Travel to Vail, Colorado on Northwest Airlines

> Find airfare to Vail, Colorado on Northwest Airlines

The town of Vail, Colorado is as synonymous with downhill skiing as snow which doesn’t come as much of a surprise since the town itself was not formed until after the opening of the world famous Vail Ski Resort.  The famed ski resort is the largest in North America and has bragging rights of a maximum elevation of 11,570 feet and 5,289 skiable trails. With three faces, each at varying difficulty levels, Vail Ski Resort is the perfect day for skiers from beginning to expert.

However, as much as the ski resort is the pulse of this rocky mountain town, the city of Vail has its own draw with the world’s highest botanical gardens, an impressive music festival and a film festival which rivals that of Sundance. 

The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens is officially the world’s highest botanical gardens at a dizzying 8,200 feet high in the Rocky Mountains. Home to over 2,000 varieties of plants and flowers, the Betty Ford Alpine Center offers something for everyone from its Children’s Garden to the Mountain Meditation Garden and a 120 foot spectacular waterfall.

Perhaps one of the busiest times at Vail is during the Vail Film Festival which draws up to 14,000 attendees and over 300 filmmakers. Showcasing the feature length films, shorts and documentaries by independent film makers, the Vail Film Festival also offers panel discussions, receptions and various events in addition to the daily screenings.

Another festival hosted by the City of Vail is the Bravo Vail Valley Music Festival which hosts such impressive music giants as the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

However one chooses to spend their time in Vail it is amongst the majestic backdrop of the snow capped Rocky Mountains and should definitely include a cup of cocoa in front of a roaring fire after a long, exhilarating day on the slopes.