Anyone who has ever had the desire to ski in the lap of luxury should consider a winter vacation at Beaver Creek, Colorado. From the moment you enter the resort, you become aware that Vail Resorts, its parent company, spared no expense when they designed this impressive ski area. Do you hate walking on ice in the base area? No problem. Beaver Creek has outdoor escalators.

If you like grooming, you will be in paradise at Beaver Creek. Grooming takes place twenty hours a day, seven days a week. This results in 776 acres of pure corduroy.

The Mountain

Beaver Creek is at a base elevation of 8,100 feet. This is a slightly lower elevation than many of the Summit County resorts, which makes it a great place for anyone with a tendency towards altitude sickness. Seventeen lifts and two gondolas service 148 trails. Beginner terrain makes up 19 percent of the resort; intermediate, 43 percent and 38 percent is for experts. There are also two fantastic bowls, the Rosebowl and the Larkspur Bowl. Snowmaking is available for 605 acres of the mountain. However, with an average annual snowfall of 310 inches, they often don't need it.

The Three Villages

Beaver Creek is divided into three distinct villages, each with their unique charm and character. The Beaver Creek Village is characterized by its boutiques, restaurants and lodging venues. It is in close proximity to the Centennial Chairlift, which service beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain.

The Bachelor Gulch Village is home to the luxurious Ritz Carlton Hotel, which is also a great place to eat lunch. Here, you will find atypical selections such as mozzarella and tomato plates. This is an appreciated diversion form the typical ski resort hamburger. The hotel itself has been modeled after the Grand Lodges of the National Parks. Its renowned spa features 19 treatment rooms, manicure/pedicure salon, relaxing saunas as well as a solid gold-cast soaking tub.

Arrowhead Village is home to a number of elegant private homes and vacation rental properties, as well as the Vista Restaurant, Broken Arrow Restaurant. It is also close to the Arrowbahn Express Lift, which services beginner and intermediate terrain. Arrowhead Village is home to spectacular vacation rental properties such as Aspen meadow Drive, an eight-bedroom home that sleeps 15 people. All of the villages can be accessed by the resort's free shuttle bus.

Fine Dining

For fine dining at Beaver Creek, nothing beats Beano's Cabin. In fact, it's part of the Beaver Creek experience. An open-air sleigh ride transports you back in time as it brings you to a log cabin near Grouse Mountain. Here, you are treated to a five-course dinner. Live music adds to the ambiance. Beano's has been the worthy recipient of an AAA Four-Diamond Award, a DiRoNa Award, and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. As if that was not enough, it consistently receives raves in the Zagat survey. Beano's Cabin is just one of the many fine dining venues at Beaver Creek.

Aside from all of the obvious luxuries of Beaver Creek, there is another hidden perk. The customer service at this resort is second to none. If you want to be treated with the respect you deserve, plan a winter vacation at Beaver Creek.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Marie Mercer.
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