There is no better day than a day spent on the mountain with the whole family. But little legs tire easy, so to keep spirits high and make the most of your family vacation plan a day or two off the slopes. With all the winter activities around Vail and Beaver Creek, do not be surprised
if your day off skiing ends up being the most memorable day of your vacation.
Open Tuesday trough Saturday, Adventure Ridge is the biggest snow park in the Vail Valley.
Adventure Ridge
With a football field sized playground, Adventure Ridge atop the Eagle Bahn Gondola is fun central. A variety of activities from snowy classics like tubing and snowshoeing to high speed thrills like kids' snowmobiling and ski biking guarantees everybody will have a great time. Do not miss the crowd favorite
Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster. It will take you on an unforgettable, 3,400-foot ride down the mountain, following the natural contours of the snow covered forest.
At Mountain Musher huskies are loved and cared for as part of the family.
Dog Sledding
Fun for kids and adults alike, dog sledding is one of the best ways to experience the winter magic of the mountains. Mountain Musher Dog Sled Rides is among the most popular sledding companies in the Vail Valley. It operates on private land in Wolcott, just minutes away from Vail and Beaver Creek. With its friendly team of dogs, quiet trails and delicious home made pumpkin bread served on the trail, Mountain Musher promises a picture perfect dog sled ride.
At the Art Studio kids can create projects to have as keepsakes of the fun they had in Vail.
Imagination Station
It is almost impossible to be bored in Vail. Even a day indoors can turn into a fun-filled adventure, especially if you visit Imagination Station. Located just above the Welcome Center in Lionshead, the Imagination Station offers a thoughtful play space for kids of all ages. In addition to some of children's favorite activities like Paint Your Own Pottery, the Play Wall and the Hyperbolic Funnel, Imagination Station has added two virtual reality rooms for this season. One will be dedicated to active play, where kids can slice fruit with ninja swords or box without getting hit. The other room will promote artistic play with games including painting in three dimensions, building contraptions for rolling a ball down a hill, or visiting anywhere on planet Earth.
Sleigh Rides
A horse-drawn sleigh ride through the Colorado Rocky Mountains is one of the most enchanting winter activities you can experience. As the horses dash trough the powdery snow, you will get to see not only the beauty of this winter wonderland but also an opportunity to learn about the history of the West. To create a truly memorable experience, most sleigh ride companies offer evening dinner rides. Bearcat Stables, located along Squaw Creek in Cordillera, and 4 Eagle Ranch near Wolcott are the top two choices for family friendly rides.
Ice Skating
Ice skating is one of the most popular family activities in the winter, and like everything else ice skating in the mountains is twice as fun – with beautiful mountain views, cozy fire pits and some of the best shopping and dining surrounding the ice rinks. Beaver Creek's ice rink is located in the heart of the village and is open every day during the winter season from noon to 9 p.m. Vail has two outdoor ice rinks open during the ski season – one in Lionshead at Vail Square and one in front of Solaris in Vail Village.
