No other county in Colorado is so aptly named. Summit County boasts some of the state’s highest peaks —... [more]
Vail/Beaver Creek: Triumph of a Dream
By Lillian Ross
VAIL'S #1
Yet again, Vail secured the #1 ranking in SKI Magazine’s Top Ten North American ski resorts. The October 2003 edition of SKI gave Vail top honors out of 700 resorts on the continent. This marks the 12th time Vail claimed the #1 position since the magazine began its survey in 1988. This prestigious accolade verifies Vail’s commitment to excellence, on and off the mountain.
More bragging rights: Vail was named among the Leading Mountain Resorts of the World. This international network of resorts represents the best in mountain vacation experiences. Vail is now the group’s North American member. Other global members include Bariloche, Argentina; Queenstown, New Zealand; and Val Gardena, Italy.
Crowing about these honors doesn’t mean Vail is conceited; it just means it’s a great resort and worth all the kudos thrust upon it.
Vail is the triumph of a dream by pioneer Peter Seibert, who began cutting the mountain’s first runs in 1960, and developed a world-class resort from a sheep pasture. He first saw the mountain while training behind it at Camp Hale with the 10th Mountain Division in World War II. The world mourned Seibert’s passing, but celebrated his life, in July 2002.
Today, Vail is the largest single mountain ski area in North America. Its heart beats to the rhythm of the mountain. With an almost unimaginable 5,289 skiable acres, 3,300 acres occupy the world famous open bowls and Blue Sky Basin. Whether you’re a beginner or looking for the ultimate challenge, Vail delivers.
Vail is more than just a mountain; it’s a total experience. It’s browsing in almost 150 shops, boutiques and art galleries. One-of-a-kind treasures will captivate you. Fashions at Pepi’s or Gorsuch are impeccable, while the last word in home accessories will be found at Slifer Designs.
The Vail experience means being pampered and massaged after a day on the hill, or instead of a day on the hill. World-class spa facilities and fitness centers 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.
Dining at Vail is incomparable. Every choice you make will result in the most memorable of evenings. 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 bring you to this hideaway. In town, The Wildflower, voted #1 in Vail in the 2000 Zagat Survey, is a Mobil four-star winner
Larkspur is a multicultural experience in an American brasserie. Try the Alaskan halibut meuniere with manila clams, asparagus and piperade. At La Tour, you’ll savor the finest Nouvelle French cuisine. And, if you simply crave a slice of pizza, head to Vendetta’s.
If you’re looking for non-skiing, on-snow fun for everyone in your party, head for Adventure Ridge, atop Lionshead. The gondola brings you to this playground, which gets going at sunset. Try ski biking or thrill sledding head first on a sled (with brakes) to the bottom of the mountain. Headlamps are provided.
Meanwhile, back in town, Streetbeat is the resort’s free concert series offering a variety of musical styles.
BEAVER CREEK
Not to be outdone, Beaver Creek ranks #8 in SKI Ma-gazine’s survey of best out of 700 ski resorts on the continent. With its own identity, and a level of luxury unmatched in Colorado, Beaver Creek exudes elegance — as does neighboring Bachelor Gulch.
The ultimate in slope side convenience, Beaver Creek offers heated and covered escalators to bring you and all your gear up the three levels of the village, directly to the entrance of the lifts.
For the most part, Beaver Creek is an intermediate mountain, with lots of room for kids and beginners. But, the resort also touts its Birds of Prey terrain, and, this year, "The Talons," a challenging area to test everyone’s mettle. In conjunction with this terrain, Beaver Creek opens its 7th high-speed lift, the Birds of Prey Express.
This year, the resort introduces Park-ology, a learning terrain for freeskiers and riders with terrain parks and half-pipe.
A small, turn-of-the-century theater in Munich inspired the design of the Vilar Center for the Performing Arts. The intimate theater has become one of Colorado’s premier cultural and entertainment venues. This winter will feature the Nutcracker Ballet Dec. 12-14, the popular show Grease Dec. 16, A Streetcar Named Desire on Jan. 31, La Traviata on Feb. 17, the Aspen/Santa Fe Ballet Mar. 23, and Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance on Mar. 30, just to mention a few.
The resort has become a hotbed for high-end galleries and boutiques. There’s even a boutique of handcrafted jewelry featuring the resort’s insignia, the golden beaver — an icon that has become a coveted memento at Beaver Creek
In the neighboring valley to the west is Bachelor Gulch. The slopes here are nearly obstacle-free intermediate cruisers.
To pamper guests at this resort, The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch is a ski-in/ski-out luxury hotel, modeled after the grand lodges of national parks, with its own 21,000-sq.-ft. spa and fitness center. The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch is the only ski resort in Colorado to be listed in Conde Nast Traveler’s "Hot List 2003.”
In a word, resort dining is sumptuous. World famous Beano’s Cabin, high on the mountain at Beaver Creek, offers award-winning Colo-rado fare such as rack of lamb. In winter, a sleigh ride is your transport; in summer, you can opt for a hay wagon or 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’s entrance, presents award-winning Belgian fare including elk and salmon dishes.
SUMMER IN THE VAIL VALLEY
Expect a profusion of color — wildflowers on the mountain and in the villages.
The most colorful corner of Vail is in 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.
Critically acclaimed arts festivals summon the most extraordinary creativity from across the country. Both Vail and Beaver Creek 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 the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival with its litany of classical concerts to Hot Summer Nights featuring complimentary performances in the popular genre, the sound of music is everywhere.
The Vail International Dance Festival offers seasoned classics, contemporary masterpieces and world premieres, which are performed by the world’s greatest dance artists.
Enjoy the mountains in summer on hiking or biking trails. You can spend the day walking knee-deep in wildflowers. Gondolas and chairlifts bring you and your bike to heady heights.
Beaver Creek Stables offer horseback 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 imagine a more glorious place to play the game.
A sunrise flight in a hot-air balloon gives you a bird’s-eye view of many golf courses. 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 spectacular. If you’re here for the Fourth of July, you won’t want to miss the state-of-the-art pyrotechnics display in Avon; it’s a dazzling show.
Lillian Ross is a freelance writer who writes weekly travel stories for The Denver Post, and travel stories for Colorado Expressions Magazine.
Aspen and Snowmass
More bragging rights: Vail was named among the Leading Mountain Resorts of the World. This international network of resorts represents the best in mountain vacation experiences. Vail is now the group’s North American member. Other global members include Bariloche, Argentina; Queenstown, New Zealand; and Val Gardena, Italy.
Dining at Vail is incomparable. Every choice you make will result in the most memorable of evenings. 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 bring you to this hideaway. In town, The Wildflower, voted #1 in Vail in the 2000 Zagat Survey, is a Mobil four-star winner
The ultimate in slope side convenience, Beaver Creek offers heated and covered escalators to bring you and all your gear up the three levels of the village, directly to the entrance of the lifts.
The resort has become a hotbed for high-end galleries and boutiques. There’s even a boutique of handcrafted jewelry featuring the resort’s insignia, the golden beaver — an icon that has become a coveted memento at Beaver Creek
The most colorful corner of Vail is in 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. 