The Best Vail Valley Parks for a Picnic
There’s still time to plan a summer trip to Vail with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Colorado Properties! And what better way to immerse yourself in the beauty of Vail than by planning a picnic at one of its enchanting parks throughout the valley? Whether you are looking for a casual picnic spot to catch live music or a luxury picnic for you and your special someone, there is a Vail park for everyone!
Ford Park
Ford Park offers one of the most popular picnic areas in town with access to Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and Gerald R Ford Amphitheater. There is a lovely picnic shelter next to the Morales Sculpture Forest. Plan your picnic around the Bravo!Vail and Hot Summer Nights events, bring free music to the park all summer long!
Donovan Park
The other community park in Vail is Donovan Park, a smaller option ideal for families. Amenities include Vail Waterwise Demonstration Garden, athletic fields, picnic areas, a basketball court, and a custom play area.
Nottingham Lake Park
Nottingham Lake Park is a beautiful 48-acre park in the neighboring town of Avon. Set up your food at the picnic tables or in the green spaces surrounding the lake. Compliment your picnic with the sounds of live music during the free AvonLive! Concerts in the Park series. Every Wednesday brings live music and local food trucks to the park!
Eagle Town Park
Take the family to Eagle Town Park for a lovely picnic surrounded by mountain views and amenities for the kids. The park features picnic tables, a playground, a basketball court, and a horseshoe pit. Live music is held here every Thursday at 6:30!
Elevate Your Vail Picnic Experience
If you want the ultimate picnic experience, reserve your lunch with Picnic Vail! Let their team help you curate a picnic in a location of your choice for a truly one-of-a-kind experience. Food is provided by The Grazing Fox, offering a delicious assortment of cheese, charcuterie, fresh vegetables, dips, nuts, and more! Other picnic amenities include low table seating, rugs, pillows, baskets, plates, glassware, cutlery, an instant camera, and conversation cards.
Vail Valley Vacation Rentals
From lush meadows to tranquil lakeshores, Vail’s parks offer idyllic settings for a leisurely outdoor feast. Choose Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Colorado Properties to host your Vail getaway, and let our concierge help you plan the perfect retreat. Browse our Vail Valley vacation rentals and book your summer getaway today!
If you have a family of adventurers and are searching for the perfect summer destination, look no further than Vail, Colorado! Summertime in Vail is spectacular, with the warm sunshine, clear skies, and plenty of family-oriented fun. Whether you want to ride down exhilarating mountain coasters or bike mountain trails, there are summer activities in Vail for every family member! And Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices offers a wide range of family-friendly vacation rentals throughout Vail Valley, so you will have plenty of space to unwind after exploring beautiful Vail.
Have Fun on Vail Mountain
After the ski season, Vail Mountain transforms into a mecca of summer fun. If you are looking for thrilling adventures, bring your family to Epic Discovery. Take a scenic gondola ride, bounce on the bungee trampoline, fly down the mountain coaster, and soar on the zipline. You can also find the Nature Discovery Center here, where you can learn about natural history and local wildlife. You can join a naturalist for a free nature tour suitable for all ages!
Discover Family Activities at the Alpine Gardens
The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens are the highest alpine gardens in the country and a must-visit in Vail! The area comprises 19 gardens featuring high elevation plants from around the world. There are also great activities the whole family will love, including a children’s garden and daily scavenger hunts.
Explore the Great Outdoors
There are endless ways to get outside and explore the great outdoors with your family in Vail. If you want to embark on a family bike ride, we recommend Gore Creek Trail for a flat and easy ride. If your kids are animal lovers, Vail has several experiences for them. Go horseback riding in the mountains with Vail Stables or take a llama to lunch with Paragon Guides. And for those families that love the water, whitewater rafting with Sage Outdoors offers adrenaline-pumping fun for everyone!
Plan Your Vacation Around the Vail Family Fun Fest
The Vail Family Fun Fest is an annual event that takes place every Saturday in July at Lionshead Village. This free event offers fun for kids of all ages with several contests and group games. This festival is also an excellent way for the kids to learn something new at the Science Tent from local nature educators.
Family Vacation Rentals in Vail, Colorado
There are endless summer activities in Vail for families seeking adventure in the mountains. After a day of exploration, return to your Vail vacation rental with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Our spacious properties offer plenty of room for your family to spread out whether you are vacationing with five people or twenty. From cooling down in your private pool to cooking meals in the kitchen together, we have the perfect property for your family at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
Vail is one of the most beautiful places in the country, offering different types of mountain adventures throughout the seasons. And with the promise of warmer days on the horizon, now is an excellent time to explore the great outdoors. One of the best ways to see the mountains, valley, lakes, and wildlife is to join a Vail horseback riding tour. Horseback riding allows you to get off the beaten path and experience the true wild beauty of the Rockies. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices offers Vail vacation rentals that are the ideal place to unwind after a long day on the trails. It’s time to saddle up and explore the backcountry in Colorado this summer!
Vail Stables
Vail Stables is the only horseback riding service actually within Vail. Your backcountry ride will include views of the mountains, dense aspen forests, wildflowers, and local wildlife. They offer three different options for your ride, depending on how long you want to be on the trails. The one-hour Rocky Point Trail offers a fantastic introduction to horseback riding, where you will ride 600 feet in elevation to some of the best views of Vail Valley, Gore Range, and Beaver Creek.
If you have kids under five, you can sign up for a pony time where the kids can ride, feed, and pet the ponies.
