"Vail, Colorado" a Vail Travel Page by John195123

Even though I hate to use the cliche 'nestled', that's what Vail is. For those of you who haven't visited Vail, Colorado, by all means, do so. Be prepared, however, for some steep prices. I have been to Vail a number of times, mainly to ski, but also in the summer to hike, bike, and the like. Vail's September and October costs are far below peak season prices. The weather is perfect, not too hot or cold, and the scenery, brilliant yellow aspen amidst greens of conifers, all under a Colorado-blue sky. Hiking is free, biking costs slightly more, and there are horses, ATV's, caves, rafting, four-wheeling, and whatever else you may want available around the Vail Valley region. Hotels are much cheaper right now than during peak season, my parents having paid only $300 for a normally $900/night room. You can stay in luxury, or you can stay fairly cheaply, and you can shop with the money you save on hotels.

Under the "Off The Beaten Path" section of tips, I've added a bunch of tips pertaining to skiing various parts of Vail. They are still somewhat under construction, but if you have questions, please let me know.

A great meeting point, Vail's Covered Bridge is often slippery in the winter, but still adds a sense of charm to the village. While it isn't the only way in, it's the most unique way in, and the way most people use to get to the slopes.

Frontage Road extends from one end of Vail (East Vail) to the other, often switching sides of the expressway (I-70). They don't clean it as well as I-70, so be careful of ice and snow. It the warmer months, it makes a great cycling road, with moderate traffic that is typically aware of cyclists. See the Off the Beaten Path tip on Cycling for more information.

Also, I've broken down the ski area and given an overview of each area- what to expect and where to go, also in the Off the Beaten Path section.