4 Perfect Days

Morning Activity

Fly into Eagle County/Vail Airport and pick up your Colorado Mountain Express shuttle for a quick 30-minute ride to the Arrabelle at Vail Square, A Rock Resort. Combining the timeless elegance of Europe’s grand resorts with the romance and world-class style of Vail’s alpine heritage, this new luxury hotel is located in the heart of the newly redeveloped LionsHead district. After settling in, pick up your ski rentals from Vail Sports located in the hotel. Guests can also store their equipment for free.

Lunch

There’s no better way to fuel up for your first afternoon than slopeside at the Vail Chophouse amidst all the beauty and action of Vail Mountain. Enjoy something delectable from their assortment of soups, salads, sandwiches and hot entrees.

Afternoon Activity

Head up the Eagle Bahn Gondola for an afternoon of skiing. Simply bring your boarding pass and lodging confirmation to any Vail ticket window and you can ski for FREE on the day of your arrival. Be sure to pick up a trail map – you’ll want one of these as you move around Vail Mountain’s 5,289 acres. Get your legs loose by focusing on the LionsHead area. Chairs 8 and 26 have the perfect terrain to warm up on some nice afternoon cruisers. After some turns, take in the après ski scene at Garfinkel’s next to the Arrabelle.

Dinner

Following a little relaxation, savor a sumptuous dinner at Centre V in the Arrabelle. Centre V features simple, decadent dishes such as steak frites, trout almondine, duck confit, and three-tiered fruits de mer platters, which are expertly paired with wine from boutique vineyards in both France and the U.S. After dinner, be sure to get a good night’s rest for tomorrow’s full day on the slopes!

Breakfast

Grab breakfast at The French Deli in LionsHead. A hearty bagel and egg sandwich will give you the energy you need for your morning runs. Before heading up the mountain, pick up a grooming map at the base of the mountain. This will show you all the runs that have been groomed for the day so you can find them or avoid them (depending on what you’re looking for!) Be sure to watch “Good Morning Vail” on TV8 beginning at 7:00am for all the information necessary to plan your day. And, you can always keep an eye out for staff members dressed in red jackets with a large “I” on the back for help with any questions you have both on and off the mountain.

Morning Activity

Head up the Eagle Bahn Gondola for an incredible morning of skiing on Vail’s Front Side of the mountain. With wide-open terrain and more groomed runs than anywhere on the planet, you’ll find everything and anything you can imagine. Access Game Creek Bowl via the Game Creek Express Lift (Chair #7) for great warm-up runs, including Lost Boy, Dealer’s Choice, Ouzo, Showboat, The Woods and Wildcard (bumps). Finish off the morning with the Avanti Express Lift (Chair #2) where you’ll find some very well known intermediate runs that are usually a perfect mix of groomed and natural terrain. Find your favorite among Berries, Lodgepole, Columbine and Ledges.

Lunch

For lunch, stop at Wildwood Restaurant & Pavilion at the top of Chairs 3 and 7 for an authentic BBQ lunch at 11,000 feet. Relish the award-winning chicken and wild rice soup, signature sandwiches and barbecue brisket while taking in spectacular views of Mount of the Holy Cross and the Gore Range.

Afternoon Activity

After lunch, it’s back to the slopes to stretch out on beautiful cruisers, including Christmas, Cappuccino and Expresso located off the Mountain Top Express Lift (Chair #4). And don’t miss Northwoods and Northstar off the Northwoods Express (Chair #11).

Dinner

Head back up the Gondola for dinner at Game Creek Restaurant on Vail Mountain. Renowned for their fabulous view, Game Creek Restaurant features an American-French fusion style of cooking with regional and seasonal ingredients. The result is a spectacular menu of contemporary dishes you won't soon forget, complemented by an extensive wine list and superior service. More than simply a restaurant high above Vail, Game Creek has emerged as a true culinary destination. Be sure to make reservations by calling (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).

Breakfast

Meet your private ski school instructor at Cucina Rustica at the Lodge at Vail for an extraordinary breakfast buffet. You’ll be thankful for the hearty meal as you explore Vail’s legendary Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. Not only will you get an incredible insider tour of these areas, but you’ll be coached along the way to improve your skiing ability. And, you can include up to five friends or family members in your private lesson for the same price!

Morning Activity

Head up the Vista Bahn out of the new Mountain Plaza base area with your instructor for an adventure-filled morning on a variety of terrain. Try the Slot in Vail’s Sun Down Bowl for a classic introduction to the Back Bowls. Head to PoppyFields in China Bowl for a fantastic intermediate taste of the “back-side.” Explore Blue Sky Basin for beautiful cruising runs among the trees and views like you’ve never seen before. And if you want to learn how to ski the bumps, go straight to Powerline, accessible from the top of Chair #4.

Lunch

Spoil your taste buds at the incredible Two Elk Restaurant, Vail’s flagship on-mountain restaurant and the gateway to China Bowl and Blue Sky Basin. At an elevation of 11,200 feet, you’ll enjoy some of Vail’s most beautiful views through the abundant windows. This gourmet cafeteria offers a full salad and soup bar, hamburgers, gourmet pizzas, wraps and more. Organic ingredients are featured in many of the dishes.

Afternoon Activity

After your big day on the slopes, it’s time to relax at The Arrabelle's new luxurious 10,000-square-foot RockResort Spa. Get ready to be pampered by the spa’s warm and inviting atmosphere, elegant décor, rejuvenating spa treatments, state-of-the-art fitness center and more.

Dinner

Before dinner, venture into Vail Village to explore famous Bridge Street with all its wonderful boutiques, art galleries and jewelry shops. Be sure to stop at the Golden Bear for the ultimate Vail souvenir. Enjoy a low-key dinner at Sweet Basil in Vail Village. This creative modern American restaurant was voted Colorado’s Most Popular Restaurant by the Zagat survey. The menu features imaginative cuisine with an innovative array of diverse influences and is a destination for wine lovers with more than 500 carefully chosen selections from around the world.

Evening Activity

If you’re not ready to call it a night, check out The Tap Room, Vendetta’s, and The Red Lion to experience nightlife Vail-style until the early morning hours.

Breakfast

Treat yourself to a tasty breakfast buffet at The Vail Marriott in LionsHead to fuel your last day on the mountain.

Morning Activity

It’s your final day for skiing and riding so head back to your favorite runs for one last exhilarating hurrah on the slopes!

Lunch

There’s no time to waste so drop into Buffalo’s at the top of Chairs 11, 4 and 5 for a quick bite before getting in some final turns.

Afternoon Activity

Jump back into Vail’s seven legendary Back Bowls for some final runs. Be sure to stop at a Sharp Shooter photographer station for your classic Vail photo with the Gore Range in the background. Then, drop off your ski equipment at Vail Sports, but keep on your snow clothes and warm boots and head up the Eagle Bahn Gondola to Adventure Ridge, Vail’s Mountaintop Activity Center. Play all afternoon and well into the night at Adventure Ridge, boasting ski biking, a kids’ snowmobile track, a slippery slope of rip-roaring tubing lanes and more.

Dinner

Grab a family-friendly bite to eat at the Bistro Fourteen Restaurant. Located at Eagle’s Nest, this popular eatery offers a casual menu in a relaxing atmosphere and is the perfect place to swap stories about your last day on the slopes.

Evening Activity

Get your second wind for some final shopping in LionsHead and a nightcap at the Centre V Lounge before collapsing into bed.