When it rains in Vail, the dependable options are indoors in the two villages: a free museum, a free library, a hands-on children's space, bowling, spas, galleries, coffee shops and taprooms. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains in summer and can interrupt outdoor activities and gondola service, so a wet-day plan is worth keeping nearby.
Rain versus lightning on the mountain
Rain alone does not stop everything. Epic Discovery stays open in the rain but closes for lightning, and the gondolas can close temporarily during storms. When a storm builds, seek shelter and avoid ridgelines, lift towers, power lines, open spaces and lone trees. The top of the gondola is usually at least 10 degrees cooler than the bottom, so a raincoat and layers are worth carrying. The summer season's dates and hours are in the Adventure Ridge guide.
Rainy-day options at a glance
| Stop | Where | Cost and access |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Snowsports Museum | Third level of the Vail Village parking structure, by the covered bridge | Free, donations appreciated; open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Vail Public Library | 292 W. Meadow Drive, east side of Lionshead | Free to browse; open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Imagination Station | 395 E. Lionshead Circle | $18 per child, free for adults 17 and over; online reservations; hours vary by day |
| Deca + Bol | Solaris Plaza, Vail Village | Ten bowling lanes and a restaurant; closed Tuesdays, opens at 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and at noon Friday to Sunday |
| Betty Ford Alpine Gardens Education Center | 522 S. Frontage Road East | Garden admission is free |
Museum, library and gardens
The Colorado Snowsports Museum covers the history of skiing and snowboarding in Colorado, with exhibits on ski fashion, the rise of snowboarding, competition history and the 10th Mountain Division, plus a Hall of Fame. The library has reading areas, a children's section and a calendar of programs, and visitors can browse but only Vail residents can claim a card to borrow. The Education Center at Betty Ford Alpine Gardens has interactive exhibits and a temperature-controlled Alpine House, a good fallback when weather cuts a garden walk short.
With children
Imagination Station, run by the Vail Recreation District, is open year-round by reservation. It has a virtual-reality space, an indoor play area with a magnet wall, a light wall, a wind tunnel and a hyperbolic funnel that models planetary motion, pretend veterinarian and baby-care stations, and paint-your-own pottery in the adjoining room. The entry fee includes art and science activities and a guided activity each day, so reserve a time slot online before you go. At Deca + Bol, the restaurant serves crispy chicken strips for younger diners, which makes the bowling alley a workable family afternoon. More ideas for each age are in the summer with kids guide and what to do in Vail with kids.
Spas: what non-guests can book
A spa day is the classic wet-weather plan, and the access rules differ:
- Sonnenalp Spa has a heated indoor-outdoor pool, whirlpools and European-inspired treatments. Visitors who book a treatment get full access to the facilities, and weekday day passes may be available for $50, subject to availability and change.
- The RockResorts Spas at The Arrabelle in Lionshead and at The Lodge at Vail each have 11 treatment rooms and take booking requests on Vail's spa page. Hours change by season.
- Bloom Spa at The Sebastian is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and takes reservations by phone at 970-477-8060 or online.
- Gravity Haus Vail gives spa guests all-day access to its fitness facility and unlimited group classes, alongside a hot tub, sauna, steam room, cold plunge and salt lounge. That makes it the option for a workout and a soak on the same wet afternoon.
The spa guide compares them further.
Galleries and shops
Raitman Art Galleries shows contemporary work in glass, metal and mixed media, and Vail Village Arts leans toward bold, statement-making pieces by local and international artists. J Cotter Gallery makes its jewelry in-house, from oxidized silver rings to brushed metal cuffs, and The Golden Bear is known for gold bear bracelets and pendants. Vail International Gallery is on East Meadow Drive, and Gorsuch sells apparel. Vail's public art stays outdoors and can be seen between shops with an umbrella.
Coffee, taprooms and live music
For coffee, Loaded Joe's, at 242 E. Meadow Drive, serves coffee drinks in the morning and beer, wine and cocktails at night. Two Arrows Coffee Bar, at 225 Wall Street, pairs coffee and cocktails with a full breakfast menu, and Yeti's Grind, at 141 E. Meadow Drive, does panini-pressed sandwiches, burritos and baked goods.
The Vail Brewing Company tasting room, at 141 E. Meadow Drive Suite 209, opens at 11 a.m. and has a patio that allows leashed dogs; the brewery has been pouring since 2014. Root & Flower, at 288 Bridge Street, opens daily at 4 p.m. for wine and cocktails. Shakedown Bar, at the top of Bridge Street, has been a year-round live-music venue since 2012, for ages 21 and over; its calendar shows who is playing the night you are there. The Vilar Performing Arts Center, at 68 Avondale Lane in Beaver Creek, runs its own schedule, and how far Beaver Creek is from Vail covers the trip.
