This Ski Village In The Colorado Rockies Offers A Romantic Winter Wonderland Vacation

When the weather gets cold and the snow starts falling, it's the perfect excuse to cuddle up with your significant other. You have to stay warm, right? While some people take their winter breaks on a beach, others love to celebrate the season by swooshing down the slopes, then curling up by a toasty fire for a romantic evening. If that sounds like the perfect winter getaway for you and your sweetheart, the pretty ski village of Beaver Creek in the Colorado Rockies is calling your name. Beaver Creek sits in the Vail Valley, and this charming winter wonderland is full of ski resorts, ski-in/ski-out hotels, a storybook-like village for shopping and dining, and an ice rink so you can show off your skating skills. The village also features oversized sculptures, like a giant snow globe and enormous ski goggles, which are perfect for some social media couples pics, or even as a spot to propose.

Beaver Creek is around 29 miles from Eagle County Regional Airport, with America's largest airport with the best food options, Denver International, around 132 miles away. You can rent a car, but there are also shuttle services from both airports to the ski resort as well as public buses. You can download the Beaver Creek app for iOS and Android so you can plan your romantic trip with info on dining, shopping, lodging, things to do, and more. That includes a lovely gondola ride over the Gore Range and Vail Valley through Centennial Express Gondola or Bachelor Gulch Express. Adult tickets are around $86 at the time of this writing for the ride, or $111 if you want to add lunch. 

This winter wonderland has romantic activities aplenty, like the Beaver Creek Ice Rink in the village center. Imagine holding each other up as you circle the ice, when one of you stumbles. You catch them and kiss, recreating your favorite holiday TV movie. If you have your own skates, it's $5 to hit the ice, or $15 with a rental. Around the rink you'll find shops galore. Need gear for the slopes? You can visit Base Mountain Sports, Burton Beaver Creek, Beaver Creek Sports, and more. You can find gifts and souvenirs at Beaver Creek Gear. Make sure and stop by Market Wine & Spirits for a great bottle of wine to make your evening extra cozy. If you have a late night, and need some fuel, the Fall Line Epicurean Market is open 24 hours for snacks, coffee, sandwiches, and pastries. 

There is nothing more romantic than an intimate dinner, après ski, and there are lots of places to find the perfect setting. Grouse Mountain Grill has delightful offerings like warm lobster mascarpone or pretzel-crusted pork chops, and decadent desserts like a seven-layer chocolate bar or a lemon semifreddo. They have an extensive wine and liquor menu, but nothing beats their adult milkshakes. Get two straws to make it extra adorable. If you want to continue to enjoy the chilly weather, you can get lunch and dinner outside at the Fireside Bar at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch next to a fire pit while live music plays. You can also visit Splendid at the Chateau, which features American-European cuisine like oysters with pineapple jalapeño and red chili hot sauce (which are said to be aphrodisiacs), prime dry aged ribeye with chimichurri, and a chocolate truffle for dessert.

Beaver Creek has some of the best ski resorts in the western U.S., like Beaver Creek Ski Resort. At this resort, you'll find everything including skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, with 25 lifts, and 173 trails. It's also easy to get to from the village. If you have a car, there is free parking available, with free shuttles back and forth to Beaver Creek village. If you're looking for ski-in/ski-out accommodations, try The Osprey, with snowboarding and skiing right outside. This spot has every possible amenity, like complimentary breakfast, grocery shopping service, a steam room and heated pool, a fitness center, and a ski valet. Prices for the holiday season at the time of this writing start between $300 and $400 per night, but like most seasonal towns, it varies by date.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch looks like it came right out of the Swiss Alps, and it's all about luxury. You can ski-in/ski-out, do some snowshoe hikes, and soak in heated pools. This hotel even has a spa to pamper yourself before your romantic dinner. This is pricier, with rates for the end of November at the time of this writing between $600 and $2,000 a night, or double that for a suite with a fireplace and a view. You can also snuggle up at The Pines, A RockResort, which starts around $275 a night. This one overlooks the Rockies, right by the ski slopes and the aforementioned Grouse Mountain Grill. Finally, while you're in the area, head over to the nearby historic riverfront hamlet of Minturn, with its funky western charm and a very cool vintage saloon.