Active Long Weekend Getaway to Vail, Colorado

Acclimate! If you aren't used to high elevations, your body will be screaming at you by the end of the day. Drink lots of water and avoid alcohol if possible. Walk around Vail Village for some window shopping. If you're feeling up to it, take the gondola up to the top of Vail Mountain for epic views and a short/light hike. Make sure to check the schedule for the last gondola down or you'll miss your dinner reservation! Speaking of dinner, treat yourself to an authentic and fun Austrian/German meal at Alpenrose right in the heart of Vail Village. Pro tip: the gondola up the mountain shuts down after Labor Day!

Head out to Piney River Run in the morning where you can fly fish, canoe or SUP. Stick around for lunch at their on-site BBQ restaurant. After an active morning, head back to your hotel or find another hotel with a spa to relax the afternoon away. If you have your family with you, take in some pool and hot tub time. Things will be hopping over at El Segundo for some yummy Mexican fare at dinner. It's the place to be!

For another active morning, choose between mountain biking or a good solid hike at Booth Falls. There are several spots in Vail Village that will rent mountain bikes that you can carry with you up the gondola. What's better than mountain biking with amazing views? Well, maybe a hike in the Aspens and mountain valleys. Pro tip: the Booth Falls hike starting point is in a neighborhood with virtually no parking. Below that is a school where parking is limited so you may want to ask your hotel concierge to provide a shuttle service! Don't skip the hot tub session before having dinner at Vintage, a French brasserie in the village.

On the last day of your weekend getaway choose between an ATV tour or an adventure in search of hot springs along the Colorado River. Both of these activities will require a drive of about an hour or more, but it's worth it. There are local outfitters that will handle all of your needs for safety and fun. If you want to get off-the-beaten-path and have your own adventure, there are hot springs dotted along the Colorado River that require some hiking/scrambling. Even elementary-aged children can handle it, and it will be an adventure they will never forget! Soak as long as you like or take turns doing a cold plunge in the river and then a soak in the springs. Return to Vail Village for a nice dinner at La Tour to end your perfect end-of-summer weekend getaway.