Friday
6 p.m. | Classical Music in the Mountains
Four of the world’s best orchestras retreat to Vail in the summer for Bravo! Vail Music Festival: The New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, where each company plays for a week from the beginning of June to the end of July.
8 p.m. | Dinner at Mountain Standard
This chic eatery bridges rustic and upscale with floor-to-ceiling windows, brushed metal, and wooden accents. While they specialize in a flame-forward menu, like grilled meats, coal-roasted olives, wood-grilled asparagus, there is also a raw bar, serving oyster shooters and peel-em-yourself shrimp.
10 p.m. | After-Dinner Drink at Bridge Street Bar
Originally opened in 1987, this bar has since gone through many different iterations and names, but it has always been considered the epicenter of Vail nightlife. It is comprised of two separate rooms – one side is a live music venue hosting names like Ben Hammond and Steve Meyer, also known as “the good time man”; the other features daily deejays and a dance floor that is open until last call.
Saturday
7 a.m. | Early Start at Yeti’s Grind
Husband-and-wife team Nate and Tara Picklo are the heart behind this metropolitan-style coffee house named for Nate’s moniker earned from his month backpacking through the Alaskan bush. Early mornings here consist of hearty burritos, breakfast paninis, and homemade oatmeal, as well as a superior cup of joe in a modern but cozy setting.
9:30 a.m. | Rafting the Colorado River
If you want a unique perspective of the mountains, spend a day on the Colorado River. This six-and-a- half-hour tour operated by Timberline Tours takes you down the class III Shoshone Rapids and into a leisurely, scenic float through Glenwood Canyon. This tour is friendly to all skill levels and features a provided lunch.
6:30 p.m. | Yellowbelly Fried Chicken
You’ve heard of a steakhouse but a chicken house? This hidden gem tucked away in strip mall in West Vail is entirely based around the versatility and health benefits of chicken and features only ingredients that are organic, non-GMO, and cooked from scratch. Between their gluten-free options and healthy sides (like citrus quinoa and homemade red slaw), this place is light years away from your average KFC.
9 p.m. | Night Cap at The George
The George is more like two restaurants in one. On one side, you’ll find a fine dining atmosphere serving surf and turf and some of the best wine around. On the other, expect couches full of locals sipping beer, playing foosball, and munching on pub fare. The dark, tucked-away feeling of this venue tends to keep it more hidden than most of the restaurants in town, which means low key and comfortable.
Sunday
7:30 a.m. | Breakfast at the Lodge
This daily rotating buffet has something for everyone from cold cereals and house-made granola to chef’s stations where you can get fresh-made golden skillet potatoes and waffles any way you like them. The best part? It’s just steps from your room.
10 a.m. | Stroll through the Farmers Market & Art Show
From June through October, East Meadow Drive becomes a bazaar with more than 135 tents hawking local artisanal goods like soaps and candles as well as fresh produce. Along with 40 food vendors, the farmers market has instituted a Farm to Table dinner once a month, where local chefs display their culinary prowess in an al-fresco–style meal.
