Where to stay? What to do? Well, don’t worry. We’ve sent our travel experts into the depths of vacation land for you. They’ve traveled the roads, ate the food, played with the locals and found the little things that make a vacation unforgettable. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it so you could have the inside view to your next vacation.
Travel experts share their secrets to conquering Vail, Colorado:
Travel Expert Jake Reeder on Vail
What to know when booking your Vail vacation rental:
- With 5,289 acres of terrain, Vail is the largest ski resort in North America.
- Vail is 100 miles from Denver and 35 miles from Eagle.
- Vail has the largest free bus system in the U.S.A.
Vail lodging highlight – The Cascade Lodge and Spa
- The perfect property for those looking for ski-in/ski-out rentals found within a secluded village.
- While staying within Vail Cascade, a guest has access to an array of amenities, which include a 78,000 square-foot spa and athletic center, Chap’s restaurant (4 stars), onsite lift, movie theatre and a deli.
- The Cascade also provides guests with a complimentary shuttle to Vail Village and Lionshead Village.
“Local secrets” and activities you must experience when staying in Vail Mountain:
The Teva games makes for a memorable vacation. You can witness the best whitewater kayakers in the world paddle through Colorado’s premier class 5 rapids.For those looking for adventure, take the gondola to to the top of the mountain for some downhill riding.Ride the gondola to the top of the mountain to experience Vail’s newest Frisbee golf course called “Eagle’s Nest.”When dining in Vail, you must eat at:
- For breakfast: Route 6 Cafe, located in Minturn, has the best omelet’s in Eagle County along with moderately-priced Bloody Mary’s.
- For lunch: Moe’s Barbecue. Order the Pulled Pork with fried green tomatoes, but save room for the complimentary banana pudding with a vanilla wafer on top.
- For dinner: Russell’s. Order the Surf and Turf between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. and get dinner for half price with the purchase of wine.
Travel Expert Kurt Wernecke on Vail
What to know when booking your Vail vacation rental:
- For more than 20 years Vail has been hosting the Vail shoot-out which is a lacrosse tournament that takes place the July 4thweekend. If you are not a lacrosse fan, you might want to avoid this week in Vail.
- It is not unheard of to get 8-inches of snow in the summer. Be prepared.
- Don’t forget Vail is undergoing a $1 billion renovation.
Vail lodging highlight – Vail Cascade.
- They have the largest public work-out facility Vail.
- They have there own private chair lift that NEVER has a line.
- The in house restaurant Chaps is one of the best steak houses in the town of Vail.
“Local secrets” and activities you must experience when staying in Vail Mountain:
- Spring back to Vail. It’s the locals’ favorite springtime outdoor free concert in March.
- In the summer, try the free 18-hole disc golf course on the top of Vail Mountain.
- The Taste of Vail is a wonderful way to experience local wine and food.
When dining in Vail, you must eat at:
- For breakfast: Route 6 cafe, and order the pulled chicken hash because I guarantee you’ve never had anything like it.
- For lunch: La Botega. It has the best Philly steak/chicken and cheese sandwiches.
- For dinner: Pazzo’s pizza is a great l
- Locals’ favorite.
Travel Expert Cory McAlpine on Vail
What to know when booking your Vail vacation rental:
- The Eagle Airport is the closest airport to Vail, about a 30-minute drive.
- East Vail is a 15-20-minute shuttle ride, and about a 5-10-minute drive to the nearest lift.
- There are three Villages in Vail: Vail Village, Lionshead, and Cascade. All of have ski-in/ski-out access.
Vail lodging highlight – the Lion Square Lodge:
- The best thing is, it’s right on the mountain with ski-in/ski-out access.
- It’s located right next to the only gondola at Vail.
- Lionshead Village has undergone many changes in the last few years, giving it more choices for food and shopping.
“Local secrets” and summer activities you must experience when staying in Vail:
- Frisbee golfing atop Vail Mountain. Take the gondola to the top of the mountain to take in great views and throw some discs. If you don’t want to play, it’s a great hike too.
- Rent a mountain bike and take a cruise through beautiful meadows and breathtaking mountains.
- Take a hummer tour. Get out of the city in luxury and experience the four-wheel-drive-only trails that take you where roads don’t exist.
When dining in Vail, you must eat at Vail:
- For Breakfast: Westside Cafe and Market. Order the Bloody Mary, because they infuse their vodka with veggies! Plus they serve breakfast till 3 p.m.
- For Lunch: Bart and Yetis, and order the Buffalo Chicken sandwich because it’s glorious.
- For Dinner: The SandBar, and order the Wing sampler – it’s two pounds of wings with three different flavors, you got to try the Thai.