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Donovan Pavilion

4.6 (10 reviews)

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Katie R.

I don't have enough amazing things to say about the Donovan Pavilion. Mindy is amazing and so incredible to work with. The views were amazing, the fall colors were perfect for our day, and the Pavilion is hard to beat! I would absolutely recommend it to all of our friends!

We were married at the Donovan Pavillion on 12-1-07! Our ceremony was outside on their wonderful back patio right on the Gore Creek...and it was during a light snowfall. It was beautiful! (btw, the patio has heated tiles underneath so there is no ice or snow whatsoever!) The reception was indoors and was absolutely everything we wanted! Our theme was "Rustic Elegance" and it was perfect! We wanted something that was symbolic of Vail...old Vail...vintage Vail! This was it! It was so beautiful! Everyone at the Donovan helps you organize and coordinate perfectly! There is a lot of communication and helping during the day of the ceremony and we (the bride and groom) really didn't have to worry about anything! The Vail Chapel alone was $6,000 for a ceremony (3 hours) and THAT was ridiculous for a chapel that I GREW UP ATTENDING! The winter outdoor ceremony was the only thing, for me, that could top that chapel or the one on Beaver Creek! We provided blankets for our guests and we didn't even notice a chill! Beautiful! There is plenty of room inside the Donovan for MANY people! There's a nice dance floor and spacious and rather elegant restrooms (they put bouquets of flowers and candles in the restrooms for us!) It also has a SPACIOUS kitchen for anyone needing catering services. It was really perfect! (We'd recommend www.foodsofvail.com ...Tracey there is the BEST!) Perfect place for a perfect day!

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9 years ago

Absolutely gorgeous place for a wedding! My cousin got married here and I was in awe of its beauty!

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12 years ago

Very nice venue. Came here for a wedding-like birthday party and everything was fantastic!

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Review Highlights - Donovan Pavilion

The setting is stunning with the outdoor firepit and beautiful patio along Gore Creek.

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Betty Ford Alpine Gardens - Flowers

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

(50 reviews)

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.

An absolutely beautiful botanical garden that the family didn't expect to be found in the ski town…read moreof Vail. The garden focused on alpine trees, plants, and flowers. It was so peaceful and enchanting to walk around the garden. In addition to plants and flowers, we also saw lots of butterflies and hummingbirds. Admission and parking were free, donation gladly welcome.

Vail Mountain Club - Two Elks Lodge - looks like a movie set

Vail Mountain Club

(146 reviews)

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.

Archetype Distillery - Vodka flight!  Lavender, earl grey, and Serrano.

Archetype Distillery

(60 reviews)

$$

So, while a friend of mine from Denver gave me a tour of Broadway, we chanced upon Archetype. We…read moredecided to pop in for a quick tasting and I'm so glad we did. One of the owners greeted us and immediately made us feel at home. We asked if he could make something akin to a vodka sprite (I know, basic) while we looked at the menu. When he returned with the best vodka sprite ever. At Archetype, explained the owner, they make their vodka from grapes. During the distillation process, they infuse their vodka with different flavors. For the vodka sprite, he used a lemon/lime infused vodka, a lil simple syrup, and some spritz. And when I say he explained this process, trust that he explained it throughly. We decided to have a tasting. We ordered the lavender, the earl grey, and the Serrano. Taken neat, each was incredibly smooth. Our host explained, that made with grapes this vodka has much less of a bite than traditional vodkas. Also, you might think the Serrano would have been hot hot, but it was not. Because they introduce the flavoring elements (fruits, peppers, what not) during the distillation process only the essence of the flavors remain in the vodka, so no sugars or whatever it is that makes biting into a pepper burn. Do yourself a favor and visit this place on your next trip to Denver!

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.

Bearcat Stables

Bearcat Stables

(40 reviews)

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.

We felt like something out of a Hallmark movie or princesses in a Disney movie. This was so cute to…read morestart our bachelorette weekend in Vail - a sleigh ride through the mountains with some of the biggest horses we've ever seen. Thank you to the staff that works there and the delicious spiked apple cider that kept us warm the whole way, and not to mention the s'mores at the fire pit afterwards that was such a special touch on the afternoon. These stables are great for a group of friends or family with young kids and older kids. Just an all-around lovely experience. Thank you so much for the memories.. Henry the Horse is your VIP!!

Donovan Pavilion - venues - Updated May 2026

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