Wow wow wow! Where to even begin? Milam & I traveled a few hours north to the stunning mountain town of Vail, Colorado the day before this session to do some scouting & explore. Paige & Austin were flying in from Dallas Texas for a friend’s wedding weekend, & decided to take advantage of the stunning scenery and book a couples session with me. When this inquiry came in, you already know I was e-c-s-t-a-t-i-c! Scroll to the end of this post for the best places to eat, things to do, and where to stay for a 1 day trip to Vail Colorado in the summer!:) Secret photo spot & all the deets included!

Ok ok, now lets talk what to do, where to eat, and where to stay! We were only in town for a little under 24 hours, so here are my best recommendations!:)

First up: Where to eat! (My favorite topic)

Dinner:

Vendettas Restaurant

OUT OF THIS WORLD! Request to sit on the patio if you can. You’ll overlook the street below draped in hanging twinkling lights & can people watch to your hearts desire! We had a delicious oven baked pizza, an aperol spritz, and let’s not forget dessert. We ordered tiramisu to go and ended up tearing into our to go box before we left hehe. The perfect spot for a great date night. Wonderful atmosphere, and very friendly staff. You feel like you’re on a European vacation!

Lunch:

Tavern On The Square

Looking for the PERFECT patio with beautiful views of the gondola, mountains, & energy of people around you? THIS is where you want to get lunch. My recommendation: order the Mountain Margarita. Trust me, one of the best margs I’ve had so far in Colorado! Pair that with a delicious all American burger, and you’re fueled and ready to tackle some hiking. 

Breakfast:

Two Arrows Coffee | Bar

Let’s just say, this is where you take your aesthetic instagram photo at breakfast. The vibe in here is relaxing, cozy, yet energizing and pretty cool! I mean, it is also a bar / coffee shop after all. You’ll realize quickly that there are not many breakfast options in Vail other than your hotel’s breakfast buffet. BUT, we were determined to find a strong cup of coffee & noms after our early morning photo shoot with Paige and Austin. In comes Two Arrow Coffee bar! I had an iced latte with heavy cream. Milam ordered an *adult* coffee 😉 & we shared a breakfast burrito. Which was STELLAR. This is your spot for hot breakfast, yummy pastry options, and delicious coffee to start the day.

Where to stay?

Looking for a last minute stay that won’t break the bank? Evergreen Lodge is your place! We brought two dogs along with us to Vail, and Evergreen Lodge is VERY puppy friendly. Location is fantastic, you are within walking distance of the gondola, shopping, and all of the restaurants. Even better, if you don’t feel like walking, there’s a free shuttle that runs between the major shopping & restaurant areas in Vail, as well as the most popular hiking locations. The room was a little dated, but still loved the cozy mountain vibe of the hotel!

What to do?

HIKE! EAT! ENJOY! Vail is incredibly beautiful during the summertime. Hop on the app “All Trails” and you will be greeted with endless hiking options. Take a ride on the gondola, (its free!), or simply go walk around and browse the endless shops, cafes, and fantastic restaurants. We were only in Vail for a short 24hrs, but wow was it excelled my expectations.

Scouting for our session & snapped this photo of Leroy living his best life. Taken on Fuji x100v the BEST travel camera!

This is what scouting looks like. Lot’s of sun seeker app usage hehe.

Thanks for scrolling!

XoXo, RWP

Secret photo spot & details:

You’re going to want to park at the Vail Golf club, walk about half a mile down Sunburst Dr., and then take the trail about 20 yards in. Immediately you’ll see the lake and stunning mountain views. Happy photo taking! Best light in the morning!:)