Things to do in Vail in Summer with Teens

Vail, Colorado’s slogan is “Like nothing on earth” and it really does live up to it. We’ve only visited during ski season and it was a winter wonderland. We were excited to finally see Vail during the summer months and we loved it. See all the great things to do in Vail in summer with teens and kids.

Epic Discovery

This adventure center of activities on top of Vail Mountain was what my kids looked forward to doing when we were planning our itinerary. There were so many activities for the whole family no matter what age group. Sometimes, it’s hard to find a balance of activities between the toddlers and the teens but Epic Discovery managed to do it well.

The adventure began with our scenic gondola ride to the top of Vail Mountain at 10,300 ft. It was an ascent of over 2,000 ft from the Eagle Bahn gondola at Lionshead Village that took less than 15 minutes.

We took some time to enjoy the panoramic views once we reached the top of the mountain. There were plenty of chairs, benches and lookout points to enjoy the forest and the mountains.

Many of the wildflowers were still blooming during our early August visit. I may be an island and beach gal but I wouldn’t mind moving here with these views and the fresh mountain air.

The Epic Discovery Activities

Ride the Coaster

Without a doubt, my teens’ favorite attraction here was Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster. They rode this three times and probably would have gone more if the lines weren’t long. This was very popular with many visitors so go to this one first.

This coaster was self-operated with a lever to go faster or slower. Each was 80 ft away from the other on the rail. The ride goes by quickly but the views along the way were amazing.

We were then pulled back up on a relaxing ride through the forest trees and the surrounding mountain views. It was such a thrilling ride and well worth the wait.

Try an Obstacle Course

There were two adventure courses here that catered to older kids and the Pine Code Kids course for smaller kids who are under 54”. My husband and teens tackled the Holy Cross Adventure Course first. I was the official photographer to capture their journey.

Several challenging exercises here tested their balance, agility and strength. They all admitted this course was a lot harder than it looked. One circuit through the courses made them all quite hungry afterwards.

Go Tubing

Snow tubing is one of our family’s favorite winter activity and who knew you could do it in the summer too. The Eagle’s Nest Tubing whisked us on a moving incline to the top of the hill. It was a swift slide down on the tubes and if you’re lucky and facing downhill you’ll get some amazing mountain views along the way.

My kids went on this three times too with a bit of competition thrown in on who could get down faster. I loved hearing the squeals of joy from many of the kids coming down.

Rock climb

The Paramount Peak Climbing Wall had several different levels depending on your experience. We saw many visitors from elementary school kids to adults scaling the wall. My teens never hesitate to take on a challenge and compete with each other so climbing this wall was a fun activity for them.

My husband even showed the kids how it was done on a more challenging route. There were several helpful workers here to ensure everyone’s safety and guide them to the top.

Go Ziplining

There were three types of zipline activities up here. The Game Creek Zipline Tour was about 3-4 hours long. It had seven ziplines that spanned two miles and up to 310 ft overlooking the forest and mountains.

For visitors who wanted a shorter zipline adventure, the Golden Eagle zipline cost an extra $20 on top of the Adventure Pass and was one line that went 100 ft down. Of course, they didn’t leave the younger ones who can try the Little Eagle Kids Zipline. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the opportunity to zip line but it sure looked fun.

Epic Discovery Tickets

Visitors can buy various passes. The best deal is the Adventure Pass that gave access to 11 activities and attractions. The all-day pass also included some miniature golf with the course located at the Eagle Bahn gondola base.

There were two different price points for kids under 54” and everyone else above this height. Visitors can also do an a la carte option. Check the Epic Discovery site for the updated prices.

We practically spent the whole day doing the Epic Discovery activities. Days like these tend to go by quickly when you’re having a lot of fun.

There were a few places to eat with reasonable prices on the mountain if you don’t want to go down to the village.  Epic Discovery was undoubtedly one of the best summer activities in Vail for families.

Tips for spending the day at Epic Discovery

• Get there early. The gondola started operating around 8:30 AM and many of the activities opened at 9 AM. The lines certainly got longer for some activities as it got later in the day.
• Layer Up. Wear layers since it was a bit cold in the morning but was hot during the afternoon.
• Wear plenty of sunscreen. The heat could get pretty intense on top of the mountain. There were also not many shaded places for shelter.

Go Horseback Riding

Our previous family horseback riding tour was in Iceland a few years ago in the rain and was a bit fast paced for beginners like us. So, we were excited to try a more mellow two-hour ride through the mountains with a view and it was exactly what we hoped for.

Vail Stables was located less than 10 minutes from the villages but seemed worlds away from civilization. We really enjoyed some of the amenities they offered for families while we waited for them to get the horses ready.

