My husband and I are going to Vail for a ski trip in January. We are from the east, and this will be our first trip out west skiing. We are staying in Vail Village at the Lodge at Vail. I am wondering what type of clothes to pack for the evening. I do not expect that we would be doing the "nightclub" thing ... rather a nice dinner to end the evening. What is the general dress code for restaurants for dinner? I would prefer to stay rather casual, and not have to pack nicer dinner clothes and shoes! Is there a good selection of casual restaurants that offer a nice dinner menu in Vail Village? (We will not be renting a car.)

In general, mountain life is pretty casual. I think you can do fine with dressy slacks, dressy sweater, and boots. That is for the expensive restaurants. For most restaurants, casual clothing is the way to go. There are plenty of restaurants in Vail Village, plus there is a shuttle bus that services all of Vail.

Cheryl,

I agree with the above poster; most restaurants are fairly casual, even some of the nicer places.

We have been to Vail a few times (we are also from the east), and the dressiest I got was stirrup pants and a nice sweater; my husband does not bring a tie or jacket.

Check out Garfields (or is it Garfinkels) for some Apre-ski fun. I can't recall if it is at Vail Village or LionsHead.

Beware - once you ski out west, New Hampshire and Vermont will not be the same. (we like Stowe and Mt. Snow)

Have a great time,

Thank you so much for the replies ... Can I get away with jeans in the casual restaurants? I would love to keep the trip very casual, but still want to be able to get a great dinner! Thanks.

Cheryl:

Yes, you can get away with jeans at just about any of the casual restaurants in Vail. Even for the more formal dining, slacks and a nice sweater would be fine.

Garfinkels is in Lionshead. Since you're at the Lodge, the Red Lion is similiar and closer. There's a ton of restaurants in Vail - casual, but not cheap.

E-mail me if you have more questions. b

The rule of thumb in a place like Vail or Aspen is: the more money you have the worse you dress. If you want to look like a muli-millionaire or celebrity just wear a dirty t-shirt and ripped jeans - and don't wash or comb you hair for a couple of days. No reason to shave either. If you want to look like a regular shmuck nice pants and a sweater will get you into anywhere in Vail. Coats and ties are pretty much illegal in Colorado outside of a few stuffy places in Denver.

Cheryl: I would like to hear your comments about the Lodge at Vail after your trip. We are thinking of booking there the end of September joined by some friends, possibly renting a two bedroom, two bath unit. The prices are so low it scares me. I know that is off season to them, but perfect for us, but is there a reason it is so reasonable? We're not sure if we'd be better off in two regualar hotel rooms there instead of the apartment--especially as we will not even touch the kitchen.

I lived in Vail for three years; The Lodge at Vail is an average hotel, but you won't be spending too much time in your room. Apre-ski spots are Garfinkels and Red Lion. For a nice dining experience visit Sweet Basil or Pepi's. If you are looking for a total winter/dining experience try Beano's (check spelling) in Beaver Creek. The experience begins with a horse-drawn sleigh uphill to the restaurant. You will love the ambience. The food and service is tolerable, but the dining is a small portion of the evening. You should consider, Hubcap Brewery for local beer, Cookshack - restaurant located at Mid-Vail, on the mountain, swanky, upscale lunch. I used to work there. It is frequented by celebrities and the filthy rich. Al Gore, Ross Perot, Elle Mcferson and foreign diplomats. A burger costs $13. MAke a reservation. Don't stay long, Cookshack is notorious for attracting the fair-weather skier. Check out Ambrosia for a morning pastry.