My family takes a ski trip to Colorado every year. This year we returned to Beaver Creek; easily one of my favorite destinations year-round.
Beaver Creek is a charming village located a few hundred feet up from Avon. The winding road up to the village gates is flanked by flags from around the world; fitting since Beaver Creek is an interesting juxtaposition (juxtaposition – what is this, The New Yorker?!) of bougie plastic surgeons, families from Argentina, ski bums from New Zealand, Colorado locals (true cowboy types) and tourists.
Once coined by the “Tiffany’s” of ski resorts, you can spend a pretty penny doing pretty much anything in Beaver Creek (a burger on the slopes goes for about $15) but there’s no shortage of things to do even for non-skiers (although 10/10 would not recommend being one of those people.)
What to do in Beaver Creek
1. Ski
By far the best part of going anywhere in the mountains. Why come here without at least trying to ski? There’s a great range of runs here for both beginners and advanced skiers. My brother and I especially enjoy skiing through the trees. My favorite run this year was Thresher Glade.
Shop: My Obermeyer Ski Coat is on sale at REI! This coat is so warm and has chic details including the patch on the arm and faux fur hood.
2. Shop
The Beaver Creek village is situated at the base of the mountain and its namesake creek winds down below a series of bridges. There are several brand-name and boutique shops all in a five minutes walk on the cobblestone paths. Some of my favorites include Avalon (an upscale boutique with cozy mountain styles,) Patagonia and Beaver Creek Sports.
Shop: My Beanie is on sale at REI! Love the slouchy look and faux fur pom.
3. Ice Skate
The BC village centers around a gorgeous ice skating rink. There’s usually some activity around the rink; this year an ice sculptor made these giant ice thrones (pictured above.)
Shop: My fleece-lined timberlands are on major sale on Amazon!
4. Sunbathe
What? I know, it seems strange but there’s just nothing like relaxing in an adirondack chair by a firepit at the base of the mountain. Also great for people-watching.
4. Visit the Spa
I’ve never actually had the privilege of indulging in a spa day in Beaver Creek but nothing sounds better than a massage or facial after a morning of skiing. Plus there’s something so cozy about being in a warm, pampering environment while it’s snowing outside. Most hotels in the area have in-house spas.
Where to Eat and Drink in Beaver Creek
The first photo is from my favorite restaurant that we just discovered this year: Grouse Mountain Grill. This restaurant was actually in our resort (Pines Lodge) but anyone can dine here. The salmon, wine, and appetizers were delicious. And there was a guy playing the piano and singing the blues.
The second photo is from Wyld: Also a new pick this year and located within the Ritz Carlton in Bachelor Gulch. (We skiied here for lunch.) The restaurant has a cool vibe and this ramen dish was yummy. This is definitely a restaurant for more adventurous eaters.
Some other recommendations: We’ve eaten at Toscanini in the BC village twice now: very good, very filling Italian. Coyote Cafe is a good casual village option, and Blue Moose is one of our favorites: very casual, delicious pizza. There’s a Starbucks in the village but I’d recommend Rimini for good local coffee and delicious gelato.
Where to Stay in Beaver Creek
I’m not an expert on this topic since I’ve only stayed in two locations, but both were fantastic.
This year, we stayed at the Pines Lodge, pictured above, which sits on the far side of the mountain and overlooks Beaver Creek village. Our three-bedroom condo had classic mountain style with large windows, vaulted ceilings and a great view. The lodge has in-house ski rentals, ski storage, a pool, hottub and of course the delicious Grouse Mountain Grill. You can ski right over to the Strawberry Park Express lift to get up the mountain.
We’ve stayed at the Hyatt multiple times, which is great too, just steps away from the center of the village and the most popular ski lift, Centennial Express. It also has a pool, restaurant and its own Allegria spa, rated one of the best in the country.
Thanks for reading!
Jordie
