Known just as much for its shimmering stands of aspens and grand mountain backdrop as it is for pedestrian-friendly streets lined with shops and restaurants, Vail in summer is the perfect Colorado vacation spot for your entire extended family.
Bring the kids, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins together for a summer trip no one will forget, with all-ages activities on land or in the water — like hiking, biking, whitewater rafting and off-roading. We even have recommendations for breaking off from the group!
You can gather the generations under one roof, too. Vail has plenty of family-friendly Colorado hotels: from multi-room condos with space to spread out at places like Vail Racquet Club Mountain Resort to luxury resorts with connecting suites like the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail or The Arrabelle at Vail Square, and everything in between.
Start planning your weeklong summer itinerary with the inspiration below.
Day 1: Hit the Ground Running (or Biking)
Morning: Get the lay of the land, along with some spectacular views, during a hike atop Vail Mountain with Eagle’s Loop, one of the resort’s easiest and shortest hiking trails. It will let you take in a kaleidoscope of colorful wildflowers and snow-covered peaks at the same time. Seeking a more difficult route perfect for just the adults? Gore Creek Trail near Vail offers 4 miles of short, steep sections winding through thick aspen groves and grassy alpine meadows; keep an eye out for wildlife, as elk, bald eagles and bighorn sheep have been known to make appearances.
Afternoon: Biking in Vail can mean taking a paved path, dirt road or singletrack trail, so decide which fit is right for your family before you go. Golden Gate Trail, a wide dirt path that descends 1,000 feet down Vail Mountain, is a fun intermediate ride for skilled mountain bikers. For a more casual ride, rent bikes and take the meandering Gore Valley Trail, which stretches east out of Vail Village and west out of Lionshead Village.
Evening: End your day by strolling the pedestrian-friendly streets of Vail Village and Lionshead Village. Admire Tyrolean architecture inspired by old-world Europe, taking in charming highlights like clock and bell towers, and seeking out hidden gems like the Bavarian maiden atop La Tour Restaurant & Bar and Manny the woolly mammoth inside Lionshead Jewelers. One of our favorites is Sunbird Park, where connecting bridges and swooping slides make it a perfect place for burning off energy, especially if you’re staying near The Arrabelle. In summer, bring your swimsuits because your young ones will want to cool off in the jumping fountains.
Day 2: Check Must-Do Attractions Off Your List
Morning: Vail has fun things to do for your entire family, including must-sees like Nature Discovery Center. The centerpiece of this Vail Mountain gem is a yurt featuring exhibits of native wildlife like lynx and black bears, but the real attraction is found right outside. Let a naturalist guide you on an easy or moderate nature hike of no more than a mile, keeping an eye out for colorful Colorado wildflowers like the fuchsia rosy paintbrush or light purple common harebell.
Another option is Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the world’s highest-elevation botanical garden, where you can spot the vibrant Himalayan blue poppy and sea star-esque edelweiss from the Alps. If the idea of strolling a garden doesn’t excite the kids, tell them about the prize for locating clues along the way as part of the attraction’s scavenger hunt.
Afternoon: If you’re on Vail Mountain June through Labor Day, take Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) up to Epic Discovery for an early afternoon focused on family-friendly activities (the gondola stops running at 3:30 p.m.). Try the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster that takes you soaring through the trees, Eagle’s Nest Tubing down a 550-foot hill (there’s a mini option for kids, too) and Little Eagle Kids Zipline that’s designed especially for children. Those who opt out of the activities can visit the overlook framing Mount of the Holy Cross (named for the distinctive cross-shaped pattern of snow on its face), then grab a snack like pillowy pretzel bites and a refreshing cold beer from Talon’s Deck Outdoor Grill.
Evening: Now it’s the parents’ turn to take a night off while the grandparents watch the kids. After dinner at Sweet Basil or Osaki’s — both Vail restaurants made the MICHELIN Guide list — go for a custom cocktail at Bad Kitty Lounge (just tell the bartender your preference — sweet, spicy or bitter — and let them take it from there), a tasting at Vail Brewing Co. or 10th Mountain Whiskey, or Skee-Ball, pinball and other arcade games at Chasing Rabbits.
Day 3: Take a Midweek Break
Morning: Grab a coffee at a local favorite like Loaded Joe’s or Yeti’s Grind (you can’t beat those names, or their specialty drinks like the Ying Yang Yeti from Yeti’s or the Milky Way from Loaded Joe’s) and let the kids enjoy playing at one of Vail’s parks and playgrounds. Set among storybook villages and themed like pirate ships, stick figures and more, these are great outdoor spaces for letting their imaginations — and their bodies — run wild.
Afternoon: Staying in a hotel with a pool? The whole family will love lounging poolside with a good book while soaking up the sun, relaxing sore muscles in the soothing hot tub or splashing away in the heated pool. Favorites include the indoor-outdoor pool at the Sonnenalp Hotel, the water feature and surrounding gardens at Lodge Tower and the infinity-edge pool, complete with cabanas, at Grand Hyatt Vail.
Evening: Have a sitter come to where you’re staying or hire childcare to take the kids on an outing of their own so you can take an adults-only adventure. Summer in Vail means there are many signature events to choose from. Mid-June through July, Bravo! Vail Music Festival brings orchestras from around the world to perform in picturesque natural settings. And in August, Vail Wine Classic invites wine enthusiasts to taste offerings from more than 100 wineries, plus take part in events like wine hikes and paired dinners. See the full signature summer event lineup.
Day 4: Explore Arts & Culture
Morning: Vail is a delight for artists and connoisseurs, with natural inspiration everywhere you look. Peruse murals, sculptures and other public installations as part of the Art in Public Places program; highlights include carved-stone Riddles along Wall Street in Vail Village and Rocky Mountain Majesty, a life-size bronze of a bighorn ram in Lionshead. If it’s a Wednesday morning, take a free hourlong art walk starting at Vail Village Welcome Center.
