Colorado is one of my favorite places to visit and daydream about moving to (mountains over beach any day). It’s faantastic year round, with so many activities to choose from (hiking, biking, snowboarding, rafting, paragliding, rock climbing, snowshoeing, exploring cute towns, brewery hopping…)!
Specifically, Vail is my favorite place to stay and mountain to board. Vail village and Lionshead village, side by side, are adorable towns at the base of the mountain, with cute shops, yummy food options and fun nightlife. I have listed suggestions for dining, nightlife, shopping, and nearby destinations below (see bottom of post, after scrolling through all those the scenic pics!).
**Also see my previous Vail post here, for a unique dining experience and great nightlife spot**
Pic pulled from older Vail post..see link above
Vail Village
Vail Village (and my pink and white baby!)
Vail Village
Adorable Lionshead Village
View from Two Elk Lodge, Vail Resort
My suggestions for food, nightlife and shopping in Vail/Lionshead Village (see photos below):
Dining in Vail Village:
- Campo de Fiori– Nice Italian dinner spot, with a cozy atmosphere
- Terra Bistro– Beautiful restaurant that boarders the creek and serves up artfully done dishes. It even has vegetarian options.
- Pazzo’s Pizza– Best.pizza.ever. Try it.
Nightlife in Vail Village:
- Vail Underground (on Bridge St…walk through the covered bridge and find it up a bit, on the left side) – this place turns into a fun basement dance party, with $5 beer (including IPA’s!)
- The Red Lion– live music
- See earlier Vail post mentioned at top of post, for another fun spot- The George
Shopping in Vail Village:
- Colorado Limited– if you’re looking for Colorado gear, this place has a large assortment of colorful hats and perfect fitting, buttery soft tees. There are plenty of other great shops throughout Vail and Lionshead village, as well.
- Gorsuch– absolutely obsessed with this store, even though I can’t buy a thing. I even get the catalogs in the mail, just to drool over the items I can’t afford. They recently expanded the Gorsuch shop in Vail, and it’s beautiful.
Apres in Lionshead Village:
For those skiing into Lionshead village at the end of the day, these two spots are perfect for slope-side apres.
- Vail Chophouse– (Lionshead Village) Don’t miss the daily champagne toast at 3:30!
- Tavern on the Square (Arrabelle at Vail Square)- Large fire pits to accommodate a thirsty, ski-clothes-clad group.
Images corresponding with the above spots:
- Vail Underground..
- Colorado Limited..
- Vail Chophouse
- Tavern on the Square..
And suggestions for nearby Vail:
If flying in to Denver (instead of Eagle Airport), Idaho Springs is a darling little town on the way to Vail Resort. You’ll find yummy food options, and fun shops. See photos below:
Minturn, a quaint old mining town, is about 15 minutes from Vail (with a nice snowshoeing trail nearby).
- Stop by Holy Toledo (my favorite consignment store!), where swoon-worthy pieces are always waiting to be found. They have a great selection of fur and cowboy boots, too (see below). See this post, for how I wore my recent find- a dreamcatcher vest.
- Pick up fresh, local product at the adorable Local’s Market (or pick up a pair of the vintage wooden skis!)
- Grab a drink at the old Saloon– it’s rustic, charming, and friendly.
My fave consignment store..
Holy Toledo consignment store has a great fur selection..
And cowboy boots..
See this earlier post of mine, for how I wore this sweet vest I found at Holy Toledo!
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