One of my favorite parts of today and absolutely free to roam!…read more Just a wonder botanical garden filled with so much life! I'm from Florida so I don't get to see a lot of the nature that is included here but the grounds were immaculate! Beautiful bridges with stepping stones that appeared they were made out of the mountains. Historical markers to truly show you the love that was put into this park!

This garden one of the world's highest botanical gardens at an 8,200 feet altitude in the Rocky…read moreMountains. We did a family trip up to the mountains for a couple of days and on our way back home, we stopped by the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens because I knew my mother in-law loved flowers and I thought she would enjoy it here. We parked in the parking lot next to the big open field. Unfortunately there was an event that day and we had to pay I think $10 (can't remember the exact amount). I guess it evened out since the garden is free? Anywho, the garden was a short walk from the parking lot. It's named after the former first lady who preferred Vail as their vacation spot and helped the community flourish to what it is today. There's signage throughout the garden to read about Betty Ford, the plants, and wild life. It's a small garden, but there are plants from all over the world and we enjoyed strolling through the various paths. My mother in-law enjoyed it as well, so mission accomplished! If you're in the area and love plants and flowers, it's worth a quick stop, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

Highly recommend this quaint and charming inn! We were here during the off-season in May, and…read moreappreciated the peaceful and quiet ambience. A shout out to Noelia (sp) who checked us in and was so kind and friendly! We were even "stuck" here an extra day (how lucky for us) in an unexpected snowstorm. The room was sparkling clean (shout out to the cleaning crew) and we had a beautiful view of the river. The breakfast was simple but had healthy choices--yogurt and fruit--perfect for days of hiking and exploring. We also enjoyed the excellent coffee. Easy access to walking in the beautiful, unique, and historical town of Minturn--restaurants nearby as well as a fly fishing shop (which used to be a saw mill). It isn't far from Vail and so there is plenty to do! We definitely would stay here again! It truly was an epic Rocky Mountain setting.

Great hotel with clean rooms. Friendly and helpful front desk staff. We would happily stay here…read moreagain!

With this year's ski season rapidly approaching, and my upcoming winter trip to Utah finally…read morebooked, I thought it'd be worthwhile to reflect on my past few excellent years at Vail with some tips: 1 - If you do nothing else for the rest of your life, SKI THE BACK BOWLS (maps here: http://www.vail.com/mountain/explore-mountain/mountain-trail-map.aspx). Don't ever leave...Seriously! Vail's whole claim "like nothing on earth" comes to life once you've skied here. Blue Sky Basin is pretty badass too if you're looking for untouched powder, tree skiing, and plenty of rocks/cliffs to jump off. These areas are what distinguish Vail from almost every other ski resort in the U.S. (European skiing above the tree line is very similar in experience to Vail's back bowls). Both areas are also much quieter than the front side, which has a tendency to always crowd up by the lodge area...this brings me to #2... 2 - If you must ski the front side of Vail, get as high up as you can, and take small runs down (ie. from the summit to Mid-Vail). Rinse and repeat, and you'll stay away from the sometimes overwhelming base-area crowds. 3 - If you're not staying in Vail or Lionshead Villages, hang out there for a round after the ski day. Vail is known for their apres ski scene, and you'll see why once you get out of your skis and boots after your last run. There are a plethora of restaurants and bars, many with live music and drink specials. Certainly, you can probably get cheaper food/drink if you're willing to drive out of the village, but the scene and people alone make everything worth it. 4 - Regardless of where you're staying, utilize the free in-town shuttle buses. Vail Village is typically more expensive than Lionshead, so we end up staying in Lionshead (same proximity to the slopes, walking distance to both Born Free and Eagle Bahn gondolas). You're already spending $120+ a day on skiing and even more on food and drink, so if you're looking to shave cost without really sacrificing much, this is the way to do so.

This is the mountain I truly learned how to curve on my snowboard. The snow is pure powder. It…read moremakes falling not painful and it makes the falls more of a small bump. I am proud to say that because of vail I can now snowboard with ease. If you are debating between what mountains to board when in Colorado, I would say vail is a perfect option. The mountain runs are a good 30 to 45 minutes. The lifts up the main mountains are called gondolas and they are insulated and warm. Once you hit the main slopes in order to get to the top upper slopes you need to take the regular lifts. The regular lifts are cold, as expected. Lift tickets are about 160$ per a person for a whole day pay. It's $80 per a person for half a day. The vail village makes this a must. It's a quaint town with loads of shopping, dinning and ski/ boarding related stuff. As a boarder, I do have to mention that this mountain is way more skier friendly than boarder friendly. But overall, it's a great place to board.

Karen from A Secret Garden created my simple Calla Lilly wedding bouquet and boutonnières. She was…read moregreat to work with and hand delivered my flowers the morning of our Vail wedding

Huge shoutout to Mike at Secret Garden! He was incredibly kind and helpful. Went out of his way to…read moremake a perfect bouquet to be delivered same day. Thank you so much

The best! While there are many great spots nearby this one is the most unique and authentic!…read moreEverything is homemade and tastes like your very own abuella made it just for you! The Tres Compadres with the chile verde is quite possibly the best combo platter I've ever had at a Mexican restaurant and the Alambre Norteño is something I'll have a hard time not ordering every time I dine here. Do yourself a favor and make this a part of your list when you come to Vail!

