I need to know!

It seems to me that there are many visitors to the state of Colorado that just seem to NEED to see, visit, or stay in Vail.

And I don't understand the attraction.

During ski season I CAN understand. The mountain is an awesome place to ski or board.

But during the off-season, I don't see the attraction. It's not in a particularly scenic setting at all, and the dining & lodging seem overpriced. The town itself seems contrived. It has no history outside of the ski industry that built this town at the end of World War 2. And there are much more historic & scenic towns within a 20 mile radius of Vail that offer something much more "Colorado" than Vail does.

So help me out here.

My intent is really not to "bash" Vail, but I need to know......

What is the draw to Vail during the off-season?

Why do you guys want to go there?

Have you been to Vail? You say "it's not in a particularly scenic setting at all". Really? The Rockies are stunning, the village looks like it was taken from the swiss alps, good restaurants, nice hotels and great shopping.

Summer time is our favorite time. We horseback ride, hike, canoe, kayak (haven't done that yet), mountain bike down the ski mountain (very fun) and watch the best 4th of July fireworks.

Are you sure you don't have it confused with someplace else?

"Have you been to Vail?"

Yes, many times. I live in Colorado and have skied there in the winter, and passed through many times in other seasons.

"The Rockies are stunning..."

Yes they are. Unfortunately you don't see much of them at all from the town of Vail. Many other towns far overpower Vail on the "stunning factor" in regards to their setting. Telluride, Breckenridge, and Leadville, just to name three.

"....the village looks like it was taken from the swiss alps...."

Exactly. To me that smacks of contrivance. If I want the swiss alps, I'll go to Switzerland....or to Ouray.

"...good restaurants, nice hotels, and great shopping."

Fortunately I can get those 3 things right here in my hometown, and at much better prices. Heaven help me if I've got to go to Vail to go shopping. Besides, you'll find those 3 things at many ski areas in Colorado (i.e. Telluride, Aspen, Beaver Creek & Breckenridge) as well as a much prettier setting.

"We horseback ride, hike, canoe, kayak (haven't done that yet), mountain bike down the ski mountain (very fun) and watch the best 4th of July fireworks."

OK, now were getting somewhere, but again......these are things you can do out of several other ski towns.

I guess what I looking for is the answer to the question - What is unique about Vail that makes people want to go there? I suppose the sight of an imitation Swiss Village in the middle of the Rockies is unique, and if that's what you're after.......

Is there a mystique about Vail that makes someone who has never been there just burst with the need to go and then be able to say they've been there?

"Are you sure you don't have it confused with someplace else?"

Yes, I'm sure.

Personally, I love Vail. I'm going again in 2 weeks and I can't wait.

I'm not going to go into why I love it or why I did a special trip last summer to see what it was like then. Why should I? I think it was very rude of the OP to ask a question and then COMPLETELY BASH the one poor girl who chose to respond! I mean, come on! You don't have to agree with her but do you have to pick apart her reasoning bit by bit and rip her a new one? It disgusts me. If you can't find a reason why Vail is so special then take my advice-DON'T GO!

I think I agree with the OP, although maybe not quite so vociferously. Vail has always seemed a bit "over-hyped" to me - particularly because it's crammed into a valley with the freeway. When I'm there, I feel as though I can never get away from I-70!
Aspen is also contrived, but it seems like a more "authentic" town (if you can even use the word authentic to describe a tourist town!). I think people go to Vail for the same reason that they buy Calvin Klein underwear. Can you find other underwear that functions just as well? Yes, but it doesn't have "the name". The secret to Vail is all about the branding. Some people love it, some people hate it. That's just the way the world works.

I guess I somewhat agree with the OP (but not with such intensity!). We've stayed in Vail several times, summer and winter and I much prefer Breckenridge, Keystone or Frisco as a home base. Guess I just like more of a town feel, as in the case of Breck and Frisco.

If anything, though, I like Vail better in the summer. We stayed there a couple years ago when my son was in a summer soccer tourney--so much fun to sample the outdoor Village restaurants and peek into the shops.

Thank goodness we all don't like the same things, right?

I understand what furledleader is saying. The first time I went to Colorado I HAD to go to Vail. It's got name recognition world over. And the trip was certainly beautiful. But as I made more trips, and ultimately bought a home in Colorado, I found Vail a lot less appealing. The highway is far too close and the village is just overpriced shops.

It's just that people don't know about all the other amazing destinations in Colorado. And yes, I'm glad that everyone doesn't like the same place where I live.

furledleader,

If everything in your hometown was so much better,

Why did you ask???

Keep talking, furledleader. I'm hoping you will deter potential visitors so that those of us who love Vail can enjoy it without the crowds.

Abby43, we'll also be there in two weeks. Where will I find you?

That's right people-continue to hate on Vail so the rest of us can enjoy it for all its fabulousness!

Jean-I am going with family and friends. We stay near the Lodge in the village. I'll be on the back bowls. Going from March 4-10. CANNOT WAIT. What about you?

I find it really funny that the OP stated "My intent is really not to "bash" Vail..." and that's EXACTLY what he/she does in his/her reply to BeachGirl!!! OMG...I"m glad I can find some humor in this.

Abby
I agree. I think he just wants to jerk everyone's cord. Set up a straw horse and then beat on it. Just wants to argue.

