Vail

It’s late afternoon and Vail is known for a great après-ski scene. After the lifts close check out the Red Lion or Los Amigos in the village, or for great margaritas, Garfinkel’s in Lionshead, which sports a large outside deck overlooking the base area and features live acoustic music.

The Red Lion in Vail Village has earned the reputation as "the place to be after you ski." Get there early on a nice day to claim a prize spot on the front deck. Live music nightly. Or there’s Los Amigos in Vail Village offering one of the best views of the base area—you sit on the outside deck and watch skiers and snowboarders make their final runs down Pepsi’s Face. Or you might spot one of the many Vail celebrities who either have a place here or are “passin’ thru”—and there are quite a few. If we mention in passing Joe Montana, Oprah, John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood, Roger Daltrey, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mimi Rogers, Phil and Steve Mahre, Kelsey Grammer, and Cameron Diaz, you’ll get the drift.

The Tap Room at the top of Bridge Street is the place to try one of several types of martinis. In Vail Village, try Vendetta’s, a popular locals’ place.