Beaver Creek Information

Apres-ski

Beaver Creek's nightlife is typically as expected - dignified and sophisticated; but if you're in the mood for gaiety, there are possibilities.

The Coyote Café (tel: +1 970 949 5001; www.coyotecafe.net) is the closest thing to a local's bar (it was the first to open in the resort) and offers daily drinks specials. Alternatively, The Dusty Boot Saloon (tel: +1 970 748 1146; www.dustyboot.com) has a huge selection of tequila – prefect for an end of the evening shot.

Turning towards the resort's more sophisticated offerings, Whiskey Elk in the Park Hyatt hotel (tel: +1 970 949 1234) has an impressive international drinks selection, ranging from American bourbons to malt whisky from Scotland. There's also live entertainment every night.

Eating out

The number of dining options continues to grow in Beaver Creek and unsurprisingly the vast majority of these are fine dining establishments aimed towards well-heeled guests.

But a cheap eat is never too far away. The popular Benderz Burgers (20 Nottingham Road, Avon), for example, has gained somewhat of a cult following thanks to its delicious homemade patties – all of which cost just a few dollars.

However, gourmet restaurants dominate the scene, and the Mirabelle Restaurant (tel: +1 970 949 7728; www.mirabelle1.com), located in one of the original buildings constructed here is a firm favourite, with Chef Daniel Joly creating European dishes using locally grown farm produce

The Saddle Ridge Restaurant (tel: +1 970 754 5450; www.saddleridgebeavercreek.com) is another good restaurant choice, serving up southwestern cuisine mostly incorporating wild game and fish. Apart from tasty meals, the Saddle Ridge is also worth visiting to ogle over its extensive collection of Western and Native American artefacts, including Buffalo Bill's saddle and Annie Oakley's gun.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

Off the slopes, Beaver Creek revolves around a pedestrianised area in the heart of the resort that includes a charming outdoor ice rink, which looks particularly alluring around the festive period. Other outdoor activities include dog sledding, snowshoeing, balloon rides and tubing at Haymaker Hill, which can be accessed from the Buckaroo Express gondola.

Indoors, the Vilar Center (tel: +1 970 845 8497; www.vilarpac.org) incorporates a theatre and exhibition space; while most of the larger hotels have spa facilities. There are also a variety of galleries available for art enthusiasts.

Spa culture is also big in Beaver Creek with three top-class facilities located in hotels that are also open to non-guests. Spa Struck (tel: +1 970 476 2225;www.spastruck.com) is one of the best and easiest to reach, offering a wide range of health treatments. On-site facilities include a steam room, sauna, relaxation room, showers and several swimming pools, along with three hot tubs.

Family fun

Beaver Creek works hard to keep families happy. Nursery care is available for babies from two months to children aged six years at the Small World Play Center (tel: +1 970 754 5325), which also offers dedicated children's ski school classes for kids aged three and up.

The resort also runs a range of 'signature programs' that are free to guests, including Cookie Time (warm chocolate chip cookies served at 1500 every day). There's also a free programme of family-oriented entertainment, including snowshoe tours and disco skate nights.

A team of Beaver Creek 'ambassadors' are situated throughout the village; these helpers are charged with doing anything and everything, from returning a misplaced mitten to acting as navigational aids, making sure nobody gets lost.

Retail therapy

There are around 60 shops in Beaver Creek, which cover all ski holiday needs, as well as providing plenty of boutique shopping opportunities with inevitably a much better selection of high-end shopping opportunities than you'll find in most ski resorts, other than perhaps Courchevel, St Moritz or Aspen. Fashion stores are perhaps the most prominent with luxury household names like Patagonia and Hawick Cashmere (tel: +1 970 845 8888), selling items including jackets, footwear and alpine accessories.

Splashing out

Book a private dining experience and overnight stay at Trappers Cabin (tel: +1 970 754 5785; www.trapperscabincolorado.com), an exclusive private retreat high up above the resort. This ski-in/ski-out four-bedroom, four-bathroom log cabin hideaway has a games room and hot tub, and can be supplied with a private chef on request.

Hotels

All accommodation in Beaver Creek is toward the more luxurious end of the scale. Visitors can, however, stay in nearby Avon, which has more affordable and budget accommodation options.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap