Beaver Creek, Colorado

By Amanda May
Staff Writer
Rockies.com

Beaver Creek, Colorado is an elite, European-style village in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. As Vail’s sister ski area, Beaver Creek ski trips are posh, luxurious and a fantastic time. And with an average of 300 days of sun per year, you’re almost guaranteed a bluebird sky day during your trip!

Valley view of Beaver Creek, Colorado in winter. (Colorado Tourism Office)

Beaver Creek attractions are at their best in the winter, when you can best take advantage of Beaver Creek Resort. The skiing is the main tourist attraction, but there are also fun activities like a snowshoe race to entertain and bring the family together. Smiles guaranteed!

Hotels in Beaver Creek will pamper you after the slopes and staying in a Beaver Creek lodge will really recharge your batteries. Beaver Creek accommodations provide  such an escape that the slogan of the village is: “When you enter the gate, you leave the world behind.”

With 1,815 acres of mostly intermediate terrain, Beaver Creek has immaculate groomed runs as well as bowls, terrain parks and snowmaking on 605 acres in case they don’t receiver their usual annual 310 inches. Ten high-speed quad chairlifts will get you up to their 149 runs and gravity will bring you down the 4,040 feet of vertical.

Part of having a relaxing trip is in knowing that you and your family will be safe on the slopes. Here at Beaver Creek Resort, they really take it seriously. In 2009 they were awarded the National Ski Area Association’s Best Overall Safety Award and have been recognized for six straight years for their safety efforts. Through on-mountain activities, community outreach, employee education and regular ski patrols, they have created an exceptionally safe environment with educated and courteous skiers and snowboarders so that guests can rest easy and concentrate on having fun!

Beaver Creek Village is accessible and has heated walkways linking their shopping areas and lodging facilities. The heated walkways are just one example of how you won’t be roughing it here in the Colorado Rockies. Communal warming pits are the ideal place to warm your hands and roast a marshmallow and escalators transport skiers to the chair lifts. Save your energy for the trails!

At dusk, head to the outdoor ice skating rink or hop in your Beaver Creek hotel’s hot tub for a great place to watch the fireworks over the village. Take a day off of skiing and go dog sledding or cross-country skiing across snowy fields or practice your snowshoeing for their annual race.

Dining is exquisite in Beaver Creek, where world-renowned chefs make sure that your culinary experiences are anything but mundane. And their performing arts center draws a sophisticated crowd to this tiny village in Eagle County, Colorado.

Summer brings countless more outdoors activities, including kayaking in Gore Creek and four-wheeling past abandoned silver and gold mines. Golfing is definitely a recommended activity. A well-designed course can be found between Vail and Beaver Creek and will be enough of a challenge to keep things interesting.