Vail

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder among the world's most prestigious ski destinations, Vail brings Bavarian charm to the heart of the Colorado Rockies. Belonging to the pristine ecosystem of White River National Forest at the base of Vail Mountain, guests are thrust headfirst into the exhilarating world of all-season alpine adventure. European-like fine living is resurrected in the savage beauty of America's western frontier, making up a truly one-of-a-kind destination. Epitomizing cloud nine living at more than 81,000 feet of elevation, up here, daily problems dissipate, with each stride invigorating the body with impossibly crisp air and a whole new worldview. A beloved wellness retreat, Vail is the ultimate destination for those seeking to reconnect with the elements. A fascinating culinary scene, a full itinerary of year-round events and world-class five-star living make up a revered resort town sure to please the most discerning luxury adventurer.

The dedicated LVH team ensures all guests receive the ultimate in service and satisfaction during their stays. LVH can arrange for private chefs, private jets, exotic cars, luxury yachts, and anything else you might require to make your vacation stay truly remarkable. Choose a one-on-one session with a certified yoga or pilates instructor, time with a private tennis pro to up your game, or complete pampering sessions with a massage therapist, hair stylist or barber, nail technician, and makeup artist.

Luxury home rentals, with full services and support, can be arranged to accommodate groups of varying sizes and are ideal for lavish events. A wide roster of specially curated properties makes up the lists of the world’s most exquisite vacation estates. No matter what your chosen destination, when you are seeking the best homes, you have the most elite selection from which to choose when booking your stay with LVH.

AREAS

The entirety of Vail is stunning. These four areas are particularly popular among locals and visitors alike:

Cascade

Cascade Village is within close proximity to all the action and adventure that makes Vail so unique. With the perfect location on a gold-medal fly fishing waters of Gore Creek, this mountain resort village provides the ultimate vacation experience inclusive of Chairlift 20 to Vail Mountain skiing and snowboarding!

Edwards

Edwards is a trendy hot spot where many of the long-time locals have moved for a more family atmosphere. The area has some of the best restaurants in the valley. Do not miss the Bonjour Bakery for hand crafted bread and amazing desserts. The Riverwalk in Edwards is a shopping area with beautiful and interesting shops and a wonderful market.

Lionshead

Lionshead Village is replete with great dining and shopping options, plus a sweet playground for the kids, an ice rink in winter, and it's just a few steps to the Eagle Bahn Gondola. This Bavarian-inspired village is totally closed off to cars and busses, so visitors don’t have to worry about crossing busy roads to get to the next trendy shop.

Vail Village

Cross under the covered bridge and stroll up bridge street to Gondola One. In-between, travelers will find the quaint Vail Village with world-class restaurants, shops, late night hot spots and more. This is one of the most famous ski resorts in the United States. In addition to incredible back bowls and basins for skiing, Vail has become quite a popular destination for the summer as well. No matter what time of year a traveler visits Vail, making the choice to stay at Villa Farrah is a wise one. This stunning retreat is in the heart of Vail and Lionshead Village – the most exclusive areas of the town. With ski in/ski out access to Born Free trail, this property is everything an avid skier could ask for. With room for up to 14 guests, Villa Farrah is replete with luxury amenities and a private elevator making it easy for guests to get to them. After a fun day of skiing, soak those tired muscles in the Jacuzzi before cuddling up in the cinema room for a favorite flick. Guests also have the use of a well-equipped gym, massage room, and sauna. The centerpiece of the villa is a spectacular great room with high, vaulted ceilings, an ample hearth which bathes the room in a warm, romantic light.

RESTAURANTS

Vail has something for everyone’s culinary tastes. Fine dining is heartily available. These four establishments are among the best Vail has to offer:

Flame

The signature restaurant at Four Seasons Vail signature focuses more on fun dining rather than traditional fine dining. Locally sourced and seasonally inspired dishes combined with unique steak cuts and tableside experiences provide guests with a dining adventure they can’t get just anywhere. Try the lobster mashed potatoes with bisque butter alongside a perfectly seared dry-aged ribeye or tamari glazed Scottish salmon with sesame butter. Diners with more sophisticated palates might choose the roasted red elk loin with huckleberry braised cabbage in juniper jus. The vanilla bean crème brulee with fresh berries, lace tuile, and Paonia cherry sauce, makes a bang on dessert.

