Vail

Vail is one of the largest ski resorts in the United States.  It stretches along the I-70 freeway that runs westwards from Denver, Colorado.  If Vail is not big enough for you, a lift-pass for the resort will also gain you access to nearby Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone.  The noted Colorado ski resort of Copper Mountain is also within travelling distance.

With such a large resort, the range of options is immense, especially for intermediate skiers.  There are huge areas known as Back Bowls which are terrains free of trees, something of a rarity when it comes to ski resorts in the United States.  The Blue Sky Basin is another worthy area, being wooden slopes that are largely kept ungroomed.  Take note though, both the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin may not be open in the early parts of the season, and can even be closed if the weather is warm.

Being so large, Vail can be tiring when travelling from one part to another, and there always seems to be some re-development going on.  Whilst the main resort centres are mainly traffic-free and have excellent amenities the mountain facilities are not that exceptional.  Also, Vail’s popularity can see the resort become over-crowded at peak times to the point where waiting for the lifts can be like queuing for rides at Disneyland.

Vail Village was purposely designed in the 1950s to replicate the feel of the Tirol, the ski-centre of the Alps, being created from chalets and German-style bierkellers.

However, the march of time and development means the village is just one small part of the sprawling resort, albeit in a smart and contemporary style.

The area covered by the resort is shrunk by the free and well-run bus service which links each centre.  Most of the more convenient accommodation is found in Vail Village.  Here too you have easy access to the Vista Bahn fast chair (which is soon to be reduced by a gondola) to get you up the mountain.  There are further options for accommodation all along the I-70,  The rule seems to be that the further away you get from Vail Village, the cheaper accommodation becomes.

The main mountain is like most snow-covered mountains in the United States – heavily wooden.  If you don’t like weaving through the trees, travel over the ridge to the bowls which are both wide and open.  This lack of cover does mean the conditions deteriorate during long spells of sunny weather, so it’s usually best to head to Vail at the chilliest times.

If you’re on holiday to improve your skills, you’ll hear nothing but glowing reports about the ski schools that are available.

You’ll be guaranteed a small group, meaning individual attention is a given.  The transition from intermediate to expert is especially catered for.

Children are also well-catered for.  The chief centre for children is at Golden Peak and is for children between the ages of four and fourteen.  You also fine kid-themed areas all about the resort with themed zones and trails.  Pay special attention to the Magic Forest and Chaos Canyon, plus the snowmobiles and trampolines at Adventure Ridge.

Vail has grown from a tiny, Alpine-like village purposely-built in the 1950s to a huge, sprawling and fun-packed resort.  Book a ski-holiday to Vail today to experience a full ski-centre experience with many unique features not found at other US resorts.