The Dusty Boot, despite its being part saloon, is an ideal family-dining destination. The atmosphere is fun, rustic and casual, as is the cuisine. Lunchtime is a Mexican fiesta complete with fajitas, chimichangas and enchiladas. Come dinner hour, the place shifts gears, offering up a wide selection of American-style comfort food. Choose from pesto pasta, bourbon chicken, pork ribs, a full-pound T-bone steak, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, crab cakes, prime rib and more. The menu even offers the opportunity to "Build yer own darn burger, however ya' like it." Be sure to wash it all down with a frosty-cold local micro brew. See website for full menus, banquet details and more.

You can get coffee anywhere. Here, you can get coffee, smoothies, baked treats and more - all in the shadow of Vail Village's famous Covered Bridge. Even the coffee itself is a cut above the rest; with selections such as the Coffee-Mocha-Choca-Vanilla-Snickers Latte, your thirst for uniqueness will be quickly quenched.

Chili Willy's, located just a few minutes down the road from Vail, is a roadhouse by highway serving up beers, laughs and Tex-Mex home cooking. Staples like quesadillas, nachos and fajitas anchor the menu, but it is specialties like Calientitas (miniature deep-fried cheese-stuffed jalapenos), Willy's Zing Wings, Dallas Jailhouse Chili and BBQ Baby Back Ribs that keep 'em coming back. A number of hearty vegetarian options, as well as a menu of burgers and fries make this a truly versatile dining location. See website for full menu.

Chaparral, located on the grounds of The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, is the place to be for steaks and chops. All are aged and ready to satisfy. If there are members of your party a bit meat squeamish, a number of hearty pastas and other vegetarian options await. The wine list is among the best in the valley, as is the pleasant regional architecture. See website for other resort dining facilities, amenities and activities. Call +1 866 650 7625 (Toll Free).

Chap's takes classic hunting-lodge cuisine and gives it a contemporary kick in the pants. Start your meal here with appetizers like Portobello Fries and the Smoked Pheasant Soup. Then treat yourself to luscious salads full of fresh local fruit and veggies. Now you're ready to tackle the main course. The signature dish is known as "Chap's Colorado Trio;" it costs $45 and features lamb, elk and venison. Are you game? If not, choose from a series of steaks and chops (including a New York Strip, veal, lamb or elk chops, and even a Buffalo Ribeye). The lunch menu features a gang of similarly rustic sandwiches and salads, as well as Buffalo Stroganoff. Breakfast is a flurry of griddled goodies and fruit-heavy spa cuisine. See website for menus, reservations and more.

When you're in Vail, and you crave a real Italian meal, head straight for Campo de Fiori. They'll start you off with elegant antipasti such as swordfish carpaccio, steamed mussels or polenta cakes. Salads (insalate) are made up of luscious ingredients such as wilted radicchio, Belgian endive, golden beets and jumbo lump crab. Pasta presentations run the gamut from traditional simplicity (oil, tomato, arugula and garlic) to creamy decadence (prosciutto, vodka and light pink sauce en flambe). A selection of three risottos are all packed with seasonal veggies, imported meats and even truffle oil. As if all that weren't enough, you can then treat yourself to one of a whole list of incredible entrees; from a couple of filet mignon preparations and a rustic seafood stew, to sea bass, chicken and lamb. See website for full menu, wine list and other locations. Check website for seasonal hours.

Bully Ranch, located within the Sonnenalp Resort, has been a favorite of locals and travelers alike for decades. Its relaxed atmosphere and rustic menu keep them coming back. For lunch, sit down to a slow-roasted pork sandwich or a burger they call "definitive." House specialties include baby back ribs, chicken fajitas, and "Fat Tire" Fish & Chips (made with Denver's famous Fat Tire Ale). The chefs get serious at dinnertime; look for the tastiest takes on steak, ribs, shanks, chops and surf & turf that you will ever see. Before or after your meal, browse the selection at nearby Verbatim Booksellers. See websites for samples menus, reservations and more.

The Eagle Dance Academy has been operating for several years, and offers a variety of classes to all age ranges. Styles covered include ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and break dancing. Call or email them for class times, prices and more.

Blue Moose is a beloved regional chain specializing in pizzas with pizazz. A number of the pies are one-of-a-kind mashups of pizza and some other dish (note the lasagna pizza, the bacon cheeseburger pizza, the buffalo wing pizza and the philly cheesesteak pizza). Of course, all your traditional favorites are available as well, along with a tempting selection of other Italian entrees (calzones, paninnis, spaghetti, fettucine, and eggplant or chicken parmesan). A fine wine list and a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere help make every trip to Blue Moose a fun one. See website for menu and more.

The Back Bowl is more than a bowling alley. It is a "Family Entertainment Center," and an award-winning one at that. The lanes are spotless and computerized. The video arcade is state-of-the-art. At night, the lights dim and the tunes pump as The Back Bowl becomes a premier destination for high-energy Eagle nightlife. Even the food here is a step up from the usual; it all comes from the in-house Bowlmor Cafe, a full-service gourmet restaurant complete with aged steaks, a good wine list and live entertainment.