La Nonna Ristorante

Italian for grandmother, La Nonna, is the place in Vail for savory Italian cuisine, good wine, and dining in an inviting, elegant and warm setting. The restaurant supports the local community by using locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible, supplemented by carefully chosen imported products. The pasta dishes are particularly popular here with selections like ravioli tre funghi – homemade mushroom ravioli in a light cream sauce with white truffle oil. Meat lovers need to try brasato piedmontese – a 12-hour braised piedmont short rib in a Barolo wine reduction. The eatery also has a number of vegetarian dishes.

Matsuhisa

Located in the five-star Solaris development, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s second Colorado location opened in 2011 in Vail. Floor to ceiling windows reveal a panoramic view of Vail Mountain as diners enjoy the rustic urban setting, large stone pillars and stone fireplace. New-style Japanese cuisine draws influence from Nobu’s classical training in Tokyo and his time in Peru, Argentina, and other places. Signature dishes include Yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, black cod miso and white fish tiradito. Other specialties include squid pasta, soft shell crab spring roll with ponzu mayo, and filet mignon in wasabi pepper sauce. Sushi and sashimi is well-represented on the menu as are tempura dishes.

Sweet Basil

Sweet Basil is a contemporary American restaurant that takes creativity to the nth degree. Located in the heart of Vail Village, the eatery has an imaginative menu with dishes crafted from a diverse array of influences. It has been touted as one of Vail’s most popular restaurants. On the menu, diners can find interesting apps like whipped feta with Calabrian chile and garlic honey; black truffle deviled eggs with pickled mustard seeds and chive or Spanish octopus with avocado and tomatillo salsa, masa fried avocado, orange, pistachio and cilantro. Entrees include such dishes as Wagyu Coulotte steak with mushroom goyza, charred broccoli, Asian pear and gochujang glaze or butter poached lobster with butternut fagottini, Cipollini, vadouvan and lobster butter fondue.

THE ARTS

Vail has some stellar galleries, some which offer works for sale. These four are among Vail’s finest arts venues:

Art in Vail

The Art in Vail program assembles a collection of works of art in public places which are educational, attractive to residents and guests, and of an overall aesthetic quality equal to the excellent international reputation the resort town has. Vail’s public art collection includes more than 55 works ranging from paintings, sculptures, murals, playground components, to site-integrated art. A color printed map of the town of Vail’s public art collection is available at the Vail Village and Lionshead welcome centers.

Galerie Des Lices

Galerie Des Lices is the largest gallery in St. Tropez displaying works of some of today’s greatest modern artists. Art lovers looking to expand their collections will have a grand time choosing just the right piece. Perhaps a sculpture by Armand or Cesar, audacious photography by Philippe Shangti or even a piece by the contemporary maestro, Damien Hirst? It will be fun choosing.

Colorado Snowsports Museum

Founded in Vail in 1976 as the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum, this tourist attraction shows off the state’s exciting ski industry. Now known as the Colorado Snowsports Museum, it’s also the Colorado Ski Hall Of Fame, with narrative displays, artifacts and films that tell the story of the birth, rise and explosion of skiing and snowboarding in Colorado.

J. Cotter Gallery

The J. Cotter Gallery is a contemporary jewelry and art gallery that has been in Vail since 1970. Visitors will find one-of-a-kind hand-fashioned pieces that will be unique to the wearer. The gallery is known globally for its contemporary designer jewelry handcrafted by artist Jim Cotter. When Cotter started the gallery, he made it his mandate to create art jewelry. Each exclusive piece comes with a certificate of authenticity.

NIGHTLIFE

After a day of skiing, many like to wind down and relax with a cocktail or a glass of wine. Luckily, Vail has a number of places to be able to do just that. The four here are among the most popular:

Buffalos Bar at the Ritz Carlton

The refined pub fare at Buffalos melds well with its rustic, comfortable setting. Think of items like cast iron nachos piled high with cheddar cheese, jalapenos, achiote chicken and pico de gallo. Many guests start with regional microbrews to taste, but before taking a sip, the tasters come with house-made wild game jerky to get the palate going. This refined sports bar, more like a mountain lodge, also has an imposing stone bar.

Frost Bar | The Sebastian

The Sebastian Resort’s hip bar, is known for its tasty tapas and spirits from all around the globe. Guests are surrounded by striking murano glass leaf chandeliers and floor lamps, and sit under an impressive array of custom-designed hanging glass creations resembling icicles. Standing classics and signature soul-warming cocktails entice guests to linger. Popular creations include the Snuggler with peppermint schnapps and hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and crème de menthe; bacon bloody Mary with spicy house-infused vodka, celery, pepperoncini, Spanish olive, green bean, Old Bay salt and bacon; and the Headstand with jalapeno-infused Patron silver tequila, jalapeno and pineapple.

