| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
109 miles W. of Denver, 150 miles E. of Grand Junction Consistently ranked the country's most popular ski resort by skiers and ski magazines almost since its inception, Vail is the big one. It's hard to imagine a more celebrated spot to schuss. Off the slopes, Vail is an incredibly compact Tyrolean village, frequented by almost as many Europeans as Americans, a situation that lends its restaurants, lodgings, and trendy shops a more transatlantic feel than other Colorado resorts. But the size of the mountain and the difficulty and excitement of many of its trails are still what draw the faithful. Historically speaking, there is very little in the town's past to indicate that Vail would become the megadestination it has. Until U.S. 6 was built through Vail Pass in 1939, the only inhabitants were a handful of sheep ranchers. Dropping farther back into history, it's worth noting that the resort could never have been possible if it weren't for severe droughts in the 1850s and 1860s that resulted in numerous forest fires. The burnings created the wide-open ridges and back bowls that make skiers and snowboarders the world over quiver in their boots. It was only when veterans of the 10th Mountain Division, who trained during World War II at Camp Hale, 23 miles south of the valley, returned in the 1950s that the reality of skiing was realized. One of them, Peter Siebert (1924-2002), urged development of this mountain land in the White River National Forest, and through
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| History (Source: WCities) | Top | In the heart of the Rocky Mountains sits Vail, Colorado. Now a bustling winter wonderland filled with lavish chalets and world-class resorts, it is hard to imagine that this city was ever anything other than the country's top ski destination. However, Vail was once home to the Ute Native American tribe, who spent the summer months in the Vail Valley. Gold was discovered in the area in 1859, and soon miners and merchants came pouring in, hoping for a bonanza. By the end of the 19th century, the Ute Indians were displaced, and the land remained in the hands of ranchers and pioneers. Colorado was declared a U.S. territory two years later in 1861, and as the population grew, the inhabitants of fledgling mountain towns recognized the need for a more centralized authority. Local governments were created to protect property rights and maintain order in the towns, and after an 18-year battle, Colorado gained its statehood in 1876. The ski tradition has long been present in Colorado, and in the Vail area especially. The first trans-Alpine skiers were mail carriers who traveled to small frontier towns bringing news and letters from the outside world. By 1880, the state had upwards of 50 skiing mail carriers. These men would travel with only simple equipment, and trekked more than 40 miles at a time to reach their destinations. Soon they became folk-heroes of sorts, and some, like Al Johnson and Father Dryer, are still renowned today for their trekking abilities. The rich c
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| When To Go (Source: Fodors) | Top | Winter is by far the most crowded time in Vail, with the early spring seeing the highest number of visitors hoping to catch that blissful blend of thick powder and china-blue skies. Naturally, prices are highest then as well. Although summer is quickly gaining in popularity, the real deals can be had in the mud seasons—late autumn and late spring when the ski slopes are closed. Restaurants will often offer two-for-one entrées with a bottle of wine, and hotels run deeply cut rates. Traffic through the I-70 corridor moves at a good clip unless snows have stacked up truckers putting on chains on either side of Vail Pass. The pass itself is low, and stays below tree line, affording it some protection from drifting and blowing snow.
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There By Air Vail/Eagle County Airport ( http://snow.com/flyvail/ ) is a small hub located about 35 miles West of Vail. The Vail/Eagle County Airport has different schedule for winter and summer, with select major carriers that include: Continental ( +1 800 523 3273 / http://www.continental.com ) Delta ( +1 800 221 1212 / http://www.delta.com ) American Airlines ( +1 800 433 7300 / http://www.aa.com ) Northwest ( +1 800 225 2525 / http://www.nwa.com ) United Airlines ( +1 800 864 8331 / http://www.ual.com ) Taxi & Other Ground Transportation Vail Valley Transportation ( +1 877 829 8294 ) Airlink Shuttle ( +1 800 554 8245 ) Vail Valley Taxi ( +1 877 829 8294 / +1 970 476 8294 ) Vail Coach ( +1 877 554 7433 / http://www.vailcoach.com ) Colorado Mountain Express ( +1 800 525 6363/ +1 970 926 9800 / http://www.ridecme.com/ ) Vail Transportation Service ( +1 800 480 9104 / http://www.vailtransportation.com ) Denver International Airport ( DIA ) ( +1 303 342 2000 / http://www.flydenver.com/ ) is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. The Denver International Airport is located 110 miles East of Vail. Airline providers include: Frontier ( +1 800 432 1359 / http://www.frontierairlines.com ) Continental ( +1 800 523 3273 / http://www.continental.com ) jetBlue ( +1 800 538 2583 / http://www.jetblue.com ) US Airways ( +1 800 428 4322 / http://www.usairways.com ) Delt
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | Vail is an outdoor enthusiasts' dreamland. If you were to doze off and have visions of a place where skiing, fishing and hiking were daily priorities, you would have a picture of Vail in your head. The mountain village is absolutely overflowing with fresh air activities that will have you gleefully gasping for another breath. Skiing and Snowboarding During the winter months there is no comparison to the dry powder that the Ski gods bestow upon the Vail mountaintops. And for those months when the weather is frosty, there is no skier-friendly place you'd rather be than the Vail Valley. Normally towards the end of November and beginning of December, you'll start to see the lift lines forming as the mountains of the Vail Valley come alive with skiers and snowboarders carving down the slopes. The numerous ski resorts that surround the mountain town, such as the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort , begin to fill up during the snow season, and for good reason. Along with the fantastic slope conditions comes the ski contests and mountain competitions. The American Ski Classic takes place every March and turns the Vail mountains into celebrity slopes. Don't be surprised if you see such skiing legends as Billy Kid and Franz Klamer, or if you bump into some ski-enthused stars like Kelsey Grammer and Gloria Estefan. If you're a snowboarder who isn't really excited by "two-planking" festivities, then you should check out The Session , a snowboard competition and
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