Travel to Vail Via Denver

Visiting Vail, Colorado with the kosher travel group KMR was one of the most surprising trips I’ve taken yet. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt in Vail and were astounded by the sheer beauty surrounding us. 

Vail (and Colorado as a whole) is an ideal destination for those who love nature, outdoor sports and activities. It is also packed with a rich history dating back to the mid 1800s, when Colorado became part of the Gold Rush that expanded Western United States. As such, you will be met with a lot of gold mines and themed activities.

Stop 1: Denver, Colorado

The quickest way to travel to Vail and other surrounding mountains is via Denver. From New York, for example, there are no direct flights to Vail (unless you charter a private plane) and it becomes quite expensive and time consuming to purchase a stopover ticket. Therefore, we recommend flying into Denver, renting a car and driving to your final destination. 

Denver itself offers what a typical, vibrant American city has — parks, shops, museums and markets abound. For the kosher traveler, it is a great place to stock up on kosher products on the way to the mountains of Vail, Boulder or Aspen. 

Where To Eat:

Brooklyn Pizza

- The pizza dough is crispy and thin and the options are endless. The menu also has a variety of pastas, salads, falafel and fries. We particularly loved the vegan meat options, the Park Slope pie and the Crown Heights pie (we’re biased!). Other standouts were the calzones (outrageously flavorful and huge) and the zeppoles (Italian donuts served in a large paper bag hot out of the fryer, dusted with generous amounts of confectioners’ sugar).

- We recommend calling in advance, especially if you are planning to take food to go. Order time averages 15-20 minutes, so keep that in mind.

Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen 

- This is a classic bagel shop that makes New York-style bagels and homemade lox and smoked salmon. The fact that the lox is made in-house makes a huge difference in taste and quality — have fun and try their different varieties. 

- We met with culinary director Nick Severino, who took us on a tour of how the bagels are made. The most fascinating aspect of their process is that they have a specialized filtration system to achieve the same type of water that New York has, based on the well-known theory that the water in New York is what makes the bagels, pizza and bread so superior. This is Rosenberg’s not-so-secret secret. Another key aspect to their baking is the consideration of Denver’s high altitude, something that can change a recipe. If a recipe works in Miami, it won’t necessarily work well up in the mountains of Colorado. “We didn't reinvent the wheel, we just figured out best practices for baking at a high altitude,” Nick shared. He also discussed that quality control plays a huge role at Rosenberg’s and they are constantly churning out fresh bagels. 

- Keep in mind that the cream cheese is not chalav yisrael. For kashrut purposes and to keep the rest of their products fully pareve, they keep their cream cheese in a separate refrigerator. 

East Side Kosher Deli

This is the place that makes kosher travel to Denver so convenient  — it’s a fully functioning supermarket, butcher, deli and restaurant.

High Point Creamery

This is a popular ice cream chain known for its unique, artisanal flavors. Bear in mind that while it’s not chalav yisrael, there are many non-dairy (though made on dairy equipment) offerings. The Berkeley and Hilltop locations are kosher certified. 

Supermarkets and Other Kosher Resources:

Pete's Market is a supermarket chain with a lot of kosher options and King Soopers is a small market that also has kosher options. 

Kashrus is ever-evolving. Visit www.scrollk.org for up-to-date details on the kosher status of the locations listed. 

What To Do:

1. Tour a brewery. Colorado has become a hub for beer brewing facilities and many breweries offer tours and/or tastings. 

2. Cherry Creek Shopping District. More than 500 department stores, boutiques, galleries, spas, hotels and one-of-a-kind shops make Cherry Creek the largest concentration of stores between St. Louis and San Francisco. Across 1st Avenue, Cherry Creek North boasts tree-lined streets with cafés and more shopping, amidst fountains and public art. We also enjoyed a brief coffee break at Aviano Coffee, which has excellent quality coffee in a beautiful setting. 

3. Washington Park. Known as the Central Park of Denver, this 165 acre park has two lakes and acres of land to picnic and trails to walk and bike. This is great if you are looking to relax or entertain kids for a few hours. 

4. Denver Zoo. Modeled after a Kenyan nature preserve, the 80-acre Denver Zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals, including tigers, black rhinos, kangaroos and orangutans.

5. Denver Broncos Stadium. Visiting at the right season may allow you to catch a football game at this famous stadium. There are limited seats available for the upcoming season, which ends in the middle of January. 

6. Tattered Cover Book Shop. With four locations throughout Denver, this book shop is one of the most famous indie bookstores in the United States. In business since 1971, a visit to one of the shops is a fun experience for book lovers and history buffs. 

7. Hot Air Balloon Ride. There is no better way to experience Colorado’s breathtaking views than in a hot air balloon ride. Though pricey ($225 per person), it is a once in a lifetime experience. 

