Vail Family Vacations

I've heard Vail likened to a Disney Ski Village due to its Alpine Village look and feel. Perhaps it is not like other ski areas scattered across the U.S., but I fell in love with Vail's Alpine setting the moment I arrived, and it remains one of my favorite ski destinations.

Vail is made up of a few villages. When referring to Vail, most are describing Vail Village. Designed to resemble the Swiss Alps' village of Zermatt, Vail Village is a pedestrian village of cobblestone streets, as well as heated walkways that melt away the snow! Here, resorts and condos occupy upper floors, while street-level shops, boutiques and restaurants provide ample shopping opportunities at the base of Vail Mountain. The Vista Bahn ski lift, a high-speed chair lift, sits at its base and whisks skiers to the top.

Lionshead Village is one of Vail's newest editions. Having received a major facelift, the village reflects the style and luxury of a European ski village at the base of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, another high-speed ride.

Other villages include Sandstone, Cascade Village, Golden Peak and East Vail, where the Children's Ski & Snowboard School and daycare for the youngest ones make this a popular area for families, not to mention hardcore skiers looking for easy access to Vail's back bowls.