Below are some ideas on things to do if you are coming just for the weekend or if you plan to make more of a vacation out of this trip.
If you plan on spending a few extra days exploring the mountains of Colorado and all they have to offer, we would recommend coming in the week before our wedding as opposed to staying a few days after. After September 8th, the mountains enter into shoulder season and many activities and businesses start to shut down.
Vail Village has several fun boutiques to wander through. Some of our favorites include Gorsuch, Kemosabe, Grey Salt, and Perch. We also always find ourselves stopping into Vail Village Arts and the Gib Singleton Gallery.
It's easy to spend an afternoon window shopping and meandering through the village.
The Vail Farmers' Market and Art Show will be happening Sunday the 8th from 9:30am to 3:30pm in Vail Village.
It's hard to go wrong in Vail when it comes to dining.
Some of our favorite restaurants in Vail are The Red Lion, they have some of the best nachos in town, Sweet Basil for Italian, and Bully Ranch for a really good burger. If you're in the mood for Mexican food, Los Amigos is good (a fun fact: Dan's mom worked here for a winter after college) and Pazzo's Pizza is great for something casual. We also love Mountain Standard for upscale mountain American and a great view of Gore Creek!
Over our wedding weekend, Lionshead Village will be throwing an Oktoberfest celebration. There is programming all weekend, check the schedule for more details on how to enjoy beer and pretzels in Lionshead Village.
https://oktoberfestvail.com/oktoberfest-events/
Beaver Creek Village is a 15 minute drive from Vail and has plenty to offer. Beaver Creek Village is smaller than Vail and has much of the same quaint mountain town charm.
Some of our favorite shops to meander through are the Horton Fine Art Gallery, Karen's home decor, and Beaver Creek Sports.
Wandering around Beaver Creek Village is another great way to spend an afternoon.
Some of our favorite restaurants in Beaver Creek are The Dusty Boot for anything casual, Blue Moose Pizza, and The Golden Eagle for slightly elevated American. It is also really fun to sit on the patio of the Park Hyatt and have a cocktail and watch the mountain bikers and hikers come down the mountain at the end of the day.
During the summer months, the ski mountains of Vail and Beaver Creek are open for hiking and mountain biking adventures. Our favorite thing to do is to hike up the mountain and then ride the lift or gondola down (they let you ride down for free!). If you would rather mountain bike, you can rent mountain bikes from Vail or Beaver Creek directly.
Beaver Creek: https://www.beavercreek.com/explore-the-resort/activities/summer-activities/hiking.aspx
There are also several hikes in the area that are stunning. Click the link for more information: https://www.vail.gov/government/hikevail/trails/all-trails
You could spend your morning learning how to fly fish with a great guide from Gore Creek Fly Fisherman. We love catching rainbow trout and getting to spend time in nature when we are in Vail.
Gore Greek Fly Fisherman: https://www.gorecreekflyfisherman.com/
White Water Rafting
The water will likely be pretty low, but a nice float on the river (or a white water hike, as we like to call it) could be a lovely way to spend part of your day.
There are three outfitters in the area:
Lakota Guides: https://lakotaguides.com/
Sage Mountain Adventures: https://sageoutdooradventures.com/rafting/
Timberline Tours: https://timberlinetours.com/
Jeep, RZR, & Horseback Riding Tours
Each of the outfitters listed above also offers Jeep, RZR, and Horseback riding adventures if that is more your speed.
Ziplining
There is a ziplining course just 30 minutes outside of Vail in Wolcott, CO. This is a great way to take in some of the stunning Colorado Mountain Scenery.
Zip Adventures: https://zipadventures.com/