The Auks Travel Corner: 72 Hours in Beaver Creek, Colorado

Sarah Jalot ‘20, Staff Reporter

When visiting the resort, avoid the weekends if possible to ensure that the Village and slopes are not too crowded. I would recommend going from Wednesday through Friday to ensure you have the best experience.

Beaver Creek offers many different lodging options from the 5-star Ritz-Carlton, which offers slopeside dining and an oasis spa, to the kid-friendly St. James Place, which has an indoor heated pool and hot tub and serves free hot cocoa daily in the lobby. When booking lodging, consider the size of your travel group. Start searching at least three months in advance for a small group and four to five months in advance if your travelling with a larger group to ensure that you can book the hotel, condo, or rental that best fits your group’s needs or preferences.

Upon arrival at the resort, the Village shutter service will drop you off at your hotel or condo so that you can check in. After settling into your room, explore the Village and grab a bite to eat. My suggestion for eager stomachs is the Dusty Boot Roadhouse, a family friendly tex-mex restaurant, located just steps away from St. James Place and the Park Hyatt, known for their Colorado angus beef burgers.

Jumping on the slopes might be the first thing you want to do, but it is best to wait a day to ensure that your body adjust to the elevation so that no one gets elevation sickness. If you are anxious to do something more than walk around, the ice skating rink located in the center of the Village is a perfect activity for kids of all ages and kids at heart.

After a good night’s rest, it’s time to hit the slopes. If you have kids in ski school, be sure to check them in to their respective area by 8:30 a.m. Most of the chair lifts open at the same time,so if you are ready with all of your gear, head up the mountain. If you would prefer to ski or snowboard where it’s a little warmer and easier to get to, you can stay at the base of the mountain by taking Haymeadow Express Gondola, or head up to the main part of the mountain by taking Centennial Express.

After a few runs, you might be ready for lunch. I suggest Spruce Saddle for any skier or boarder. Spruce is a great lunch hotspot located at the top of Centennial Express Chairlift with options for everyone from freshly rolled sushi to handcrafted pizza.

After lunch you have until 4 p.m. to finish hitting as many slopes as you can. This is a perfect time to take Cinch Express Chairlift to the top of the mountain to see a one-of-a-kind view of the entire bottom half of the mountain.

Once you are done skiing or snowboarding, grab a chocolate chip cookie, freshly made and hand delivered by the bakers at the bottom of the mountain everyday at 3 p.m. Those who are tired out from the eventful day will find Blue Moose Pizza the perfect dinner place. Located right next to the ice rink in the center of the Village, Blue Moose, known for having the best pizza in the village, is an easy a delicious dinner option whether you want to dine in or take back to your hotel or cabin.

Thursday’s busy day on the slopes will without a doubt leave you exhausted. Here’s a perfect chance to go explore the Village more in depth and take some time to shop.

Whether you are looking for new gear or stylish clothing, there are endless options in the Beaver Creek Village, including many common stores around the Village such as Patagonia with an equal mix of stores unique to Beaver Creek such as Frinje.

As you wrap up your stay at Beaver Creek, it’s a perfect night to head up the mountain to Zach’s Cabin for dinner. Guests reach Zach’s by a star-lit sleigh ride, pulled by a snow cat, also known as a trail groomer . Upon arrival, everyone is offered slippers to wear to match the cozy cabin vibes. As you wrap up your trip to Beaver Creek, I assure that you will have no regrets on your choice to stay there.