Skiing: The only sport where you pay a gazillion dollars to be cold, complain and perhaps encounter an untimely death upon the steep slopes. AND I LOVE IT. I spent the last two weeks in Vail, Colorado and am pleased to report I truly got the lay of the land when I wasn’t busy shredding the fresh powder on the legendary Back Bowls. Without further ado, here is the best-of-the-best Vail, Colorado travel guide:
EATS 🍕
Sweet Basil: I love this spot for après ski cocktails and noms (from 3 to 5 p.m.). Order up the truffle fries after a long day on the mountain and enjoy the heady high-altitude buzz. sweetbasilvail.com
Mountain Standard: This place is so nice, we dined there twice. The same peeps behind Sweet Basil operate this locally loved haunt. Be sure to make reservations or take a seat at the bar around 5 p.m. before the masses trickle in. The standout dishes here? The burrata, wedge salad and flat iron steak. mtnstandard.com
Matsuhisa: Does world renown chef Nobu Matsuhisa ever disappoint? Nope. Delicious eats aside, the Vail outpost boasts stellar floor-to-ceiling views of the neighboring snow-capped Rockies. Our fave plates and sips? The miso cod lettuce wraps, crunchy rice tuna and lychee martinis are to die for here.
The 10th (on Vail mountain): Skiers and snowboarders alike (see, we can all get along after all) love this spot nestled atop Gondola One at Mid Vail Mountain. Take off those painful boots, slip on a pair of complimentary slippers and order up the chicken pot pie and thank me later. the10thvail.com
Minturn Country Club: A 15-minute car ride outside of Vail, you will find this family friendly grill-your-own-meat steakhouse — where the bartender, TJ Ricci, oohs and aahs the crowd with his magic tricks. Yep, you read that right. minturncountryclub.com
HOTELS 🏨
Solaris
Sebastian
Four Seasons
Ritz Carlton (Lions Head)
The Arabelle (Lions Head)
MELT THE AMEX 💳
Gorsuch: Unearth the best Moncler and Bogner selection here.
Kemo Sabe: Authentic cowboy boots, belts and hats? Yee haw!
Pepi Sports: I adore the custom mittens, beanies and scented candles here.
INSIDER TIPS:
♥ Drink a lot of water while in Colorado. We mortals where not made for life at this altitude!
♥ The closest direct flight to Vail is Eagle County Regional Airport
♥ Take Epic Mountain Express for the 40-minute ride from Eagle to Vail for $39 per person
♥ Day trip to nearby Beaver Creek. The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch is chic, chic, chic!
Comment below with your fave Vail haunts so I can discover them next time I go!
