokes.
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Eagle's Nest
The central-point of all mountain adventure. Obviously, it's all about powder in the peak season. But that can mean snowshoeing, snow-biking, snowmobiling and tubing, as well as skiing and boarding. In summer there are dozens of hikes and mountain-bike trails (bikes ride on the gondola for a small fee), as well as a bungee trampoline, climbing wall and Frisbee golf.
It's the gateway to 5000 acres of winter terrain and 1000 acres of summer mountain-bike madness. But in every season it's a wonderful, family-friendly scene.
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Colorado Ski Museum
This humble but surprisingly informative museum takes you from the invention of skiing in the Norwegian military in 1767 to the Colorado ski pioneers who, in 1887, rode 10ft to 14ft wood-skis they made themselves. You can see these vintage skis and boots (and snowboards for that matter) among the well-curated exhibits.
There's a room dedicated to the Tenth Mountain Division, a high alpine WWII unit who trained in these mountains, as well as the fledgling Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame.
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Troy's Ski Shop
Troy's specializes in two things. It rents high-end, full-suspension mountain bikes in summer, and hires out the best skis on the mountain in winter, both of which can be used to explore the 5000 acres of frontside and back-bowl country that makes the Vail resort great. This shop is independently owned, has friendly staff, and it's been around awhile.
With tips from Troy's you can ski at Vail for a week and never hit the same trail twice. Note: Troy's doesn't rent snowboards.
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Game Creek Restaurant
One of Vail's best kitchens isn't in Vail at all, it's on the mountain, nestled in spectacular Game Creek Bowl. Take the Eagle Bahn Gondola to Eagle's Nest and staff will shuttle you to their lodge-style restaurant, which serves an American-French fusion menu with stars like foie gras, elk steak and a succulent leg of lamb.
Or perhaps you'd prefer to snowshoe or ski your way in? Either choice will be unforgettable. It serves a mean brunch on Sundays.
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Campo de Fiori
It's a splurge, but then all of Vail is a splurge – and this is a worthy one. Where else in town can you slurp black mussels and follow it up with a proper spinach and ricotta agnolotti (half-moon ravioli), and then follow that with a grilled ruby trout, NY strip or a Colorado lamb rack? The risotto dello chef ain't bad either.
It's all served in a romanitc mediterranean villa interior. And the vibe is almost always wine-drenched and alive.
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Vail Farmers Market
- Vail, USA
- Restaurants › Market
This farmers market and art show, located on Meadow Dr in the heart of the Vail village, was established in 2001. You can grab any number of items for your condo kitchen, including fresh picked produce (including organic), fresh baked breads, German pastries, local meats, fresh halibut, mountain honey, and art from dozens of local artists and artisans.
There are more than 120 vendors in all, as well as live jazz curated by the Vail Jazz Festival.
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Dobson Ice Arena
- Vail, USA
- Activities › Skating
Located at the entrance to the Lionshead ski resort, this aging yet more than adequate rink is where local freestylers, aspiring competitive ice dancers, and bruising pick-up hockey jocks come for a good skate. The rink is available for time-block rental and hours are set aside for public skating, along with classes and organized activities and events for all ages.
Visit the website, grab a schedule at the door, or call for details.
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Kemo Sabe
It would be tough to find a more distinctly Western store in all of resort-land Colorado. It specializes in two things: Stetson hats and Lucchese boots. All are handmade. The boots are crafted from hide and leather, and the hats from rabbit, steer and beaver fur.
Staff will shape your hat and even distress it to make it look like you rode hard and worked hard with it. Listen for the country music and enjoy the hospitality.
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Centre V
Blessed with a glorious perch gazing onto the Eagle Bahn Gondola, this spot offers plates large and small from the classic Continental cuisine handbook. Think bacon-wrapped scallops, roasted beets with haystack chèvre (goats' cheese), Alaskan halibut and Colorado lamb shank.
When we visited it offered an unheard-of twist on the upscale chophouse ethos: 'kids eat free'. Not sure how long that will last.
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Vail VaIley Paragliding
Here's your chance to fly high above the Rocky Mountain. Join one of these tandem flights – launch in the morning and occasionally in the afternoon. You'll lift off at 8700ft and if the winds are cooperative, you might fly as high as 14,000ft. Duration varies, but an hour is common. Flights depart from diferent locations: check the website for details.
Dress warmly. It does get cold in heaven.
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Vail Golf Club
- Vail, USA
- Activities › Golf
Hemmed in by Gore Creek and tucked up against the White River National Forest, this 18-hole par 71 course nestled in at 8200ft elevation is a fine place to hit a small white ball, then go hunting for it. Reservations are vital in summer and can be made 60 days in advance. It's partly or fully closed for rehabilitation in the fall.
The pro shop can set you up with rentals, lessons and a cart.
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Big Bear Bistro
- Vail, USA
- Restaurants › Cafe
Unless you hit the Sonnenalp Resort's buffet, this is where you come for breakfast. It serves gourmet coffee, tasty breakfast burritos and some damn decent sandwiches at lunch. We suggest 'the Masterpiece.' It comes with prosciutto, capicola, salami, maple-glazed ham, balsamic-tinged arugula, banana peppers and cracked-pepper aioli.
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Solaris Ice Rink
- Vail, USA
- Activities › Skating
Still under construction at research time, but scheduled to be open in time for ski season in 2010, this gorgeous outdoor oval is set in front of the new Solaris residential and commercial complex where you can also find Bōl and Cinebistro. The kids are going to love it.
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Booth Falls & Booth Lake Trail
- Vail, USA
- Activities › Hiking
A two-mile hike to the 60ft Booth Falls follows USFS Trail 1885 into the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. The trailhead is off N Frontage Rd west of I-70 exit 180. Continue beyond the falls to encounter meadows filled with wildflowers and views of the Gore Range. The trail continues to Booth Lake, 6 miles from the trailhead, and climbs about 3000ft. Best between June and October.
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Vail Ski & Snowboard School
Resort-owned and operated, this skiing and snowboarding school serves all ages and all levels. Along with this Vail Village location, it also operates in Golden Peak and Lionshead. Children's lessons are held out of the latter two locations only, where day-care programs are also offered. Lessons include equipment rental, and class size maxes out at four or five skiers.
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Buzz's Ski Shop
In tiny, corporate Vail, a laid-back place like Buzz's feels like a breath of fresh powder. Techs are knowledgable, prices are among the cheapest on the mountain, the equipment is solid, and it's just a few minutes walk to the Eagle Bahn Gondola in Vail Village. They are only open during the winter season.
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