8. Union Station. A 100-year-old landmark in Downtown Denver, Union Station offers various shops and accomodations. You can catch a 40-minute train ride to the airport from Union Station as well. 

9. Denver Mint.  Denver Mint is one of Colorado’s oldest institutions. 

10. Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The museum has many fascinating exhibits for the whole family as well as IMAX and Planetarium shows. Here you will find one full floor dedicated to the Gold Rush Era, transformed into a replica mineshaft.

Where To Stay: 

We stayed two nights in Downtown Denver, but after visiting the entire city, we would recommend staying in Cherry Creek. It is conveniently located, close to the airport and shopping and has many upscale, affordable hotel options. The Jacquard Hotel is a stunning boutique hotel in the heart of Cherry Creek. It offers clean, sleek rooms for an average of $300 per night, a rooftop pool and bar (kosher wine is available upon request). The Jacquard is part of Marriott, so you can use points for your stay.  

Denver → Vail

Consider these stops if driving from Denver to Vail:

1. Mount Evans Scenic Byway. Outside of Denver, this is an easy way to see mountains without the hike by driving miles through scenic mountain roads, reaching over 14,000 feet above sea level. The road, which is the tallest paved road in all of America, is only open at certain times of the year. Visit www.denver.org for more information and to find other hiking or driving trails that work for you.

2. Visit a casino. Casinos began to open after gambling was legalized in the 1990s. Three towns known for their casinos are Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek.

3. Colorado Gold Trail. Visitors can follow the Colorado Gold Trail — a scenic tour of gold rush towns and gold and silver mines that flourished in the late 1850s. Towns on the trail include Boulder, Black Hawk, Central City, Idaho Springs, Breckenridge, Fairplay, Alma, Como and Leadville. Visit www.colorado.com for more information. 

Stop 2: Vail, Colorado

Vail is one of the most beautiful, pristine mountains we have ever seen. During the summer, the weather is perfect and the skies are clear, making the views completely stunning. Even though winter is a typical time for skiing and snowboarding, the quieter summer season is great for those sports as well. 

What To Do:

NOTE: www.vail.com is an amazing resource, so check it out for updated information.

1. Vail Village. This quaint shopping area is a wonderful locale to walk around on a relaxed afternoon. Some of the shops include Fuzziwigs Candy Shop, a unique confections store that has some kosher options; Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, which also has some kosher chocolates (not chalav yisrael); Starbucks; ski equipment and gear shops; bike rentals. Parking is available and free during the summer months. 

2. Seasonal biking and gondola rides. During spring through September you can take a gondola up and down the mountains to see the stunning views. You can also take the gondola up the mountain and ride bikes down. There are various trails with different levels to choose from. 

3. Snow season starts at the end of September and ends in April. 

- Eagle’s Nest snow tubing. A wonderful family-friendly way to enjoy the snow-capped mountains. 

- Ski biking. This is for anyone who is at least on an intermediate skier level and is an awesome way to ski down a mountain. In place of skis, you use a bike equipped with skis instead of traditional wheels. It’s a real adventure. 

- Snowmobile tours. Experience the top of the Rockies on a snowmobile. (Nova Guides comes highly recommended for their snowmobile tours and also offers other tours like ATV). 

- Skiing. There are various mountains and skiing options. Check www.vail.com or get information from your hotel concierge.

- Fishing. Try ice fishing in winter and fly fishing in the summer with Vail Valley Anglers. 

- Dog Sledding. Mountain Musher has the best dog sledding rides in Vail.

Where To Stay:

1. House or apartment rental. Prices will vary depending on the season and what type of property you are looking for. Rentals on Airbnb start at about $100 per night, depending on size and location. 

2. Grand Hyatt Resort & Spa. This is a stunning resort with beautiful views of the mountains. There are a few pools, hot tubs, spa and bar. The hotel offers bike rentals and can guide you on various biking or walking paths. We highly recommend upgrading to a room with a view of the creek. The property borders a river and walking path and the first floor rooms have an outdoor seating area with direct access to the trails. Prices vary per season, with summer rates average $200 per night, while winter rates go up to $500+ per night. 

Where To Eat:

There are no kosher restaurants or stores in Vail, you can visit any supermarkets for kosher groceries. There are also local Starbucks shops for coffee and oatmeal. Chabad of Vail is a great option for Shabbos meals and minyanim. They offer special menus for Shabbos and Yeshiva break. Visit www.jewishvail.com for more information.

Disclaimer: The status of the kosher certifications of featured restaurants were accurate at the time of original publication. Please verify current certification status independently before visiting. Additionally, some establishments may have since closed.

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