Vail

Vail is a giant among the world's ski resorts in size, annual skier visits and reputation for providing a ski vacation experience without comparison. Welcoming approximately 1.6 million skiers and snowboarders annually, Vail offers three distinct areas of the mountain, each with their own features and fortes, including three terrain parks, seven bowls and 5,289 acres of freeride terrain. At seven miles wide, finding fresh tracks is as easy as finding elbow room. In fact, on an average day, there are only two skiers per acre, and on a busy day, only four! Ranked the No. 1 ski resort in the U.S. by SKI Magazine 14 of the past 20 years.

In December 2000, Vail put the final touches on the second phase of its Blue Sky Basin terrain expansion, with the addition of its fourth new high-speed quad chairlift and the opening of an additional 125 acres of ski terrain in Pete's Bowl. This brings Vail's total count of high-speed lifts to 15, more than any other ski area in the United States. Vail's crowning Blue Sky Basin terrain expansion provides a unique wilder experience unlike anything else found on Vail Mountain and now features 645 acres of intermediate to advanced terrain in its two world-class bowls.

Beaver Creek, 20 mins. by car or free bus from Vail, is influenced by world renowned resorts such as St. Moritz, Switzerland, Cortina, Italy and Val d'Aran, Spain. This has resulted in a unique combination of mountain excitement and village luxury. Beaver Creek successfully combines the western hospitality found on the mountain and in the friendliness of its employees, with the European charm of its pedestrian village. When George Townsend first settled in the Beaver Creek Valley in 1881, he knew he'd found something special. In 1972, Vail continued the vision by purchasing the land and beginning a detailed planning process. Beaver Creek was originally designed to accommodate skiers of all ability levels, with a specific focus on winter recreation. That design proved timeless and today the mountain is enjoyed by a variety of winter and summer sports enthusiasts.