VAIL
Ski & Snowboard Resort Review
At 7 miles wide with 5,000+ acres of terrain Vail, COLORADO , USA is the largest skiing and snowboarding resort in North America. On an average day there are only 2 skiers or snowboarders per acre increasing to 4 on a busy day!
Vail Ski and Snowboard Terrain
Vail has 3 distinct areas; the Front Side, the 7 Back Bowls and the Blue Sky Basin. They are all supported by an efficient fast lift system with on mountain maintenance second to none.
There are 127 skiing and snowboarding trails on the Front Side alone! Linked wide corduroy cruisers, long steep mogul runs and challenging tree skiing and snowboarding.
Vail Back Bowls
The 7 south facing Back Bowls at Vail span 6 miles wide and make up 1/3 of the resort. The Bowls suit mainly intermeadiate to advanced abilities on wide open powder and mogul fields of varying steepness with a few sections of good treed terrain.
Vail Blue Sky Basin
The challenging Blue Sky Basin, at Vail’s southern most tip, is 645 acres of backcountry style skiing and snowboarding in natural steep, fast, treed terrain. Some parts of the Basin are groomed for intermediates, but generally there are no specifically marked trails more just general suggested markers.
Advanced Skiing and Snowboarding
Vail is an advanced snowriders dream, the double black terrain around the Highline Chairlift on the Front Side will push even the best to their limits, the further left you go the steeper and more challenging the trails become.
In the Back Bowls the Forever Trail in Sun Down Bowl is renowned for it’s large moguls. Seldom, Never and O.S are great for powder turns. In China Bowl the gladed Shangri La Glade under Orient Express Lift is fantastic.
In Blue Ski Basin anything to the left hand side of the Skyline Express Lift is steep and fast.
Intermediate Skiing and Snowboarding
Intermediates can cruise the entire front side on carpet like trails, the Loinshead cruisers a particular highlight.
In the Back Bowls, China Bowl has an intermediate area, the Poppyfields, go there to experience powder skiing and snowboarding off piste.
The trails around the Game Creek Express Lift are great fun and good for giant GS turns. There are a couple of easier black diamond trails in the Game Creek area so you feel up to it have a go!
Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding
The Front side is perfect for beginners, unlike many other resorts beginners are not really limited to just one area, there are easy trails linking across the entire front side terrain.
Vail Ski and Snowboard School
No matter what level skier or snowboarder you are Vail is a great place to expand your skills by taking a class with a world class instructor from the Vail Ski and Snowboard School.
Vail Terrain Park and Halfpipe
The 4 terrain parks and superpipe are the training ground for some of America’s best athletes. Frequent competitions are held throughout the season including the Honda Session, the world’s most progressive snowboarding competition.
Other Activites at Vail
Of the slopes try horse riding, dog sledding, guided fly fishing, cross country skiing and open sleigh rides at the golf course as well as ice climbing on the frozen waterfalls.
Every evening Adventure Ridge, located at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, opens for ice skating, snow tubing, ski biking, laser tag and kids snow mobiling and trampolining. It is the perfect place for families to go and have fun and let the kids go crazy!
Shopping at Vail
There are 180 shops in the Vail Village varying from ski and snowboard equipment stores like Burton, Gart Sports, North Face, Christy Sports and Performance Sports to clothing, fur and children's fashion shops, gift shops and art galleries.
Small grocery and liquor stores are found in the Village, some deliver direct to your condominium door, the larger grocery stores are located in West Vail, a 5 minute bus ride down the road.
Vail Day Spas
Vail is home to many day spas, which after a few hard days on the slopes offer welcome relief for those aching muscles, have a long massage, facial or private steam room.
The Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa have more than 25 treatments as well as a 25,000 square foot athletic club and indoor climbing wall.
Vail Restaurants
In the evenings the night lights sparkle and the village comes alive with international guests searching for restaurants and bars.
There are 80 restuarnts in Vail with cuisine ranging from American, Italian, Chinese, South western, Japanese, Thai, Nepalese, seafood, grills, French, Mexican to fast food and takeaway!
The Wildflower restaurant is one of the best dining experiences in Vail, the menu is creative American made from the freshest meats and seafood and boasts an extensive international wine list.
Game Creek restaurant overlooks the village at 2,000 feet, catch the Eagle Bahn Gondola up, then it is just a short snowcat ride to the restaurant where guests enjoy a multi course food and wine experience and beautiful views down into the Village.
Located slope side, Cucina Rustica is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, lunch is a buffet while dinner is an authentic Tuscan grill.
The French influenced Larkspur, at the base of Golden Peak, has great value lunch options of soups, pizzas and sandwiches with the prices rising in the evenings for those wanting fine dining.
Billy's Island Grill has steaks and seafood and is comfortable, relaxed and affordable.
For a cheap meal on the run the Flying Burrito has awesome is a popular choice.
Vail Nightlife
The Village has weekly evening street concerts and live bands play regularly at the many bars and clubs.
The Tap Room attracts a large crowd, you can go upstairs to dance or stay downstairs and relax. The popular Vendetta's is where the locals go for a beer and pizza.
The Club in Vail Village late into the night with live music and 8150 hosts local and national live acts throughout the season. End the night at Art's Bar where you will find tasty late night snacks.
The Red Loin has a more relaxed atmosphere with old classic hits and acoustic guitars nights.
New for 2007/2008 at Vail
The Highline and Sourdough Chairlifts accessing China Bowl and Blue Sky Basin have both been replaced with new high speed quad chairlifts cutting the ride time in half for both lifts. The Little Eagle beginner Chairlift at Eagle's Nest has also been replaced with a new faster triple chairlift.
The Golden Peak Children's Center and Small World Play School Nursery in Vail Village has been remodelled and expanded to offer more activities and learning area for the 3-6 year old up and coming ski and snowboard champions!
More About Vail
Your Vail Ski & Snowboard Resort Reviews
Marco, Italy. Feb 2006 We went to see what all the fuss was about and my family and myself enjoyed it very much. We had 5 full days of skiing and I am still un sure if we skied all the pistes. Vail is extremely big and the village area although spread out has many many shops, restaurants and bars. Our hotel has direct access to the pistes and the food was not too bad. The prices were very competitive and although we live close to many top European Resorts we will return to Vail within the next few years.
Jon Steven, NY March 2006 I really enjoy vacationing in Vail. There can literary be thousands of people on the mountain and you can feel as though you are the only one. The terrain park and half pipe are a really high standard, you always see movies being filmed there. The back bowls are endless and whatever level you are you seem to be able to find a way down. The nightlife is booming, sometimes the last thing I feel like doing is getting up and snowboarding early in the morning after a night out! My advice to people planning a vacation at Vail is to spend at least 5 days there, it is so big it needs exploring properly. I've met people who have only spent a couple of days and haven't liked it much because they haven't had a chance to explore it properly. Also the on mountain food prices are pretty steep so be prepared!
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Snowfall |
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346
inches |
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Lifts |
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34 |
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Trails
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Terrain
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Halfpipe |
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1
super pipe |
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Terrain
Park |
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4 |
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Resort
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