Vail, Colorado
Bob the ski bum has arrived in the charming mountain town of Vail, Colorado. Nestled among the pines in the most spectacular valley in the state, Vail Colorado abounds with activities to satisfy all tastes, from ski tramps like me, to the discretionary visitor. So, first, I want to thank my sponsor, ski.com, who has provided me with an expense paid ski vacation to Vail Colorado and only asked that I write a review of the town for the Web. In this review I want to address some of the topics about this beautiful mountain town that I know people want to know about, because I asked around. I am going to tell you all about long term rental in Vail, including the 1 bedroom condo in Vail and 1 bedroom vacation rentals in Vail Colorado. While I was there I also got the scoop on lift ticket prices for Vail, event planners – Vail Colorado, Vail Lodging, the highest point in Vail and even the most beautiful place in Vail. There is even a page just about the vail ski resort, as there should be in a review of this fine Rocky Mountain ski town! I want to start this review by just talking about the town of Vail in general before I get into the specifics.
History of Vail
First explored by gold and silver miners late 19th century, Vail was known as Gore Creek Valley. It was later renamed after state highway engineer Charlie Vail, who built the first highway in the area. In the mid 1950s, 10th Mountain Division trooper Peter Seibert, and local rancher Earl Eaton discovered a better gold mine, skiing. By 1962 the U.S. Forest Service granted the final permit to Seibert and Eaton, and the Vail Mountain officially opened to skiing. By 1969 it had become the most popular resort in Colorado, and eventually the largest ski area in North America. Vail, Colorado is now home to 5,289 total skiable acres.
The resort began with three lifts: a gondola at the base of the mountain, a chairlift from mid-Vail to the top, and another chair lift that dropped off into the back bowls. More lifts were added to accommodate the fast growing number of skiers, paying only $8 per day to ride them.
With tender loving care, and a vital economy, Vail continued to gain popularity and is today the world's leading mountain resort community.
Vail, Colorado, located 100 miles west of Denver via I-70, and 32 miles east of Eagle Airport, is comprised of three separate villages. It includes the areas of East Vail, Vail Village, Lionshead, Cascade Village and West Vail. At an elevation of 8,150 feet, it accommodates a year-round population of about 4500.
Geography/facts/demographics:
Vail, Colorado, stretching out 5 square miles, is surrounded by 350,000 acres of beautiful White River National Forest. Vail contains 2,200 acres of developed land, 1,100 acres undeveloped. About 30 percent of the town's land is preserved as open space so that residents and visitors alike may enjoy its primal beauty.
Vail Mountain contains 5,289 skiable acres. The ski trails used during the winter double as world-class mountain biking trails in the summer.
Vail's average daytime highs range 30 to 45 degrees in winter, 75 in the summer, with about 300 days of sunshine a year. Vail has more than 73 restaurants, 16 bars and clubs, and more than 100 shops to satisfy every taste. With 3,700 rentable units, 64 of them being hotels/inns/beds and breakfasts, and nearly 2,000 of them being condo units, there is never a shortage of lodging in Vail, Colorado.
Demographics
East Vail
Gorgeous East Vail is marked by a residential neighborhood surrounded by the White River National Forest, and abounds with summer and winter recreation such as hiking trails, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing and ice climbing. East Vail is just 5 miles from the chair lifts and the gondola in Vail's two village areas. Enjoy Vail's free shuttle transportation running through East Vail and dropping off in the hub of activity - Vail Village.
Vail Village
Vail Village is a central hosting point for all sorts of activities. After a tiring day of skiing retreat to this pedestrian village where you will a variety of specialty shops, eateries, boutiques and nightclubs to relax in, as well as an assortment of lodging options within a short walk to the Vista Bahn or Riva Bahn, the two chair lifts accessible from this area.
Lionshead Village
Another pedestrian mall, Lionshead Village, is less than a mile west of
Vail Village, and features restaurants, lodges, shops, and the valley's only
gondola. Open winter and summer, the Eagle Bahn Gondola provides a fast and
comfortable ascent up Vail Mountain. Free shuttle service is available.
West Vail
West Vail is only 2 miles from Vail Mountain and hosts an array of affordable diners, shops, lodging and supermarkets. Vail and can take skiers into one of the villages where they can access one of Vail's many chairlifts. Free shuttle service is available.
In addition to the Vail Valley's 16 miles of recreational paths to explore, other exciting things include an ice-skating arena, and Vail's historic ski museum.
For more information about Vail, Colorado log on to www.vailgov.com, or the Vail Chamber at: www.vailchamber.org
