Madison & Evan
Things To Do
Westside Cafe & Market
Such an amazing breakfast spot (actually the one we went to after we picked our venue). Their Chilaquiles is a meal for the books. Evan got the Huevos Rancheros and my oh my were they amazing as well!
White Bison
Super close to the Lodge hotel. This restaurant is in the Village. Actually one of the first places Evan went to on his very first visit to Vail. Pretty much anything on the menu is incredible.
Garfinkel's
ONE OF THE BEST (& oldest) restaurants in Vail. Maddie grew up going here her whole life. This is in Lionshead, another village close to vail. Take the town shuttle over, or walk if the weather is nice (you never know in Colorado). Their chicken nuggets are stellar. They have a ton of bar type food. This is an amazing local spot that is a must in Vail!
Bol
Great place for a night out. This is an upscale bowling alley. They provide drinks and food. This is right in Vail Village and so much fun!
The Little Diner
This is another restaurant in Lionshead, that looks amazing. The food looks incredible and the reviews on Yelp definitely don't lie!
Vail Brewing Company - Vail Village
This brewery is definitely hipster-esque with lots of wood and bare pendant bulbs, as well as a wall mural artfully depicting how beer is made. Their beers are made with mountain-fed water and mainly locally-sourced hops and malts, as well. Yum!
Swiss Chalet Restaurant
The aptly named Swiss Chalet is part of the Sonnenalp Hotel, a fun alpine eatery with servers dressed in dirndls and lederhosen. Yes, the homemade spätzle and German sausages are delicious, but the main reason to come is the fondue. Bubbling pots blending Swiss Cheese’s are laced with white wine, herbs, garlic, and Kirsswasser (a German cherry brandy), and are served alongside veggies and bread for dipping. For dessert, gooey melted hazelnut milk chocolate and dark chocolate taste heavenly on fresh fruit, brownie bites and sponge cake squares. Great place to stop by for appetizers or dinner that is super close to the Village.
Matsuhisa
There are many reasons to dine at the Nobu-affiliated Matsuhisa, from sushi laced with truffle oil to sake served in a frozen bamboo shoot. I drooled over their 72-hour marinated miso cod and its caramelized crunch, the house sushi roll stuffed with salmon and guacamole, and the shishito peppers rolled in thick sea salt. For dessert? Green tea ice cream-laced lava cake! This all being said, the hands down tastiest dish is the a DIY raw Wagyu beef dish you cook yourself atop a solid block of Himalayan sea salt. Not only is it fun, but the meat is so tasty no dipping sauce was needed. Meals here pair perfectly with the mountain views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Great place for dinner in the village, that may be a bit pricier, but definitely worth it!
Red Lion
If you're looking for a more casual night and some excellent bar food, head to the Red Lion. You'll feel welcome right away in this cozy and rustic bar scene. They have live music just about every night. This place has been around since 1962 and is ran almost entirely by locals, which attributes to its hospitable and comfy environment.
The George
The George almost immediately feels like a speak- easy as soon as you walk through the doors. Located in the basement of the Mountain Haus Hotel, you will see mostly locals, as it is one of Vail's best kept secrets. You may also get a chance to rub elbows with some famous people, as this is where they hangout to stay out of sight from the general public. They have some of the best hot drinks in Vail if you're hoping to warm up on a chilly night. Definitely a great late night and local hangout!
Mountain Standard
This amazing restaurant is right on the river in the village. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but I had the corned pork shank that was paired with gruèyer whipped potato’s and the best coleslaw I may have ever had. Top it off with an extremely delicious old fashioned and you have one of my favorite meals in Vail! I would recommend making a reservation or calling ahead because this restaurant does shut down for a few weeks in the year. If Mountain Standard does happen to be closed, their sister restaurant, Sweet Basil, will be open and is another great option with the same caliber of food. Enjoy!
10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirits
This cozy little tasting room is located right by the river in the village and always seems to have a great crowd. The charming mini barrels that read, “whisky worth fighting for” will be an immediate draw to get you in the door. Kick back, relax, and enjoy some incredible whisky that will be sure to warm you up on a cold day or night!
Sonnenalp Hotel
This hotel is right across the street from the Chapel, where the ceremony will be held. This hotel is extremely historic in the Vail Valley. The original Sonnenalp Hotel was opened in 1919 in the Bavarian Alps by Gretl and Karlheinz Fäßler. When it became clear their sons also wanted in on the hotel business, the couple began looking for a second location, finally settling on the picturesque Rocky Mountain-hugged Vail. Today, the Sonnenalp Hotel is still operated by the same family, though it’s hard to imagine it started as a small motel in 1979, as today it’s a gorgeous 5-star hotel well worth the trip on its own.
Vail Nordic Center
Great place to go for cross-country skiing rentals, their restaurant is killer as well! So fun if you are looking for some adventures to embark on in Vail!
Hanging Lake
This is one of the best hikes in Colorado. Obviously, it depends on the weather if you’ll be doing it in sneakers or snow shoes. Either way, if you want to see something that will take your breath away, hanging lake is one of those places you’ll never forget.
Vail Backcountry Tours
One of the most enticing things about this company is their 2 hour guided snow mobile tour to see breathtaking terrain and stop at their private Yurt for a hot beverage and snack. This, of course, will be dependent on the snow accumulation in Vail. However, if you are looking to get outside and explore, this would be such an amazing and great adventure.
Booth Falls trailhead
This Hike is pretty close to the village. It is about a 6 mile hike and passes through lakes, waterfalls, and aspen forests. Just check out some of the pictures and reviews of this hike, and it will be enough to make you want to run out there yourself. It is rated as difficult as you will be climbing over 3,000 feet, but will be worth it when you reach the end and attempt to take in the phenomenal views.
Beaver Creek
Just a short drive from Vail, Beaver Creek is another village that has some great shopping and dining. One of Maddie's favorite things to do there is go ice skating on the rink located in the heart of the village. If you are looking to do some exploring, the trip up to Beaver Creek is definitely worth it.
Breckenridge
About 50 minutes East from Vail (or on the way to Vail from Denver) , "Breck" hosts a bundle of charming and unique boutiques, ski & snowboard shops, and delectable restaurants. To top it off, it is an outdoor paradise with a boat load of both snow and non-snow related activities. Evan and I have done everything from snowshoeing from the Breckenridge Nordic Center, to shopping around the village, and spending time warming up in Carboy Winery (I work for the one in Denver, fun place to do wine tastings). Breck is also home to Breckenridge Brewery and Breckenridge Distillery which would be great Colorado staples to go and tour. Hit the slopes and go tubing right before ski season starts on fresh, powdery snow. You don't even need to worry about hiking your tube up the tubing mountain each time, they have a "magic carpet" that will take you to the top, much like an escalator. Click the 'View' link to see the 15 most sought after things to do in Breck!