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By Michael Gonzales · Updated October 28, 2026
Vail's top attractions beyond skiing are the free Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and Colorado Snowsports Museum, a scenic gondola ride to lunch on the mountain, two outdoor ice rinks, the Vail Nordic Center's snowshoe and fat-bike trails, and the free holiday events. The free town buses link them, so you don't need a car or a lift ticket for most.
Vail Mountain plans to open on November 13, 2026. Most of the non-ski season starts around then: the Nordic Center pro shop opens November 9, Kringle Crossing on November 14 and the outdoor rinks around Thanksgiving.
What are the top attractions in Vail if you don't ski?
These are the places worth your time, grouped by where they are, so you can plan a day on foot.
| Attraction | Where | Cost | Winter 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Snowsports Museum | Vail Village, level 3 of the parking structure | Free; $10 donation appreciated | Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Betty Ford Alpine Gardens | Ford Park, about 10 minutes' walk east of Vail Village | Free; $20 donation suggested | Grounds open dawn to dusk; snowshoe tours January to March |
| Scenic gondola ride | Gondola One (Vail Village) or Eagle Bahn (Lionshead) | Scenic ticket; 2026/27 price not posted in October | From opening day, November 13 |
| Outdoor ice rinks | Alderhof rink at The Arrabelle (Lionshead) and Solaris Plaza (Vail Village) | Admission and skate rental | Open around Thanksgiving |
| Dobson Ice Arena | Lionshead | Varies by program | Reopening in November; concert November 28 |
| Vail Nordic Center | Vail golf course, 1775 Sunburst Drive | Trail and rental fees | Pro shop opens November 9; trails open when snow allows |
| Kringle Crossing and tree lightings | Vail Village and Lionshead | Free | November 14 to January 4 |
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Hours and prices are from each attraction's own page or our listing, checked October 26, 2026.
What is there to do in Vail Village?
Start at the Colorado Snowsports Museum, on level 3 of the Vail Village Parking Structure at 231 S. Frontage Road East. It's free (a $10 donation is appreciated) and open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Its exhibits cover how skiing developed, the 10th Mountain Division and Colorado's Olympians.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m., a one-hour walking tour of the village leaves from the museum for $10 a person. Book it on (970) 476-1876. The parking structure is free after 3 p.m.
From the museum, cross the Covered Bridge into the village. Gondola One is at the top of Bridge Street, and the Solaris Plaza rink is on the far side of the village. For an evening plan, see things to do in Vail at night. For the shops and lunch stops along the way, see where to eat lunch in Vail.
Is Betty Ford Alpine Gardens worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you go on snowshoes. The gardens sit at 8,200 feet in Ford Park, at 522 S. Frontage Road East, about a 10-minute walk east of Vail Village. They're the highest-elevation botanical garden in North America.
The grounds are open dawn to dusk every day and entry is free, with a $20 donation suggested. The Education Center is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In winter the draw is the naturalist-led snowshoe tours. They run January to March on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., for $25 with snowshoes, snow permitting. Our Betty Ford Alpine Gardens guide covers the summer side, and the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater next door is the summer concert venue.
Can you ride the Vail gondola without skiing?
Yes. Vail sells a scenic ride separately from lift tickets, so you pay for the ride, not a ski day. Gondola One runs from Vail Village and the Eagle Bahn Gondola from Lionshead. At the top, non-skiers can meet skiers for lunch at Eagle's Nest or Mid-Vail.
Vail hadn't posted 2026/27 scenic prices in October. In summer 2026 an adult ride was $67. Our gondola cost guide tracks the price. The Nature Discovery Center at Eagle's Nest runs free guided snowshoe tours of about 90 minutes for ages 10 and up. You'll need to register, and you'll need a gondola ticket or pass to get there.
Where can you skate, snowshoe or cross-country ski?
- Outdoor rinks: the Alderhof rink at The Arrabelle in Lionshead and the Solaris Plaza rink in Vail Village both open around Thanksgiving and rent skates. Free figure skating shows start at the Arrabelle rink on November 27.
