Vail Is Great. Edwards Is Where Families Actually Want to Stay.
- Emily Richards
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
You don’t need to sleep in the thick of Vail (or spend Vail style $) to have a great Vail Valley trip. In fact, if you’re traveling with kids, dogs, ski gear, snack bags, and a general need for a little breathing room, Edwards might be the better move.
Nestled in the heart of the Vail Valley along the sparkling Eagle River, Edwards, Colorado feels like a quiet mountain gem with a big heart.
That’s where The Inn at Riverwalk comes in. Set along the Eagle River in Edwards, it gives you access to the whole Vail Valley without the full-on resort chaos, plus the kind of amenities that make a family trip feel easy instead of exhausting.
The smarter basecamp for a Vail trip
Vail gets the fame, but Edwards gives you a calmer, more livable version of the mountain experience. You’re still close to skiing, hiking, dining, and culture, but you’re also in a place where you can actually exhale after a big day outside.
The Inn at Riverwalk leans into that sweet spot. It’s the only hotel in Edwards, and it sits right on the Riverwalk, a pedestrian-friendly hub with shops, restaurants, coffee, and easy strolls that work especially well for families.
The Inn offers "Botanical Buddies" a plant that you can bring to your room with you during your stay!
Why families keep choosing it
Family travel is mostly about reducing friction, and this hotel gets that. Guests have access to a year-round outdoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, free parking, free WiFi, a coffee bar, a sundry shop, ski shuttle and parking, pet accommodations, and a Gear Garage for all the mountain stuff you don’t want cluttering your room.
That’s a lot of convenience in one place. It means less scrambling, fewer “where do we put this?” moments, and more time actually enjoying the trip.
The pet-friendly part matters
A lot of hotels say they’re family-friendly. Fewer make room for the dog, too. The Inn at Riverwalk offers pet accommodations, which makes it a much easier choice for road-tripping families who don’t want to leave anyone behind.
In a destination built for walking, exploring, and getting outside, that’s a big win. Edwards gives you the kind of low-stress setting where a morning coffee run, a river walk, or an evening out feels simple with a pet in tow.
Where to eat without overthinking it
You don’t need to drive all over the valley to find a good meal. Near the hotel, you’ll find Mountain Fish House, Zino Ristorante, Main Street Grill, Craftsman Brew Co., Gas House, Hovey & Harrison, Village Bagel, and Yeti’s Grind.
If you want to venture farther, the surrounding Vail Valley adds more strong options, including Sweet Basil, Mountain Standard, Matsuhisa, Red Lion, Vin48, and Stoke & Rye. That makes Edwards a great home base whether your family wants quick bites or a nicer dinner out.
A small town with big food energy!
The activities that make this trip worth it
This isn’t just a place to sleep between activities. The Inn at Riverwalk points guests toward summer trail adventures, river access, fall markets, and six ski resorts within an hour in winter, which is exactly why Edwards works year-round.
The nearby activity list is long: Booth Falls Trailhead, Beaver Lake Trailhead, Beaver Creek trailheads, Berry Creek Trailhead, Squaw Creek Trail, Eagle Vail Trail, Bearcat Stables, Sage Outdoor Adventures, Nova Guides, Zip Adventures of Vail, Alpine Arts Center, Riverwalk Theatre, Freedom Park, Eagle County Skatepark, and the Museum at Dinosaur Junction.
Why this is the kind of place people share
The best travel stories usually have a secret people wish they’d known sooner. Edwards near Vail is one of those secrets, and The Inn at Riverwalk makes the case even stronger by combining location, convenience, family-friendly features, and pet-friendly practicality in one easy stay.
It’s not trying to be the flashiest hotel in Colorado. It’s trying to be the one that actually works — and for families, that’s the thing that matters most.
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