Seen from the village, the mountain does not look all that imposing. There are no towering glaciers, no couloirs or chutes slashed from rock, not even an Olympian summit shrouded in clouds. What sold the founders of Vail from the very first moment they laid eyes on it was a feeling of absolute exhilaration and tranquility inspired by the area's understated beauty. Ride to the top of the mountain on a clear day, and you'll see for yourself what the planners first beheld back in 1957: Vail's legendary back bowls-more than 3,000 acres of open glades, filled all winter and well into spring with the finest snow found anywhere on the planet. Best of all, surrounding Vail is enough incredible, unspoiled land for luxury properties of every type, from those within earshot of the Vail Village clock towers boasting the convenience of ski-in-ski-out access, to those further out toward Cordillera and Arrowhead, still close to all of the downhill action but surrounded by vibrant nature and sweeping views of the Gore Creek Valley. Exceptional snow, spectacular variety of terrain, and that enduring sense of peacefulness make Vail one of the country's most desirable places to own a home.