There’s something calming about watching thick, powdery snow fall outside a hotel window while skiers and snowboarders carve elegant lines down the mountain. Early this winter I found that calm at Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colorado. Nestled near Vail, the resort feels like a classic winter wonderland with a mix of Western hospitality and the charm of European ski villages.
Beaver Creek’s history dates back to when George Townsend settled the area in 1881. In 1972 Vail Resorts acquired the land and began developing the modern resort, which opened in 1980. Since then the resort has hosted high-profile winter events like the World Ski Championships and the Audi Birds of Prey World Cup. The property includes three on-mountain villages — Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead Village — and lies near the quaint town of Edwards. With respected ski and snowboard instruction programs and a range of lodging from condominiums and rental homes to hotels, the resort caters to many types of travelers.
I stayed at The Osprey, a Vail Resorts property known as the closest hotel to a chairlift in North America, which contributed to the peaceful mountain view from my room. The location was ideal for my itinerary, which included ski lessons with a Ski School instructor, a snowshoe tour from the Nordic Center and time to walk through the pedestrian-friendly Beaver Creek Village.
Active winter pursuits like skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and ice skating can be demanding on the body. During my stay I sought out ways to relax and recover. I savored slow, indulgent meals at several resort restaurants — dinner at Allie’s, a sleigh-accessible meal at Beano’s Cabin, Italian at Toscanini, lunch on the mountain at Spruce Saddle, and a cozy dinner at Grouse Mountain Grill. For spa time, I visited two standout facilities: The Bachelor Gulch Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch and Allegria Spa at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek.
The Bachelor Gulch Spa takes full advantage of the Rocky Mountain setting, offering treatments that feel both restorative and grounded in the surrounding landscape. After returning to the slopes for the first time in 18 years, my calf muscles were aching from ski boots. I chose the spa’s signature Hot Toddy for the Body treatment. The scrub — a blend of sweet almond oil, jojoba beads, shea butter, cinnamon and nutmeg — hydrated skin and helped loosen tense muscles. Between the scrub and the following massage, my therapist rinsed me with a Vichy shower, a stream of water from multiple showerheads that felt therapeutic. Though the rinse left the table a bit damp for the massage, and I might have preferred a different room for the second half, the combination of exfoliation, water therapy and massage noticeably eased my muscle soreness.
The Allegria Spa at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek thermae pool © Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
Water-based rituals also define the Allegria Spa experience at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek. On arrival I received a guided tour of the bright locker rooms and a clear explanation of the Aqua Sanitas, a healing-waters ritual inspired by ancient Roman bathing practices that can be enjoyed before or after treatments. The circuit starts with a temperate thermae pool designed to feel like a natural spring. A jetted co-ed pool helps raise core temperature and increase circulation, followed by caldarium mineral pools. The route continues with a cooling cascata rain shower, then a wintergreen-scented caldarium steam room, and finishes in the tepidarium with contoured heated loungers for quiet relaxation. After completing the circuit I relaxed in the dimmed lounge with hot tea and light snacks.
My Swedish massage at Allegria smoothed out the last remaining muscle tensions after a morning of snowshoeing. The therapist used a custom oil blend of lavender, geranium and ylang ylang made by a local artisan, and the 50-minute session concluded with a warm honey foot scrub that felt restorative.
Coming off a busy stretch at the office and plunging into the winter season, Beaver Creek provided a much-needed respite. The resort strikes a thoughtful balance between active outdoor pursuits and restorative, indulgent options, making it easy to tailor a trip to your energy level.
One of Beaver Creek’s most inviting daily traditions adds a sweet note to any visit: every day at 3 p.m. in Beaver Creek Village, staff wearing chef’s hats offer warm, just-baked chocolate chip cookies to guests. The cookie recipe is chosen each year through an opening-day vote, and the winning cookie becomes the season’s signature treat. It’s a small ritual that reinforces the resort’s welcoming atmosphere and gives visitors another reason to return.
Beaver Creek Resort
26 Avondale Lane
Avon, CO 81620
tel 970 754 4636
beavercreek.com