VAIL'S #1
Yet again, Vail secured the #1 ranking in SKI Magazine’s Top Ten North American... [more]
Vail / Beaver Creek
By Lillian Ross
The Sheep Pasture That Became a World Famous Icon
Picture, if you will, a verdant mountain valley, sheep grazing lazily, and occasional homesteads here and there. That picture was the Vail Valley 45 years ago.
Peter Seibert, with more dreams in his heart than dollars in his pocket, made good his vow to return to Colorado after World War II, and put a then unnamed ski resort where Vail is now. When Seibert trained with the 10th Mountain Division over the hill from Vail at Camp Hale, he knew the area's now famous back bowls would offer some of the most outstanding powder skiing on the planet.
Having secured investors in the late 1950s, the New England native started making his dreams come true. Who would have thought that when he took his magic marker and drew lift lines up one side and down the other on a map of Vail Mountain, that all of those lifts would become a reality?
Vail, one of North America's most prestigious winter vacation destinations, is the triumph of a dream. In July 2002, the Village and the world mourned the passing of Peter Seibert. The Vail pioneer was 77.
The largest single mountain ski area in North America, Vail's heart beats to the rhythm of the mountain. It features 5,289 skiable acres, over 3,300 of those acres in the resort's world famous open bowls and Blue Sky Basin. Whether you're a beginner or looking for the ultimate challenge, Vail obliges.
If you're searching for different disciplines on the snow, Vail's Cross Country and Snowshoe Adventure Center lets you workout from the foot of Golden Peak. Then there's Adventure Ridge, Vail's headquarters for non-skiing, on-snow fun for the kid in all of us. The venue is located at the top of the gondola at Eagle's Nest, and the fun begins at sunset. Try ski biking or thrill sledding head first on a sled (with brakes) to the bottom of the mountain (riders must be at least 14 years old). Headlamps are provided for both sports.
Tubing on a lift-served, multi-lane hill (mild and tame, to steep and fast) takes you back to your youth. Snowmobile tours takes adult passengers from peak to peak, while mini-snowmobiles let kids 6-12 ride a machine on a track of their own. Choose your fun on the ridge with snow skates, ice skates and snowshoe rentals. There's also a full-sized ice rink in town for serious skaters
You won't have to miss first-run movies while you're here, as two state-of-the-art theaters are available for your entertainment.
How did winter sports’ enthusiasts survive before spas? We have no idea.
Visit the many spas of Vail for relaxing mud wraps, aromatic baths and facials that will make you feel like a new person. You may also want to take advantage of the fitness and workout equipment and classes. World-class facilities are found at the Aria Spa & Club at the Vail Cascade Resort, the Spa at Vail Mountain Lodge, and the Spa at the Sonnenalp Resort.
Shopping in Vail is unparalleled. More than 145 shops, boutiques and art galleries — many of which offer one-of-a-kind treasures — leave you spellbound. Fashions of impeccable taste can be found at Pepi's and
Gorsuch, while Slifer Designs offers the last word in exquisite home accessories.
Dining in Vail uses up all of Mr. Webster's adjectives. The mountain's flagship restaurant, Two Elk, serves Southwest delicacies by day. Game Creek, offering the epitome of Colorado regional cuisine, is tucked away in a forested glen in Game Creek Bowl. A gondola and sleigh ride brings you to this hideaway. In town, The Wildflower, voted #1 in Vail in the 2000 Zagat Survey, is the only Mobil four-star restaurant in Vail.
So many more, so little space. Lord Gore, a staple in Vail since 1967, serves outstanding Continental and American favorites. Try Larkspur, a self-proclaimed American Brasserie for all seasons. At La Tour, you’ll savor the finest Nouvelle French cuisine. Chaps Grill & Chophouse serves generous portions of steaks and home-style dishes. If you simply crave a slice of pizza, head to Vendetta's.
Beaver Creek
Following in Vail's footsteps, yet with an identity of its own and a level of luxury unmatched in Colorado, is Beaver Creek. The ambiance at Beaver Creek and neighboring Bachelor Gulch is elegant and pampering.
Since the resort is built on a hillside, Beaver Creek offers the ultimate in slope side convenience. Heated and covered escalators bring you and all your gear up the three levels of the village directly to the entrance of the high-speed quad chairlift. Where else can you find such service? No more carrying skis or boards; you can save your legs for the mountain itself. .
For the most part, Beaver Creek is an intermediate mountain, with lots of room for kids and beginners. This is the resort's most challenging area, often used in world-class races.
The very popular village-to-village, on-mountain route between Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead gives you a European-type experience of skiing from one village to another, enjoying the slopes and amenities of all three resorts.
