Vail, Colorado is the single largest ski area in North America! It is a recreational powerhouse with a constant cultural stir where people come to escape, own a second home or for those who are lucky enough to live, work and play in the Vail Valley.

Vail is a central access point for all kinds of on-mountain year round activities. Named after state highway engineer Charlie Vail who built the first highway through the area, the mountain wasn't "discovered" until the mid-1950s by 10th Mountain Division trooper Peter Seibert and local rancher Earl Eaton. When Seibert and Eaton hiked to the top of the mountain they looked out upon the vast open bowls and realized it was the perfect spot for ski slopes. In January 1962, their dream came alive and the U.S. Forest Service granted the final permit to Seibert and Eaton. Vail Mountain opened in December of the same year. Today Vail Mountain is North America's largest ski area. View a sample walking tour video of Vail.

The locals split Vail into three neighborhoods: East Vail, Vail and West Vail. Within the "Vail" vicinity lie two villages. Coming into the valley on I-70 east, you'll drop into the gorgeous East Vail. East Vail is a residential neighborhood that shared one, quaint marketplace and is surrounded by the White River National Forest. The Forest provides an abundance of hiking trails in the summer and snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice climbing in the winter. East Vail is five miles from Vail's two villages with access to the gondola. Vail's free shuttle system runs through East Vail, a convenient service for locals and guests as curbside drop off plops you into Vail Village, the heart of all action. Also in East Vail is the popular Vail Racquet Club, which offers accommodations as well as an athletic facility including tennis and racquetball courts.

Only two miles from Vail Mountain is West Vail, which offers a variety of restaurants, retail shops, lodging and full-sized grocery markets - all with their own distinctive character. From sushi to Captain Crunch French toast to the best omelets in town, you can find it here. The free Town of Vail Shuttle service runs throughout West Vail and can take skiers into one of the villages where they can access one of Vail's many chairlifts.

Whatever your Vail lodging needs - Book online now!