Weekend Travel Guide: Vail, Colorado
This past weekend my husband and I took a weekend trip to Vail Valley for a staycation. We have both been full-force in graduate school and working, so we thought an escape to the mountains would be perfect as we don't get much quality time these days. If you live in the Denver area and are looking to go on a weekend getaway with your significant other, I got you covered.
We left for Vail Friday morning and stopped to eat lunch at Sweet Basil, which is in the heart of Vail. To avoid the ridiculous high prices of garage parking during peak ski season, I suggest parking parallel to I-70 on Frontage Rd. This parking strip is where all the early skiers park, and is completely free of charge. I suggest leaving as early as you can to beat the crowds and ensure you'll get a parking spot here. Enjoy walking around the European-style town of Vail for a couple hours and grab coffee or a bite to eat before checking into your hotel for the weekend.
We lodged at The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa and let me tell you, this luxurious resort by the mountainside is the perfect place to treat yourself and your significant other, or would be a great spot for a family vacation. The Westin is located in Avon, which is just a few miles past Vail. This would be a great place to stay for a special occasion, before a fun ski weekend, or just to get away like we did.
The Westin Riverfront is an all-encompassing resort with a ton of incredible amenities, you don't even have to leave the resort for several days. Some of the amenities include a spa and a full gym. There are also several exercise rooms and workout classes you can take such as yoga, pilates, and cycling. After we checked in, I attended my first in-person exercise class in about two years. I've been getting into yoga recently, so I took a Vinyasa Flow class. The class was challenging but doable and very grounding, even as a newbie. Everyone is required to wear a mask and clean off equipment after the class is over. I highly recommend utilizing these classes while you're in town!
After my yoga class, I got cleaned up and Zach and I dined at Maya for dinner. This Mexican restaurant is located right off the lobby inside the resort. The chef is called the "Father of Modern Mexican Cuisine" and the food surely did not disappoint. We recommend getting the enchiladas and steak fajitas.
Saturday morning we decided to get up early and enjoy the scenic pool and hot tub area overlooking the mountains. This would also be a great opportunity to go to the spa and enjoy a relaxing spa/pool day. We lucked out with the weather last weekend, as it was in the low 50s and sunny, so it was perfect Colorado pool weather. We spent most of our time in the hot tub, as you can't get enough of the mountain views right in front of you. It is worth booking this resort just for the hot tub experience!
For Apres or a lively date night, The Lookout is the perfect spot. This bar area is located right inside the lobby of The Westin, which overlooks the mountains with live music. We sat here for a few hours just chatting and enjoying the delicious cocktails, wines, and food. For an appetizer, we got the pretzel bites, which we 100% recommend ordering. It comes with beer cheese which was the highly of my night, no joke. Then we ordered some burgers and fries, which were also delicious. There's also a fire pit outside where you can roast marshmallows for s'mores. Speaking of, if you are a guest, you are given a card for a complimentary s'mores kit you can enjoy any time during your stay. It was so happy and cozy! Loved this detail that the resort offers.
After a relaxing day enjoying all the resort's amenities, it's time for an adventure. The Westin Resort & Spa sits at the bottom of the ski resort, Beaver Creek. We suggest skiing on Sunday, or your last day here so you can enjoy the beautiful resort and its amenities. So after you check out, head on up to ski Beaver Creek. Skiing Beaver Creek was an absolute dream, and our favorite place we've skied in Colorado so far. The ski resort is huge, and the runs are super long. We successfully completed our first black run here, and it was the perfect place to do it. There are plenty of greens and blues for beginners, too. We will be getting the Epic Pass next season just so we can ski Beaver Creek more.
This was the first weekend we experienced where it felt somewhat normal after this past year's pandemic and lockdown. The resort did a wonderful job at ensuring amenities weren't too full, spacing out tables, and keeping everything clean. Make sure to wear your mask at all times! The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa exceeded all expectations. We definitely plan on going back!
