Overview

Vail is located in Eagle County, Colorado. The gold rush brought miners to Vail in the late 19^th century to displace the original inhabitants of the area, which were the Ute Indians. The area stayed small until 1940 when a highway, which connected Vail to Denver, Colorado, was completed. Established in 1966, the town is famous for having the 2^nd largest single ski mountain in North America and other winter sports in addition to being a year round destination for outdoor activities. Off mountain, Vail offers an exciting array of dining, shopping, and nightlife.

Activities & Attractions

Skiing is the biggest draw for tourists because Vail offers schools with some of the best ski instruction in the country. You can get one day of ski instruction for about $150 per person, and you can take the instruction in a group of up to six people, which is ideal for a family vacation.

Vail provides perfect weather for backcountry camping, hiking, and golfing in both summer and winter for small groups and families. Vail offers mountain bike camps for kids, festivals, fly fishing, and dozens of activates for its visitors. The Vail's botanical garden, the Betty Ford Alpine Garden, and Booth Lake are quite popular among the tourists. If you are a film buff, then you shouldn't miss the Vail Film Festival which makes the beautiful town of Vail come alive with cinematographic life.

Lodging

Among the ski resorts and fine hotels available in Vail, you can also choose to stay in a cozy bed & breakfast inn or an economy condo accommodation for about $85 a night. A variety of mountain log cabin accommodations as well as yurts, for those who enjoy the backcountry, skiing, and hiking experience are available in Vail. Yurts are like tents, but have wooden lattice structures. They are domed and self-supporting, and were used by Eastern nomads for centuries. Hiking and skiing through day and taking shelter in a yurt is an inexpensive way to enjoy the snow country and the snow sports Vail has to offer.

Transportation

The Denver International Airport serves the air, with buses and shuttles running from the airport to sites and hotels within Vail. Limousines, taxis, coach services, and private van services are available in Vail and leading to other nearby areas like Aspen. The public transportation in Vail consists of buses that makes dozens of runs per day throughout the town, many with ski racks outside to avoid large items on the bus.