Ski Vail , Colorado, USA

General feel

Ski Vail, and you are in an epic. It is the single largest resort in North America at 5289 acres. A short 2-hour drive on a major interstate makes it easy access from Denver International Airport. It gets champagne powder that is only possible in dry, high Colorado. The mountain appeals to everyone, from beginner children to expert adults.

Skiing Magazine voted Vail the #4 Best Mountain in the world. Ski Magazine voted it #2. It's awesome. Its sheer size can keep you skiing new terrain every single run. It's so large it is overwhelming. Do you ski the front side? Go to the infamous back bowls? Explore Blue Sky Basin? Leave the boundaries? Go with a local and you'll ski some incredible terrain.

Quick Facts
• Average Snowfall: 365 inches
• Acres: 5289
• Runs: 193
• Lifts: 34
• Vertical: 3450 ft.
• Elevation: 11570 ft.
• Terrain;
• Beginner – 28%
• Intermediate – 32%
• Expert – 40%

Tips

Interstate 70 close proximity makes skiing Vail easy for everyone in Colorado. Between Friday and Sunday when the weekend warriors arrive, the mountain has been known to be busy. But even with the crowds, Vail brags that even on the busiest day, there are less than 4 people per acre. Unrestricted season passes are only $579 US(2008).


Piste

Vail is not a steep mountain. It has relatively mellow terrain and expert terrain may be only hard intermediate terrain at more extreme resorts. If you explore you will find some brag worthy lines though. Prima will make you wish to never ski another bump. The Northwoods area will make you drool with short steep runs flowing into beautiful corduroy groomers. The South facing Back Bowls are incredible on clear, cold, powder days or sun baked spring days, but it gets traversed quickly. Blue Sky Basin offers amazing terrain, but takes most of the morning just to get there and closes early. Be sure to ski the trees. The best way to ski Vail is to go for a season and explore.

Family

Families love to ski Vail. The mountain is full of mellow beginner terrain and fun kid's areas like Chaos Canyon. In the evenings, Adventure Ridge offers kid's snowmobiling, tubing, and trampolines. The Ski School is one of the best in the world and is a great place to drop the kids off while you go rip. Vail's customer service is some of the best. Vail is right off of Interstate-70, making for a small ski village surrounded with ridiculously expensive second homes.

Bars

Vail Village has a plethora of bars such as the Tap Room, the Club, Vendettas, George, Samana, Red Lion, or Ski Bar. Find your scene and party. Skiing magazine voted Vail into the #5 slot for the top places to party. Lionshead also has good places to have a drink, but is a better place to grab a bite to eat.

Food

Try Moe's BBQ, Chophouse, Garfinkels, or the French Deli for a bite during or after your ski day. Vail is great. Go and explore. Vail is a destination that everyone will enjoy. You can't go wrong.

Disclaimer

This article was submitted by a serious skier, Mr Derek L, based in USA.