Vail Village feels like someone picked up a charming European mountain town and carefully dropped…read moreit into the Colorado Rockies. The cobblestone walkways, alpine architecture, crisp mountain air, and towering peaks create a setting that feels almost unreal. Every visit reminds us why Colorado keeps calling us back. The mountains are majestic, the scenery is breathtaking, and the pace of life slows down just enough to appreciate it all. As Star Wars fans, we couldn't help but feel a little inspired: I am one with the mountain, and the mountain is with me. Whether you're hiking, strolling through the village, or simply sitting quietly taking it all in, Vail is a place that feeds the soul.

I've been to several major ski towns by now, but this village really stands out for me…read more.. For some reason, I expected some changes, but the place looked exactly the same as I remembered it from over 10 years ago! Every square inch is just so picturesque! I did feel that there were a few negatives...for me (the non-skier). I just wished they had more boutiques that weren't so ski-oriented...and nicer coffee shops. Despite being such a swanky village, they also seemed to run short on nice bakeries and coffee shops. In fact, I was nearly shocked how basic some places were! Plenty of nice restaurants though...and many had cool European ambiance. Again, I'm not a skier, but I had no problems spending my time (up to 6 hours or more) walking around this pretty village. It truly felt as if I was in Germany or Switzerland. LOVE this place!!

Beautiful oil canvas paintings and sculptures. The staff are super friendly and welcoming. Even my…read moreteens admired this beautiful art gallery. Must visit if you're into art and photography.

Beautifully displayed paintings and sculpture, very friendly and welcoming staff…read more I tire of galleries where the proprietors point their noses down at me. This was quite the opposite. No matter if I was going to buy or not, the owner informed me at length about a particular work when I asked. My funky little family walked through (2 funky teenage daughters and me) and no one gave us a bad look or sideways sneer. If I had the money, I'd buy a few paintings from this place as I loved some of them. There is enough of a variety to please many tastes. Prices seemed to range from $4500 up to $64,000, so I assume if you buy here, you know what you are doing. Pleasant experience; museum-quality work.

We visited Vail in August 2015 and Masters Gallery was housing an exhibit of Woodrow Nash…read moresculpture. The works and display of his work was OUTSTANDING. We were told much about the artist and we were told we could touch the works; that, in fact, Nash encouraged it. The woman working the days we went in (we visited twice), knew a lot about Nash and the pieces. It was like visiting a museum. She was informative and pleasant and not pushy in any way. I did not care much for the paintings on display, but the space is interesting and dynamic enough for a nice walk around. Recommended!

Four galleries in 4 attached spaces with one name... redefines "onestopshop"…read more.. 1. "Western" Gallery includes lots of cowboys and horses and landscapes with cowboys and horses. Frederick Hart sculptures, Robert Hagan, David Devary paintings. 2. "Nature" Gallery includes landscapes and water and trees and nature. 3. "Museum" Gallery includes museum quality images, museum quality artists, museum quality frames. Artists include Dali, Miro, Goldfinger. 4. "Abstract" Gallery includes vibrant and pure color with light bleeding out of the paintings. Favorite artist: Britten. Brilliant. I frequently have friends and clients who want me to help them choose art. They know I am an artist and that I am an art lover. I am always looking for great art, great artists, great galleries... and I have opinions. Josephine, the Gallery Director, welcomed me with a big smile and questions about what brings me to her gallery...? She runs the place so if you are lucky enough to be there when she is there, engage her in a conversation about art. RE #1: seeing the price people are willing to pay to watch the cowboyhatted Marlboro Man ride of into the sunset just boggles my mind. If you like that stuff, C. Anthony seems to have a great array. RE #2: quality oils, large canvases, beautiful images. RE #3: research this stuff before you buy it. "Dali" is a big name but at the end of his life he really sold out. He became a "signature" artist, much like a worn out football player who signs footballs to make money when he is retired. I understand that he would have someone else pull prints of his work, hundreds and hundreds of them, then he would sign his name, and it was like printing money. This is why it is not hard or expensive to now buy an "original" Dali. Many galleries rely on you not knowing this information. When I see a Dali in a gallery, one eyebrow always rises, uncontrollably. They also had an unsigned Renoir etching and it is very expensive, but ask the question, because the answer determines the value... "When was the etching pulled? Where? Did Renoir pull it? Was he alive when it was pulled?" Lots of people spend lots of money on this "Museum" stuff. Buyer beware. I did not have an opportunity to engage Josephine about these issues because she was welcoming a potential client. I am sure she has done some research. If you are considering the Museum gallery, ask... "Were these prints pulled by the artist?" The artist "Goldfinger" does to classical art and realism what Milli Vanilli did to music. RE #4: Currently featured artist Britten creates works that allow saturated color and light to bleed from the canvas. Her work is beautiful and powerful and lovely and needs to be appreciated and discovered by more people. If you are debating between a Britten or a Goldfinger, stop debating.

