Vail might be best known for skiing, but there is plenty to do after you come off the mountain, including a little souvenir shopping.
Vail Village and Lionshead are both filled with shops where you can find everything from ski gear and Colorado-made products to artwork and clothing. And while there are plenty of traditional Vail t-shirts and magnets available, I always prefer looking for something that either reminds me of what we did on a trip or that we will actually use once we get home.
If you are wondering what to buy in Vail, here are a few souvenirs worth keeping an eye out for.
Best Souvenirs From Vail
Vail Ski Gear and Clothing
If skiing or snowboarding is the reason you came to Vail, something connected to your time on the mountain is an obvious souvenir.
A Vail hat, toque, sweatshirt or ski accessory is something you can actually use again. If you have kids or teens who aren’t particularly interested in traditional souvenir shopping, letting them pick out something they will wear is usually an easier sell.
You will find plenty of Vail-branded gear around the village, but I would choose something you genuinely like rather than buying a shirt simply because it says Vail across the front.
Colorado-Made Food Products
Food is almost always one of my favourite souvenirs because you don’t have to find somewhere to store it when you get home.
Look for products made in Colorado, including locally made chocolate, honey, sauces, snacks and other specialty foods.
These also make easy gifts if you are bringing something home for friends or family. Just check the rules around bringing food home if you are traveling internationally.
Local Art and Photography
With the mountains surrounding Vail, it isn’t surprising that the landscape inspires plenty of local artists and photographers.
Look for paintings, photographs and prints featuring Vail Mountain, the surrounding peaks or Colorado landscapes.
A small print is one of the easiest souvenirs to bring home. It takes up almost no space in your suitcase, doesn’t weigh much and can be framed once you get home.
I particularly like art when it depicts somewhere we actually visited. Every time you see it, there is a story attached to it.
Colorado-Made Jewelry
If you want something small and easy to pack, look for jewelry made by Colorado artists.
You will find pieces inspired by the mountains, nature and the outdoors, as well as jewelry incorporating stones and materials associated with the region.
Jewelry is one of those souvenirs that doesn’t scream “I went to Vail,” but that can actually make it more meaningful. You can wear it regularly while still knowing exactly where it came from.
Christmas Ornaments
If you visit Vail during ski season, a Christmas ornament feels particularly appropriate.
Vail Village already has that storybook winter atmosphere when it is covered in snow, and you will find plenty of ornaments featuring skis, mountains, snowflakes and Vail itself.
Christmas ornaments are also one of the few traditional souvenirs I really like. They are small, easy to pack and come back out every year rather than sitting in a drawer.
If your family collects ornaments while traveling, Vail is an easy place to add another one to the collection.
Something From Your Time on the Mountain
Sometimes the best souvenir isn’t something you deliberately went shopping for.
It might be a photo from a day of skiing, a trail map, something from your favourite après-ski stop or a piece of gear you bought while you were there.
Especially when traveling with kids or teens, I like souvenirs connected to something we actually did.
Years later, that item doesn’t just remind you that you visited Vail. It reminds you of a particular run, a day on the mountain or something funny that happened during the trip.
Where to Buy Souvenirs in Vail
Vail Village and Lionshead are the easiest places to start. Both are walkable and filled with boutiques, galleries, outdoor stores and shops selling Vail and Colorado products.
Rather than buying everything from the first souvenir store you see, spend some time browsing. Look for Colorado-made products and locally owned businesses, particularly if you want something more unique than standard Vail merchandise.
If you are driving from Vail to Denver at the end of your trip, I would do your souvenir shopping before you leave the mountains. While you will find plenty of Colorado products once you reach Denver, Vail is the better place to find something specifically connected to your time in the ski village and on the mountain.
Vail Souvenirs I’d Skip Next Time
I would skip most of the generic plastic souvenirs unless you specifically collect them.
Vail is an expensive destination, and souvenir shops in ski towns aren’t exactly known for bargain prices. I would rather spend a little more on one thing I genuinely like than come home with several Vail-branded items we will never use.
I would also think about luggage space before buying bulky home decor or anything particularly fragile.
A Christmas ornament, piece of jewelry, local food product or small art print is much easier to get home and can still bring back memories of your time in Vail long after the ski boots have been put away.
Lindsay Nieminen hails from Vancouver, Canada and shares her love of travel on this website. She is passionate about showing others that they should not put off traveling the world just because they have children or are single parents. She aims to encourage them to seek out adventure, whether it is at home or abroad by providing information on how just about everywhere can be a destination to explore as a family.