While you can’t swoosh through pristine snow during Vail’s offseason, there are still plenty of great activities. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy shoulder season in Vail.
Sample the local flavors. Although Vail Village tends to take a break during the offseason, there are still several restaurants open year-round. To lure in foot traffic, many offer amazing discounts during the spring and summer months. Before you head out to a particular restaurant, call ahead or visit their website to make sure they are open and check for potential dining specials. In some instances, you can get up to 50% off specified menu options.
Go biking. While the popular bike path over Vail Pass is typically covered with snow during the early offseason, there are plenty of other great biking options. Gore Valley Trail offers a scenic, 12-mile paved recreation path that winds through the village on a mix of village streets, bike lanes and a dedicated path along Gore Creek. It’s a great way to get a little exercise and explore the town. For riders in search of a little more adventure, the path connects to the Eagle Valley Trail at the west end of town.
Take a day hike. Vail provides diverse hiking trails for people of every skill and activity level. Among the many paths, you will find sparkling lakes, stunning waterfalls and plenty of wildlife. You can get detailed trail maps at ticket offices, Welcome Centers and most hotels. If you’d like to hike for multiple days, the seven-day pass makes entry simple and cost-effective. Not up for a climb? Hop the gondola to the top of Vail Mountain for stunning views that stretch across the valley. Children 12 and under ride at no cost with an adult ticket purchase. One of the most popular off-season hikes is Hanging Lake in Glenwood Canyon, but there are plenty of other great options depending on your interests and available time.
Pamper yourself. Vail is well-known for having some of the best spas in the country. There are a variety of day spas offering massage, beauty and wellness therapies amid a stunning natural setting. Some of the most popular facilities include the Vail Mountain Lodge Spa, which shares the same building as Terra Bistro; and Spa Anjali in the Westin Riverfront Avon. During the less busy off-season, you can get great discounts on luxury spa treatments that would normally be priced at premium rates.
Hone your golf game. With stunning mountain backdrops, a gorgeous summer climate and a wide variety of courses, Vail is an ideal destination for golf. Situated at the base of the Gore Mountain Range, Vail Golf Club offers golfers a unique 18-hole, par 71 experience at over 8,000 feet of elevation. Eagle-Vail Golf Club and Beaver Creek Golf Club are other popular options. You can also make a 20- to 40-minute drive to Red Sky Ranch & Golf Club, The Club at Cordillera and Eagle Ranch Golf Club. Open to the public, Gypsum Creek Golf Course also offers 18 challenging holes and the longest golf season in all of Eagle County.
Get an adrenaline rush at Epic Discovery. From bungee trampolines to zip-lining canopy tours, Epic Discovery offers all sorts of exhilarating activities. Take an adventure course, tackle the Mountain Goat Climbing Tower or soar down snow-free tubing hills. For an absolutely epic experience, go for the Game Creek Aerial Adventure, a 2.5-hour course that includes an aerial bridge and seven zip lines that soar 2,700 feet above a beautiful mountain landscape. Epic Discovery doesn’t have age restrictions for their Little Eagle Zipline, but children must weigh 30 to 100 pounds.
Catch a live show. Once the city thaws, the calendar starts to fill up with live music performances. From June 20 through Aug. 4, the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater hosts the Bravo! Music Festival, which showcases world-renowned orchestras. You can also catch the Summer Bluegrass Series and the three-day Bonfire Block Party featuring three stages with live acts on the streets of downtown Eagle.
For more than three decades, American Ski Exchange has been a popular resource for individuals and families in need of first-rate ski rentals. In addition to the latest ski and snowboarding gear, our family-owned-and-operated shop offers discounted rates and convenient delivery services to help enrich your ski holiday in Vail Valley. To learn more, contact us today!
