Vail Ski Resort

On one hand, it's expensive, there can be long lines, and you can't see everything in one day. On the other hand, it's endlessly entertaining.

And most who visit won't forget how much fun it is. For many skiiers and snowboarders, it's a dream destination. Here's why…

The skiing area is seven miles wide and made up of three sections: Front Side, Back Side, and Blue Sky Basin. Within these areas are seven bowls, three terrain parks, and over 5,200 acres of freeride terrain.

According to their website, on an average day, there are only 2 skiers per acre! Sort of takes the bite out of that lift line…

Some more stats: they get 346 inches of snow per year, has 193 trails, and grooms 1,500 acres daily.

If it's your first visit, we recommend staying overnight--at least one night, if not two.

When we went, we made it a day trip from Colorado Springs. We were new to snowboarding and didn't get as much riding in as we'd hoped.


We were a little overwhelmed with all the terrain to cover and spent much of our time getting back to Blue Sky Basin.

But, the views alone are worth the price of admission. Spectacular mountain vistas abound, and we had just as much fun sipping hot cocoa at the mountain-top lodge as we did cruising down the back bowls.

Ask a ski instructor or staff person for directions and/or an itinerary to maximize your time on the mountain. They'll be able to direct you around the 32 lifts that can get you to your ideal skiing/riding runs.

While Vail is definitely more expensive than most Colorado ski resorts at $97/day, you'll find you get what you pay for.

Walk through the famous Vail Village with its heated sidewalks and hundreds of luxury boutiques. Or visit one of dozens of nightclubs, from piano bars to dance clubs.

Getting there: From Colorado Springs, go north on I-25 north to Denver 52 miles, merge on to CO-470 west 26 miles, to I-70 west 89 miles, to Exit 176. Watch for the signs.

Lift Tickets: 800-842-8062
Resort Info: 970-476-9090

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