Accommodations

Vail offers an outdoor oriented getaway with a variety of cabins, vacation homes, hotels, and resorts. Choose an accommodation near any of Vail's local attractions that offers comfort while making the most of the beautiful mountains and attractions at affordably priced rates.

View our Vail Vacation Rentals or Vail Resorts

Activities

The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens offer a chance to explore and enjoy a stunning mountain garden situated high in the Rocky Mountains. In the shadow of Colorado's Gore Range, their assortment of perennial beds, rock gardens and waterfalls dramatically display an astonishing array of the world's most unique and beautiful high elevation plants. The Colorado Ski Museum, which is located in the Vail Transportation Center, has wonderful historical artifacts from Colorado's skiing and snowboard heritage. At the Museum, you can see great exhibits on the timeline of skiing and snowboarding, and check out the exhibit on the 10th Mountain Division, which was based at Camp Hale

Events

The Vail Film Festival is held in late March and draws attendees and filmmakers from across the United States and around the world. The festival draws over 12,000 attendees and 300 filmmakers, including high profile celebrities and national media. The Taste of Vail is the nation’s premier spring food and wine festival, held in early April at several venues throughout Vale. During the four-day event, upwards of 5,000 people are able to “taste the Vail Valley lifestyle.” The Vail Arts Festival is a three-day festival featuring 120 artists from across the U. S. Beginning in mid August, visual and performing arts will be featured throughout the weekend. The Vail Arts festival features gallery class arts and exquisite custom jewelry in beautiful Vail Village. Vail’s celebration of Oktoberfest takes place over two weekends and would not be complete without bratwurst-eating contests, keg bowling, alpine horns and yodeling.

Mountain Activities

With 5289 skiable acres, 33 lifts, and 193 marked trails, Vail offer some of the finest winter sports in the world, but they do not have to be covered in snow to enjoy. While well known for the skiing and snowboarding, Aspen in the summer and fall offers spectacular backgrounds for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, camping, and fishing.

Golfing

The Vail Valley is serious about golf, with eleven courses and more on the way. Vail has come to be known as a golfer's paradise, where players of all abilities will find a course and an experience best suited for them. In honor of President Ford, the Jerry Ford Invitational golf tournament is held each year in Vail.

History

One of the biggest influences on Colorado skiing history was the 10th Mountain Division. The U.S. Army trained the 10th in the Vail area for high country combat in Europe during World War II. Many of these men, based at the massive Camp Hale, south of Vail, returned from duty in Europe to the surroundings they had come to know during their training, the Rocky Mountains. These men guided the future of skiing in Colorado. One of these courageous pioneers, Peter Seibert, was one of the founders of the Vail Resort, and a member of the Ski Hall of Fame. The Vail Resort opened December 15, 1962, to a disappointing winter snow season. But Vail had the advantage of being only half the driving distance from Denver as Aspen, and has grown steadily since that day.