Vail Ski Vacation & Activities

As the most visited and perennially top-ranked ski resort in North America it’s easy to think of Vail - especially in the winter months - as a place to just ski, ski, ski … and then ski some more.

And that’s fine if that’s your sole focus in life because the rebuilt Tivoli Lodge at Vail is less than a block from Vail’s main access point, the Vista Bahn chairlift, and an only slightly longer walk or short bus ride to Golden Peak and the Riva Bahn chairlift.

But there is so much more to Vail than just skiing. Even though the slopes and the nearly 30 feet of snow that fall on them each year will always be the primary focus, virtually every month of the year the calendar is fairly bursting with a diverse and lively array of cultural and recreational offerings.

World-Class Festivals & Events

From world-class sporting events such as the annual World Cup ski races featuring the likes of Bode Miller and gold medalist Ted Ligety to critically acclaimed cultural festivals such as the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival (featuring the New York Philharmonic) and the Vail International Dance Festival, the Vail Valley offers a well-rounded and impressive spectrum of major festivals and events.

Both the dance festival and Bravo! occur during the summer months at the gorgeous outdoor Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, just a fairly short but beautiful walk along Gore Creek or a free bus ride away from the Tivoli. In the winter, top national theater groups and music acts take to the stage of the state-of-the-art Vilar Center for the Arts in nearby Beaver Creek.

Vail Summer Activities

In the summer, when temperatures are soaring around the rest of the nation but comfortably in the mid-70s at Vail’s 8,250-foot elevation, there are almost too many things to do. Locals who come to ski in the winter admit they wind up staying because of Vail’s sparkling summer weather.

Recreation options run the gamut from the highly intense (Jeeping, rafting, kayaking, downhill mountain biking, rock climbing, paragliding, riding the zip line at Piney Lake) to the still energizing but more relaxing (balloon rides, horseback riding, fishing, golf, hiking and tennis).

More Vail Events & Festivals

Vail, besides being blessed with numerous nationally and even internationally acclaimed restaurants, is also known as a culinary capital for other reasons, including the Vail Farmer’s Market on Sundays during the summer and the Taste of Vail festival in the spring.

Also in early spring, as the lifts are winding down (often with some of the best snow conditions and warmest skiing weather of the year), the Vail Film Festival draws the Hollywood set to an event that is growing in popularity and acclaim.

And toward the end of the summer, culminating on Labor Day weekend, the Vail Jazz Festival brings in top jazz acts to soothe the soul after a scintillating summer of sensational events, activities and guaranteed stellar weather.

But don’t take our word for it. Here are a few websites to get you started planning your year-round Vail vacation: