Best Time to Go
Ski season! Every survey of ski fans mentions Vail in the top 10 ski resorts in the USA or even the world. Vail is the town that skiing built and that’s why most travelers go there. Summertime is when the artsy crowd visits Vail for the Bravo! Colorado Vail Valley Music Festival starting in late June and running until early August. The festival features classical orchestra and chamber music, vocal and pops, baroque, and modern jazz. Vail is also home to a satellite school of the famous Bolshoi ballet that sponsors summer performances.

Average Weather
Vail has serious winter weather. The average lows from December through February are fewer than five degrees Fahrenheit. November, March, and April are also blessed with wintry weather. With the first freeze coming in September - Vail has a long ski season. Don’t be beguiled by visions of a balmy summer here --- daytime highs in the hottest month, July, hit the low 70s with lows still dipping into the high 30s.

Transportation
From mid-December to early April, visitors can fly into Eagle County Airport, 35 miles outside of Vail, on American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, or United. Eagle Transportation Services provides shuttle service from the Eagle County Airport to Vail. Most visitors fly into Denver International Airport; shuttle service to Vail is available via Airlink Shuttle, Airport Luxury Express, Colorado Mountain Express, or Vail Valley Transportation. All of the major car rental companies have outlets at Denver’s airport.

Once you are in Vail you really do not need a car. The town of Vail runs a free shuttle service starting off first thing in the morning and running until 2 a.m.. The town itself is compact and easy to walk around.

In-Season Costs
No one comes to Vail expecting a bargain --- even hotel chains famed for mid-price rates often list hotel rooms at over $200 in season. Meals are likewise a bit expensive in this popular resort; expect to spend about $20 for a very inexpensive evening meal. If you are watching your budget you might want to try a local brewpub for a sandwich in the evening.

Day Trips
During the off-season, from snowmelt until snowfall, you’ll be able to visit Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Ford Park, east of Vail. The gardens offer an alpine display, perennial garden, and mountain meditation garden showing approximately 2,000 varieties of plants.

Also during the off-season, check out The Piney River Ranch located about 12 miles north of Vail on Piney Lake for a variety of outdoor activities, including horseback rides, hayrides, a fishing lake, and a cattle roundup. Look into a guided fishing trip, mountain-bike and off-road tours, plus white-water rafting. Denver also is close enough to visit for a day.