Located in central Colorado among the majestic Rocky Mountains, Vail is world-renowned. While this quaint alpine village is known as the largest and most popular ski resort in North America, it’s also the perfect summertime getaway offering sunny days, cool evenings, breathtaking scenery, and a vast array of mountain activities including award-winning golf courses, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing, jeep tours, hiking, world class shopping, international cuisine, musical and theater productions, and more.

The comfortable elevation of 8,150 feet contributes to the mild weather with low humidity and August averages temperatures of 75° (high) and 40° (low). For more information on the Vail Valley visit https://www.visitvailvalley.com/ and https://www.vailgov.com/welcome-to-vail.

AIR TRANSPORTATION:  Several airport options are available as follows:

• The Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) is located 30 miles west of Vail (40-minute drive) and is serviced by United and American Airlines.
• The Denver International Airport (DEN) is located 120 miles east of Vail (2+hour drive) and is serviced by most major airlines.
• Colorado Springs Airport (COS) is located 175 miles southeast of Vail (3+hour drive) and is serviced by most major airlines.

GROUND TRANSPORTATION:

• Epic Mountain Express offers shared shuttle services from both DEN and EGE airports. Public rates are currently ~$69pp from DEN and ~$39 pp from EGE (one-way, per person, to/from The Hythe Vail and subject to change).  Summer demand is heavy so please book early to ensure availability and to guarantee the rate.
• Taxi: Limited taxi service is available at EGE to/from the hotel (approx. $140 one-way); however, all taxi services to/from EGE should be secured with advanced reservations.
• Uber/Lyft:  Limited service is available within Eagle County and at EGE (approx. $70 one-way) for both Uber and Lyft. Advance reservations are recommended.
• Rental Cars & Parking: Rental cars are available at the DEN, EGE and COS airports.  ASA has secured a discounted rate for valet parking at The Hythe Vail of $40 per day.
• Do I need a car in Vail? Once on property at The Hythe Vail, ample dining and recreational activities are located within walking distance in Lionshead Village. Additionally, the Vail Village free in-town shuttle bus picks up at The Hythe Vail every 5-10 minutes and loops through Lionshead, Vail Village and Golden Peak for even more dining, shopping, and recreational activities.

Guided and self-guided optional tours will be promoted to help you fully experience the Vail Village and the Rocky Mountains in the company of your sweetener colleagues. Registration for all guided tours should be directed to the tour operators noted. Optional tours are not official Symposium events.

Guided Tours

• Jeep Tour—Daily, 9:00AM & 2:00PM
  Experience a sense of wilderness and the magnificent Rocky Mountains while traveling the countryside. Bring the Vail Valley up close and personal during your guided jeep tour as you enjoy spectacular vistas spanning miles of the Colorado high country. With more than 30 years of experience, Timberline Tours is the leading Vail jeep tour guide service. This tour begins with a pick-up at The Hythe Vail at either 9:00AM or 2:00PM. Your trained guide will help you pick the best tour available based on season and trail conditions, weather and group dynamics. These four-hour tours can accommodate 6 people per jeep, and two jeeps can be reserved together for larger groups. Prices are $159 for adults (13+), $149 for children (7-12), and $89 (ages 6 & under) (exclusive of taxes/fees and gratuity). Prices include door-to-door transportation and a snack. Since you will be traveling in an open-air vehicle and traveling to higher altitudes, a warm jacket, a layering of clothes, sunscreen, and sunglasses are recommended. Be sure to bring a camera to capture the incredible views. More information and ways to book are available at https://timberlinetours.com/
• Zip Adventures—Daily, Times Vary
  Zip Adventures offers the ultimate adrenaline rush while taking in the rugged beauty of Colorado. Located 20 miles northwest of Vail at the authentic 4 Eagle Ranch, Zip Adventures offers a unique course consisting of separate ziplines ranging from 150 to 1000 feet in length and 100 to 200 feet above the floor of Alkali Canyon. During your tour, you will experience pristine mountains, beautiful trees, raging rivers, jagged rock cliffs and the dramatic beauty of the canyon’s floor while zipping up to 50 miles per hour over rugged canyon. A thorough safety briefing will be provided. Two trained guides accompany each trip to ensure maximum safety, as well as educate about the flora, fauna, and wildlife. Tours are offered at various times throughout the day, lasting approximately 2+ hours, and can accommodate large groups. Make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, closed toe shoes or hiking boots, hair tie for shoulder length or longer hair, pants or shorts and jackets. Cameras with straps are welcome. Weight requirements: no minimum and a max of 250lbs. Not recommended for people with heart, back, hip or knee problems, or pregnant women. Must be able to hike ¾ mile on trails. Cost is $175 per person and includes all safety gear, water and snacks. A minimum 15% gratuity is required for the guides. Transportation to Zip Adventures is on your own. Reservations may be made at https://zipadventures.com/; however, reservations made directly by calling 970-926-9470 will receive a discount. Cancellation must be made 72 hours in advanced.
• Whitewater Rafting—Saturday & Sunday, AM and PM Trips
  Experience the beauty and the exhilaration of the Colorado Rockies while rafting the Shoshone River. Timberline Tours has reserved both a morning and an afternoon trip specifically for Symposium participants. The Shoshone Morning Trip starts with pick-up at The Hythe Vail at 9:00AM for transport to Timberline’s location, to be fitted with gear and receive an orientation. This trip typically offers white water, followed by a relaxing float through the scenic Glenwood Canyon, for a total time on the river of 1.5–2 hours, followed by a luncheon. Return to the hotel is expected by 3:00PM. The Shoshone Afternoon Double Thriller Trip starts with pick up from The Hythe Vail at 2:00PM for transport to Timberline’s HQ to be fitted with gear and receive an orientation. The Double Thriller Trip is ideally suited for those wanting white water only (no float) as it offers several laps on the same set of rapids, for a total time on the river of 1–1.5 hours. Return to the hotel is expected by 5:00PM. The trip includes door-to-door transportation, necessary equipment and snacks or lunch (varies by trip). Recommended attire includes bathing suits and sunscreen. Additionally, bring dry clothes if you would like to change at the take-out point. Prices vary by tour and age. Please note children must be age 8 or older. Book now as these tours fill up. Booking window closes 24 hours prior to departure. https://timberlinetours.com/
• Fly Fishing—Daily—Times Vary
  Outdoor enthusiasts will relish the opportunity to fish on more than 500 miles of pristine river through Colorado’s Vail Valley. With access to the Eagle River, Gore Creek, Roaring Fork River, and the Colorado River, you can experience fly-fishing with the help and expertise of some of Vail’s best anglers. Both beginners and experts are welcome. Trips can be tailored to your preference including wade trips, float trips, ½-day, ¾ -day and full-day with varying prices. Note: Float trip availability is limited. For more information, visit https://www.minturnanglers.com/vail-fly-fishing-trips-in-colorado/.

