If you’re not a skier or snowboarder but are still planning on coming to Vail, there are plenty of other winter activities you can enjoy.
Snowshoeing is a great activity for getting your exercise and taking in the beauty of Vail’s mountains. There are many trails and a Nordic Center that rents snowshoes and provides maps of the trails.
Ice Skating
Ice skating is a winter sport that’s not only fun but also provides a great way to stay active during the cold season. Whether you want to try it out for the first time or you’ve been skating for years, there are many ways to get your feet on the ice in Vail.
It’s a great way to improve your balance and strengthen your leg muscles while you’re enjoying the views of Vail’s mountain scenery. In addition, ice skating is a low-impact activity that can burn a significant amount of calories.
If you’re new to ice skating, start with a basic skate class so that you can learn the skills that will keep you safe on the ice. Taking a class will help you avoid the more common mistakes, like holding the rink wall or walking too close to it, which could result in injury.
After you’ve mastered the basics of skating, you may be ready to try some more challenging moves. You might want to consider signing up for a figure skating lesson, which can teach you how to do spins, jumps, and other advanced techniques.
You can also consider learning how to play ice hockey, which is a team sport that’s popular in Vail. If you’re interested in playing this game, there are many places to rent hockey equipment in the Vail area.
Another option is to head to the outdoor ice rink at Solaris Plaza in Vail Village. This rink is open daily during the winter and has a small fee to use it. You can also visit the Dobson Ice Arena, which is a larger indoor rink that offers public skating, private lessons, hockey, and bumper cars.
There are three ice rinks in Vail, two of which are outdoors and open only during the winter. The Solaris rink in Vail Village is our favorite because it’s small and not too crowded. The other two rinks are located in Lionshead and are located near restaurants, shops, and lodging. There are also free shuttles between these rinks and Vail Village.
Sledding
If you’re in Vail for the winter, there are plenty of things to do that will keep you busy without skipping a beat! One of the best Vail Mountian Winter Activities is sledding. It’s an activity that is perfect for the entire family, and you can find plenty of sledding hills to choose from around the area.
If your kids are old enough to go on a guided sledding tour, it’s definitely something they’ll remember forever! It’s a unique way to see the mountains and get out of the crowds.
Another popular activity is snowshoeing, which is great for the whole family! This can be done on a groomed trail or you can pave your own path. The trails are usually packed down from other hikers, so it’s important to take your time and make sure you don’t miss anything!
You can also try out a dog sledding tour if you’re looking for a fun winter activity that will give the entire family a new experience. This is a great way to break away from the crowds and travel through the untouched meadows of Aspen and Pine!
For those who are not quite ready for a guided tour, you can also rent a snowmobile and drive your own. There are a few different companies that offer this service and all of them are different in terms of the number of people they can accommodate and their tour duration.
Some even have a heated cabin to hang out in at the end of the day! This is a great way to enjoy the winter wonderland that Vail has to offer while keeping warm and cozy.
There are several areas around the town that you can sled on, and they are all free to use! There is a great sledding hill near Booth Creek Park, or you can find another hill along the Gore Creek Trail in East Vail.
If you’re not a fan of sledding, there are still plenty of other Vail Mountian Winter Activities to do that will help you get the most out of your vacation! You can try ice fishing, snowmobiling, tubing and more.
Ice Bumper Cars
If you want a unique winter experience that is fun for the whole family, check out ice bumper cars. They are a new addition to ice rinks in some areas of Colorado and are sure to be a big hit with kids of all ages.
The ice makes them more slippery than traditional bumper cars and allows them to move around the rink in a fluid way. They’re also much more challenging than traditional bumper cars because they require more hand eye coordination to drive.
They are available at several ice rinks in the area, including Cornerstone Ice Arena in Sprinker Recreation Center. You can purchase individual ride tickets or a family pass for $15 (tax included). Each ticket includes a 10-minute safety video/loading, and a 15 minute bumper car ride.
It’s a great way to have some fun with your family and get them out of the house. Whether you go to one of the outdoor ice rinks in Vail or Solaris Plaza or indoor year-round at Dobson Ice Arena, you’ll find a variety of activities to choose from that will keep the entire family happy.
Bumper cars on ice are available at Bryant Park in New York City, as well as at other locations across the country. In addition to the ice bumper cars, they offer a 17,000 square-foot ice skating rink that’s free to visit, as well as a curling experience and a lodge with hot cocoa to enjoy after your skate session.
This is a popular family activity, so book your tickets online as soon as they become available. Each session is 10 minutes long and you must be ready at least ten minutes before your assigned time slot.
Each ice bumper car has two joysticks that allow you to steer forward, backward, left and right. The cars also have a 360-degree spin radius, which means you can bump opponents out of your way!
They’re a fun and safe way to have some family fun. They’re also a little bit more challenging than traditional bumper cars, which makes them more exciting for the whole family!
Hot Cocoa
Vail, Colorado, is a world-renowned ski resort destination with breathtaking mountain views and opulent hotels and spas. But this mountain town isn’t just about skiing or snowboarding – it has plenty of other things to do in winter, too!
For those who love to indulge, there’s no better way to end the day than with a cup of hot cocoa. And while there are a lot of great spots to enjoy this cozy drink around town, some of the most delicious and luxurious hot chocolate experiences can be found in the most upscale Vail resorts.
At The Sebastian – Vail, pastry chef Laura Kretzing puts hours of time, effort and dedication into creating this drink that is more than just a libation. The bar’s signature hot chocolate drink starts with gold-dusted spheres of Valrhona milk chocolate filled with house-made marshmallows and Baileys handcrafted marshmallows, as well as chocolate crunch pearls. These spheres are then dipped in a dark chocolate lattice and sit atop the mug, melting as the hot chocolate is poured over them.
Once you’ve sipped it, take a moment to admire how beautiful the presentation is. The chocolate ball is surrounded by an array of ingredients that make it taste even more decadent: vanilla, cloves, star anise, cinnamon and cardamom.
The Sebastian – Vail’s signature hot chocolate is one of the most unique and indulgent experiences you can have in the area. It’s an experience you’ll want to repeat each time you visit the ritzy resort hotel.
This chocolate is made tableside, with a pot of steaming milk and Valrhona chocolate churned and mixed in front of you. Then, a dark chocolate lattice and a homemade marshmallow are placed on top of the mug, and they melt as you drink this sweet treat.
Throughout the week, the Signature Hot Chocolate is offered with a different flavor, including peppermint, mocha and caramel. They’ll also have a special version for Valentine’s Day.
If you’re staying at The Arrabelle, make sure to check out the Signature Hot Chocolate Cart — it’s always serving up delicious mugs and kid’s concoctions. Plus, the hotel is celebrating Vail’s 60th anniversary this year with new signature experiences and a brand-new cocktail service, so be sure to try a few of them while you’re here!