Vail is our favorite place in Colorado. There is so much to do for everyone - check out our favorites below!

Chill in town:

(1) The Gore Creek Trail (along the water) takes you all throughout Vail. Stop by Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and the Amphitheater, where we’ve seen many concerts. We got engaged on the bridge across the creek right behind the Amp!

(2) Shop till you drop (drink a lot of water with electrolytes so that you don’t actually drop) in Vail Village and Lionshead Village. Get a coffee or spiked hot beverage at Two Arrows cafe.

(3) The Vail Farmers Market will be on Sunday from 9:30am-3pm right in the heart of the village on E Meadow Dr.

For the adventurous souls:

- This is PEAK leaf peeping season. The aspen trees should all be turning, so take Gondola One (located in Vail Village) up the mountain.

- You can hike off the top of the gondola, or take the Berrypicker Trail up. Check out the Holy Cross Overlook and The 10th lodge up there.

IMPORTANT:

Vail is more than 8,000 feet above sea level. That means there is less oxygen to breathe. You will get tired more easily and alcohol will hit you faster. Drink 2 liters of water with electrolytes a day proactively (rather than when you feel thirsty) and walk slowly.

Relax:

Check out the spa at Gravity Haus (they offer a $50 day pass if you’re not staying there) or The Sebastian (which also has a year-round pool / hot tub).

Casual dining:

(1) The Little Diner - casual diner vibes for breakfast and cheaper than most spots in Vail

(2) Avanti - casual food / drink hall off the side of the mountain

Less casual dining:

(1) Mountain Standard - the first restaurant we ever ate at in Vail when we visited in January 2022 before moving to Denver; wood-fired grill with great steak

(2) Sweet Basil - Mountain Standard’s sister restaurant, more experimental American

(3) Alpenrose - Gabby’s favorite restaurant in Vail - Bavarian, fondue, schnitzel

(4) Chasing Rabbits - cocktail bar (The Library), Mediterranean restaurant, and arcade-style club (Rabbit Hole) - the whole facility is Alice in Wonderland themed but not kitschy

(5) Matsuhisa - sushi / Japanese

(6) Brunch buffet at Ludwig’s in The Sonnenalp Hotel - adorable Bavarian style hotel where we stayed the night we got engaged - this buffet will change your life (check it out Saturday AM since we are serving you breakfast at The Sebastian on Sunday!)

(7) Root & Flower - charming wine bar

Getting around:

Vail Village is super walkable - that’s a huge reason why we chose it as the homebase for our special weekend. Cars are not allowed in most places in the village itself, but there is a free “intown” bus that takes you between Lionshead Village, Vail Village, and West Vail. The stops are super well-marked and it runs frequently. You can find the live schedule on Google Maps.