As fall gets underway, it's not too early to begin planning your winter ski vacation. As one of the biggest and most popular ski resorts in the United States, Vail, Colo., has naturally been about the powder and the slopes. Upscale resorts and restaurants were an afterthought—but that has dramatically changed in the past decade. Today in Vail, single-minded skiers coexist with those who demand fine hospitality after a long day on the slopes. For suggestions on the best new hotels in the area, read more.