How to spend a weekend in Vail, Colorado

Colorado is one of my favorite states, so much so that we met with a realtor here when we were trying to figure out where to move after LA. A little piece of my heart lives in Aspen Telluride, Breckinridge and even Denver, but I also adore Vail. Modeled after Switzerland’s Zermatt, Vail Village is nestled into the Colorado Rockies and looks like a Swiss dream. With a pedestrian cobblestone main street and flowers hanging off Bavarian style balconies, you could easily mistake your geographic location for somewhere in Europe. I’ve been to Vail a couple of times in the summer and winter, but this was my first time during the fall. We loved it so much that we’ve talked about going back around this time next year!

When to visit Vail, Colorado for leaf peeping

We arrived to Vail on September 23rd, and the leaves were certainly changing! The hues were a beautiful contrast between green, yellow and red. If I could guess, I’d say peak time would be another 7 days from that point. It’s so hard to pinpoint the peak time for leaves, but I was really happy that a business trip to Denver was scheduled for the 22nd, allowing the entire family to make an adventure out of it as we headed to the mountains afterward! 

How to get to Vail, Colorado

To get to Vail, we flew direct from Little Rock into Denver on United Airlines. We then rented a car (you’ll need to board a shuttle to get to the car rental stop). The drive is then two hours from Denver International to Vail. Be warned that the drive can be hit or miss as there are quite a lot of wrecks that happen on I-70. We got in a horrible traffic jam about 20 minutes away from Vail and sat in a stand-still for almost two hours. So close yet so far! The drive from Vail back to DEN was much less eventful as it took two hours on the dot to arrive at the rental car return. 

Where to stay in Vail, Colorado

I cannot recommend where we stayed highly enough! Definitely check out Riverfront Lodge by East West Hospitality, specifically our exact unit, for your stay in the Vail/Beaver Creek area. Its location is actually closer to Beaver Creek resort, but we didn’t mind driving the less than 15 minutes to Vail Village every day. If we had more time, I would have loved to see more of Beaver Creek! From check-in to the beautiful interiors to the view to the location, I simply cannot love this place more. Writing about it right now makes me want to be back there…and go real estate shopping while I’m at it!

Our unit had three bedrooms and two bathrooms which made for ample space with a toddler! Nora had her own room making for uninterrupted sleep for her and some relaxation time for mom and dad. We’re pretty used to staying in one hotel room when we travel making for very early nights and whispered conversations ha! This was definitely a nice perk to have so much room. When you stay here, you get complimentary access to all of the Westin’s amenities right next door including outdoor pool, hot tubs, fitness facilities, fire pit, ski valet and complimentary shuttle service to Beaver Creek and Vail. There’s also the best biking path directly below the property that runs next to the creek – perfect for early morning walks or evening strolls.

Where to eat in Vail, Colorado

Gorsuch Ski Cafe:

So nice we visited twice…in the same day! Seriously. Whoever came up with this café meets rental gear meets chic retail meets children’s store is GENIUS. The coffee is strong, the chocolate croissants are moist (yeah I said it), the coloring tables are ready and the people are soooo friendly. 

Big Bear Bistro:

After a long drive and many traffic jams later, we came into Vail HANGRY. We immediately went to Big Bear Bistro for a sandwich, and it didn’t disappoint. They had bananas and apples for Nora (she’s obsessed at the moment), and amazing deli sandwiches for mom and dad. You can also order take away and head to Pirate Ship Park next door like we did!

El Segundo:

If you can snag a seat on the patio, you’re winning. We came here for lunch after a long hike and were seated in the back next to a big window. No complaints. The taco bowl was delicious and Nora loved her mac n’ cheese. This place is high energy, fun and has an extensive tequila menu if you’re into that!

Sweet Basil:

This is a trendy spot and one of Vail’s most beloved restaurants. It’s been a must-eat since 1977 when its doors opened. It’s creative, modern and includes an All American Double Cheeseburger that’s to-die-for.

Mountain Standard:

Owned by the same people who created Sweet Basil, this relaxed and rustic spot prepares the majority of its menu by most primal cooking method: over an open and live wood fire.

The Red Lion:

If it’s Saturday in Vail and you’re a football fan, v enture here and nowhere else. The beer is cold, the patio is poppin’ and you can’t miss it in the very center of Vail Village. It’s super casual with live music and sports – what more could you want in life?

Vendettas:

I’m sad we didn’t get to actually eat here, but we passed it many times with mouths drooling. If you’re hungry for pizza, apparently this is THE spot.

Yeti’s Grind:

This coffee shop is open early which is exactly what you need when you travel west with a toddler! This spot also has a fun turf out front where kids can let out some energy. Win-win!

Fuzzywig’s Candy Factory:

This candy shop was right next to where we ate lunch at El Segundo, so we had to stop in. It has every candy imaginable. Cue Alex shouting, “Get out! They have Mars Bars!” Nora loved our time in here since it has a plethora of stuffed animals, too! 

What to do in Vail, Colorado

Walk the villages:

Vail is made up of two villages, Vail Village and Lionshead. They’re right next to one another and connected by Gore Creek Path which takes about 15 minutes to walk. The shuttle system in the area is amazing so if you aren’t up to walk, take the free shuttle that connects them. Both villages have tons of restaurants and shopping options, but since we weren’t in Vail too long, we focused our time in Vail Village.

Ride the gondolas:

Both villages have their own gondola systems that take passengers 10,000 ft up the mountain. Gondola One is in Vail Village while Eagle Bahn leaves from Lionshead. Once up top, there’s more to do from the Eagle Bahn Gondola with Epic Discovery from adventure courses, tubing hills, a bungee trampoline, climbing wall, zipline and plenty of hiking opportunities plus lots of eateries.

Pirate Ship Park:

We loved this playground in the shape of a pirate ship! Nora got in the swing, slide down the slide and loved every second of getting energy out after that long car ride! It’s conveniently located in the center of Vail Village.

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens:

While we didn’t actually make it here because timing didn’t permit, it was on my list! I’ve heard amazing things about the alpine botanical gardens and playground for kids. There’s also a Children’s Garden and daily scavenger hunts. 

Farmers Market:

This market takes place every Sunday and it’s EVERYTHING! We weren’t able to make it this time because we had to leave very early for the airport, but I went two years ago in the summer. The vendors range from food trucks to farmers to jewelry and beyond! Meandering through the stalls is the perfect way to spend a Sunday. 

Hike:

If you don’t experience the great outdoors around Vail, what are you even doing here?! I was ecstatic to finally visit in the fall and see the leaves change color. It was truly mother nature at her finest! During our short stay, we were still able to hike Booth Falls Trail which is a 4.5 mile out-and-back hike with 3,000 ft of elevation gain. With Nora on Alex’s back and all the gear on mine, it was a hefty climb! Other good trails I wanted to check out are Shrine Ridge, Berry Picker Trail and Lost Lake Trail. 

Shop:

There are SO many cute shops around town. I was smitten over some cute ski gear in Gorsuch Ski Cafe but didn’t buy anything. I found the children’s store Skipper & Scout when they posted on my Instagram but sadly didn’t have time to pop in. Next time for sure!

If you have any more suggestions in the Vail area, by all means, please add in the comments section!