The Top 5 Reasons People Choose to Live in Vail

“So, what is it that makes a living in Vail, Colorado, so great?” Well, the answer is plenty, and it’s worth looking at why Vail is such a wonderful place to call home. There are good reasons why more and more people each year are choosing to leave behind their big city life and head out into the Colorado Rockies to escape from it all. If you’re looking for a great new place to live, Vail might just have everything you have been looking for.

Colorado is a wonderland of beautiful terrain and landscapes. From mountains to deserts, plains, and forests. Colorado seems to have it all when it comes to natural beauty. The Colorado State flag is a testament to the splendor of the state: blue represents the big blue skies, gold for the abundant sunshine, white for the majestic snow-capped mountains of the Rockies, and finally, red represents the ruddy earth. Anybody who has ever visited Colorado can testify that the state slogan of “Colorful Colorado” is accurate and appropriate!

Within all this natural beauty that Colorado has to offer, a few places can only be described as magical for the magnificence they possess and for the fun and joy they bring to visitors and residents alike. One such place in Colorado is Vail, which has so much to offer that it’s hard to know where to even begin describing what makes this place so special. The town’s permanent residents are well aware of Vail’s quirky charms that visitors probably miss out on just because they are too preoccupied with the main “touristy” activities that Vail is known for.

It would be a shame to keep all of Vail’s quirky little secrets only to the locals, so hopefully, this little guide will help more people get to know the charms that make Vail so special and why more and more people each year are choosing to stay in Vail and make it their new home.

How to Get to Vail?

Before we get into the Top 5 Reasons for living in Vail, let’s first discuss how to get to this magical place. There are a few different options worth considering:

Denver to Vail with Blue Sky Limo

Most people come to Vail by way of Denver, Colorado. The quickest and easiest way to go from Denver to Vail is with a car service provider. The drive from Denver to Vail can sometimes be a little stressful, especially in the cold winter months, so it’s definitely advisable to utilize a private Denver to Vail Airport car service operator like Blue Sky Limo to make the trip through the mountains as relaxing and convenient as possible. We’re Eagle County’s top-rated provider of luxury airport car services from Denver to Vail.

Flying into Eagle Airport

The great news is that getting to Vail is easier than ever. Eagle Vail County Regional Airport provides a super convenient access point for all Vail Valley resorts. Getting from the Airport to Vail is as simple as booking a nice, convenient airport shuttle service such as Blue Sky Limo’s. Book your vail shuttle transportation service today, and start enjoying all the fantastic wonders Vail has to offer!

1. Skiing & Snowboarding in Vail

Yes, of course one of the most amazing things about living in Vail (and the reason most people visit) is being able to ski/ride one of the most incredible ski resorts in the world. Vail is constantly ranked either best or in the top 3 ski resorts in the world by most serious snow sports publications.

The combination of vast terrain suitable for all levels, heavy snowfall along with lots of sunshine, and world-class luxury accommodation, shopping, and dining options has made Vail one of the most popular and exclusive ski destinations on the planet.

The locals might complain about the vast and ever-increasing numbers of tourists who come to Vail for a skiing/snowboarding getaway, but the truth is, most Vail residents got there exactly the same way. They just loved it so much that they decided to stay!

2. White River National Forest

The National Forest lands surrounding Vail provide endless fun and activities for residents who like to get out into the outdoors. The hiking here is simply astounding. Most of the paths lead to some sort of hidden natural treasure, such as a waterfall or a mountain lake. Booth Lake is especially stunning and warm enough to swim in in the summertime!

Another hidden treat in the White River National Forest is Piney Lake, which is accessible via Red Sandstone road. The lake is magnificent (with plenty of fish for anglers), but if you’re looking for a great place to camp, there are plenty of U.S. Forest Service spots along the way.

Mountain bikers delight in the abundance of challenging terrain the White River National Forest provides them, and motocross enthusiasts also come here to challenge themselves.

All in all, while of course, the biggest draw of Vail is the mountain, the surrounding forest lands provide a plethora of outdoor activities for all experience levels, set in a beautiful alpine landscape

3. The Amenities and Town Infrastructure

One of the most wonderful things about living in Vail is being able to enjoy the absolutely unheard-of amenities local residents and visitors are privileged to.

• There is a local bus system that makes getting from one part of town to another a breeze and allows locals to go for weeks and weeks without ever having to use a car (or pay the parking fees). The bus system runs from early morning till late at night and connects all parts of town, including the nightlife centers, grocery stores, and ski slopes. The best part about this exceptionally efficient, clean, and fast bus system is that it is 100% FREE for everyone to enjoy. That’s not something you come across very often.

• Vail has a very robust social infrastructure for such a small town. There is a very well-funded police department and fire department, and the Vail Medical Center is world renowned for providing some of the best care and employing some of the best doctors and nurses in the country.

• Children attend several schools, including the famous Ski and Snowboard Club and Vail Mountain School, which world champion Lindsey Vonn attended. Children get a great education while being fully immersed in the local ski and snowboard culture that Vail is famous for.

• There is an impressive town of Vail library, an ice skating ring, a modern luxury cinema complex, and a fun bowling alley. All are within minutes of each other, and all provide big-city entertainment in a lovely Alpine town setting.

4. The Vail Locals

Another great part about living in Vail is, of course, the locals. Vail has a population of about 5700, and while this is quite small compared to other large cities, the small population only makes it a better place to live. Many people living here know each other well, and that makes for a great sense of community. People are also very friendly, and everyone just seems to get along.

During the peak tourist seasons, the town’s population more than doubles. For the most part, visitors are just there to have a good time and enjoy both the mountain and the town while they are there. Vail is a very safe place to live, with crime (apart from the odd public intoxication incident) largely non-existent.

There are not many places in the world where crime is just not something you ever need to worry about, and that just adds to the magic of living in Vail.

5. The Vail Weather

And finally, the weather. Vail might be the best expression of the four seasons on the planet. The summers are sunny and hot (and not too humid), and the fall brings the changing of the leaves where all the beautiful rows of aspens turn into regal gold. The winter brings lots and lots of snow and turns the town into a winter wonderland. The spring brings life back into the valley, and the surrounding hills display a plethora of wildflowers while the woods teeming with deer, elk, and bears. The seasons in Vail show off their true expressions, and each is a delight to witness.

The saying among local Vail residents is that they “came for the winter but stayed for the summer.” That’s largely true, but the other two seasons are just as marvelous, making Vail a treat to live in year-round.

Final Thoughts About Living in Vail

There’s a reason Vail residents are some of the happiest people on Earth: they live in one of the most amazing places on this planet. Perfect weather, amazing year-round outdoor activities, some of the best skiing, and a well-financed town infrastructure with everything a person could ever want. These are the reasons people choose to make Vail their home. It was a wise decision to come visit Vail; it was even wiser to stay and live here.