Beaver Creek Stables
There is a horseback ride for everyone at Beaver Creek Stables. The Beaver Lake Ride is the most popular option to take you to the White River National Forest Wilderness area as you follow along Beaver Creek. This ride is a limited experience that only allows a certain amount of riders each season. If you are interested in a unique horseback riding experience, sign up for the two-hour picnic ride or the dinner and trail ride. The latter option will take you to Beano’s Cabin for an excellent dinner at the end of your ride.
Sage Outdoor Adventures
Sage Outdoor Adventures offers Vail horseback riding unlike anywhere else. They operate on a private 6,000-acre mountain that provides a quieter and more customizable experience. The property includes views of Castle Peak Mountain, Vail Valley, mountain lakes, and aspen and pine groves. Sign up for the two-hour tour, and your guide will tell you about the natural area as you take in the views and look for wildlife.
Experience Nature with Vail Horseback Riding
Spend your summer exploring the great outdoors in Vail Valley this summer. Vail horseback riding is only the beginning of outdoor adventures; there are endless ways to experience the beauty of our mountains. At Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, we have properties throughout Vail Valley from Beaver Creek to Lionshead. Discover your home away from home with our luxury Vail vacation rentals.
Vail is known for its winter recreation, but our mountain town is a fantastic place for year-round adventures. When the weather warms up, nature comes alive with blooming wildflowers in the valley, rushing rapids, and wildlife. You can experience all of nature’s splendor on the hiking trails in Vail. Whether you are interested in challenging mountain hikes or a leisurely walk with the family, there is a trail for everyone in Vail. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices offers a wide range of properties throughout Vail Valley. Lace up your hiking boots; it’s time to hit the trails in Colorado!
Meadows Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Meadows Loop offers a family-friendly hiking spot in Vail. There is minimal elevation gain as you walk through shaded forests and open meadows. This trail is an excellent place to look for local wildlife as you take in picturesque views of the Gore Range vistas.
Booth Creek Falls
Difficulty: Moderate
The Booth Creek Falls trail is a fantastic introduction to the natural wonders of Vail. The path is a two-mile hike that ends in a gorgeous 60-foot waterfall. But, the route is scenic from start to finish, with scenic Aspen groves, sandstone rock formations, meadows, and mountain views.
Upper Piney River Waterfall
Difficulty: Moderate
Upper Piney is one of the most scenic hiking trails in Vail and a popular route for Colorado travelers. The path follows the river as you walk through meadows, evergreen forests, and the Gore Range until you reach the cascading falls.
Shrine Ridge Trail
Difficulty: Moderate
Shrine Ridge Trail is a four-mile route in the White River National Forest. The beautiful trail starts through tranquil meadows with wildflowers and winds past two small creeks. You will then begin your descent up Shrine Ridge, where you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of Mt. of the Holy Cross and the surrounding ranges.
Gore Lake Trail
Difficulty: Hard
The Gore Lake Trail offers a challenging hiking trail in Vail for adventurers. The route is 13 miles with over 3,000 feet of elevation gain in Eagle Nest Wilderness. You can see the best of Vail on this hike, such as forests, meadows, an alpine lake, rocky cliffs, and views of the Gore Range.
Discover Hiking Trails in Vail this Summer
There are endless hiking trails in Vail that range from family-friendly routes to strenuous day trips. Read Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices hiking & walking page for more information on local hiking spots. Discover our Vail vacation rentals and find the ideal lodging for your hiking vacation. We invite you to experience everything Vail has to offer this summer!
If you think Vail is only for skiing during the winter months, think again! Vail Valley is surrounded by the idyllic Rocky Mountains, where you can find hundreds of miles of backcountry trails. One of the best ways to experience the deep powder snow of these trails is with a Vail snowmobile tour. Tours allow you to explore the beautiful backcountry with an experienced guide familiar with the terrain. Book a vacation rental with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and save money on your Vail snowmobile tour!
Sage Outdoor Adventures
Berkshire guests have the opportunity to receive a 10% discount on a snowmobile tour with Sage Outdoor Adventures. You can access the promo code by clicking the logo on our snowmobiling page. The trails at Sage are designed specifically for snowmobiling and even feature more acres than the Vail ski area.
They have several tour options available that every age and skill level can enjoy. The Adventure Tour is ideal for families visiting the area since you can bring a passenger for no additional cost. The Performance Tour is perfect for seasoned snowmobilers looking for an epic backcountry trip!
Vail Backcountry Tours
Vail Backcountry Tours offers rides through White River National Forest across the street from Vail mountain. The experienced guides offer three expeditions based on your preferences and experience. The 2-hour tour is a short trip perfect for beginners or those who don’t have enough time for the half-day excursion. You can even choose a private tour if you want a more intimate experience for your group. A Vail snowmobile tour is sure to be a heart-pumping adventure during your Colorado getaway.
Nova Guides
Nova Guides has 30+ years of outdoor recreation experience, making them a trusted tour operator throughout the Vail area. The Top of the Rockies Tour is their most popular trip available as a half or full-day tour. You will reach elevations of 12,500 feet with panoramic views of four mountain ranges.
For thrill-seekers, we recommend high-performance snowmobile tours through historic Camp Hale. If you feel comfortable exploring the backcountry on your own, then you can rent a snowmobile here as well.
Vail Colorado Luxury Lodging
Explore the awe-inspiring scenery of Colorado’s backcountry with an exciting Vail snowmobile tour. It’s important to note that some tour operators are not offering boots, goggles, and other clothing due to COVID-19. Please make sure to dress warm and check the websites for what you need to bring for your tour. Unwind at the end of the day at your Berkshire Hathaway vacation rental. Our luxury properties have everything you need to host the perfect vacation in scenic Vail.
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