Vacation Ideas for Vail, Colorado

Whether you are an adventure seeker, concertgoer, film connoisseur or aspiring sommelier, Vail boasts a full spectrum of wonderful ways to spend your vacation. Explore our Events Calendar for a list of upcoming happenings, and contact us to help plan your activities and pre-purchase lift tickets.

More Summer Activities  •  More Winter Activities

You can build a vacation around the special events going on in Vail virtually any time of year. From the Hot Summer Nights free concert series to the orchestral offerings of the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, summers are filled with the sounds of music festivals. The mild temperatures and incredible Rocky Mountain scenery draws sports pros and amateurs alike to athletic events such as the TEVA Summer Mountain Games.

With the advent of cooler weather come Vail's fall festivals. Oktoberfest brings a taste of Bavaria to Lionshead and Vail Village, with lederhosen, alpenhorns, music, food and, of course, beer. For a bigger slice of the culinary arts, Vail Restaurant Month serves up four weeks of themed dining experiences each autumn. Wine and beer tastings, chef demonstrations, and family cooking experiences are just some of the delectable activities that take place.

The ski resort kicks off its winter season with Vail Snow Daze, a week that includes live concerts. Vail Family Holidaze continues the fun with holiday concerts, kids' activities and world-class ice skating shows. As the temperatures rise once again, the annual Vail Film Festival welcomes thousands of industry experts, filmmakers and cinema fans for several days of film screenings, discussions and parties. Spring Back to Vail marks the end of the ski season with a week of concerts and events including the World Pond Skimming Championships.

A day at Adventure Ridge begins with a scenic ride aboard the Eagle Bahn Gondola to the top of Vail Mountain. Summer fun at Adventure Ridge includes guided hikes, horseback rides and motor tours, plus lawn games, a slackline park and an 18-hole disc golf course. The Nature Discovery Center, located in an all-seasons yurt, offers an entertaining and educational look at the wonders of the natural world. Kids also enjoy tackling the climbing wall and rebound trampoline, while pony rides are available for ages 2 to 6.

In winter, Adventure Ridge transforms into a mountaintop snow park the size of a football stadium. Ski-season offerings include snowshoeing, ski bikes, kids' snowmobile track and a bungee trampoline. A multi-lane tubing hill sets the sliding to music and features long runs, a covered lift and hour-long sessions. Bistro Fourteen offers a delicious way to warm up for lunch or dinner, with appetizers, entrees, desserts and a kids' menu in a friendly, fast-casual restaurant setting.

A day at a real Western ranch is a unique vacation activity. Several ranches in the Vail Valley, such as 4 Eagle Ranch, offer a variety of experiences with options available for most any age or level of physical ability. Many of the activities, including horseback riding and Jeep, Hummer or ATV tours, can be enjoyed in summer or winter. Sleigh-ride dinners, Western BBQs and stable visits are one-of-a-kind and family-friendly vacation ideas for Vail.