We always recommend a chair lift ride from the base of the mountain to the top! Whether you choose a chair or a gondola, the views are spectacular the whole ride up. You can buy lift tickets at the base of the mountain. Our favorite thing to do is take the chair up and hike back down!

This was a happy surprise when we visited last fall! Vail Oktoberfest runs two weekends in September! Vail Village hosts the weekend of September 16-19, and is one of our favorite things we have done in Vail. Enjoy incredible food, great music, and awesome beer, of course! If you don't have a car, you can take the Eagle County Transit to get to Vail. "ECO Transit" as it is called, picks up at the Bear Lot within the gates of Beaver Creek, or at the Reception Center right by the main gate. Cost is $7 each way!

PS- get the blueberry strudel. You will thank me later!

When we say we have never had a breakfast like it, we mean it. The Little Diner is somewhere we visit multiple times on each visit, and once you go, it will be on your to do list every time you come back to the valley. Known for their dutch baby, fresh fruit pancakes, and just about everything else you can imagine, you will not have a bad thing here. Blueberry pancakes are a must, and a personal favorite is the breakfast sandwich. This place gets busy super fast, so go early, or look them up on google to join their virtual wait list!

If you look this trail up online, it looks really long. If you take the chair up, you can access this via Royal Elk Trail. Beaver Lake is stunning and provides reflective views of the Colorado wilderness. As with any hiking trail in the mountains, bring water, boost oxygen, and phone/camera :) Allow a decent amount of time for this trail, but trust us that the views are worth it!

Located at the base of the mountain, this is the hub for skiers and hikers! Lots of great restaurants, (one of our favorites is the Golden Eagle Inn- try the Elk Meatloaf!) shops, and fun activities for everyone. The fire pits turn on at night, and its a great place to grab a glass of wine or beer and relax by the fire as it starts to cool down for the evening. Lawn games are set up in the grassy area, and there is often live music in the evenings for everyone to enjoy!

The Vail Gondola is located in Lionshead Village (really close to the Little Diner!). This takes you way up the mountain to some incredible views, of which you can continue to hike via the extensive trail map, or can see some sites, and take the gondola back down. It is definitely worth it!

Located just South of the Beaver Creek gates, the White River runs through Avon and is located along the Riverfront Village. It's a great easy walking trail with beautiful views. A nice relaxing stroll with a cup of coffee for an early morning!

Food- Beaver Creek

Golden Eagle Inn- Lunch/Dinner

C-Bar- Drinks, lunch after hiking/chair ride

Citrea- Dinner

Ticino- Casual dinner spot in Avon, amazing homemade Italian food.

Food- Vail

La Tour Restaurant- French Dinner

Tavern on the Square- Located in the Arrabelle

Red Lion- Pub food, great beer, great for post-hike.

Vail Brewing

Alpenrose Vail- Great German Food!

Vail Farmers Market- a personal favorite of ours! Incredible local vendors, delicious food, and talented artists. We have bought lots of art from the farmers market as well as tons of yummy treats. Highly recommend for a stroll on Sunday!