I fell in love all over again at Beaver Creek, rediscovering the joy of skiing after a few decades away from the sport. There is nothing like the feeling of flying down the hills—and quietly contemplating life while taking in stunning views on chairlift rides.
Longtime skiers know that this past season was an anomaly, with record snowfalls that kept resorts open well into the spring. Conditions were ideal in late March when I visited Beaver Creek, a 2,000-acre ski area anchored by three villages: Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch, and Arrowhead. We stayed at the ski-in, ski-out Ritz-Carlton at Bachelor Gulch. The skiing was among the best I’ve experienced in my life, with impeccably groomed corduroy slopes greeting us every morning. (It was a special treat to watch the teams of snowcats do their work at night outside our room, which overlooked the Bachelor Gulch Express Lift.)
Beaver Creek has 150 runs, and there’s something for every level of skier. According to my Ski Tracks app, I hit a max speed of 39.9 mph. (I’m not saying I necessarily meant to go that fast, but I lived to tell the tale.) And meandering through slower trails among towering trees under impossibly blue skies will make you forget about any stresses in your life.
As you would expect at a Ritz-Carlton resort, the accommodations were exceptional, with spacious, comfortable rooms and little extras like walk-out balconies, marble soaker tubs, and in-room fireplaces. (The 20-year-old resort recently got a multimillion-dollar refresh.) I highly recommend springing for access to the Club Lounge, which, along with games and reading materials, offers five different complimentary food and beverage options a day, from a bounty of breakfast treats in the morning to desserts and liqueurs at night. The ski concierge services were a nice perk, too.
The Ritz also is known for its luxurious spas, and Bachelor Gulch did not disappoint, with offerings like the Oxygen Hydration Facial and The Art of Wellness, a massage that incorporates guided breathing and visualization techniques with salt stone and rose quartz crystals. Along with 19 treatment rooms, facilities include steam rooms, saunas, hot and cold plunge pools, and a cave-like grotto.
I wasn’t expecting to find the best sushi I’ve ever eaten in the midst of the Rockies, but that’s what I found at Sakaba, a lounge-style restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. We opted for the Omakase (chef’s choice) experience, and everything from the Hamachi to the Black Miso Cod was outstanding. Sakaba also offers Japanese beer and spirits and an extensive sake menu.
My favorite seafood dish was not found at Sakaba but at Wyld, the resort’s signature restaurant. Do not visit The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch without trying the Salmon Cones—sushi in yuzu-sesame-miso shells. It’s the stuff dreams are made of. Pro tip: the cones also are on the happy hour menu at the popular outdoor Fireside Vail Bar.
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