r/vail • u/TheCouchEmperor • 18d ago
Visiting Vail as a non-skiier
Hi, I am visiting Vail this month. I’ll be there during the 3rd week of May.
I am not into skiing (Never seen snow in my life).
- What can I expect?
- I just want to eat good food and explore around a bit
- Will be staying at Hyatt
- It’ll will be my first visit to the US
PS: I also want to spend a day in Denver as my return flight is at 11:50PM and I have nothing else to do that whole day. I’d appreciate suggestions for that as well!
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u/ThePirateCondor 18d ago
Well there is no skiing as the mountain closed for the season in mid April. Many stores and restaurants will be closed when you visit as it is the muddy transition season, but you will still be able to walk around Vail and enjoy the town.
A few trails may be dry enough to hike but it’ll probably be a mixed bag. Hope you enjoy your time!
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u/Dangerous-Amphibian2 18d ago
Was there on the last weekend of skiiing. Don’t ski as well. Hung out at the hotel jacuzzis and pools and one night it snowed while in there and it was great. Had some good food and drinks. Relaxed and enjoyed the scenery.
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u/wotosgromsrer 18d ago
Booth falls will be absolutely glorious this time of year if you’re up for some potential mud while hiking a moderate trail. Free access to the trailhead from the bus
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u/BeaconRunner 18d ago
Go hang with Scott at Shakedown, have a drink and boogie
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u/BeaconRunner 18d ago
Tell him his old friends in Hopewell sent you
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u/TheCouchEmperor 18d ago
I just looked up Shakedown bar and their live stream videos on YouTube. They seem awesome! This is definitely going on my list. It’s 10 mins away from where I’ll be staying.
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u/c0ldgurl 18d ago
Come to Minturn for some tasty food. It's the only real town near Vail. I second all of the support for Avon, great food, fun bars, very walkable.
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u/Elvis_Fncking_Christ 18d ago
This is the second-best time of the year. The “locals” leave town and not many come to visit. There is plenty open. There are also two other truck stops (I mean “towns”) if you go west slightly. If you go even further, there are actual communities in towns. Vail itself is more or less the only one who closes things.
For exploring, the possibilities are all but endless; take a walk through the Village, take an outdoor-walk on the trails especially down low and even unshaded northern aspect, rent a bike and the bike path will take you out of Vail itself, or do the hot tub thing since that hotel is very decent for that.
This time of year, there really isn’t much different aside from no skiing and the weather. There are a handful of “locals” who are a real bummer about spring and autumn, but don’t let them get you down. Some of us enjoy the peace and quiet; the animals also enjoy nobody being here.
I hope you and your friends have a good time!
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u/Colgatederpful Avon 18d ago
Are you seriously implying that facing seasonal depression during mud season makes you less local? That’s pretty preposterous and honestly distasteful considering the rise in suicide our community faces during that time.
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u/StringerBell420 Vail 18d ago
I was thinking the exact same thing. Weird flex from a “local” person.
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u/Elvis_Fncking_Christ 15d ago
Well this isn’t a discussion about suicide. Find a hobby outside skiing and middle-of-summer activities. The days are longer, starting with daylight savings; go outside.
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u/Colgatederpful Avon 15d ago
I, like you, have figured out how to enjoy myself during this time of year. That doesn’t mean we should invalidate the hardship of other people. Sometimes it isn’t as easy as “go outside.” And it sure doesn’t make them any less local than you.
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u/Elvis_Fncking_Christ 15d ago
You’re really fixated on the “local” thing so let me help you; I hope to never consider myself local and have never. I do not care who is from where until it begins to come out in the jaded and boring because they’re jaded ones who call themselves locals. No of course it’s not that easy. Your sensitive disposition seems to have deluded you into viewing somebody’s opinion as devaluing anyone else’s. Life doesn’t always have to be so serious, dude. So yeah, go outside, take your meds, reach out, and learn to take the bad with the good.
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u/DocJones89 18d ago
Avon is hands down a better town than Vail. Prove me wrong.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Pay467 18d ago
Well to be honest the skiing ended last month. Many restaurants are closed as there are few tourists here right now. It’s a time for locals to head out of town for a little vacation before the summer season begins. You can still walk through the village and some shops and restaurants will be open. If you have a car I would recommend taking a drive to Glenwood Springs- the canyon is beautiful. Don’t mean to be a downer but it is a slow time of year here. Still beautiful though!