The slopes of Bachelor Gulch, nearly obstacle-free intermediate cruisers, practically scream "carve me." After a day of looking good on the hill, check into the new Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, scheduled to open by the holidays. This ski-in/ski-out luxury hotel is modeled after the grand lodges of national parks with log exteriors and the flavor of Colorado inside, including a 21,000-square-foot spa and fitness center.
Within the village of Beaver Creek, the plaza surfaces are heated; there's no slipping or sliding on the ice. The only ice surface you'll find is on the year-round Black Family Ice Rink, bustling each season with budding stars.
A small, turn-of-the-century theater in Munich inspired the design of the Vilar Center for the Arts. The 518-seat theater has become one of Colorado's premier cultural and entertainment venues. The Vilar Center's slate of performances includes the musical Ain't Misbehavin, the political satire of The Capitol Steps, MacHomer: The Simpsons Do Mac Beth, and The Vagina Monologues. The innovative theater, with its horseshoe seating wrapped in Colorado pine, is creatively constructed beneath the resort's ice rink.
Elegant pampering in the spas of Beaver Creek happens in heavenly fashion at Allegria at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa. Men will love the Ashiatsu, a modernized version of the Japanese practice of "walking on backs." Allegria’s 20 treatment rooms let you enjoy exotic detoxifying wraps and water therapy.
The resort has become a hotbed for high-end galleries and boutiques.
There's even a boutique of handcrafted jewelry that features the resort's insignia at The Golden Beaver, an icon that has become a coveted memento at Beaver Creek.
In a word, resort dining is sumptuous. World famous Beano's Cabin, high on the mountain, offers award-winning Colorado fare such as rack of lamb. In winter, a sleigh ride is your transport; in summer, get here in a hay wagon or on horseback.
The Grouse Mountain Grill, in the Pines Lodge, overlooks this sparkling resort. Awards are numerous, rightly so, with cuisine features such as pretzel-crusted pork chops.
Splendido, in the majestic Chateau, has a classic European feel with its Italian linens, French silver and German crystal, which are the setting for exceptional regional cuisine.
Mirabelle, in a turn-of-the-century ranch house at the resort entrance, presents award-winning fare including elk and salmon dishes.
Bring the family to the Blue Moose Pizzeria or Swiss Stubli, specializing in fondues and raclettes.
Summer in the Vail Valley
Even before the last snowflake melts, a profusion of color blooms in Vail and Beaver Creek. Baskets, containers, gardens and hillsides filled with flowers feed the senses and nurture the soul.
The most colorful corner of Vail is the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. Here, more than 1,500 native and mountain species of plants are showcased. In July, lanes of magenta, lavender, peach, gold, and even black poppies are in full bloom, enveloping you in their massive size and fragile beauty.
Complementing a valley filled with flowers are the critically acclaimed arts festivals, which summon the most extraordinary creativity from across the country. Both resorts are famous for their works of public art — bronze sculptures that capture the essence of life outdoors in the Colorado mountains. Vail's sculpture of young girls frolicking in a plaza fountain is widely photographed by visitors.
Other Kodak moments occur at the Gerald Ford Amphitheater Vilar Pavilion in Vail. From Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival with its litany of classical concerts in July and August, the Vail Jazz Festival in late summer, to Hot Summer Nights featuring complimentary performances in the popular genre, the sounds of music emanate throughout the valley. The Vail International Dance Festival offers seasoned classics, contemporary masterpieces and world premieres, which are performed by the world's greatest dance artists.
The mountains that mesmerize skiers in winter have a similar attraction in summer. Mountaintop trails can be hiked or biked. You can spend the day walking knee-deep in wildflowers. Chairlifts (and gondola) at the resorts bring you to heady heights. The lifts are retrofitted to accommodate mountain bikes.
Horseback rides into the hills are glorious when the aspen leaves turn gold. Beaver Creek Stables offer rides that lace their way up the mountain. At Piney Lake, north of Vail, rides take you into the Eagles Nest Wilderness area, while Jeep tours take off in other directions.
Golf balls can be driven farther in the thin mountain air, which might explain why the valley offers 15 courses. The real reason for lots of links: you can’t name a more spectacular setting for golf.
If you'd rather have a bird's eye view of the golf courses, take a sunrise flight on a hot air balloon, and experience suspended animation as your balloon quietly drifts with the air currents 3,000 feet above the valley floor.
Year-round, you'll find fly fishermen on the banks of streams and rivers, while down valley, rafters test the whitewater of the Eagle River. Guides take you on mild to wild adventures, based on your experience.
Kids have their own vacations in the valley. Nature centers, day and overnight camps and children's theaters let youngsters have their fun while mom and dad escape for a diversion of their own.
Summer festivals are commonplace. One of the most spectacular is the 4th of July fireworks display in Avon with state-of-the-art pyrotechnics that provide a dazzling light show.
Aspen and Snowmass
