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Vail family holidays and breaks

Overview

A vast, mainly traffic-free resort based on Bavarian villages, Vail is Colorado’s big name in skiing, with plenty to offer when it comes to family holidays, not least Adventure Ridge, a mountain-top centre with skating, hire of contraptions such as snowbikes, and a restaurant for warming up after a snowmobile adventure. Meanwhile, down the valley, Vail’s posh sister resort Beaver Creek boasts The Ranch, a children’s ski and snowboard school set amid easy slopes.

In summer, Vail is popular with mountain-bikers and white-water rafters, with specialist family trips available.

Things to do with kids in Vail

Ski and snowboard in the USA’s biggest single-mountain ski resort, covering more than 5,000 acres (20 km2) and boasting 7 bowls and the Blue Sky Basin with its intermediate wooded terrain. Most is wide-open terrain with 193 trails, much than half advanced/ expert, about a third intermediate, and the rest beginner. A Colorado Pass gives 10 days' access to the lifts at Vail plus unlimited slope access at nearby Breckenridge, Keystone and A-Basin.

Head for Adventure Ridge, with plenty of activities for younger visitors including ski-biking, a junior snowmobile track and tubing.

Book ahead (a month if possible) for the childcare centre or the ski school (from age 3).

With young kids and non-skiers, ride the gondola after 2pm, when it’s free.

Take to the river – with families it’s best on the stretch above and through Glenwood Springs. Rock Gardens Rafting is a specialist in gentler family float trips, as well as offering zipline adventures in the Glenwood Canyon. Or try Dvorak Expeditions, with whitewater-rafting from age 4. See our white-water rafting tips page.

In summer, make for Vail’s imaginative Pirateship Park at the base of the slopes.

Professional skiing

Eat

There’s a good range of eateries in Vail for all budgets, including locals’ favourite the Westside Café and the renowned Paozo’s Pizza.

A bench in Vail

When to go to Vail

The ski season in Vail generally lasts mid-Nov to mid-April. The white-water rafting season lasts mid-April to mid- to late-Sept, but the best time is mid-June to August.

Watching a kayaker navigate Gore Creek near Vail

Cost

Vail isn’t a destination for low-budget family ski holidays, given the expense involved in getting there. Accommodation tends to be upper-end, too.

Destination stats

Capital city

Flying time10hrs All flight times are based on flights from UK London airports, to the capital or nearest destination airport.

Carbon footprint CO₂ Estimated tonnes of CO2 produced for return flights for a family of four.

TimezoneGMT -7

CurrencyUS Dollar

Weather Today

7°C

44.4°F

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