10 Things to Do in Vail Besides Skiing

This guest post is written by Vail local Gina Parrish of Make a Date of It, a website dedicated to creating date, travel, and gift ideas out of the things you already love so you can have more fun and stress less. Subscribe to their newsletter and follow them on social @makeadateofit.

When you think of Vail in winter, you probably think of skiing. After all, Vail has a reputation for being home to some of the best ski terrain in the world. 

However, here’s a secret the locals have been reluctant to tell you: that’s not all winter in Vail has to offer. 

As a veritable winter wonderland, Vail has no shortage of activities. From trekking the unbeaten path on snowshoes, to chucking snowballs at your loved ones, there is always something to do in Vail, even when skiing isn’t an option. 

We’ve made a list of 10 outdoor activities to try out while you are here. Which are you going to do first?

1. Snowshoe

Photo by Patrick Hendry

Get outdoors and enjoy Colorado’s local scenery on snowshoes. On mountain and off, there are plenty of trails to check out within the area. We suggest Booth Falls Trail in East Vail or heading over to Minturn’s Grouse Creek Trail. Dress in light protective layers and, if the sun is shining, don’t forget the sunglasses and sunscreen!

The Antlers at Vail offers a limited number of snowshoes for guests to use on a first-come-first-serve basis. Inquire at the front desk.

2. Walk

unsplash-logo Photo by Alexandra Avelar

If snowshoeing feels a bit too extreme, there are areas you can enjoy a walk without the need for snowshoes. Gore Valley Trail, the bike path that leads from East to West Vail, while for the most part unmaintained, tends to get packed down in winter. The scenic path follows Gore Creek and is enjoyable at any time of year. Wear snow boots with decent traction or crampons, then get walking and take in the fresh air.

3. Take a Scenic Drive

Photo by Alexandra Avelar

So long as the weather is nice (that is, it’s not snowing and the roads are dry), why not take a scenic drive and admire the beautiful mountain views? A day trip to Red Cliff or Leadville takes you along spectacular Battle Mountain Pass, a scenic byway sporting brilliant views and plenty of pull offs for photographs. 

4. Photography (+ Free Photo Scavenger Hunt!)

Time to pull out that camera on your phone and start taking photos! Vail not only has amazing nature views, but also spectacular art and architecture. Download our FREE Vail Photo Scavenger Hunt Challenge to print or use on your phone for inspiration.

5. Window Shop

Vail has two pedestrian villages full of shops and galleries to explore. Tour the galleries, observe the latest mountain trends, and people watch. The local retailers are always finding new ways to impress. 

6. Build a Snowman

No matter your age, you are never too old to play in the snow. Use items you find in nature, like pine cones and fallen branches, to craft the perfect snowman. Bonus points if it looks like you!

7. Have a Snowball Fight

Photo by Stepan Babanin

This one is not just for the kids, either. Snow has many possibilities–you can ski on it, step on it, build with it, and of course throw it at each other. Just be sure to use the soft stuff.

8. Fat Tire Biking

unsplash-logo Photo by Paul Esch-Laurent

Biking? In the winter? Yes, it’s a thing. Rent fat tire bikes from a nearby retailer and take to the bike paths for a day of extreme fun. Check out the Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance recommendations on what trails to ride and where to rent.

9. Local Beer Tasting

unsplash-logo Photo by Jonas Jacobsson

Colorado is known as a hub for the craft brewery scene, and Vail is no exception. Vail Brewing Company, 7 Hermits Brewing Company, and Bonfire Brewing all brew tasty suds in the Eagle River Valley. 

Want to do a tasting of your own? Local retailers like West Vail Liquor have a wide selection of local beers.

10. Learn the Local History

It is always fascinating to learn the history of places you visit, and Vail is no exception. Several years ago, for Vail’s 50th anniversary, Vail put out a video history series, perfect to watch before exploring the iconic town. As you tour the villages, see if you can recognize the old and the new parts of Vail.

Another great resource is the Colorado Ski Museum, which has online access to pieces from their collections, as well as their Hall of Fame.

Enjoy the Amenities

You can also take advantage of evenings in at the hotel. The Antlers at Vail has a vast DVD movie collection, as well as a great selection of board games. These are complimentary to guests of the hotel and would make for the perfect family fun night. 