Self-Guided Tours

• Vail Farmers’ Market and Art Show—Sunday, 9:30AM – 3:30PM
  A highly popular summer activity is the Vail Farmers’ Market and Art Show. Held on Sundays in the heart of Vail Village, this event includes over 148 tents, showcasing many made-in-Colorado artisan items and foods, as well as produce, 40 food vendors, music and more. Spend your Sunday enjoying the market, eating breakfast and/or lunch from the food vendors, and exploring Vail Village. The market is primarily held on Vail Village’s East Meadow Drive, but also spreads to side streets throughout. Parking can be challenging so consider catching the free Vail Village in-town shuttle from the stop in front of The Hythe Vail to the Vail Transportation Center, for a quick 5-minute ride. Alternatively, you can walk from The Hythe Vail through Lionshead Village to Vail Village (20-minute walk). For more information, visit http://www.vailfarmersmarket.com/.
• Bike the Pass—Daily, 10:00AM, 12:00PM & 2:00PM
  This self-guided bike trip of the Vail Pass is a wonderful way to enjoy the Vail Valley, all at your own leisure. This adventure begins at Charter Sports, located in Lionshead Village just a short walk from The Hythe Vail, where you will be fitted with a mountain bike and provided a helmet. You will then be driven to the “top” of Vail Pass and provided with an orientation of the area. From there, you will start your scenic 18-mile downhill trek on a paved bike path. The first ten miles of your trip are primarily downhill on the bike path with no motorized traffic encountered until you drop into East Vail. At various points, you’ll want to stop and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Gore Range and Vail Valley. As you continue into East Vail, you’ll ride by the Vail Golf Course, the Nature Center, the Ford Amphitheater, and the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. For a true Vail experience, stop in Vail Village for an ice cream or lunch at an outdoor café. Return the bike to Charter Sports in Lionshead. Cost is $70 per person (exclusive of taxes/fees and gratuity). Recommended attire includes shorts, tennis shoes, a warm jacket/layering of clothes, sunglasses, and sunscreen. For more information or to book your bike visit Charter Sports https://chartersports.com/.
• Gondolas, Hiking & the Epic Discovery Activity Center—Daily
  The Hythe Vail’s ideal location gives you quick access to a plethora of summer recreation. Take Vail’s Scenic Gondola (https://tinyurl.com/3jhcevky), either the Eagle Bahn Gondola (located in Lionshead Village) or Gondola One (located in Vail Village) to the top of the peak (elevations 10,000+ft) to experience panoramic views, explore 18 different hiking trails (https://tinyurl.com/msyzs7b3) or visit the Epic Discovery activity center (https://tinyurl.com/5n6zahtw). Perched on the mountaintop, Epic Discovery offers a football-stadium sized activity center featuring ziplines, high ropes course, mountain coasters, tubing, a climbing wall, bungee trampoline, restaurants, and more.
• The Well & Being Spa—Daily, 10AM – 5PM
  The Hythe Vail’s Well & Being Spa offers a luxurious Alpine-inspired experience. The spa’s innovative wellness approach incorporates many local and on-property botanicals, infusing treatments with indigenous plants. The spa offers a Himalayan Salt Inhalation Lounge, as well as massage therapies, body scrubs and wraps, facials and skincare services, and enhanced recovery therapies.  To make a reservation or for general information on the Well & Being Spa, visit https://www.thehythevail.com/wellness/spa/.