Vail Valley in Summer, Colorado’s Natural Playground

If you’re looking for a summer vacation that is packed with thrilling outdoor adventures, spectacular natural beauty and great outdoor entertainment for the whole family, then consider Vail Valley in Colorado. Vail, Beaver Creek, Avon, and Edwards make up what is known as Vail Valley. Summer in Vail Valley offers something for everyone from outdoor activities like hiking, biking, fly fishing to excellent shopping, healthy eating, and outdoor entertainment. Since there’s so much to do we’ve shared our Vail Valley Top 5 Tips and Tricks to plan your trip and manage the costs.

We flew from Chicago to Denver and drove to our hotel in Avon (~ 2 hours, 130 miles). The drive offers spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains, leads you through the Eisenhower Tunnel under the Continental Divide, and may cause your ears to pop as you start to adjust to the elevation.

Vail Valley Top 5 Tips & Tricks

EAT

EAT – Our biggest money saving TIP was to stock up on groceries at City Market in Avon. We had breakfast, lunch and some dinners at our villa. There’s also a Target in Glenwood Springs which is about an hour away from Avon, but a convenient stop if you plan to white water raft (see below under PLAY). TIP : Grocery stores by law sell 3.2 percent beer. You’ll need to go to a local liquor store for anything else.

One of the many local liquor stores. We stopped here after our biking & hiking adventure.

When we did eat out, we really wanted to enjoy the dinner.

Our favorite restaurant in Beaver Creek was Toscanini, an Italian Bistro, next to the Beaver Creek Ice Rink in the heart of Beaver Creek Village. Sit outside at a table or fireside sofa and watch the ice skaters. Revolution located in the Beaver Creek Resort is another great option. It offers locally sourced products with delicious rotisserie chicken. Their complimentary fresh baked naan bread and flour tortillas with various dipping sauces were such a treat!

The Fall Line Kitchen and Cocktails in Vail had fantastic seating inside with views of the vibrant outdoor streets.

Inside the Fall Kitchen and Cocktails by Family Galvant

The Starbucks in the Westin Riverfront was our go-to for morning coffee.

Every day begins with coffee, Starbucks at the Westin River Front by Family Galavant

PLAY

Whitewater Rafting in the Shoshone Rapids in the Colorado River by Family Galavant

PLAY – If you come to Colorado, make time enjoy the thrill of white water rafting in the Shoshone Rapids and the breathtaking views of the Glenwood Canyons on the Colorado River. We highly recommend Whitewater Rafting LLC in Glenwood Springs. We booked a package for a half-day whitewater trip (adults: $57, kids: $47) and bike rental along the Glenwood Canyon (additional $35/person). We also found a 10% coupon online. Whitewater rafting is a fun way to start your vacation as you adjust to the altitude since it’s a bit lower in elevation. TIPS: Be ready to get wet, wear shoes that would stay on in the event of a swim (we all wore our gym shoes since are our flip-flops are a no-no) and pack towels. Target is ~ 5 minutes from Whitewater Rafting LLC which may be a convenient stop to stock up.

Ready to bike in the Glenwood Canyon by Family Galavant

Another excellent adventure is the Canyon Bikes Shuttle & Bike Rental (this was included in the package). Their shuttle will drop you at Bair Ranch and you’ll enjoy a 14-mile bike ride in the Glenwood Canyon. We stopped along the way to hike up to Hanging Lake, a crystal-clear, travertine lake located high atop the cliffs of Glenwood Canyon. The 1.2-mile hike is steep and rigorous, but so rewarding once you see the natural beauty that awaits at the top. Be sure to see Spouting Rock, a waterfall gushing through rocks that flows into Hanging Lake. The trail to Spouting Rock is about 100 yards and just before the boardwalk to Hanging Lake. TIPS: Bring LOTS of water as there is no potable water along the trail. Allow for 2-3 hours round trip.

Hiking the trail to Hanging Lake by Family Galavant

Views of Hanging Lake by Family Galavant

Hike to Spouting Rock by Family Galavant

STAY

STAY – Our other budget tip was to stay at the Sheraton Mountain Vistana Villas which had a full kitchen, in-unit laundry and plenty of space for the five of us. We redeemed some of our Vistana options which wasn’t much since August is a low season (and there’s no resort fee). Two hotel options we would strongly recommend are The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa in Avon and the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa.

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa outdoor pool area by Family Galavant

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa is a category 6 hotel that offers gorgeous views, three outdoor infinity hot tubs, fantastic outdoor pool area, excellent fitness center (with Peloton bikes), spa and right near the Riverfront Gondola that takes you to Beaver Creek Mountain.

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa by Family Galavant

The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa overlooks the scenic Beaver Creek Mountain and is luxury at its finest from the outdoor heated swimming pool to pampering treatments at Allegria Spa. The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa is conveniently accessible from the Beaver Creek Ice Rink and all of the shops in Beaver Creek.

FUN

Monster Paddle Board at Nottingham Lake by Family Galavant

FUN –Nottingham Lake is the official headquarters for Avon’s summer activities in the park that offers stand up paddle boards, pedal boats, kayaks and beach with a swimming area if you want to relax. We rented the Monster paddle board that could hold six people ($100/hour) and were able to switch to a pedal boat during our rental. All three kids raved about the stellar playgrounds in Colorado (i.e., seated zip line, tightropes, tall slides, climbing walls, etc.) where they could have stayed for hours and trained for American Ninja Warrior.

Gerald Ford Amphitheater by Family Galavant

The Gerald Ford Theater in Vail plays host to an array of cultural, community and entertainment offerings. We had dinner in Vail Village and enjoyed a free outdoor concert afterward (TIP: bring a blanket to sit on, it’s a lovely 10-15-minute walk from Vail Village to the theater). The Betty Ford Gardens, an internationally acclaimed botanic gardens known for its alpine horticulture, education, and conservation, are next to the Gerald Ford Theater. We walked through after the concert but would like to go back during the day to stroll through the garden. Even though it was dark, our kids played in the Ford playground for an hour which some say is the best park in Vail.

Have you ice skated outside in the summer? Ice skating at Beaver Creek Ice Rink in August was a first for the Family Galavant crew. Skate rentals were reasonable. If skating isn’t your thing, watch from the comfy couches and firepits along the rink.

Beaver Creek Ice Rink by Family Galavant

Some of the Family Galavant crew ice skating in shorts at Beaver Creek Ice Rink

SHOP

SHOP – There is an abundance of shopping in the Vail Valley. Vail Village that has hundreds of shops from boutiques to outdoor gear to art galleries. We spent the most time in Lululemon and the kids loved Wishes Kids (a classic toy store near a bench with a Big Bird + Elmo statute). Be sure to check out Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory behind a water fountain near Lancelot Restaurant and get some treats for the concert at Gerald Ford Theater.

Beaver Creek Village also offers high-end shopping (Gorsuch, a fashionable clothing store adjacent to Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa, Patagonia) but also has a few home goods stores, souvenir shops (We picked up a few classic souvenirs … clip magnet and Christmas ornaments are our faves). The Beaver Creek Market (across from Blue Moose Pizza) is the quintessential darling general store that carried groceries, ice cream, fudge, souvenirs, toys, home items (S’well water bottles!)