Discover Vail

Discover Vail: Official Guide to Vail, Colorado

Discover Vail is the tourism promotion website for the town of Vail, Colorado, designed as a travel guide for planning stays in spring, summer, fall, or winter. The site gathers information on activities, events, and dining, and presents itself as the official destination website.

Seasonal Activities and Experiences

The content is organized around the four seasons. Summer offerings include hiking, with a selection of featured trails, family activities, art, theater and culture, sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and wellness offerings at Colorado spas. Unique experiences include scenic gondola rides, lakes and waterfalls, and outdoor and adventure activities. The guide also includes a five-question quiz to get personalized trip ideas.

Events and Cultural Life

The events calendar plays a central role, with special attention to the summer season. Listings include nine summer events worth planning your vacation around, nine summer events you'll return for every summer, and MICHELIN dining options in Vail. Cultural programming spans music, theater, and other disciplines.

Lodging and Group Services

The site offers guidance on lodging, with sections dedicated to luxury hotels and family-friendly options, as well as lodging deals. For groups, it covers organizing conferences, weddings, and events at Dobson Arena, plus ideas for bachelorette parties. It includes travel tools such as getting here, welcome centers, getting around, flights to Vail, parking, and buses.

The Villages of Vail

The guide distinguishes between Vail Village and Lionshead, two areas with pedestrian streets, Tyrolean-style architecture, and shops and restaurants along Gore Creek. Vail is described as a European-style village nestled in the Rocky Mountains, with access to natural spaces.

History of Vail

The site reviews the history of the town, established in 1966. Before the arrival of settlers, the area was territory of the Ute tribe, who called it "the Shining Mountains." In the mid-19th century, the first white settlers arrived in Gore Valley; in the 1870s, the gold and silver rush attracted prospectors, and mines and railroad tracks were built. After mineral resources were depleted, the valley remained a ranching area until 1939, when construction of Highway 6 from Denver began. The project engineer, Charlie Vail, gave his name to Vail Pass and, later, to the town. During World War II, the Army's 10th Mountain Division used the area for survival training; some veterans, such as Pete Seibert, Bill "Sarge" Brown, and Bob Parker, returned with the idea of creating a ski community. In 1954, Earl Eaton joined Seibert to plan the resort. Construction began in the spring of 1962, and in the fall of 1966 the town of Vail was incorporated, featuring the first gondola in the United States, two double chairlifts, and a beginner lift, with six square miles of terrain. In the 1970s, Vail established itself as a ski destination and gained worldwide recognition when Gerald Ford, who owned a house in the town, became President of the United States in 1974. In the 1980s, it developed as a year-round destination, with golf courses, mountain biking trails, and tourist use of gondolas and chairlifts. In the 1990s, a managed growth agreement between the town, Vail Resorts, and the U.S. Forest Service preceded the opening of Blue Sky Basin, which added 645 acres of skiable terrain. In 2015, Vail hosted the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships alongside Beaver Creek and became the home of the Burton US Open snowboarding championships.

Sustainability and Transportation

The website dedicates a section to destination sustainability. Vail has been named to the Green Destinations Global Top 100 for eight consecutive years for its sustainable management and responsible tourism. In partnership with the town of Vail, Eagle County has committed to achieving 100% renewable electricity in all its operations and facilities by 2030. The town has one of the largest free year-round bus services in the country.

Visitor Resources

The site includes a media center, blog, FAQs, business directory, and privacy policy. It offers a newsletter with unique itineraries and lodging deals, and allows users to subscribe for travel inspiration.