<<I believe some of you are living in the past......>>

AA, I must have been imagining all the cranes and construction I saw in Vail FOUR DAYS ago.

ok, ok, I got the message.

I misread and I thought the talk was about the Lionshead Lodge.....

can we continue now.....

And the kicker is -- The Lodge at Lionshead is on the eastern edge of the Lionshead area and completely out of the construction zone. Personally I don't view the lodge as being in Lionshead but between the two areas. But that is probably more of a technicality.

OK, now I'm rethinking our trip. My husband has a business trip to Denver and we wanted to spend 4 nights in the mountains (he says it is to celebrate my birthday but I really now it is to check out the ski areas). Thought Vail might make a good base but you all are advising not. So where? Sister advised Aspen but we have stayed there before. You are advising Ann to stay in Dillon. Is this a good base? Looks like it is closer to Denver than even Vail. Thanks so much.

Vail is fine. It is just I would not recommend staying in the Lionshead area. But I am guessing you might get a good deal to stay in Lionshead.

I am not a big fan of Dillon but I think Frisco would be nice. And Breckenridge is a nice ski area with a wide variety of activities.

PS -- Frisco would be a slightly more convenient base than Dillon because of access to highways.

I am looking at other options other than Vail, how does this sound and is it a nice addition to our itninery.

From Glenwood springs go to Steamboat springs via the 131 then leave steamboat springs for our Dillon condo via route 40/onto 9.

As we can still visit Vail but maybe as a trip from our Lake Dillon base.

Is this doable?

YES... do it.

131 is a pretty drive........ not AWESOME, but pretty, and it's a road that a lot of tourists don't drive. I prefer it going the other way, but.....

Ya, it is doable in the sense that anything is doable. Furiedleader is correct in that it is pleasant but nothing unusual. And Steamboat is OK in the summer. And it is long ways around doing it that way. I forgot your schedule from prior postings but the run through Aspen over Independence Pass, Leadville, and then either Minturn or Copper would be more interesting. But don't cross off Vail, there is construction in Steamboat and Breckenridge. Cannot avoid it. Summer is when we build things.

I don't think anyone is really suggesting not staying in Vail--unless they just don't care for it. It is directly off the highway with easy access in and out. It is a bit closer to Aspen, etc. Frisco is fine but on the side of the pass closer to Denver.
You have to park your car in Vail in any case and take the shuttle if you go out of the center.
I'd stay in Vail or somewhere west of there rather than east (Frisco, Breck, etc.).
Steamboat is not as interesting as the areas nearer Aspen (on your 4 day trip). There are at least 3 other areas near Aspen, and if you are not aware, Aspen mountain is a toughie--you need to be a pretty accomplished skiier. Pretty pretty place, of course.

Part of our trip is from Ouray via delta arriving in Glenwood springs, then on to Vail via I70 cause people said this tunnel and views good?

But would we be better leaving GS out and possibly staying in Carbondale, then taking Ind pass via twin lakes then up the 24 past Leadville going past minturn to arrive at VAIL, don't think there's much diff in driving distances.

As you can see still open to 'fine tuning' as its not over till the fat lady sings!!

Ann, I think you are getting a little confused. There is no real tunnel until you hit the continental divide east of Dillon. There is a very brief tunnel in Glenwood canyon. There is absolutely nothing in Carbondale so am not sure why you would want to stay there. Your original plan is fine. The Glenwood canyon drive on I-70 should not be missed. And should plan to hit a couple of the rest areas -- especially Hanging Lake.

Frank,
That's an understatement, i was confused in that i thought glenwood canyon drive was the tunnel, now i understand.

Will keep to plans and have hanging lake on 'must see' list.

I have done so much reading and research feel i know Colorado intimately!!

Will do a trip report on my return, again, Frank, thanks for being so helpful.

I stayed in Vail-Lionshead two weeks ago. While there is some construction, I didn't find it at all disruptive or noisy. I too had read about the large cranes and was a bit apprehensive before going.

I really enjoyed Vail and thought Lionshead was great. During the summer there is free parking in the decks in both Vail Village and Lionshead. I parked overnight for a week with no difficulty. I arrived before dark the first night because I wasn't sure if safety would be an issue and it wasn't.

The shuttle is convenient, but if you like to walk you can easily take the bike/walking path which mostly runs beside the creek (.7miles between Lionshead and Vail village.)

Take the shuttle to the end to visit the Betty Ford Alpine Garden. Small, but lovely. Supposedly the highest alpine garden in the US.

Thank you Stillhouse. Appreciate your input.

Will we find that Vail is "dead" on May 31 and June l, 2009? We have reservations at the Vail Cascade Resort but are now worrying that hardly anything will be open in Vail Village and Lionshead. Tell me it isn't so that the Eagle Bahn Gondola will be closed. We visited Vail in Aug. 1998 and loved it there. Now I am having difficulty getting good information about how it will be in late May. We want to ride up the mountain, take an easy hike up there, enjoy the shops in Vail Village, etc. We are NOT interested in skiing, and that is about all the Vail websites mention - or else mid-summer activities. I will appreciate any advice concerning Vail in late May.
Also, please tell me if the construction is over. There was big construction going on in 1998, and we figured that Vail would now be even more wonderful than it was then. Don't they have ever stop tearing it up?

travelgirls

travelgirls, In answer to your question, no worries, Vail is hardly ever dead...quiet at times but definitely not dead. There is still some construction but as stated in previous posts, I wouldn't let it bother you and not much going on at Vail Cascade. The only possible problems might be in choosing activities. Most likely there will still be some snow around although the Vail bike path might be open and some lower terrain trails accessible.I suggest you contact Vail via phone or website for specific information regarding what activities will be available and when the gondola starts running. April/May are known as mud season at the mountain resorts for a reason. You may just miss it, but that will depend entirely on Mother Nature.

I am a little less positive than historytravler. You are in the transitions season between winter and summer. There is a high probability that the gondola will not be in operation -- too much snow on top. Some years they do not start until around the 4th. However white water rafting will be approaching the peak. Some of the better restaurant will be closed. The mountain bike trails will be closed. Too much mud. I would classify Vail as being pretty dead at that time. I ave been in Vail in mid June and it was nearly dead. It should be very relaxing.

I just checked and the gondola doesn't start running until mid/late June.While mt.biking is definitely out of the question, there is still a chance that the bike trail will be open. Just depends. As fmpden suggests, the summer season won't begin until late June or early July. Spring in the Rockies comes late.

Historytraveler, I don't mean to publicly argue with you but do you live in the Colorado area? At the present time in most areas this winter's snow is well above average. Now it could quit snowing tomorrow and the temp go to 70 but unlikely. It is going to require a very hot and dry Spring for anything above the base of the mountain to be open. Ski season will close the week of April 19th and it still possible to get heavy snows after that date. The bike path through Vail village will be open but doubt if it will be cleared beyond the village.