Vail: Top-Rated Winter Vacation Paradise

Vail, Colorado is THE largest ski mountain in the United States. Vail has something for everyone; skiing, dining, shops, galleries, bookstores galore and everything in between. Vail offers some of the best skiing in the world. You don't have to be rich to enjoy Vail; there's something for everyone's budget at this top-ranked ski resort in the world.

Stretching seven miles from one end to the other, Vail, located in central Colorado in the middle of the Rockie Mountains, rising to nearly 12,000 feet, offers powdered paradise for domestic and foreign travelers every winter. Vail offers roughly 28% of slopes for beginners, 32% for moderate to intermediate skiers, and 40% slopes for expert/advanced skiers.

With an average of 346 inches of snow every winter and almost 300 days of sunshine, Vail is understandably one of the most sought after ski destinations in the world. Seven 'bowls' offer superlative sky opportunities to suit every aptitude level for skiers, but also offers a wealth of other entertainments as well.

Names like Simba, Blue Sky Basin and Rogers Run offer adventures and amazement to Vail first timers and veterans alike. Beginners at Vail should try the green trails on Golden Peak and shorter runs under Sourdough Lift. Obtain a trail map and stick to your skill level. Vail is unusual that one of its beginner runs is located on the top of the mountain. From the Eagle Bahn Gondola, beginners can learn the ropes and enjoy a fantastic view at the same time. There are also learning areas in the Golden Peak base area at Adventure Ridge.

For moderate skiers, endless trails offer multiple opportunities to increase your burgeoning skills. The Northwoods and neighboring runs end in Game Creek Bowl. To be specific, try LionsHead, which alternates between steeper and easier stretches. Simba run also caters to intermediates, as is Born Free, though both tend to get a little crowded at the end of the day as everyone heads down off the mountain, so you may want to complete these runs earlier in the day.