Tucked away in the Colorado mountains just two hours from Denver is the not-so-hidden gem of Vail. The town may be young (founded in 1966) but it already has a rich history. Created by veterans of the 10th Mountain Division, it’s no surprise that Vail has become a ski mecca. Its Tyrolean-style architecture transports visitors to an Americanized Bavaria. Vail’s luxury comes with a hefty price tag. If you’re anything like me, just tell yourself you saved money by not booking a flight to Germany. Visiting in the off-season makes Vail more budget-friendly, but what is there to do when the slopes are closed? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
Two Arrows Coffee and Bar
Listen, I know everyone raves about the hot chocolate from The Four Seasons, but I just couldn’t get myself to cough up $24 per cup. If you’re in the same boat but still want a cozy beverage, check out Two Arrows Coffee and Bar. We enjoyed comforting seasonal lattes flavored with maple, cinnamon, and pumpkin. The atmosphere was quite lovely and the staff were kind. I can imagine it’d be equally enjoyable in the evenings when it switches over from beans to booze. Make sure to check out their event page for trivia, dancing, and more!
Gore Creek Path
Feeling a bit tired, we didn’t brave a hike up any of the surrounding mountains. We opted instead to walk the 1.8 mile Gore Creek Path. This path winds its way around town along the stream. It’s completely paved, allowing it to be quite accessible, but you’ll want to keep an eye out for bikers. There are some spots where you can get down to the stream if you’d like to splash around in the warmer months, and I particularly liked crossing the covered bridges.
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
On the western side of the Gore Creek Path, you’ll bump into the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. They have workshops, a small museum, and relaxing, winding paths through the flora. At an altitude of over 8,200 feet, this is the highest botanical garden in the whole country. You can see plants from alpine regions across the globe, and the informational placards were quite handy. It was very cool to see the country of origin of each species. As we were visiting in October, there wasn’t much in bloom, but it was still lovely. Photos of the garden in spring and summer are stunning. It’s not very large, so you can be in and out in under an hour. Donations are appreciated, but there is no admission fee to visit the Betty Ford Alpine Garden. You can pay for various programs, tours, or snowshoe rentals (winter).
Vail Village and Lionshead Village
With every turn of the corner, Vail Village greets you with quaint charm. You could simply spend a day walking around and popping into all of the shops. I’d especially recommend Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory…because chocolate. Most of the town is designed around pedestrian streets that don’t allow cars. Vail is very family-friendly, with several playgrounds and green spaces for kids to run around at. Make sure you head to the west side of town to see Lionshead Village for additional stunning architecture, including some stand-out clocks. If you want to get a good view of town, there are scenic gondola rides during the peak months. Otherwise, consider simply hiking up the side of the mountain. Strawberry Lane Trail and Berrypicker Trail are both popular and start from town.
Alpenrose
No soup for you! Just kidding, but you will have to pay $18 for it. Alpenrose is a German-Austrian restaurant that has been a town staple since the ‘70s. In such a winter-oriented town, finding a vegetarian soup proved harder than I thought. My searches kept circling back to the great reviews for Alpenrose’s gazpacho. I’ve never had cold soup before, and with the price, I was a bit apprehensive. Nevertheless, the soup was tantalizing and well flavored. Note: this may only be a seasonal offering as I am not seeing it on their current menu. If our budget permitted, I would’ve had a whole meal here as the ambience was amazing. From the uniforms to the decor, you truly feel like you’ve been transported to the Alps. There is indoor and outdoor seating as well as a fancy, private gondola you can reserve.
Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame
The Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame was one of my favorite things we did all day. It’s completely free and open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Prior to visiting Vail, we didn’t know much about the town’s history. This museum has a great film and exhibit that tells about the 10th Mountain Division WWII soldiers. The infantry trained on skis in the surrounding mountains. After the war, Vail was founded by veterans of the division. The Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame may be small, but it’s got plenty of information. Another exhibit we enjoyed showed the way snowsport fashions have changed over the past century. This also included Olympic uniforms. You probably won’t need more than an hour here, but I highly recommend stopping by.
The George
Just as we were about to head back to our car, we happened upon The George. This watering hole is not your uncle’s local dive bar. Located in the basement of Vail’s Mountain Haus hotel, it’s surprisingly laid back compared to the rest of the town, but still quite hip with memorabilia covering the walls. What lured us in was the happy hour, unsurprisingly. We got a Red Bull slushie and a hot cider spiked with rum for just $7 each. Both were so delicious that it took some self-control not to stay for more. Currently, The George serves happy hour from 4–7 pm, but make sure to double check before you go.
Additional Logistics
Because we were visiting in the off-season, we were able to park for free at the Vail Transport Center. Vail is extremely walkable, but if you’d like, there are free buses. You can find their schedule HERE. If you’re wondering where we stayed in Vail, we didn’t. Though there are some more budget-friendly options near the village, we stayed in Dillon just 30 minutes away. Our day in Vail was part of a five-day Colorado trip. We opted to stay in Dillon and simply do day trips. Make sure to check out our 24-hour off-season itineraries for both Breckenridge and Aspen!
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