Colorado: Vail, Family Vacation Ideas - Mountain Hiking, Whitewater, and Bike Tours.In the mountains, summer is a time of rebirth. Cool refreshing breezes combine with sunny days and an abundance of vibrant colors provided by the season. The quaint mountain town of Vail has been undergoing a rebirth process and many of the benefits Vail's Billion Dollar Renewal, will be ready and waiting for visitors to enjoy.
A terrific
Colorado family vacation spot is any season, the atmosphere of Vail makes having fun and enjoying nature absolutely effortless. We have an action list created to salute the season. Take a mountain safari by jeep; bike mountain trails; hike, ski, snowboard, shop or just chill for a few days.
Ride the water. Nothing beats the heat like whitewater. Timberline Tours offers more than a dozen trips on four major rivers, with four designated family friendly offerings, Brown’s Canyon, Upper Colorado, Shoshone Rapids and Lower Eagle. More experienced rafters will love the Class V Gore Canyon trip. B
onus points: Timberline Tours also offers four-wheel drive jeep adventures, a great way to enjoy the beautiful wilderness areas around Vail from May through October. (Timberline Tours. 23698 US Highway 24, Minturn. 1(970) 476-1414 or
www.timberlinetours.com)
Exercise your imagination. Engage and explore Imagination Station, a children’s museum for age’s two to twelve. Kids over the age of three and potty trained can stay with the staff at Imagination Station for up to three hours, exploring a variety of activities depending on their interest while parents can explore Vail Valley. The Vail Nature Center, works with Vail Youth Services to provide a unique 2-day per week camp that encourages kids to explore ecology and their own unique relationships with local flora and fauna through art projects and games. 395 East Lionshead Circle, Vail. 1(970) 479-2292 or
www.vailrec.com/youth_camps.htm Take a wild ride. 
Aälta Sports offers mountain bike rentals by the hour, half day and full day as well as guided bike tours. The three to four and a half hour Vail Pass guided tour includes a professionally trained guide, round trip transportation from the guests lodge, bike and helmet, snack and beverages, and spectacular scenery. Not to be missed: For those looking for a thrill, ask the lift operator to put your bike on the chairlift, take the chair lift up the mountain and ride your bike downhill. (Aälta Sports. 333 Bridge Street, Vail. 1(877) 959-0704
www.aaltasports.com)
Ride over the snow. During the winter, Nova Guides offers guided snowmobile tours, snowmobile rentals, snow coach tours and dog sledding, all great ways to explore Vail’s winter wonderland on more than 50 miles of ungroomed trails in the White River National Forest and featuring a youth lap track for kids. In the summer, Nova Guides offers a diverse multitude of outdoor activities, from Jeep and Hummer tours to fishing and paintball. (Nova Guides. Minturn. 1-888-949-5582 or
www.novaguides.com)
Jingle some bells. Throughout the winter, Bearcat Stables offers families a magically sleigh ride experience. Their sleighs are drawn a world class Belgian horse team through the beautiful vistas of the Rocky Mountains, while passengers enjoy hot cocoa and apple cider. After the sleigh ride dine fireside at in the mountain lodge themed Timber Hearth Grille. Another great way to experience the winter landscape is with a guided winter horseback ride across the historic Bearden homestead. (Bearcat Stables. 2701 Squaw Creek Road, Edwards. 1(970) 926-1578 or
www.bearcatstables.com)
Ride the tube. This winter enjoy tubing in style at Meadow Mountain. Riders ascend to the top on the lift then take their pick of Meadow Mountain’s groomed tubing run. One great way to tube together is to connect the tubes into a chain or circle then descent as a group. After tubing, relax with a snack and a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy the view. (Meadow Mountain. I-70 at Minturn exit. 1(970) 827-4155)
Make it happen. 1-800-775-8245 or check out
summer.vail.com