- Dobson Ice Arena: the indoor arena in Lionshead reopens in November after its renovation. The Vail Recreation District lists a grand reopening concert with Trampled by Turtles and Old Crow Medicine Show on Saturday, November 28.
- Vail Nordic Center: on the golf course at 1775 Sunburst Drive, with 17 km of ski trails, 10 km of snowshoe trails and 13 km of fat-bike trails. The pro shop opens Monday, November 9, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trail opening depends on snow. The Nordic Swap is Saturday, November 14, and entry is $5.
Our Oct 29 guide to ice skating covers the rinks in more depth. Where to snowshoe in Vail compares the snowshoe trails.
What winter events can you see for free?
- Kringle Crossing: the holiday village runs November 14, 2026, to January 4, 2027.
- Lionshead tree lighting: November 27, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
- Vail Village tree lighting: December 6 at 5 p.m.
The town buses are free, so you can get to each event without parking. Free things to do in Vail has the full list.
What are the best paid activities beyond skiing?
| Activity | Who runs it | Price we found | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowmobile tour | Vail Backcountry Tours | 2 hours: $280 single, $420 double | Direct with the operator |
| Sleigh ride dinner | 4 Eagle Ranch, Wolcott | $110 ages 13+, $55 ages 5 to 12 | Direct; reservations needed |
| Spa day | Hotel spas in the village | Varies; see our Vail spas guide | Direct with the spa |
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Snowmobile prices exclude tax, the 12.5% Forest Service fee and a customary 20% guide tip. The sleigh dinner adds bar, tax and an 18% gratuity. Our best things to do in Vail in winter guide has more on both, plus tubing and sledding.
Where should you stay to be near the attractions?
Stay in Lionshead for the Arrabelle rink, the Eagle Bahn Gondola and Dobson Arena. Stay in Vail Village for the museum, Gondola One and Solaris Plaza. Stay at the Golden Peak end for Ford Park and the gardens.
| Hotel | Area | Near | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Arrabelle at Vail Square | Lionshead | Alderhof rink, Eagle Bahn Gondola | The Arrabelle on Expedia |
| The Lodge at Vail | Vail Village | Gondola One, the museum | The Lodge at Vail on Expedia |
| Manor Vail Lodge | Golden Peak | Ford Park, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens | Manor Vail Lodge on Expedia |
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For more hotels by neighborhood, see Lionshead hotels and hotels in Vail Village.
Plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
What can you do in Vail in winter if you don't ski? Skate on the outdoor rinks in Lionshead and Vail Village, snowshoe at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens or the Vail Nordic Center, ride a gondola to lunch on the mountain, visit the free Colorado Snowsports Museum, or book a snowmobile tour, sleigh ride dinner or spa day.
What are the free attractions in Vail? Betty Ford Alpine Gardens ($20 donation suggested), the Colorado Snowsports Museum ($10 donation appreciated), Kringle Crossing, the tree lightings and the town buses.
Do you need a lift ticket to ride the Vail gondola? No. Vail sells a scenic ride separately from lift tickets. It hadn't posted 2026/27 scenic prices in October.
When do Vail's winter attractions open? The mountain plans to open November 13, 2026. The Nordic Center pro shop opens November 9, Kringle Crossing on November 14, and the outdoor rinks around Thanksgiving.
Is the Colorado Snowsports Museum free? Yes. It's open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on level 3 of the Vail Village Parking Structure, and it appreciates a $10 donation.
Do you need a car to see Vail's attractions? No. The free town buses run through Vail Village and Lionshead, and Ford Park is a 10-minute walk from the village.
Sources
- Betty Ford Alpine Gardens: Visit (hours, donation, address)
- Colorado Snowsports Museum: Visit (hours, donation, walking tour)
- Vail Nordic Center (pro shop opening, trails, Nordic Swap)
- Vail Recreation District: Dobson Arena (programming from November 2026)
- Vail Recreation District: Upcoming events at Dobson Arena
- Discover Vail: Things to do
Checked October 26, 2026. Rink, event, snowmobile and sleigh details are from our own listings and our winter guide, checked September to October 2026.