Minturn

The Vail Valley stretches far beyond the town of Vail. Minturn began to thrive in 1987, when the Rio Grande Railway extended a narrow-gauge line into town to carry away the zinc, copper, silver, and lead extracted from nearby mines. The main street has an eclectic collection of antiques, curio, and other shops, plus popular restaurants housed in the old buildings. It's a good place to take a break from skiing and grab a bite.