Vail, Colorado may be known as one of the best places to ski in the US, but this charming city is so much more than its famous slopes. From its many festivals to its amazing culinary scene to the hiking trails that will take you to see incredible sights, there’s a lot to love in Vail.
Planning a Vail vacation and wondering what to do? We’ve compiled a list of the best things to do in Vail to help you get started. Whether you’re coming for Vail’s famous winter sports or heading there for its stunning summers, you’re bound to have an incredible time at this year-round destination!
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15 Fun and Unique Things to do in Vail, CO
1. Hit the Slopes
Of course, we still couldn’t make a list of the best things to do in Vail without first talking about what it’s best known for. With over 5,000 acres of skiable terrain, Vail is home to the largest ski resort in Colorado, which is why skiing has long been considered one of the best Vail activities.
With all that space at Vail Ski Resort, there’s room for every type of skier. Ride Vail’s legendary bowls, challenge yourself on expert terrain, or simply take your first skiing lessons. Beginners and experts alike will fall in love with all that Vail Ski Resort has to offer!
2. Go Hiking
Vail is filled with hiking trails galore, and they lead you to some of the best things to see in Vail. If you don’t mind a bit of a challenge, one of the top hikes is the Booth Falls Trail. You’ll pass by stunning aspen forests, fields of wildflowers, and the waterfall itself when you commit to this rewarding hike.
3. Visit Epic Discovery
Spending some time at Epic Discovery, located at the top of Vail Mountain, is one of the best things to do in Vail in summer. This massive playground boasts a tubing hill, a zipline, a bungee trampoline, a mini golf course, a nature center offering free hikes and snowshoe tours, and more.
One note, though, is that it’s not guaranteed that everything you want to do will be open. So, before you get your tickets and take the gondola ride to the top, be sure to check if what you want to do is available.
4. Take in the Beauty of Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is one of the best Vail attractions because it’s truly one of a kind. This botanical garden stands at 8,250 feet above sea level, making it the highest such garden in the US. This free thing to do in Vail lets you enjoy the beauty of the alpine environment and learn about how you can play a role in protecting it.
5. Listen to Music at the Bravo! Vail Music Festival
If you’re planning a Vail vacation in the summer, you’ll find that the Bravo! Vail Music Festival is one of the top things to do in Vail. This classical music festival lasts for six weeks in the summer, allowing you to listen to some of the best orchestras in the world delight you with jazz, chamber music, and more.
Planning a picnic to dine while you listen to one of their outdoor concerts is a great Vail date idea that you and your sweetheart will love!
6. Dine in One of Alpenrose’s Private Gondolas
No matter when you visit Vail, you should dine at Alpenrose. But you should especially do it if you find yourself in Vail in winter, as that’s when the restaurant has its Private Gondola Experience.
Treat yourself to fondue as you dine inside a gondola cabin converted into a place for fine dining. These cozy cabins are perfect for a romantic night out.
7. Marvel at the Beauty of the Vail Dance Festival
If you’re visiting Vail in the summer, you might find yourself arriving during the Vail Dance Festival, a two-week-long celebration of dance and one of the most unique things to do in Vail.
From ballet to tap to hip-hop, the dancers showcased in this one-of-a-kind event have been training all their lives in many different forms of dance. These artists use dance to tell all kinds of stories and immerse the audience in their world.
8. Taste Your Way Around Taste of Vail
Happening in spring, Taste of Vail is one of the best food and wine festivals in the US, making it one of the most fun things to do in Vail. This festival showcases more than 30 of Vail’s finest chefs and restauranteurs, which means you’ll be dining on the very best of Vail’s food scene. If that’s not enough, you’ll also be able to sip your way around nearly 50 of the US’s best wineries.
9. See the Best in Film at the Vail Film Festival
Movie lover? Then, the Vail Film Festival belongs on your Vail bucket list. See independent films, listen to your favorite people in film at panels, and attend workshops to really immerse yourself in the magic of movies.
This festival arrives in early December, when Vail is already decorated for the holiday season, making it truly one of the best times of year to be in Vail.
10. Take a Gondola Ride
You don’t need to get on the slopes to ride one of Vail’s gondolas. Gondolas are a great way to do some epic Vail sightseeing.
Gondola One, which departs from Vail Village, and the Eagle Bahn Gondola, which leaves from Lionshead Village, operate during the summer and winter months, allowing you to take in two very different but equally beautiful panoramas during the year from the comfort of the cozy cabins.
11. Recuperate at an Oxygen Bar
You might think that you won’t need the help of an oxygen bar, but you might want to keep in mind that altitude sickness isn’t all that uncommon for Vail, the average elevation of which is over 8,000 feet above sea level.
Oxygen bars, like the one at Recovery Lab, are one of the coolest things to do in Vail, and you might also find that they’ll help you out if you’re having trouble with the elevation.
12. Find Tranquility at the Vail Nature Center
The Vail Nature Center is one of the must-visit Vail attractions if you’re visiting Vail in the summer. This seven-acre nature preserve is a great way to immerse yourself in Vail’s nature. You can join the preserve for hikes, beaver pond tours, campfire talks, and more. It’s a place to come enjoy nature as much as it is a place to learn all about Vail’s natural beauty.
13. Try Goat Yoga at Vail Stables
If you’re visiting Vail during the summer, why not do something a little off the beaten path? Vail Stables offers one of the most fun things to do in Vail: goat yoga. Also known as GOGA, this activity belongs on your Vail bucket list because you get to experience the zen of yoga surrounded by adorable goats.
Vail Stables also offers horseback riding, which includes their G.O.A.T. Happy Hour. You can also book this happy hour by itself, where you can enjoy adult beverages, great views, and the company of both goats and a pony.
14. Hike with a Llama
If goats aren’t your thing, how about llamas? Paragon Guides offers one of the most unique things to do in Vail with their Take a Llama to Lunch Tours.
If you’re visiting Vail in the summer, you can book a private hike and lunch with Paragon Guides and their llamas, who are perfect companions. After your hike, you’ll get a classic picnic to enjoy with your new friends.
15. Ride the Forest Flyer
The view from the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster, a part of Epic Discovery, is one of the best sights in Vail. Summer visitors can speed their way 3,400 feet around the mountain, getting thrills and chills as they take in the beautiful Vail scenery.
There you have it! The 15 best things to do in Vail. What’s your favorite Vail activity? Let us know in the comments!
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