Vail in the Winter
If you haven’t seen one of my travel posts on Vail before, then you are in for a treat! Vail is our happy place! And Vail in the winter is fabulous! With so many activities for the entire family, it is a great place to go for the holidays, spring break or just a long weekend. Assuming you are close by!
Nestled in the Rocky Mountains I consider Vail to be the jewel of Colorado. With a European flare, the town of Vail itself, is amazing! With upscale shops and restaurants, you could get lost along the paver streets and spend way too much money! And don’t worry about needing a car while you are there. Vail has an extensive FREE bus shuttle system. So when we go, we park the car and don’t see it again until we are ready to leave. There are also extensive groomed trails for walking in snow boots. I wouldn’t suggest trying fancy shoes on the snow packed trails, but you can easily maneuver from Lionshead to Center Village in snow or hiking boots.
Where to Stay
Our favorite place to stay is the Sonnenalp Hotel. It has an ideal location in center village and is right on the bus route. A short walk to the gondola and you are ready to go! They also have an on-site full service spa, ski valet, heated pool/hot tub, excellent restaurants and so much more. We requested an early check in on this particular trip and we were upgraded FOR FREE to the Conifer Suite. And it was amazing! And if you are a returning guest, you get a special treat your first day back. The other places we would suggest staying if the Sonnenalp is more than you want to spend would be The Christiania Hotel. Although the hotel rooms are somewhat dated, I have never been to a cleaner hotel. And the location of the hotel is ideal! There is also the Antlers in Lionshead Village. This is located on the west side of Vail. It has an assortment of condos for you to choose from should you want a full kitchen during your visit. Check out Hotels.com for the best rates. That is where I make all my hotel reservations!
Things to Do!
Obviously, there are tons of activities! But more than the spa, skiing and shopping, there are activities for all ages! Have you ever ridden a fat tire bike? Well guess what? They are pretty cool! Rent one at the Nordic Center in Vail and ride the specially groomed paths and have a blast! You can also cross country ski, snowshoe or hike! To use the Nordic Center facilities there is a fee, however, they have an extensive area for you to wander and enjoy! And most hotels provide shuttle service to and from the center!
Vail mountain is also a great place to explore whether you are a ski bunny or not! You can hike or snowshoe to the top and take the gondola down for FREE, or you can purchase a “scenic” pass and enjoy the mountain top restaurant and views! There is also Adventure Ridge which has tubing, bike skiing and more! Make a night of it and grab dinner at the mountain top restaurant, Bistro Fourteen! And if you want to ride to the mountain top for FREE, wait until 3:30 p.m. and after Tuesday through Saturday. At the time of this post those were the free gondola times for the Lionshead gondola only, but the end of the day is the prettiest and how can you beat free?
2020/21 update: with all the Covid restrictions please be sure to check on making reservations for the lift. Vail has been very strict with their skiing protocol.
Even More Things to Do!
Adding to the fun in Vail, there are TWO ice skating rinks. One is located in Lionshead and the other is in Center Village. There is also a cinema and bowling alley! So if the weather outside is frightful, there are plenty of indoor activities to choose from!
Another winter activity and what I feel is the most beautiful is the walking path along Gore Creek. This scenic trail is absolutely stunning! The Gore Creek runs east to west and flows directly through town. A walking path was constructed adjacent to the creek. No matter the time of year, you can walk this path and enjoy the sounds of this beautiful creek!
In Conclusion
Whether you decide to visit in the summer, winter or anytime of year, Vail Village is an amazing place to go! A definite bucket list destination!
Check out my post on 5 FREE activities to do in Vail during the summer season! Or take a look at Vail in the off season!
Looking just for a hotel? Hotels.com is the only website I use and is a great way to save money. CLICK HERE to save money!
More importantly, thank you for spending your time here at Colorado Kelly! I love having you here and appreciate everyone that comes to visit and look forward to having you come back soon!
*This post may contain affiliate links! That means, I may get a commission at no additional cost to you! I do not recommend any products/services that I don’t use and love myself!
Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash
Gemma
What great tips! Vail is so beautiful and that hotel sounds lovely.
Kelly
It is a bucket list place to go! =)