Vail mountain opens Nov. 21st. This might mean that several restaurants aren't open. But frequently those that do have 2 for 1 dinner specials. I love the mountains this time of year.. It just will be a slower experience.

Slower is good!

Eating in Vail Village is relatively pricey. There is a restaurant in the Sonnenalp Resort, called Bully Ranch, that is very good for burgers, salads, etc. It's not expensive.

the secret to staying in Vail is to go west on I-70 about 10 miles to Avon to do all your shopping needs..that is where Super Walmart is...Vails grocery stores are a bit pricey even with store cards such as Krogar with is City Market there....also all the other stores like Radio Shack and cheaper liguor stores are in Avon too....gas is cheaper as well...Avon has the regular chain places to eat like Outback...lot of fast food there also considering a breakfast burrito is 3.50 in Vail at McDonalds....Miniturn has a great mexican place also...Avon has an Orvis fly shop with all the details on fishing the local streams and ponds..Vail may still be in the half off period where you can get 2 for 1 meal deals...they have a great daily local paper that details all the specials going on in and around the village...be sure and take advantage of the free bus service that takes you just about anywhere you need...have fun, it is a great place to window shop and people watch...it is not as upitty as some may think...pricey yes but it is a resort town, most eating place have menus posted out front so you will know before hand what your going to pay...if any thing, be sure and visit Maroon Bells and hike that area...it is beautiful anytime of the year...

Just wondering that based on the snow, is Independence Pass now closed?

I checked the Colo. Dept. of Transportation website (http://www.cotrip.org/rWeather/All_R...08_135802.html) and saw that Independence Pass is open at the moment. They must have been able to clear the snow that fell last weekend. It's forecast to be sunny and milder for the rest of the week in most of the state.

The conditions on the seasonal passes are near the bottom of the webpage mentioned above if you want to check up-to-the-minute conditions.

We were in Vail in September and did the loop you describe. It is an all day trip and a lot of driving not leaving much time to enjoy. If I had it to do over, I would have driven to Aspen early, done the Maroon Bells in the morning when the lighting is better, ate lunch in Aspen, driven up to Independence Pass, got out, looked around and gone back the same way. (I don't know...maybe it's the same mileage but if it is snowing, Independence Pass could not be fun without the right gear and it was a scarry enough drive on a dry road! Wouldn't want to be slipping around - some big ole SUV's took their space right out of the middle of the road which was hardly big enough for 2 cars in some spots!).

Incidentally, while returning from the Maroon Bells on the bus, the driver slammed on his brakes throwing everyone forward. There crossing the road in front of the bus was a shimmering black juvenile bear and we just missed him. He turned around a looked at us. Amazing. Wish his Momma had taught him to look both ways though!

We did do Leadville from the southerly direction and back (don't have a map right now). Leadville is, well, a small old town. We went in the tourist office and got a walking tour map. Went in the (???) hotel which was bigger inside than expected with large gift shop and exhibits.

As far as food, check Trip Advisor. Moose Pizza was very good and relatively inexpensive. We had my birthday splurge dinner at La Tour which Tripadvisor reviewers say has slow service, and it does, but we had a very nice dinner...and wine. Would have been less had everyone not decided to deviate from the plan to order the prix fix menu.

The Centre V Restaurant in the Arrabelle had a happy hour with half price drinks and complimentary french fries. We enjoyed a few there!

Our 20 somethings got us to go to a bar in the middle of Vail Village (Bridge St.?) on Wednesday night to play Rock and Roll Bingo (can't think of the name of the place - red and white awning). If you like loud music, doing shots, and bingo, you will like Rock and Roll Bingo. End of story.

We rode the gondola to the top and it was beautiful up there. So husband and son decided to ride chair lift in center of Vail to top. ha ha ha It was snowing and they froze their litte 'ears' off. Luckily the girls had decided to shop!

Check out the Vail Philharmonic. Not sure what's going on that time of year.

Speed a little, and maybe you'll meet my uncle's cousin, the cop. :0) haha

There is a little town, I have to think of it......Minturn. Cute for a stroll.

Check out 1 hr west of there the Glenwood Springs. $15 per person per day. Free parking. Fun and relaxing.

There are all kinds of walking/hiking trails. Bring a bell, so you don't meet a bear or any other wildlife.

Cheers.

Go to the Hot Springs Pool in Glenwood Springs. It is wonderful. It's also a beautiful trip getting there through the canyon.