Will be flying into Denver and staying in Vail next week, but planning to do a day trip to Breckenridge.

Would gladly take any recommendations for activities/restaurants/etc. for Vail, Breckenridge, or surrounding areas. Just the wife and I with no kids to entertain.

Also, a can't miss lunch spot in Denver or on the way to/from Vail on travel days would be appreciated as well!

Appreciate any recommendations you have!

What do You like food wise?

Vail Pass bike ride, Rafting, hiking (Vail/BC/beaver lake, Piney Lake or Holy Cross). You can drive to leadville (It's gorgeous and go to homestake resevoir), on Saturdays there's the Minturn Farmers Market, on Sundays there's Vail farmers market.

If you dont mind driving towards glenwood, then hanging lake

Food: Ti Amo, Westside Cafe, Little Diner, Avon Bakery, Vin48.

Best Burger - Bully Ranch
Tacos - Rocky Mountain Taco (Minturn/Eagle Vail/Avon)

I'm sure I'm missing something so feel free to ask.

I second the farmers market in Vail. There is also a nice hike right on the outskirts of town. I think it's the Booth Falls trailhead. It's a decently challenging, so if it's super hot, you might not enjoy it as much. But the view at the waterfall is fantastic!

Breckenridge tap house has great beer and the fish and chips are very good

We are not picky eaters. Just like good food. Have reservations at Mountain Standard and Juniper for a couple of dinners based off other recommendations.

Definitely intend on doing some hiking. Nothing crazy, but are both younger (30's and 40's) and in good enough shape. Not worried about the heat living in Texas. Really looking forward to the weather!

Appreciate all the recommendations so far!

Ate at the Blue Stag in Breck on Friday, casual indoor/outdoor place, they have some very good elk and bison dishes. As well as some decent bourbons.

Smart Lady. Thats some amazing advice.

Just an FYI. It's gets HOT in Vail/BC when you're in the Sun.

80 in Avon feels like 95+ in TX. Also, bring sunscreen or a light cover if you're going hiking and water.

The worst sunburns I've ever seen (lived in TX, Mxico, CA, CO, etc) are CO summer sunburns. They are EPIC.

Any golf courses worth flying with golf clubs up there to play? May only have a day for golf and leaning towards not bringing them UNLESS there is a real good course that is a can't miss.

Bayou City said:

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What do You like food wise?

Vail Pass bike ride, Rafting, hiking (Vail/BC/beaver lake, Piney Lake or Holy Cross). You can drive to leadville (It's gorgeous and go to homestake resevoir), on Saturdays there's the Minturn Farmers Market, on Sundays there's Vail farmers market.

If you dont mind driving towards glenwood, then hanging lake

Food: Ti Amo, Westside Cafe, Little Diner, Avon Bakery, Vin48.

Best Burger - Bully Ranch
Tacos - Rocky Mountain Taco (Minturn/Eagle Vail/Avon)

I'm sure I'm missing something so feel free to ask.

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I'm pretty sure we went to Turquoise Lake on our "off" day in Leadville. Did about 6 miles. Beautiful, with some old mining relics.

ags2007 said:

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Any golf courses worth flying with golf clubs up there to play? May only have a day for golf and leaning towards not bringing them UNLESS there is a real good course that is a can't miss.

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Where are you staying in vail? If you are at certain partner properties you can play one of the Red Sky courses. Those are worth bringing clubs. Keystone River Course is public and has lots of elevation but isn't necessarily close. The two courses in Vail are nice but not going to blow you away with "mountain" golf.

Red Sky & Cordillera

Cordillera is private. If You want to play lmk.

Yup that's by Leadville. It's a great one.

4 eagle ranch does UTV, Horseback riding, fly fishing, zip lining etc

It's in Wolcott

Juniper and Mountain Standard are good. MS and Sweet Basil are your typical overly expensive but good Dining choice s in Vail.