Each Antlers at Vail residence also features a fully equipped kitchen. The Antlers offers a complimentary shuttle service to anywhere from East Vail to West Vail, including the local grocery stores. Try out a new recipe, like those in Ski Town Life, collected from ski town restaurants around the country.

Win a two-night getaway to Vail

Win a two-night getaway to the Antlers at Vail

Contest4

We’ve just announced our biggest social media contest yet! For your chance to win a two-night getaway to Vail “like” the Antlers at Vail’s Facebook page and then share your favorite ski, snowboard or mountain resort story or picture (or both) as a post on the Antlers at Vail’s Facebook wall. The post with the most likes at 9 am mst on March 14 will win a 2-night stay in a 1-bedroom condo at the Antlers at Vail valid between March 23-June 15, subject to availability.

A Hotel Bucking the Trend of Charging for “Extras”

As savvy travellers know, the advertised price of travel increases significantly with all of the fees that most hotels, except the Antlers at Vail, add on.

As savvy travelers know, the advertised price of travel increases significantly with all of the fees that most hotels, except the Antlers at Vail, add on.

In today’s travel environment, savvy travelers have come to expect annoying fees on top of whatever base price is advertised. Airlines tack on baggage fees, reservation change fees, movies, WiFi, upgrade fees for additional leg space, and more.  Rental cars?  Forget it!  Hotels charge for WiFi, parking, movie rentals, and many even add on resort fees. Well, not at the Antlers at Vail Condo Hotel… Our philosophy for the past 40 years has included exceeding expectations and not nickel and diming our guests. We do this in part by offering almost all amenities or “extras” at no additional cost. These free amenities include:

  • NO RESORT FEES!;
  • Free WiFi;
  • Free parking in our heated underground garage (1 car per condo);
  • A free Vail Athletic Club membership during your stay;
  • Free yoga classes twice a week;
  • A free shuttle to the grocery store to stock your full kitchen with groceries;
  • Free newspapers;
  • Free movies;
  • Free bike rentals in the summer;
  • Free snowshoe rentals in the winter;
  • Free GoPro camera rentals;
  • Free luggage storage (from year to year);
  • And, just added to the list, free late check-out on Sundays!

Add up the cost of what you would pay for all of these extras when you stay elsewhere, and WOW, what added value or savings you receive by staying with us! And, did I mention that we are pretty darn fun too! I hope you will make an Antlers condo hotel suite your home in Vail this summer. We look forward to sharing our home and community with you!

Do you want to read more about those annoying extra travel and hotel fees that you can avoid when staying at the Antlers at Vail Condominiums and Conference Center? Travel + Leisure and TIME Magazine just published recent articles on the subject.

Tell us below the most annoying travel fee you have ever been charged.

 

Post by: Liana, the Antlers’ marketing gal

Antlers at Vail Awarded TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

The Antlers is excited to share that we have been awarded TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence.

The Antlers is excited to share that we have been awarded TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence.

The Antlers at Vail is excited to share that we have received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.

To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

“TripAdvisor is delighted to celebrate the success of businesses around the globe, from Sydney to Chicago, Sao Paulo to Rome, which are consistently offering TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience,” said Alison Copus, Vice President of Marketing for TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award provides top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers.”

5 Reasons to Enjoy Vail’s Early Season Snow

Antlers at Vail’s Early Tracks Package offers excellent value on lodging, lift tickets

Enjoy early snow, great deals at the Antlers at Vail hotel
Photo by Jack Affleck

Vail, Colorado — June 30, 2011— The Antlers at Vail hotel’s new Early Tracks Package (November 18 – December 15, 2011) offers a four-night, four-day stay-and-ski deal with the fourth night free. The Antlers offers a variety of room sizes/prices starting at $599 per person for 4 people in a 2-bedroom condo – and the price includes four-day lift tickets for each person! Colorado skiers and boarders know that the early season brings great snow deals without the crowds. Need more convincing?