Afternoon: Have the grandparents or a babysitter take the kids to Vail Public Library for story time or one of their kids programs while you pop into one (or several) of Vail’s art galleries, showcasing everything from landscape photography to fine jewelry. There’s contemporary abstracts at Artful Soul, paintings by regional artists at Gallery 166, and fossils and minerals fit for a museum at Lamina of Vail.
Evening: Grab a blanket and settle into the lawn at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater (aka The Amp) for a summer concert by a chart-topping artist or a visiting orchestra. The Amp also hosts free Hot Summer Nights concerts each summer. Concessions are available, or pack a picnic. Check the events calendar for this year’s lineup.
Day 5: Take Your Family Vacation from Mild to Wild
Morning/Afternoon: Challenge yourselves with rock climbing, guided by Apex Mountain School or Paragon Guides, both offering instruction for all ages. Prefer to stay grounded? Go off-roading in an ATV, Side X Side or Jeep. Navigate tough terrain and steep inclines driving with Native Jeeps, or take a guided or self-guided ATV tour with Nova Guides.
Snowmelt from the mountains makes for epic rapids, especially in early summer, and the warmest part of the day is perfect for whitewater rafting. Outfitters like Timberline Tours and Sage Outdoor Adventures lead Upper Colorado River trips for young children, older adults and everyone in between. For an experience that’s neither in water nor on land, reserve a hot-air balloon ride for soaring (literally) views of Vail Valley and the Rockies.
Evening: If you’re staying in a vacation rental with a kitchen, hire a personal chef to come in and cook dinner for the whole family. That way you get a restaurant-worthy meal in a relaxed setting with an expert who will work with your group on dietary restrictions, kids’ menus and cuisine preferences. You might even learn a trick or two in the kitchen!
Day 6: Embrace Your Inner Cowboy
Morning: Horseback riding around Vail is like horseback riding nowhere else. Start small with Vail Stables, which has a petting farm for the young’uns in addition to guided trail rides and goat yoga (aka GOGA). Or have a real-live wrangler with Lakota Guides teach you how to steer your horse. For an easier pace, book a lunch date with a llama with Paragon Guides and hike alongside an actual llama to a picnic lunch. The best part? Llamas are pack animals, so you don’t have to carry a thing.
Afternoon: Add another water sport to your resume and try your hand at fly fishing. Gore Creek runs right through town, and its Gold Medal section — easily accessible from Vail Village and Lionshead — is a first-class trout stream. Enlist the help of Colorado Angling Company to reel in your catch.
Evening: Take a break from home-away-from-home accommodations with a glamping experience at Piney River Ranch or camping nearby. Fall asleep under the stars, wake up to see wildlife and be sure to follow the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace.
Day 7: Revisit Your Favorites (or Anything You Missed)
Morning: Book a tee time for one of Vail’s world-class golf courses, most of which are open mid-May through October. The 18-hole Vail Golf Club follows the slow turns of Gore Creek, and Sonnenalp Club is members-only but welcomes guests of the Sonnenalp Hotel. If mini golf is more your speed, hit Gore Creek Mini Golf in Lionshead Village.
Afternoon: By now you know the drill — afternoons are for activities on the water. Kayaking lessons and kids’ camps are available through Alpine Kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals are available on calm waters like Piney Lake.
Evening: End your vacation where you began it, strolling the cobblestone streets of Lionshead and Vail Village, and shop for your ideal souvenir: melt-in-your-mouth chocolate-sea salt-caramel fudge from Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory or a painted gondola ornament from The Gilded Spruce, all the way up to sterling-silver or 14-karat yellow-gold jewelry from The Golden Bear (their Mama Bear necklace has been called “a symbol of Vail in jewelry form”).
Family-Friendly Restaurants
Breakfast or Brunch
Have a leisurely start to the morning at a local favorite. The Little Diner (which serves breakfast all day long) features sweet or savory crepes — or options with a bit of both, like the Cheesy Apples & Bacon. Dine on “the world’s best Benedicts” at Westside Cafe or sip a mimosa, Bloody Mary or a specialty brunch cocktail like the citrusy Jessica Rabbit at Vintage. Find more breakfast and brunch ideas.
Lunch
Cherry-red umbrellas and flower boxes adorn the patio at Big Bear Bistro, serving up salads, soups and gourmet sandwiches on fresh-baked bread. Grab a slice or a whole pie from Pazzo’s Pizzeria; create your own combination, or choose a specialty pizza like the Azteca, topped with jalapenos, cilantro, tomatoes, garlic and pepperoni. If you’re in the mood for a burger or wings while you watch the game, visit Garfinkel’s sports bar. Find more lunch ideas.
Dinner
Vail offers casual and fine-dining options for dinner, at restaurants featuring a variety of cuisines. Have casual Mexican at El Segundo (who doesn’t love a plate of heaping nachos?) or Italian at Vendetta’s. Sister German restaurants Almresi and Alpenrose serve Bavarian classics like schnitzel and bratwurst, and Sonnenalp Swiss Chalet’s menu offers meat or cheese fondue, as well as raclette. See Vail’s full restaurant list.
Find more family-friendly dining recommendations
Keep Planning Your Big-Family Summer Vacation in Vail
- Start with our top 10 planning tips
- Don’t forget to think about the teens
- Experience family fun in every season
- Find 100 bucket-list things to do in Vail
- Plan a trip for the whole family in winter instead
- Know your travel preference? Discover itinerary ideas by interest
Hero image courtesy of 970/Tom Cohen