By Roberta Lasky
We ventured to Vail this past February and uncovered a winter wonderland set within White River National Forest for a perfect wintertime getaway.
Fun Fact: Vail is a verb and means show respect or submission.
History: Pete Seibert and local rancher Earl Eaton established the ski area in 1962 and named it after Charles Vail, the highway engineer who routed U.S. Highway 6 through the Eagle Valley in 1940.
FYI: Vail has an elevation of 8,022 feet above sea level. Be careful to stay hydrated and acclimate slowly to the high altitude.
Logistics: We flew into Eagle County Airport, approximately a 45 minute drive from our hotel. We used the transportation company MPG Express for our rides to and from the airport.
Stay: We stayed at the lovely Tivoli Lodge, owned by locals Bob and Diane Lazier and located right at the end of a street which heads right into the village. Hospitality is felt both from the roaring fire emanating from the beautiful fireplace in lobby as well as from the people working inside the lodge. The best part about this pet-friendly hotel is that it is also home to the owner’s two dogs. I was in all my glory playing in the lobby with Speedy (Chocolate Labrador) & Monarch (Papillion) every day. For anyone that knows me, you know how much I love dogs.
Breakfast: We ate breakfast at the hotel every morning except for one morning when we tried Loaded Joe’s delicious sandwich wraps and coffee. Warm cookies straight from the oven and accompanying hot beverages were the highlight of every afternoon in the hotel lobby from 2-4 pm.
Activities: The ski aficionados of the family, my husband & son, skied all five days that we were in Vail. I opted for indoor activities and took advantage of the complementary passes to the Vail Athletic Club (which is housed inside the Vail Mountain Lodge and a block and a half away from the Tivioli) that our hotel offered to their guests. I took yoga & meditation classes and went in the Jacuzzi.
Restaurants:
Alremsi– The hotel desk told us that patrons are offered a complementary stein of beer at this rustic Bavarian style cottage if they prove that they skied a total of more than 25,000 vertical feet. So, we headed over as my husband, Bob, had achieved this record. The restaurant is beautifully decorated transporting you to the Swiss Alps complete with waiters and waitresses wearing modern versions of lederhosen and dirndl, respectively. European delicacies from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland such as Fondue, Schweitzer Rossi & “Eat Your Hat” comprise the menu. Apple strudel is a must for dessert
Chophouse– A superb steakhouse in Lionshead. (Next town over from Vail.) There is another location in Beaver Creek as well.
Garfinkel’s-Aka Garf’s. Great casual restaurant/sports bar with music blasting from the speakers, excellent beer and food menu. Their motto is “Quality food. Reasonable prices”.
La Bottega-Excellent Italian Restaurant. Perfectly cooked pasta.
La Tour-Delicious menu with French specialties in a contemporary, sophisticated ambience.
Los Amigos-Good Mexican.
Rimini– A quaint café serving gelato/sorbet, crepes and other desserts. There is another location in Beaver Creek as well.
Terra Grill– Outstanding cuisine in a stylish comfortable atmosphere. “Inviting, upscale New American eatery serving up unfussy yet creative dishes with local ingredients.”
The Red Lion– Great place for après-ski with live music and excellent burgers and barbeque.
In Conclusion: Vail is the kind of town that you could definitely see living in full time. Everyone is friendly and there are fun activities to do both on and off the snow-covered mountain. We are so happy that we had the opportunity to reveal all that is this ski town.
