Things to do in Vail for non-skiers: A winter guide off the slopes
Not a skier? You're in good company. Plenty of people who visit Vail each winter never click into a binding, and the town is built to welcome them. Its two pedestrian villages, heated gondolas, and miles of snowy backcountry make it easy to fill a week with mountain views, good food, and fresh air without a lift ticket. This guide covers the best things to do in Vail for non-skiers, from adventurous outings and quiet spa days to fun activities for kids in Vail Village, plus a few tips on timing and booking. The best things to do in Vail for non-skiers include scenic gondola rides, guided snowshoe tours, snowmobiling, dog sledding, sleigh ride dinners, spa days, ice skating, and exploring Vail Village and Lionshead. Use the table below to match activities to your group. If you came for the mountains but not the lift lines, the Vail Valley has plenty of fun activities that still get your heart rate up. Most are guided, include equipment, and work for first-timers. Snowmobiling is one of the most popular things to do in Vail besides skiing. For higher-elevation riding, Nova Guides leads tours near Camp Hale National Monument, where the 10th Mountain Division trained during World War II. Its routes climb toward the Continental Divide, with views of four mountain ranges. Riders who would rather sit back can book Nova's heated snow coach instead. Walking Mountains Science Center offers free naturalist-led snowshoe tours from its Nature Discovery Center at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola. Tours focus on winter ecology and how wildlife survives the season, and snowshoes are provided. Registration is required, participants must be 10 or older, and you'll need a gondola ticket to reach the meeting point. Dress for about 90 minutes outside with snow pants, gloves, sunglasses, and sturdy boots. In winter, the Vail Golf Club turns into the Vail Nordic Center, with roughly 17 kilometers of groomed track for classic and skate skiing and about 10 kilometers of separate snowshoe trails. Cross-country skiing is a different sport from downhill: it's flat, quiet, and easy to learn with a lesson. Rentals are available on-site. A horse-drawn sleigh ride is a classic Vail winter outing. Bearcat Stables and 4 Eagle Ranch, both west of Vail, offer rides through snowy meadows, and some trips end with a fireside dinner at a rustic cabin. Bundle up, bring a thermos, and book early for holiday dates. Gore Creek and the Eagle River stay fishable through much of the winter, and local outfitters such as You don't need skis to get up on the mountain. Vail's two gondolas and its mid-mountain restaurants give non-skiers plenty of time above 10,000 feet. Both Gondola One, which departs from Vail Village, and the Eagle Bahn Gondola, which departs from Lionshead, are open to foot passengers in winter with a scenic ride ticket. Gondola One rises to Mid-Vail, while Eagle Bahn climbs to Eagle's Nest, the jumping-off point for snowshoe tours. From the top, you can see across the Gore Range, and on clear days the views stretch toward the Continental Divide. Gondola One's cabins have heated seats, which you'll appreciate in January. For many non-skiers, the real draw of Vail is slowing down. These are the best ways to spend a quieter day. Vail's resort spas are built for cold-weather recovery, whether or not you spent the morning outdoors. The spa at Vail's two main villages are walkable, car-free in their cores, and linked by a free in-town bus. Vail Village has the Bavarian-inspired architecture, heated walkways, boutiques, and galleries the town is known for. Lionshead, to the west, is a little more relaxed, with Arrabelle at Vail Square and its outdoor rink at the center. Spend an afternoon browsing shops, then warm up by an outdoor fire pit. The Colorado Snowsports Museum and Hall of Fame tells the story of skiing and snowboarding in Colorado, including the 10th Mountain Division and Olympians like Mikaela Shiffrin. It sits on the third level of the Vail Village Parking Structure, next to the Covered Bridge, and admission is free (donations appreciated). In winter, the museum also leads a one-hour historic walking tour of Vail Village on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m.; call ahead to reserve a spot. Glenwood Springs is about an hour west of Vail on I-70. Its hot springs pools, including Glenwood Hot Springs Pool and Iron Mountain Hot Springs, make a soothing day trip when you want a break from the cold. Check road conditions before you leave, since Glenwood Canyon can close during storms. If you've already done the spa and the gondola, these unusual things to do in Vail for non-skiers make for great stories. Vail is easy with kids, even if no one in the family skis. Here are the most fun activities for kids in Vail Village and nearby. Vail has two outdoor rinks that open daily in winter, both with skate rentals. Tucked into Solaris Plaza, DECA + BOL pairs a restaurant with 10 bowling lanes and lounge seating. It's a reliable plan for a snowy evening or a rest day, and bowling reservations are required. Imagination Station, run by the Vail Recreation District, is a hands-on discovery center with pottery painting, science activities, and virtual reality for older kids. Adults enter free with children. For a quieter break, the Kids Zone at Vail Library has books, educational games, and twice-weekly storytimes. Many older guides still list tubing at Adventure Ridge on Vail Mountain, but the winter tubing hill there has not operated in recent seasons. For tubing, head over Vail Pass to Frisco Adventure Park, about 30 minutes east, which has a groomed, multi-lane tubing hill. Reservations are required, and the season depends on snow conditions. A scenic gondola ride is an easy win with kids, and the free Colorado Snowsports Museum is a good indoor stop. The museum's Olympic gear and vintage equipment tend to hold kids' attention longer than parents expect. Après is one of the best parts of a Vail winter, and you don't have to ski to enjoy it. Grab a seat by a fire pit around 3 p.m. as skiers come off the mountain. Popular restaurants fill up quickly in winter, so reserve ahead, especially from mid-December through early January and during Presidents' Day week. Timing a trip around an event adds a lot for non-skiers. These are the signature winter events to watch for. Dates change each season, so check the Town of Vail and Discover Vail event calendars before booking. Vail Mountain usually opens in mid-November, and the 2026–27 season is set to open on Friday, November 13, 2026, weather permitting. The best timing depends on what you want from the trip. A few planning tips: Vail Village sits at more than 8,000 feet, so drink plenty of water and take it easy on the first day. Use the free in-town bus instead of driving between villages, and book guided activities, spa treatments, and dinners ahead of time. Both towns work well for non-skiers, but they feel different. Aspen has the edge for travelers who want a year-round town with deep arts and culture, while Vail offers easier access from Denver, two walkable villages, and plenty of outdoor activities to fill a week. If you're deciding between the two, our guide to And if you're thinking about a return trip once the snow melts, Vail's warmer months are just as full. See our list of The best mountain trips tend to become traditions. The same fireside table on the first night, the same sleigh ride the kids ask about all year, the same quiet morning walk through the village before the crowds arrive. Having a place of your own in the mountains turns those moments into something you come back to every season. The hard part is that owning a home in Vail outright means carrying the full cost of a mountain property, plus snow removal, maintenance, and upkeep in the months you're not there. Many families love the idea of a Vail home but aren't sure they'd use it enough to justify the expense. Pacaso offers a different path. Pacaso allows buyers to purchase a share (1/8 to 1/2) of a fully managed luxury home through a property-specific LLC, giving them a true real estate asset without the full cost of ownership. Learn more about
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