Vail

Most visitors flock to Vail during one season (winter) for one thing (snow sports), and with good reason. The largest single-mountain ski resort in North America — with annual snowfall of up to 30 feet of light, dry powder — boasts a whopping 5,300 acres of terrain with 34 high-speed lifts and 275 days of sunshine each year. It's no wonder Vail is a mecca for downhill skiers and snowboarders.

But there is more than snow sports in the Bavarian-style alpine village that only comprises about 4.5 miles, where horse-drawn carriages meander down pedestrian-friendly streets, and the shopping and dining are world-class. The town is largely car-free and was designed to be pedestrian-friendly. To make transportation even easier for pedestrians, the Town of Vail provides a free year-round bus that takes visitors through the city, between the east and west sides, Vail Village, the business district and Lionshead, making it easy for visitors to get around and see the town.

Summer is a wonderful time to visit, as the city hosts many festivals and sporting events like the action-packed GoPro Mountain Games in June; the Vail International Dance Festival showcasing all genres of dance; and Bravo! Vail, a classical music festival held in the breathtaking Vail Valley. Vail Valley also hosts many free concerts throughout the summer. Vail's elevation of 8,150 feet above sea level in the Rocky Mountains makes it a retreat from the heat of lower elevations and allows many recreational options in the summer months like golfing, rafting, hiking, biking and horseback riding.

Unlike many other Colorado ski resorts, Vail does not have much mining-town mystique. Located just 100 miles west of Denver, Vail grew out of an empty sheep pasture in the early 1960s. The charm of Vail Village helps compensate for the town's lack of history. And though Vail doesn't attract celebrities the way Aspen does, some see that as a plus.