Vail and Beaver Creek: Towns

Vail Village A premier, pedestrian-only mountain town with old homesteads and a smattering of posh lodges, trendy eateries, and new skier services at the base of the Vista Bahn Chairlift.

Lion’s Head Half a mile from Vail Village and home to the valley’s only gondola, Lion’s Head is in the process of a major facelift. New luxury residences, stores, public spaces, and Bavarian-style gondola complex are slated to be completed by January 2010.

Beaver Creek Village Located at the base of the delightfully cruisable, less-trammeled (albeit smaller) Beaver Creek Mountain, this pretty, petite village is known for its exclusive chalets. It’s 20 minutes by shuttle from Vail Village

Bachelor Gulch A ski-in/ski-out community on Beaver Creek Mountain with trail access to Arrowhead and Beaver Creek Village; its crowning gem is the dazzling Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch. 

Arrowhead Just 12 miles west of Vail Village, Arrowhead is home to a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, the Arrowhead Alpine Club & Spa, and a gated, condo-filled community. Arrowhead slopes have connecting trails to Bachelor Gulch and Beaver Creek.