The kids played a version of lawn bowling and relaxed in the hammocks with the some unbeatable mountain views. A couple of goats were roaming around here too. There was also a small playground.

After a few safety instructions, our group of six led by our trusted leader set off for the hills behind the stables. The beautiful trail filled with wildflowers took us to a ridge that looked out across Vail Mountain and the valley below. The views were amazing from the top.

Our favorite area was filled with groups of aspen trees our guide called the “Enchanted Forest”. It was a delight to see these tall, white, tube-like trees especially for our family used to seeing palm trees. We loved riding through here and it really felt like we were somewhere magical

Several locals have told us that the aspen leaves turn gold during the Fall. I cannot even imagine how beautiful the hills and this forest would look engulfed in golds and yellows. We have made it a point to return during Fall one of these days.

Ride Bikes

There were several bike rental shops located on both villages. Most rentals are for a day or half day (4 hours). We had a half-day rental at Vail Sports and it was enough to see many things while biking along the Vail Recreation Path.

It was such a scenic ride as the trail ran alongside Gore Creek. This activity way a wonderful way to explore Vail’s scenic trails and nature spots. 

The family-friendly trail connected Lionshead Village to Vail Village. We also made sure to stop at Kelsey Montague’s interactive mural at the West P2 parking structure entrance at Vail Village.

With an inspiring message and hashtag of #whatliftsyou, it was the ideal Instagram and Snapchat backdrop for my teens. Those swings were pretty neat being incorporated into the mural.

We rode our bikes all the way to the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and spent some time there. This is America’s highest botanical garden. It was a beautiful place to relax and walk around amidst all the various colorful flowers.

The garden offers classes, exhibits, educational programs and guided tours. Admission is free and it is open all year. Don’t miss stopping by this beautiful garden.

If you’re the more adventurous type or have more time, the gondolas can haul the bikes up to Vail Mountain and you can ride the trail down on a mountain bike. My husband really wanted to do this but we didn’t have enough time.

The bike trails were family-friendly since we saw younger kids who were about five years old riding down with their parents. Both fire roads (wide dirt roads) and single tracks were available.

Go Shopping

For anyone traveling with tween and teen girls, shopping is a must-do activity. Luckily, Lionshead Village and Vail Village have plenty of shops to keep shoppers occupied. The villages are so charming and beautiful and it was also easy to wander around. My husband and son even enjoyed window-shopping here.

We loved the setting of both villages with beautiful mountain backdrops. It always felt like we stepped into a quaint German village or a Swiss alpine village with the architecture, flower boxes and wall frescoes.

Tip: Look for the many winter items on sale and clearance. There were some great deals on jackets and wished we needed some.

Best places to dine and unwind in Vail during summer

There was no shortage of great restaurants and cafes between the two villages offering diverse cuisines. These were the few places we ate and recommend.

Vail Village 

• bōl was located in the lower level of Solaris plaza in the heart of the village. It was very family-friendly with outdoor seats that looked into a children’s play area. This was also home to 10 bowling lanes for some family fun.

Eat here for some casual dining and delicious food. We loved the ribs, chicken wings and the Lobster BLT(as good as it sounds) and the Tennessee hot chicken and biscuit sliders.

• Mountain Standard was located close to the creek, this casual tavern was a very popular and newly opened eatery. We were lucky enough to be seated by the chef’s table within earshot and in sight of all the action in the kitchen. It was so interesting and almost felt like we were on a set of one of those reality cooking shows minus all the yelling and stress.

We loved and devoured all the food we ordered. They were all delicious. The menu is small and limited but most of their food was cooked over a live wood fire.

Try the rotisserie Piri Piri Chicken which surprisingly was a huge serving. The crispy pork belly with pineapple salsa and pork rinds was a family favorite. My husband couldn’t get enough of the Alaskan Halibut Cioppino with mussels and littleneck clams.

• Sundae – We visited this popular ice cream shop twice for some refreshing dessert. There were varied flavors of the fresh, homemade ice cream including some unique ones like chocolate orange or avocado coconut.

They also sell ice cream sandwiches, sundaes and shakes. Many of the kids liked that they could try many flavors before buying.

Lionshead Village

• Moe’s Original BBQ – We needed something quick and casual for lunch and this was the perfect place located near our lodging.  Service was quick and the ribs and wings were delicious. Most meals came with a drink, a side or two and cornbread.
• El Sabor Restaurant – We ate at this Latin American restaurant since it was located a few steps from our lodging’s front door and across the base of the Eagle Bahn gondola. Try their variety of two item combo plates for $16 that were served with your choice of rice & beans, french fries or cuban corn salad.

There were cozy indoor and outdoor seating areas with great mountain views. Being Southern Californians, we’re quite critical with Mexican food but El Sabor was actually pretty good.

