Vail Ski Resort Guide
Introduction
The traffic-free village which meanders along the slopes is mostly attractive, with smart hotels, shops and restaurants. It does have the most expensive lift tickets in the US if you buy in resort, but bargains are to be had by buying in advance online or through a tour operator.
There's a good choice of skiing, from the conventional pistes on the front face, to the big, open Back Bowls, to the rough and tumble of the ungroomed Blue Sky Basin.
The purchases green energy credits against the conventional power it uses for all the lifts and has some solar panels on mountain restaurants and hybrid low-pollution buses.
Mountain facts
Where in the world?
Hit the slopes
Vail's newest attraction is Blue Sky Basin, a rugged, wooded area a 10km (6-mile) ski from the village which offers the adventurous feel of out-of-bounds slopes within the safety of the resort. The huge open Back Bowls enable all levels to get to grips with powder skiing while the pistes at the front snake through the trees with views over the Vail Valley.
Vail ski resort has excellent beginner slopes, although they can get crowded. There is endless skiing for all levels along with hidden fun for experts such as narrow, tree-rooty Hairbag Alley and the Minturn Mile, an off-piste run much longer than that starting in the Back Bowls and thundering down a creek to the town of Minturn and its lively saloon.
Four terrain parks and a superpipe add to the fun for snowboarders. Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin are included on the same lift pass.
Beyond the slopes
You can visit other resort towns such as Breckenridge and Aspen on a day trip.
Family fun
Retail therapy
Après ski
In Vail Village the Red Lion and Tap Room (both Bridge Street) are busy from early until late. Sanctuary, above the Tap Room, and FuBar and Bridge, all Bridge Street, are rated for dance music. 8150, 143 East Meadow Drive, has live music while The Club, Seibert Circle, has wacky acoustic performers. Mickey's piano bar, Lodge at Vail, 174 East Gore Creek Drive, and the bar at Bully Ranch, Sonnenalp, 20 Vail Road, are less frenetic.
Eating out
Getting around
Splashing out
Accommodation
Luxury
The Arrabelle at Vail SquareThis slopeside retreat offers luxury accommodation and it's opening marked the stylish rebirth of the Lionshead area.
675 Lionshead Place
Tel: (970) 477 3796 or 1 866 662 7625.
Website: www.arrabelle.rockresorts.com
Moderate
Evergreen LodgeRoomy, pleasant place between Vail Village and Lionshead, with an outdoor pool and sports bar.
250 South Frontage Road
Tel: (970) 476 7810.
Website: www.evergreenvail.com
Getting there
Distances to resort: 20km (12 miles); 190km (119 miles).
Driving times: 15 minutes; 2 hours 30 minutes.
Website
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