alright! the vail bit is nearing its end – the final segment, i promise! more pictures of this beautiful place. i hope, if you’ve not been, that i’ve convinced you that vail needs to be on your list.
so, we did more lolly-gagging around, pinching ourselves every few minutes. our biggest care in the world was, “what are we doing for lunch?” that’s unusual and AWESOME.
here’s what i’ll say about vail and then i’ll shut up and move on: vail is crazy kid-friendly. if you’ve got kids, go to vail. (who am i kidding – if you don’t have kids, still go to vail.) they’re not going to get hit by cars, they’re not going to pick up cigarette butts, they’re not going to play on their wii all day (i mean, there’s a possibility of all of this, yes, but unlikely.). there’s so much to do, so many activities that get your limbs moving. there’s a fountain every 100 yards practically (where you can even run into friends–hi chelsea!). a really beautiful, stone one. clean and meant for kids to jump in and cool off in. there’s bikes to rent (i would highly suggest doing it!) and trails to traverse. there’s room to run and grass to lie (lay in? i never get this right.) in. there’s people out, living, moving, doing. jumping in the creek, enjoying a glass of wine, flying down the mountain on their bikes. go to vail!
here are my official vail tips and then i’ll be done!
to eat:
vail is expensive. we learned this the hard way when we had a lunch that cost nearly $100 and we ordered pretty basic things. from then on, we checked the menus first.
// blue moose pizza is a good option because it’s really, really good and pizza isn’t terribly expensive. couldn’t recommend it more. we went twice in two days! get the chicken ranch pizza. mmmm. also, it’s right at the big lionshead village center so there’s room for kids to roam if they get bored while waiting for the pizzas to cook!
// the little diner has delicious breakfast and a really sweet eat-in-swivel-chairs-overlooking-the-kitchen vibe to it. it’s not a cheap breakfast by any means, but i would argue that vail doesn’t have a TON going on by way of breakfast and that this place is really, really yummy. i had a bacon, egg, and cheese on a croissant and it was really good. everyone liked their meals here.
// yeti’s grind has delicious coffee (we were told it was the best place for a cup of coffee in all of vail!) and a great location. right in front of a big turf field where fly fishing practice sometimes happens, another good place for kids to roam. parker met the sweetest boy who shared his scooter with him. tables outside, a few pastry options, lattes, egg wraps. after a semi-pricey breakfast the day before, we stuck with this two days in a row. also, where i ran into a blog friend! (hi sara!) apparently ryan sutter frequents it buuuut i missed him which was disappointing since the trista/ryan season was probably my fave bach season ever. it’s gone downhill since. whatever.
// have wine and appetizers at the mountain standard. (and their strawberry shortcake!) sister to sweet basil which i also heard good things about. RIGHT on the creek and a great ambience. and if you stay at the sitzmark lodge, you’re a stone’s throw from it! though, everywhere is so close so it almost doesn’t matter where you stay.
to do:
// rent bikes. whatever you do, rent bikes. if you’ve got kids, they have burley trailers to hitch to the back of a bike. i LOVED the burley trailer and seeeeeeriously want one now. i told steve, “we could get rid of a car! i could pack it with groceries!” going towards east vail, there’s not a ton uphill and it goes along the golf course (real estate heaven!) and along the creek. you see gorgeous scenery and even really cool grass-topped houses. it was $25 for four hours per bike. well worth it. this was probably my favorite thing that we did. the kids would agree.
// take the lionshead gondola up the mountain. it’s expensive but i feel like… you sort of have to go to the top of the mountain while you’re there? plus, you get to see the OTHER side of the mountain going opposite i-70 and it’s just legit mountain land… no people, buildings. just nature. adult tickets are $20 but they call $10 of it a “credit” to spend at the top of the mountain. skip the food at eagle’s nest (not that good) and just use it on the trampoline thing, or some other activity. or just get a beer and some chips! what i’d like to do next time is bring a blanket and a picnic and find some out of the way place to eat.
// visit the fountains! the creek! the playground! walk around. walk from vail village to lionshead. there’s a free bus that goes between villages practically every ten minutes (we never waited long) but the walk isn’t very long and you less touristy footing it. buy a colorado hat! have a latte and look up the mountain. i half expected (and hoped) to see a bear lumbering down the mountain at some points. no such luck even though i’m told they definitely show their faces from time to time.
// visit a grocer and buy yogurts and fruit and hummus and veggies to snack on. oh! and peanut butter, jelly, and bread. we had a fridge in our room so we could eat those sorts of things and skip a few meals out!
i wouldn’t have had many of these tips without some kind twitter and instagram friends who knew vail better than i and told me their recommendations. that’s truly one of the coolest parts of the whole blogging gig. so thank you!
and if you know vail or the surrounding area and have more tips–give ’em!
You have more than convinced me to go and I can't wait to visit one day! Your pictures are once again Amazing and love them all. Sounds like you all had such a sweet and relaxing time in Vail! Funny as whenever I hear about Vail I always associate it with Trista and Ryan (my fave season for sure and they are just so cute now). Saving this post for all your great recommendations! (Also, the week's not over so there should be one more day of Vail, ya think??!!)
vail till august? 😉
oh my good and holy lord, I need to go to Vail.
I've always heard amazing things about Vail! Definitely on my list of places to go when I finally make it out west! (I know – riiiiidiculous that I've never been out there)
xox
giedre
http://www.walkingdotphotography.com
Hi!! Great pictures again! It really is a little heaven on earth! I am def excited to have a kid to run around with next summer! I am sorry you missed Ryan, we do see him walking around alot! I was such a nerd and almost went and stalked Gulliana and Bill Ranic at the Ritz… my BIl saw them a few times and I was so tempted to hide out in the lobby for a few hours! haha!
yesss! baby in vail will be so fun. and seriously… i met a girl in front of yeti's coffee and we chatted for awhile and she was like "he was just here yesterday!" (the day i saw you!) — bad luck!
I am loving all of these beautiful photos! Seriously, the lighting in the river photo and the gorgeous lights in the night shot? Wow. So stunning. Can you please send all of us to Colorado now? 🙂
isn't that night shot cool? i love it too. and yes! sending you now 🙂
lay, lie. i eff it up every time…
ah! All these Colorado pics are making me miss Utah!! The Rocky Mountains are a dream in the summer 🙂
utah! also on my must see list.
ok, so now not only do I want delicious leaf-arted coffee, but i want to go to colorado! you had an absolutely picturesque trip and i just love it! i went to seattle recently, and i tell you what–blogging about it was my favorite thing. i love sharing memories like this 🙂
It looks so pretty and quaint. I have only been to Aspen, and it was a whole lotta to expensive for me.
awwwesome! i lived vicariously through your IG feed. we LOVE Colorado! looks like you all had a fab time! XO
we have a trailer for our dog-literally…they are made for them! http://www.amazon.com/Solvit-62341-HoundAbout-Bicycle-Trailer/dp/B000QFON3O
best investment ever. get a burley, you will love it. 🙂
i love the shot of you and parker walking down the road.
i hope you frame that and see it every single day.
its a hard place to leave, isnt it?!
so glad you had a fantastic vaca. colorado is the best.
xo The Egg
So jealous. I can't wait to visit Vail one day. All of your photos make it look so inviting. Glad you all had a great time.
I followed (sounds creepy when I type it out) your trip to Vail through Instagram and it looked like such a wonderful time. I miss Colorado! Midwest is the best. 🙂