The Remedy Bar

The Remedy, in the Four Seasons Resort, has a lively apres ski scene where friends socialize over cocktails while gazing at uninterrupted mountain views whether inside or out around one of the many fire pits. Remedy’s signature drink is its take on the Old Fashioned – Remedy barrel select bourbon, orange, luxardo cherry, orange and angostura bitters. That sounds like the perfect warm-up beverage after a day on the slopes.

Vin 48

Vin 48 restaurant and wine bar has been a local favorite spot since its inception in 2007. The venue is spacious, yet intimate and the wine bar is the ideal place for an apres ski warming drink or an evening of fine dining. Open all year, in warmer months, the floor-to-ceiling glass doors open to a lovely patio with exemplary views of Beaver Creek. There are more than 40 wines offered by the glass, handcrafted cocktails, more than 30 types of beer, 50 whiskeys and 100 spirits from around the world.

EVENTS

The four events here are among Vail’s finest and most well-attended. There is always something for everyone in this town:

Bravo! Vail Music Festival

Guests can grab a comfy blanket from the Vail luxury accommodation they’re staying at and head down to the Bravo! Music Festival, established in 1987. Bravo! Vail has evolved from a small chamber music series to an international music festival with dozens of performances throughout the Vail Valley, and summer home to the world’s greatest musicians and orchestras. The festival has proven to be an economic driver in Vail while enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Performers have included the philharmonic orchestras from New York. Dallas, and Detroit. Chamber orchestras have come from Vienna, Berlin, and London. Bravo! Vail has grown from a handful of attendees to one of the world’s premier music festivals.

Dance Festival

The Dance Festival was a product of the extremely successful performances by the Bolshoi Ballet Academy of Moscow during the summer of 1989. The academy decided that Vail should become the home of the exclusive North American satellite school of the prestigious Bolshoi Academy. The summer of 1993 was marked by the premiere of the gala performances, the International Evenings of Dance, featuring principal couples representing major international dance companies in gala performances. The festival continues today in all its original glory, bringing the beauty of dance to locals and visitors alike.

Gourmet on Gore

The unique culinary festival, Gourmet on Gore, features open-air tastings of beer, wine and spirits paired with delectable delights from Vail’s top culinary experts. Visitors will have trouble deciding what to choose from all the varieties of food and beverages available at this three-day festival. Events are also scheduled for an added treat. There is even a culinary corner for the kiddies.

Snow Days

Celebrate the Christmas season with the four-day Snow Days festival. There are free concerts, apres ski and after dark parties, a lively expo village and more. There are VIP opportunities for the concerts. The Festival Village is open at the base of Gondola where guests will find numerous brand expos, demos, organization information, and product samples from event sponsors.

ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES

Although one of the main reasons visitors make the trip to Vail is for skiing, there is much more to the town. Have a look at these four things to do that might spark an interest:

Beaver Creek Resort

Visitors looking to explore more of the Vail Valley should make their ways to the neighboring Beaver Creek ski resort. Looking like the setting out of a Dickens novel, Beaver Creek Village has everything a luxury traveler could want: great skiing, incredible scenery, and a number of off-slope activities like dining, shopping, and on-mountain experiences like hiking. Beaver Creek Wonder is an artistic playground of photo-friendly, oversized sculptures providing unique experiences throughout the village. Beaver Creek's art installations bring to life a sense of adventure and discovery in the heart of the village.

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is a high altitude botanical garden devoted to the conservation of alpine plants and fragile mountain environments. It promotes public understanding of these ecosystems through education, but the absolute beauty of the gardens speak for themselves. This is the highest elevation botanical garden in North America at 8,200 feet. More than 120,000 visitors visit the facility every year to see the unique collection of alpine and mountain plants collected from around the world.

Ice Castles Visit

Live out a real-life Frozen fantasy at Colorado’s Ice Castles in the neighboring town of Dillon a half hour’s drive from Vail. Every winter artists construct the attraction from thousands of icicles and LED lights for an immersive, winter wonderland experience. This is an especially ideal experience for families who have their children with them.

Spa Day

Vail has some very outstanding spas, the best are at the Four Seasons Vail, The Lodge at Vail, and The Sonnenalp Hotel. Whether sore from skiing, acclimating to the altitude or just looking for an excuse to chill out, a spa day is just what the doctor ordered. Remember to pack a swimsuit and use the hot tub to loosen up those muscles before or after a treatment.