C. Anthony Gallery represents a variety of paintings, graphics, and sculpture by nationally and…read moreinternationally recognized artists. The art is always perfectly displayed ~ It's a must-see gallery. Local Oil painter Britten Roetzel's work is currently on display.

By Nature is one of my favorite stores at Beaver Creek and I almost freaked out when I didn't see…read morethem in their usual spot this year. Luckily they only moved a short distance away near the ice skating rink. By Nature offers some of the most unique natural specimens that you will ever find for sale, and affordable at that. Come in a look around at the amazing variety of geologic collectibles, animal remains, and other clever pieces of art. This place is really worth a stop on your way through the village.

Like a Natural Science Museum but everything is for sale…read more Bought several 3" long Orthoceras that have steel loops at one end. I plan to use them as my new ceiling fan pulls. FIve bucks each. Bought an Ammonite ring. I am wearing it now. Ninety eight bucks. They also have a Giant Saber Tooth Tiger Skull in the thousands, Fifty glowing blue Butterflies with both sides displayed, Enormous Ammonite "sculptures"... various prices, in the tens of thousands, Swimming fish encrusted and preserved in limestone, Intense, brilliant purple Agate Geodes as large as a grown man's torso. Some animals, plants, and butterflies did die so that By Nature Gallery could live. Most of the deaths, though, occurred a long, long time ago. (Jeff helped me here. Great guy. He was wearing an Ohio State t-shirt. I asked him if he was from Columbus...? Yes, recently moved to Colorado. I asked him if he knew the Dorrian family, because that is what i ask everyone from Columbus. YES, political, right, Democrats? Hugh was the City Treasurer, and his daughter is a good friend from college and she is a judge there... Is her name Julia? Yes! OH, yes, i sat for a traffic ticket with her, wore a suit and everything, didn't get out of it, but was SO impressed with her. She is an extremely fair judge and it completely renewed my belief in the system working. She is very fair and I completely trusted that she came to the correct conclusion. Small world.) (Fifteen minutes after leaving the gallery, I get a phone call from my credit card company saying I had left my card here. Jeff had called them immediately! I returned and he apologized and gave me my card. Awesome guy.)

One of my favorite parts of today and absolutely free to roam!…read more Just a wonder botanical garden filled with so much life! I'm from Florida so I don't get to see a lot of the nature that is included here but the grounds were immaculate! Beautiful bridges with stepping stones that appeared they were made out of the mountains. Historical markers to truly show you the love that was put into this park!

This garden one of the world's highest botanical gardens at an 8,200 feet altitude in the Rocky…read moreMountains. We did a family trip up to the mountains for a couple of days and on our way back home, we stopped by the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens because I knew my mother in-law loved flowers and I thought she would enjoy it here. We parked in the parking lot next to the big open field. Unfortunately there was an event that day and we had to pay I think $10 (can't remember the exact amount). I guess it evened out since the garden is free? Anywho, the garden was a short walk from the parking lot. It's named after the former first lady who preferred Vail as their vacation spot and helped the community flourish to what it is today. There's signage throughout the garden to read about Betty Ford, the plants, and wild life. It's a small garden, but there are plants from all over the world and we enjoyed strolling through the various paths. My mother in-law enjoyed it as well, so mission accomplished! If you're in the area and love plants and flowers, it's worth a quick stop, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

Nice gallery to stroll through. A little contemporary for my tastes, but I enjoy art anywhere I…read morefind it. Friendly associates.

Absolutely the best art gallery I've been to. I enjoyed nearly every piece. We appreciated the…read moredifferent mediums and techniques used, quite a variety, and some I've never seen before. Lots of really beautiful, home-friendly items. Nice woman working there. Ever since traveling back home I'm still thinking of several pieces I'd like to ship! Prices did not seem unreasonable.