Top 5 Reasons Why Vail’s Early Snow Season Rocks

1. Be among the first to lay tracks on the pristine new snow (like in this video).

2. Enjoy early season deals on lift tickets, equipment rental and lodging.

3. Fewer crowds = shorter lift lines = more runs.

4. Preview the season’s latest ski equipment when it’s brand spankin’ new.

5. Enjoy the bragging rights that come with being one of the first to experience Vail Mountain!

Since 1972, the Antlers has offered a unique Vail lodging experience in a relaxed mountain setting. The Antlers Vail condominiums – named the ‘Green Business of the Year’ by the Vail Valley Partnership Success Awards – is also proud to be a Green Star rated business. With condominiums ranging from studio suites up to four bedrooms and plenty of space to spread out, each room at the Antlers offers all the comforts of home including fully-equipped kitchens, fireplaces, outdoor balconies, free Internet access and free parking in a heated indoor garage. The Antlers Vail is conveniently located in the Lionshead area of Vail with numerous restaurants, galleries and shops within walking distance, and the free Vail town shuttle stops just footsteps away. For more information, call 1-800-843-8245 or visit the Antlers web site at www.antlersvail.com.

Media Contacts: Rob LeVine, General Manager, Antlers at Vail, [email protected], 970.476.2471; or Darla Worden, WordenGroup Strategic Public Relations, [email protected], 307.734.5335

 

Another 3-4 inches of new snow April 14th Vail

Mountain Top Express VailVail ski mountain and the Antlers at Vail hotel are not done for the ski season just yet. We have over a another week to go and there isn’t a brown spot on the mountain. Even before the 3-4 inches of snow today, the base on the top of Vail mountain was 77 inches. Sort of sad we’ll be closing in Vail on April 24th. We could probably go until May 24th this year!  Rest of this week, stay 3 nights at regular price and get the 4th, 5th and 6th nights free.  Rates from $160 per night for a full Vail condo on the river.

Two Elk mountain biking trail

Two Elk mountain biking trail is a LONG… ride.  Figure on 4-6 hours.  It starts at the Antlers at Vail hotel and conference center and ends up being a 30 mile loop.  It offers around 4000+ vertical feet of climbing.  Just click on the attached map for details or even to print out the route.  Two Elk mountain biking trail is usually open from July 1 – until the end of September and travels through Vail’s Back Bowls (see our Vail ski map).  It is a combination of double track, single track, regular road and Vail bike path.  If you do ride by yourself, mention to someone where you are going, because you’ll be a LONG way from anything on this ride.  And bring tools and tubes.  I seem to get one flat tire each time I do this ride.  Chris R.


View Two Elk Trail mountain biking trail Vail in a larger map

On the top of Benchmark overlooking the Gore Range and I-70.  Great place for a snack and a drink.

Up on top of Outer Mongolia Bowl ready to take the single track along the China Wall heading West above Vail’s Back Bowls.  We are at 11,600 feet at this point.

Looking up towards China Bowl from the Trail.  The base of the China Bowl lift is behind me.

Pitkin Lake hiking Trail

Pitkin lake trail in East Vail, Colorado is similiar to the popular Booth lake trail in that the final destination is a scenic mountain lake. It is about 5 miles one way and can take anywhere from 5-8 hours round trip with most people taking around 6 hours. The highest point along the pitkin trail is 11,400, which is higher than the top of Vail mountain. Total elevation gain is 3,000 vertical feet (thank you very much). It is quite steep at the beginning, so be ready. In addition, it can be deceiving for your arrival to the lake. Everytime you think you are there, you have more trail to hike and another hill to climb. The trailhead for the pitkin hiking trail is off of interstate 70, exit 180. Once you get off at exit 180 go north and take a right on the small road that heads east towards some townhomes. Trail head parking is along the street and the trailhead is on the north by the creek. It is a simple 10 minute drive from the Antlers at Vail hotel.


View Pitkin Creek Trail in a larger map

Have fun on the trail !

Vail Moose on the Loose

Tom Schlader, our Chief Engineer and part-time nature photographer, captured these amazing pictures of the Vail moose and her calf today outside the Antlers. These are the infamous pair that have been seen all along the Gore Creek in Vail Village and trotting through Lionshead.  Several of our guests who were laying poolside at the Antlers at Vail Hotel also got to witness the event.

Moose by Gore Creek

Enjoying some lunch

Off to greener pastures

Moose on the Loose next to the Antlers at Vail Hotel

It is always a treat to see the wildlife Colorado has to offer but please remember to keep your distance and respect nature.

~ Darci