Vail Valley

The Vail Valley, of course, is known for its winter sports, but it's just as popular as a summer vacation destination, too, with such activities as hiking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking, fishing and, of course, playing golf.

After all, the Vail Valley, with its resorts and villages, boasts more than 300 days a year of sunshine. The area also offers a variety of cultural events, such as the Vail International Dance Festival, Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, Oktoberfest and the Hot Summer Nights concerts at Vail's outdoor amphitheatre at Ford Park.

As far as golf goes, it doesn't get much better than the Vail Valley. with 17 championship golf courses within a 38-mile radius, and half of them open to the public, Vail's golf courses run the gamut -- from Vail Golf Club at the foot of Vail Mountain, to the mountainous course at Eagle Vail Golf Club. The region's golf courses were designed by some of the game's biggest names -- Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones -- which counter the area's world-class skiing.

Other popular activities include off-road tours, zip-lines, paragliding and shooting the rapids on some of the best whitewater rivers in the country. Cycling, both on and off road, is top notch in the valley, as cyclists take it through Vail Pass and beyond where cars can't go, but the bike trails continue.

The area’s shopping scene boasts plenty of boutiques, galleries, gift shops, sporting good stores and specialty shops in towns and villages like Vail, Beaver Creek, Minturn, Avon and Eagle. And year-round, the Vail Valley offers some of the best hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and resorts in the West, from the villages of West Vail to the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch on Beaver Creek Mountain -- perfect for golfers and skiers alike.