Explore Vail in 1 Day

Vail is an adorable little town at the base of a mountain in Colorado. It has a European feel to it and even though you are smack in the middle of the U.S. its secluded location makes you feel like you have traveled to another country.

It is a must-see bucket list destination, and it comes at a cost! Vail is just as expensive as it is beautiful. It is THE MOST expensive ski destination in all of North America.

Lift tickets: For the day pass is $199 & half day is $170. However, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy if you choose to pass on skiing/snowboarding.

The Remedy (located at the Four Seasons) offers one of the best hot chocolates I’ve ever had. Their dining experience also comes with a view and even gives you access to their outdoor balcony that overlooks the town.

There are many different food options in town. I recommend just taking a stroll and dining wherever looks good.

Where to stay: Here are 2 options for you. If you are looking for luxury and price isn’t an issue, I recommend staying at the Four Seasons. They are not only conveniently located within walking distance from the lift they also have one of the best views in town. Another less expensive option is staying in Denver and renting a car to drive to Vail for a day.

We were in Colorado for work and had to stay in Denver for meetings we had, so we chose to extend our trip for 1 day so that we could see Vail. We rented a car & made the 2 hour drive. Parking for 4-15 hours was $30 in a parking structure.

When to go: Their high season is from December to March and this is when you’ll find the most crowds, but we went in February and it wasn’t too packed. The weather conditions were great for snow activities.

We spent the day in Vail and stopped by the Ice Castles on our way back to Denver. That’s also a must-see if you are in the area. Colorado has several snow towns each with something different to offer and all worth seeing. With 2 hr flights flying in & out of Denver for pretty cheap, a trip to Colorado is extremely easy and can be done over a weekend getaway.

Pro tip: Rent a car. There is soo much to see in Colorado. Depending on how much time you have you can visit several snow towns while you are there.