This past February, Jourdan and I took a trip to Beaver Creek, Colorado to ski. This was our first time in Beaver Creek and although we’ve visited and skied other resorts in the past, this was by far our favorite! We were in Beaver Creek and skied here a total of three days.

Getting to Beaver Creek

Depending on where you are coming from, the easiest way to get to Beaver Creek is to fly into the Denver International Airport. From there your options to get up into the mountains are either renting a car or booking a shuttle bus. Beaver Creek is anywhere from 2-3 hours from the airport depending on traffic. Renting a car is normally the way we’d go, but we were lucky enough to be able to borrow Jourdan’s Aunt and Uncle’s car for the week!

If the financial aspect of travel is less of a concern, you can also fly into Eagle which is an airport just minutes away from Beaver Creek.

Things to keep in mind if you are:

Renting a car:

Renting a car provides you with the ease and convenience of getting around once you are there, however, it is important to note that parking in Beaver Creek can get expensive quickly. If you plan on bringing a car and are able, try to book accommodations with free or reduced rate parking. There is no non-accommodation overnight parking and day rates can exceed $50.

Taking a Shuttle Bus:

There are many different options when it comes to shuttles and you can pick from a variety of companies. Keep in mind if you have an Epic Pass, you can receive 20% off transportation through the Epic Mountain Rewards when you book with the Epic Mountain Express (the Epic Pass can also provide discounts on other aspects of your trip as well). Another shuttle option is Peak 1 Express.

Beaver Creek also offers a free, on demand shuttle service to help you get around once you are there. Just download their Village Connect app!

Where to Stay

Beaver Creek offers countless accommodations, and I recommend selecting a place that is best for you! There are hotels, condos, and apartments available with ski-in, ski-out options.

We actually stayed in the town of Avon, which is just at the base of the Beaver Creek Village. Rates here are a bit more affordable and still offer easy access to the mountain. We stayed in a condo in The Seasons at Avon which is situated directly across from the Riverfront Express Gondola which gives you access to the Bachelor Gulch Mountain. If you have an Epic Pass, also keep it in mind when searching for places to stay – you can find reduced rates around the area.

Where to Rent Skis & Snowboards (and Any Other Gear)

All across Denver and up in the mountains are places to easily rent your gear! You can rent as little or as much as you need and choose from a large selection based on your skill level! We rented from Breeze Ski Rental, but you could also rent from Christy Sports, Evo Ski & Snowboard Rentals, or Ski Butlers just to name a few.

Something to keep in mind when selecting your rental location: usually the closer to the resort you go, the more expensive your rentals can be. That’s why we selected the Breeze Ski Rental – Lakewood location! It’s near I-70 leaving Denver (the most common rout to the mountains) and very convenient!

When renting gear, you should also think about your transportation. Renting further down the mountain is convenient if you are driving yourself, otherwise renting at your resort might save you the hassle of carting your gear on the shuttle.

Regardless of where you rent, be sure to check what discounts are available when using your Epic pass!

Where to Eat

You won’t be disappointed while eating in Beaver Creek! There are so many amazing options to choose from, and we loved everyplace we went. Jourdan and I typically skip breakfast and lunch places because when skiing, we eat a quick breakfast on-the-go to catch the first lift up. We also pack our own lunches and eat on the mountain in order to get as much skiing in as we can. That being said, we love a good après ski and a well-earned dinner. Here are some of our favorite places:

The Dusty Boot – The Dusty Boot is a casual “roadhouse” style restaurant with lots of great snacks, drinks, and full meals. You can get a little bit of everything here! This is a perfect place for an easy, yummy meal after a long day on the mountain. We each had a drink and split wings here!

The Met Kitchen -The Met Kitchen is a tapas style restaurant with great wines and cocktails. I love tapas, so this ended being one of our favorite spots! We shared the lobster rolls (so good we didn’t get a picture), carnitas arepas, and the short rib stuffed mushrooms.

The Ritz – Talk about a treat!!! We had lunch here one day with our close family friends and really indulged! There are several restaurants to choose from within the Ritz, but we ate at the WYLD Terrace bar overlooking the Bachelor Gulch chair lift.

Southside Benderz – Southside Benderz claims to serve the best burgers on I-70, and after a long day of skiing, this place really hit the spot! Not only are the burgers and fries great, but they have a huge liquor selection including bourbon, whiskey, scotch, rye, and tequila.

The Black Diamond Bistro – This is the only black diamond I’ll do!!! This was a delicious, upscale bistro perfect for a nice night out. We shared a meal with close family friends and had the best time together here. The atmosphere was intimate, and cozy and the food was incredible! As a table we shared the Tai Chile Popcorn Shrimp along with the Braised Pork Belly and for my main dish I had the pork steak which I would highly recommend!

Ti Amo – While we did not personally eat here, this restaurant came highly recommended! This is a local favorite and serves hearty old world Italian meals.

We really enjoyed our time in Beaver Creek and experienced some really great skiing too! We’re counting down the days until next season!

Until our next adventure!

XOXO,

Kate