Spring Flowers in Vail with Blooms, Bluegrass, and Gut-busting laughs

Skiing and snowboarding have taken their final bow for the season and their exit makes way for new ways to explore all of Vail’s wonders. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker (alpine coaster, anyone?), music lover, or nature enthusiast drawn to the spring wildflower blooms, Vail’s spring scene invites locals and guests to explore what makes this one of the best times of year to be in town. Check out what’s on the docket this spring. 

The Rockies might be the biggest draw to Vail, but on the weekend of May 24-26, it’s the music that serves up a heavy dose of awe. The Springfree Bluegrass Festival heats up Vail Village with music, after parties, dining, and major festival vibes. Oh, and the festival is free! Visit the festival’s website to score deals, insider information, and a schedule of events and performers. 

After jamming to some of today’s best bluegrass, it’s time to laugh. The Vail Comedy Festival, also held the weekend of May 24-26, will have you breathless with laughter, and not from the city’s elevation! Purchase festival passes for this event, which in past years has sold out. Comics from around the country, including talent featured on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Last Comic Standing, and Conan bring it to this three-day laughter extravaganza. 

Take in the Rockies from a different point of view, but do it quickly because flying down 3,400 feet on a mountain in about seven minutes means the view stuns but changes fast. The Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster uses gravity to bring riders down the mountain but the 360 twists and turns shoot the heart rate up. Hate standing in line? Book your trip earlier in the day for less wait time. 

More mountain thrills! Just because the snow isn’t falling doesn’t mean tubing is closed for the season. Vist the 550 foot-long tubing hill on Vail Mountain to capture a bit of winter fun even as the temps rise.  For smaller adventurers, mini tubing offers all of the fun on a smaller scale.

Vail might conjure images of snowy peaks and thrill-infused skiing, but the warmer weather offers the chance to elevate your stay by scaling new heights on a gondola ride up Vail Mountain from either Vail Village or Lionshead. Choose from two gondola rides that offer access to hiking and biking trails. Need a pit stop? On-mountain dining offers a quick ice cream cone and coffee to drinks to BBQ. 

The rising temperatures let the snowmelt fuel the wildflower blooms at the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, one of the world’s highest botanical gardens. More than 500 species of alpine plants dot the alpine landscape with unfolding rainbow-hued blooms. Free and open year round, amble through the Alpine Rock Garden, Mediation Garden, and Children’s Garden. With more than 2,000 varieties of plants, the gardens offer a respite to connect with nature and recharge. 

Take in nature in a slightly different way–with a mat and a goat. A short one-mile trip from Vail Village, Vail Stables’s goat yoga offers relaxation alongside the cutest classmates. Feed the goats and ponies, grab a cocktail and lounge in the hammocks, or show off with your karaoke tune. Not just for adults, Vail Stables offers free pony rides for kids younger than 6 during happy hour.

Cap off your spring Vail getaway with a bit of retail therapy. Meander through Lionshead or Vail Village to take home a one-of-a-kind piece of art, the latest outdoor gear, or chic finds from one of the area’s boutiques. If you need your equipment tuned or are in the market to upgrade your outdoor gear, both areas have you covered.