Known for its world-renowned skiing, stunning mountain views, and luxury accommodations, Vail is an amazing vacation destination in Colorado. Keep reading to find out how to make the most of a weekend trip to this Rocky Mountain region town.

Friday night

For starts, Vail has a variety of excellent restaurants, which include everything from international cuisine to burgers and French fries.

Dinner – Although Vail is expensive, and you certainly can splurge on a fancy dinner at Sweet Basil, Vendetta’s is a cheaper and more casual option known for great pizza.

Nightlife – Chasing Rabbits is Vail’s newest entertainment venue, and it includes everything from a speakeasy to a restaurant to an arcade. Vail’s nightlife also includes The George – a unique restaurant and pub, Bridge Street Bar – full of loud music and dancing, and Shakedown Bar, a live music club.

Saturday morning

Breakfast – Two Arrows Coffee Bar is an excellent place to start your day with a variety of coffee options. They’ve also got several quick and casual options for food.

After breakfast, the best activity will depend on the season of a visit. Skiing and snowboarding on the local slopes makes for a great winter activity and hiking and biking is perfect for a summer morning. If you’re up for it, those are the things to do.

That being said, Vail is full of other activities for those who don’t want to go up the mountain including Vail’s summer Farmer’s Market, set up every Saturday throughout the village with art, food, music, and more.

Another great activity that’s a bit more relaxed is taking a ride on the scenic gondola. Even if you aren’t skiing, snowboarding, or biking back down, Vail offers scenic gondola rides so you can still see the views from the top of the mountain.

Lunch – Three great spots for lunch on the mountain include Mid-Vail, Talon’s Deck, and Two Elk Lodge, or have lunch somewhere in the village. Los Amigos is a Mexican restaurant at the base of Gondola 1 with tacos, margaritas and an outdoor patio facing the mountain.

Saturday afternoon

While some people will opt to head back up the mountain for more physical activity, Vail Village and Lionshead (only a 10-15 minute walk from Vail Village) are full of stores that include everything from ski gear to souvenirs to fancier clothing and jewelry shops. If shopping is something you love, a day of exploring the various local offerings in Vail is a great way to spend a few hours.

Saturday night

Dinner – Pepi’s Bar & Restaurant is an Austrian restaurant that features wild game and live entertainment. Another great option is Mountain Standard, which cooks most its food on an open and live wood fire.

Sunday morning

Breakfast – Ludwig’s at Sonnenalp offers up a buffet-style European breakfast served on a terrace that overlooks Gore Creek.

With a full stomach, head to Epic Discovery at Adventure Ridge during summer months. Found at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, this adventure center is home to a variety of fun activities, including the Forest Flying mountain coaster, bungee jumping, ziplining, and mini golf.

During the winter, a great Sunday morning activity is ice skating. Ice skating in Vail is easy to find – just head to the Vail Square Ice Rink, located in Lionshead, or the Solaris Plaza Ice Skating Rink, which is found in the center of Vail Village. Both are excellent options.

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