Finally a restaurant in Vail to find really good Tex Mex! Great for groups and families. Big tvs…read morein the bar area and lots of seating in there as well. The menu is lengthy and prices somewhat reasonable by Vail standards. Seen lots of regulars in there. We have stuck to Tex Mex basics - enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas etc. and all have been excellent. If you are visiting in town it's worth the short drive for a great casual lunch or dinner.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING PRODUCT & SERVICE!!!!…read more Hats off to James & Zack for making the best martini I've ever had in my life and teaching me about Archetype's unique distilling process Dangerously good...the infused vodka is sooo smooth that you can just drink it straight plush no hangover whatsoever with the grape base Highly recommend if you are coming to Vail! Start your night here with a cocktail!

Spring skiing this year in Vail was so warm that our ski time was limited to just the morning so…read moreaprès ski started much earlier than usual. I decided to make a long past due visit to Archetype to check out their distilled spirits. In addition to their vodka and gin, they make a long list of small batch distilled spirits of various flavors. When you walk in there are a few high top tables and a long bar. My recommendation is to sit at the bar and chat with the bartenders. They are knowledgeable and will craft a cocktail based on what your favorite flavor profile is. As my friend C says, "if it's muddled N will drink it!" She's not wrong. She speaks the truth. I told the bartender that a cocktail with either the blackberry or strawberry spirits would be a great start. He mixed strawberry with their mint spirit, added soda, and ice in a tall glass. It was really refreshing. Because they have so many different flavored spirits they can craft almost anything. If you like a dirty martini, they have blue cheese and olive flavored spirits. I tasted the blue cheese spirit separately and it was hmmm...interesting by itself but mixed with the olive spirit and "ta-da!" - you've got your dirty martini. Their vodka and wine are made from wine grapes. I didn't get a chance to try either the vodka or gin this time but will definitely be back on my next ski trip to Vail. The distillery is located just a few doors down from Mountain Standard near the bridge over Gore Creek.

Granted, We were at the end of the season, but they should have stopped weeks before - I would not…read morerecommend. I felt so guilty even riding the sleigh with how miserable the horses were, but another person in our group had purchased all the tickets in advance as a treat for everyone The "trail" was complete mud and rocks and the horses were working so hard they had to stop and rest every few minutes - Thankfully, they allowed them to rest, but they should not have even been operating in those conditions! The ride was painfully rough. Absolutely not worth the $50 per person! Everything was dirty slush by mid-March, but the trail is more of a track, no wooded area, not really any views. The horses were absolutely miserable - dragging a loaded sleigh thru icey, muddy riches. They have a small paddock - I wouldn't even call it a pasture. And no shelter - Yes, these horses are content to stay outdoors 99.9% of the time, but they should have an optional covered area available at least.

Great place to take a stroll with beautiful horses and well guided tours. We had a great tour guide…read morethat educated us on the local area and was good with my kids!

Great property located in Vail. We visited in the off…read moreseason, but GH Vail seems to have direct access to the lifts. It is not directly located in Vail Village, but it is a quick drive or you could take the shuttle. Small price to pay for the offering. + Breakfast. Everything on offer was delicious. There was a curated buffet and we ordered some stuff off the menu as well. Laundry. There is complimentary laundry located on the amenity level which was convenient. Rooms. Our suite on the top floor was renovated and quiet. The bathroom was delightful like other refreshed Grand Hyatts.

Loved our recent stay at Grand Hyatt - Vail. Check-in was smooth , Vaibhav checked us in and…read moreacknowledged our loyalty status with Hyatt and upgraded us to a beautiful Creek and Mountain View Suite. The hotel is located just outside of Vail Village with a shuttle that runs to the village every 15 minutes. It has a beautiful Pool area (one of the best Pools in Colorado - that is heated perfectly even for cold days). They also have couple of very good restaurants on site including a Michelin star Japanese restaurant. We have been to Vail a few times and stayed at several resorts but this one definitely tops most if not all of them. We will be back.

Our wedding vision was absolutely brought to life, thanks to Rose's vision and her team's…read moreprofessionalism! The flowers were gorgeous, unique, and the atmosphere 1000X's enhanced by the care and detail that Rose and her team gave to us. It is not easy to plan a destination wedding, but Rose was very easy and fun to work with and her expertise was on point. Our wedding was picture-perfect, thank you Rose Petals! Highly recommend, without reservation.

From the owner: Rose Petals is no traditional florist, we're a one-stop-shop for wedding and corporate event…read moredecorations. We handle everything from the initial consultation to the design concept and the delivery so you don't have to worry about set up, pick up, or clean up. Our professional team of designers and artists will work collaboratively to ensure that your specific needs are being met. Whether you're inquiring about floral arrangements, decor, and lighting, or want the entire package, we are here to make your vision come alive. Our warehouse is entirely solar-powered and we process our flowers with vitamins, not chemicals.