This trip was Part 2 of our Utah adventure. We hopped on a flight from Utah to Denver, which ended up routing through Phoenix due to some flight issues. Bottom line — we landed in Denver by the afternoon and got right to it.
Our first stop was a kosher market in Denver, and it was amazing. They had everything kosher — including a small Judaica section, a sushi stand, takeout options, and a full restaurant attached. They also offer weekly deliveries to Vail, which is awesome if you’ll be in vail Shabbos.
From there, we started the 1 hour and 40 minute drive to Vail, making two scenic stops along the way to take in the stunning Colorado views. One was Loveland Pass and the other was Lookout Mountain. The drive alone was worth it — pure mountain scenery and absolutely stunning views.
If you’re choosing, Loveland Pass is the must-stop. Its about an hour and 15 minutes out of Vail and about 30 minutes before Vail. The views are absolutely epic and honestly breathtaking — one of our favorite stops of the entire trip.
Lookout Mountain, which is closer to Denver (about 20 minutes from downtown), was fine but skippable. It’s a quick overlook and doesn’t compare to the wow factor of Loveland Pass. If you’re short on time – or even if not – we’d skip it and save your energy for the mountains.
Protip: Due to the altitude you want to drink a lot and take it slow!
After soaking in the scenery, we continued on to Vail and checked into the Grand Hyatt Vail — a beautiful upscale hotel – with off-peak pricing.
The Grand Hyatt Vail was absolutely gorgeous. The property has multiple beautiful outdoor pools and hot tubs, along with fire pits, patios, and plenty of cozy spots to relax. The views from the porch were breathtaking — pure mountain scenery in every direction.
It’s also worth checking the hotel’s activity schedule. During our stay, they offered things like a kids’ movie night in the hotel’s private theater, and there was even a kids’ video game room, which was a huge hit.
The hotel offers a free shuttle service that makes it easy to get around, with stops at both Vail Village and Lionshead Village. Both villages are lively, walkable, and full of shops, restaurants, and classic mountain-town charm.
We took a gondola up to the top for the views and to let the kids enjoy some of the activities. The scenery from above was beautiful, and we especially loved the mountain coaster — a definite highlight. That said, be prepared: it’s very expensive, even in the summer. Just riding the gondola up alone isn’t cheap, so it’s worth deciding in advance which activities you really want to do.
Check with the local Chabad in Vail for minyanim and food options during the season you are going.
Protip: Shops in the village are super expensive. There is a market right next door to Chabad, in the village, with very normal pricing and a large selection.
We spent about a day and a half in Vail, then headed back to Denver for our early flight the next morning. On the way, we stopped by the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, though it happened to be closed for a private event — still cool to see from the outside.
From there, we caught a baseball game at Coors Field, cheering on the Colorado Rockies — who were having one of the roughest seasons in MLB history, but a fun atmosphere regardless. We enjoyed the game, and had a great time!
After a full day, we checked into a Hyatt hotel near the airport, got some much-needed rest, and flew out the next morning — and that wrapped up an epic Colorado trip.
We just wrapped up a beautiful trip to Denver, and Vail, Colorado, and we’d love to hear your thoughts on our recap! Comment below! What city should we explore next? Whether it’s a favorite destination or a hidden gem, your suggestions are invaluable to us! Please comment below! To reach our travel team, click HERE
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