Explore the Market

Vail Village has a Farmer’s Market and Art Show on Sundays during the summer. There were over 40 food vendors so come hungry. We enjoyed walking around here to see the many unique items for sale. A few of the village stores also set up a canopy in front of their door with some sale items.

There was some live music too. This had to be the biggest farmer’s market we’ve ever been to. We enjoyed the family-friendly atmosphere. It was a great way for locals and tourists to come together.

I wish I could have brought home many of the goodies and fresh produce. If you’re visiting and staying in one of the units with kitchens, the market was a great way to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables and other items to cook.

Hike Around

Vail Mountain and the surrounding areas have so many hiking trails for all age groups and hiking levels. For something easily accessible from both villages, Vail Recreation Path was such a wonderful and picturesque trail along Gore Creek. We enjoyed our morning walk here.

Some trails were also available via the free shuttle bus. Shorter trails like Eagle’s Loop and Fireweed are also accessible on Vail Mountain. We enjoyed walking among the wildflowers up here especially at dusk. Remember to stay hydrated and bring snacks along for the kids.

Enjoy Some Pool Time

With all the activities during the day, families also need some downtime later in the day or during the evening. Try to book hotels with pools to relax, get some tan or just cool off.

My kids loved the pool area at Lion Square Lodge that looked out into the creek and with the Eagle Bahn gondolas nearby. They had two Jacuzzis that will guarantee to help alleviate some pains and aching muscles.  We also enjoyed the sauna in the property near the pool.

Our Itinerary

This was our 4-day Itinerary, which was a great mix of activities, relaxation and down time. Most nights were spent by the pool area or walking around to shop and eat.

Day 1 – Relax and explore the villages after settling in to the hotel and arriving from the airport. It was an easy 15-20 walk between the villages and a beautiful stroll by the creek. But, there was a free shuttle bus that went around the area and we never had to wait very long. There were convenient stops everywhere.

Day 2 – We did the horseback riding tour in the morning for 2 hours. We rented the bikes for four hours and rode along the Vail Recreation Path from

Day 3 – A day on top of Vail Mountain and Epic Discovery. We were here from 9:30 AM to 3 PM. But, we went back up the gondola around 6 PM to watch the sunset. Apparently, it was a popular place for photo shoots up here.

Day 4 – Explore the Sunday Farmer’s Market and Art Show which opens at 10 AM. Make sure to have lunch here. Back to Denver airport.

Where to Stay

Lion Square Lodge was the perfect base for our visit. It offered a great location, plenty of space and major convenience. Our unit had two bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a wide open space for the living room and dining room.

It also had a full kitchen with all the amenities and utensils one could possibly need. We enjoyed relaxing in the living room at night and my kids appreciated the games and puzzle too.

We loved that we walked out and were a few steps from the base of the Eagle Bahn gondola. My kids’ favorite part had to be their pool, jacuzzi and sauna. They enjoyed going here after a busy day of activities. The property is beautiful and well maintained and with very friendly and helpful staff.

Tips for Visiting Vail in the Summer

• Beware of Altitude Sickness. Many of us aren’t used to going from low level areas and then to Vail at over 8,000 feet. Altitude sickness can affect people at varying degrees. While the rest of my family was fine, I experienced headaches and shortness of breath on some occasions. Plenty of water and Tylenol cured it most of the time.
• Take some breaths. Some stores sold portable oxygen canisters with about 50 deep breaths. We bought one and it came in handy especially for me on top of Vail Mountain.
• Get Groceries Delivered. If you’re staying at accommodations with kitchens and don’t have a rental car or just want an added convenience, Resort Delivery is your answer. This delivery service had all our breakfast essentials for three days ready for us by the time we checked in. Ordering is easy online, via phone or email. They also deliver at many of the nearby ski resorts.

Transportation Tips

• Get there faster. We’ve always rented a car during our Colorado winter visits to the mountain resorts. Vail Mountain resorts arranged transportation for us via Epic Mountain Express.

The door-to-door service from Denver airport’s arrival area to our hotel front door was so convenient that a rental car isn’t really necessary. Plus, Vail’s convenient free shuttle service and the proximity of everything you need means it was also easy to get around.

If you’re leaving on a Sunday afternoon, be sure to put a big enough gap due to traffic. Leave early and spend some time in Denver or a lounge at the airport. Traffic on the highway almost rivaled what we’ve seen in Southern California freeways.

We had a 5-hour buffer between our pickup time at the hotel and our flight. We only had 30 minutes to spare even with having TSA Pre-check.

Disclosure: Vail Mountain sponsored this mountain getaway as a #VailSummerPartner. Lion Square Lodge hosted our stay. All opinions, experiences and photographs are our own.

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