I also understand what furledleader is saying & I don't think he/she was bashing Beachgirl - just responding to her question. I also live in Colorado and find Vail okay. It is definitely not on my top 10 favorite places in the state. I don't think any of the posters that agree w/furledleader said that they "hate" Vail.

Is it the wonderful skiing or the free concerts in town? The amazing weather and variety of activities all within a short drive. Ease of travel also makes Vail a unique spot unlike Steamboat or Telluride, which can really be a long haul. Luckily I live here and get to enjoy my backyard 365 days a year. And yes we are not perfect, but as we say around here; "There is no comparison."

No,I don't want to argue. I was hoping to get some insight. I meant this to be a conversation about what people see in Vail that I just don't see.
My intent was also NOT to "rip [Beachgirl] a new one". If that's the way it came across, I apologize. Even though her response has come the closest to answering my question, the particulars of her response (although sincere), appeared patent to me, and thus the need to address each individually.

Abby43 writes:
"I'm not going to go into why I love it or why I did a special trip last summer to see what it was like then. Why should I?"

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR!

Tell me what it was that so intrigued you. Tell me what it is/was that Vail has during the off-ski season that no other place in Colorado has that made you want to go there above all else.
Is it really just the "branding" and the "world wide name recognition"?

Because if that's all it is, (and my inclination is to think that's what it really may be) then we are doing a huge disservice to those who come to this forum looking for honest info about what they should see and do in Colorado, and we go off and tell them that they definately have to go to some place that is over-priced, over-hyped and not particularly scenic.

Furledleader:

You live in Colorado. You see the beautiful mountains every day. Your a bit spoiled! I can see why you would not understand the attraction to Vail.

Now, I on the other hand live and work on the East Coast. I have a limited vacation. I want to be assured that I can find a place to go that will have all of my 'checklist' for a good vacation.

For skiing I thought Vail had all that covered...and then some. I do think that it is a bit "TOO RICH" for me, but the skiing terrain is top notch! and that is what I seek on my ski vacations.

But I have never had any reason to see Vail in the off season!

In the off season I love to travel to OUR LOCAL mountains (hills to you!) in Vermont, Mass, NYState! Now that is something where I DO UNDERSTAND the attraction!

As another Coloradan who lives near Vail, I do understand furledleader's question, and I agree on the whole with furledleader's comments.

In comparison to other Colorado mountain towns, including some very close to Vail, Vail has some definite detractions (i.e., being RIGHT ON the highway), and a lack of actual history (built in the early '60s, as opposed to being a former mining town). In terms of being scenic, due to Vail's position on a narrow valley floor, you don't get the views of the mountain peaks from the town that you do from, for example, Breckenridge (from the top of Vail mountain, of course, there are great views).

It does have many good points, both summer and winter. It is a pretty town, though the alpine architecture is a bit artificial (and I love all the flower boxes in the summer). And for vacation shopping (which I never do, even when I'm on vacation elsewhere), it's probably good. But many of Vail's other positives are also found in other mountain towns. For example: biking, hiking, a gondola running in the summer, a pretty river running through the town that kids can play in.

One thing that Vail has that other nearby towns do not is a larger number of upscale restaurants (yes, overpriced, but I'm willing to pay for that occasionally). Obviously, not everybody goes to Vail for that, but we do. (Beaver Creek also has great restaurants, but it's enough further west to make it impractical for us to go for dinner.)

But, setting aside Vail's fantastic ski mountain (one of my favorites, along with Steamboat), I think visitors are drawn to Vail because of the name recognition and the cachet of that name (and branding).

All in all, it's just a matter of opinion. And us Coloradans do really want to know what draws people to Vail (vs. all those other wonderful towns), and this post has produced some interesting answers to that question.

I agree with you wtm003 - I understand what furledleader is trying to get at, and I don't interpret any of his/her responses as bashing anyone - his/her points and tone all seem quite logical and inoffensive to me.

I can't give much insight into your question, furledleader, but I think residents of most places popular with tourists often wonder the same thing - I have lived in Florida and now live in Sonoma County and I have often been mystified at why some towns/beaches/activities in both those places make most tourists' "must do" lists, while others - that offer the exact same types of sights/amenities/activities, only more authentically, less expensively, and less crowded, are ignored.

I think it is often just the "follow the crowd" (there's a reason companies spend millions of dollars on advertising and name recognition) thing that most of us are subject to (I know I am at times), especially in new places.

One could ask this question about many tourist-favorite destinations in the U.S. Many people on this board ask for comments about their proposed itineraries to California. It's the same ol' thing over and over again: S.F., drive down the Coast, Hearst Castle, S.B., maybe a day in L.A. (mostly for Disneyland or a studio tour), and "how can I fit in a day in Yosemite?"

California is like a small country. A quite varied coastline, beautiful mountains (highest point in the 48), deserts (lowest point in the 50), lakes (freshwater, saltwater, one with tufa formations), ghost towns (history!), volcanoes(!), tar pits (dinosaurs!), world-class museums. And yet, people "seem to NEED to see, visit, or stay" in the "Vails" (if you will) of the state. But, if they have a good time on their vacation, who am I to say they went to the wrong places?

Signed,
California native

Furledleader, I totally understand your question, and feel the same way about Vail. I think the name recognition points to the fact that they must do some amazing advertising around the world, because everyone knows their name.

I prefer any mountain town over Vail myself. I live in Colorado, too, and yes, we are spoiled.
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