If you want a solid sando a decent price in Vail - Big Bear Bistro is Vibe and the sausages at Blu Cow are hella highly rated as well,

Juniper is in Edwards. It's amazing. There's the riverwalk theater there too. E town or the Rose for drinks before Juniper (save you some $$$)

Village Bagel is also solid sauce

Hovey & Harrison (Spelling)

If You want the LOCAL VIBE -

In Avon that's gonna be Bobs for the Juan fres and beers pool and sports
In eagle Vail - Route 6 for good ass local drunk vibes
Vail - segundo until close and then el Jorge (the George) or shakedown/bridgestreet if they have music

Also gotta slide into vendettas LATE night for a slice

Vendettas and George are open until 3 same w shakedown IIRC

RIP Magustos

Feel feee to PM me. I grew up in Vail and lived there until last year. Now mi hermano y su familia viven all.

Highly reco Minturn Country Club as a divey grill your own steak place, has a unique rustic ambiance, a salad bar & the NY Strip is only $18.

2nd Beau Jo's in Idaho Springs recommendation

Piney Lake is incredible for the scenery, hiking, and being on or around the water (https://www.pineyriverranch.com/the-ranch/)

The Raven and Keystone Ranch golf courses are good tracks with scenic views.

Man, I really miss Leadville/Twin Lakes. I spent a lot of time there during the summers in college.

Personally prefer Cheeba Hut sandos in Silverthorne to Beau Jo's pizza in IS.

It's the wrong week but starting July 25 is the Vail dance festival. Got tickets to it once and it was great. Just an FYI for anyone browsing this thread.

If you do Beau Jo's, only do the one in Idaho Springs. The one in Arvada just isn't the same.

TXTransplant said:

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I second the farmers market in Vail. There is also a nice hike right on the outskirts of town. I think it's the Booth Falls trailhead. It's a decently challenging, so if it's super hot, you might not enjoy it as much. But the view at the waterfall is fantastic!

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I second this hike - Well worth the effort!

Up the Creek Is literally sysco reheated. I know the bartenders.

Bayou City said:

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Up the Creek Is literally sysco reheated. I know the bartenders.

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Good to know

Bumping

Trying to decide between Vail and Breckenridge over Thanksgiving. Pros and cons to either?

What do you want out of the trip? Casual/laid back vibes or more European luxury?

A bit early for skiing although they'll both be open. If skiing, I'd go breck due to higher elevation.

Thanksgiving is a total waste of time and money to go skiing at either of thise spots unless you want to ski 100% man made fake after uploading mid chair and skiing 100 acres of 5 total runs open.

Also, if you do go pre-december, your best bet is Abasin or Keystone. Not Breck or Vail. They open first and Will usually have the most terrain open.

Breck will have been open longer than Vail but the snow making capabilities at Vail are far superior to those at Breck. Thus, its really going to depend on the temperature. If we catch a cold snap then Vail may be equal or better to Breck when you factor in the crowds and the terrain. Beaver Creek also opens Thanksgiving.

I spent a week in Fairplay in August with my daughter. I hiked the DeCaLiBron one day (4x14er loop), went up to Breckenridge one day and hiked Quandary Peak, and did 2 days of rock climbing with her (she climbs, I "support"). We also went down to Buena Vista and she rented a board to surf in the river (again, I "supported"). Breckenridge was an expensive zoo. Glad to have spent my time (& money) in the smaller towns. I like simple things, and after testing myself on a hard hike, having a few smoky old-fashioneds at the distillery in Fairplay and a giant burger form the food truck out back was a nice evening.

Probably just a laid back style. I should explain, I will be in Denver for a class and will have the few days off for Thanksgiving, so I was just looking at close-ish driving areas. We will not be flying in only to visit those places but we were hoping to snowboard for sure. Sad to hear it's a bit too early.

Keystone is perfect. Promise.

I skied Veterans Day either two or three years ago at Keystone. Only a few runs open but was good for getting my son on the mountain to get his ski legs back under him. I don't think there was as much snow last year.