In winter, legendary snow covered peaks attracts world-class skiers to Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado. But summer’s alpine beauty is equally compelling: verdant valleys are carpeted in luminous pink, tangerine, and purple wildflowers. Children’s laughter mixes with the whoosh of mountain streams. The fragrant air invites hikers and mountain bikers to explore shadowy forest trails.

There’s time to relish farm fresh cuisine and refreshing cocktails in glamorous restaurants. Time to rejuvenate in luxurious resorts and spas. Time to wonder at the glorious sapphire skies and moonlit nights.

Food Glorious Food

In summer, Vail Valley’s cornucopia of fresh produce inspires local chefs to dream up innovative recipes. There are dozens of wonderful restaurants, many serving only organic cuisine.

Spago, at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, is the flagship restaurant of Master Chef Wolfgang Puck and the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group. The 4400 square foot restaurant opened in December 2007 to rave reviews, with dishes like steamed Pacific Halibut, a piquant feast of ginger, garlic, chili oil, baby bok choy, lemongrass, and crunchy pea pods on a bed of fragrant jasmine rice.  We loved the fresh ahi tuna sashimi and hamachi tartare, served with spicy wasabi, soy-yuzu sauce and pumpkin seed oil. John Fielder’s dazzling mountain mural photos, brown and white cowhide chairs, and Colorado river rock walls create an ambiance that’s chic and comfortable.

The Chateau at Beaver Creek is home to Owner/Executive Chef David Wolford’s aptly named Splendido Restaurant. Seared American Kobe style Wagyu Beef is a splendid appetizer, followed by delicate pan roasted rabbit or tender wood oven roasted Colorado rack of lamb.  The tangy lemon and huckleberry soufflé, or smooth pear/almond samosa is a light dessert. A cozy wood burning fireplace, piano bar, and mountain views create the perfect background for a memorable evening.

The Lionshead Gondola carried us up to Game Creek Lodge, a private club open to the public in summer. We photographed Vail’s 10,000-foot peaks and graceful ski runs while sipping minty mojitos. Inside the elegant lodge, families feast on a gargantuan Sunday brunch: crab claws, shrimp, Caesar and Greek salads, roast turkey with cranberries, eggs Benedict, and French toast. For dessert, few resist the chewy mint brownies or chocolate bread pudding. Over coffee, we discuss hiking back down the mountain to “ burn off a bit of Brunch,” but too sated, trudge back onto the gondola.

The Wildflower is Vail Valley’s only AAA 4 Diamond and Wine Spectators Excellence award winning restaurant. In the lodge at Vail, this popular restaurant is festive, with fresh flowers in grand urns and pastel flowered fabrics. Feeling like we’re dining in Monet’s garden, we enjoy a delectable garden salad, succulent mussels, and homemade strawberry ice cream.

We toast our last dinner in Vail Valley over champagne gelee cocktails with fresh blueberries and mint at Restaurant Kelly Liken. Chef Liken, an energetic thirtyish entrepreneur, prowls the Vail Valley Farmers Market on summer Sundays for the freshest produce, then creates a three course $45 menu for her Sunday supper guests. Chef Liken, who graduated first in her Culinary Institute of America class, specializes in Seasonal American Cuisine, where she “elevates their natural qualities, enhancing their wow factor.” Her menus change often, with offerings like Vegetable ceviche- a healthy mélange of vegetables, herbs, cherry tomato and citrus dressing; a signature main course of potato crusted trout fillets with lemon beurre blanc; or a hearty lavender honey glazed duck breast with blueberry conserve. Desserts are irresistible: the Tower of Dark Chocolate is a marvel: chocolate truffle cake, cocoa dusted phyllo crisps, dark chocolate glaze, macerated strawberries and dark rum strawberry compote. Just give in and gorge.

Ahhhhhh Spas

After a few days indulging in Vail Valley’s stunning cuisine, I hoped a few spa treatments might flatten my bulging belly.

I found my masseuse soul mate at RockResorts Spa, newly opened at The Lodge at Vail. Listening patiently to my self-inflicted overindulgences, masseuse Constance suggested an elixir of essential tangerine and grapefruit oils.

“Let’s rev up your energy and get rid of that bloated feeling,” she suggested.

Sure enough, her deep tissue massage increased my pep and decreased my ballooning tummy. I emerged from the spa in a cloud of citrus contentment.

At the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Allegria Spa is a wonderland, where guests may unwind in the Aqua Sanitas water sanctuary. Modeled on ancient Roman baths, alternating hot and cold temperatures promote wellness and inner peace. The thermaie mineral pool, infused with juniper salts, increases circulation and relives sore muscles. The caldarium pool envelopes your body in wildflower aromatherapy. A rainshower invigorates you after these heated pools, and then the caldarium steam room recharges your energy with spruce-scented steam.  Each water sanctuary evokes a unique relaxation and is a delightful prelude to other spa treatments.

My Alpine Hayflowers Thermal Wrap aromatherapy massage involved a warm compress of sweet smelling hay and flower petals. Then I was rubbed with juniper wintergreen butter. Unusual?  

I left magnificent Allegria Spa in total bliss.

Rocky Mountain Hospitality

I stayed at St. James Place in Beaver Creek Village, and The Lodge at Vail, in Vail Village. St. James Place offers luxurious two-four bedroom condominiums, gourmet kitchens, spacious living rooms/entertainment centers, dining rooms, and wrap around balconies. There’s an indoor pool, library with a piano, indoor parking and a helpful front desk staff. The St. James is right in the heart of Beaver Creek’s spas, restaurants, shops, chairlifts, and hiking trails.

The Lodge at Vail offers comfortable rooms overlooking Vail’s largest outdoor swimming pool, the Wildflower and Cucina Rustica restaurants, “Mickey’s” Piano bar where Mickey Poague croons classical and pop tunes to everyone’s delight, and the new RockResorts Spa, opened Summer 08. The lodge is a five-minute walk to Vail Mountain for skiing or hiking. In Vail Village, snazzy boutiques tempt shoppers with designer ski and resort wear, jewelry, and antiques. Casual restaurants offer pizza, fondue, sandwiches, and desserts.  

Travelling with family or a group of friends?

Stay at Trapper’s Cabin, a gorgeous private cabin atop Beaver Creek Mountain at 9,500 feet. With splendid views of aspen forests and soaring peaks, you’ll enjoy hiking in summer and skiing in winter right out your front door. Trapper’s sleeps up to 10 people, and offers amenities like a private chef, outdoor Jacuzzi, and snowcat transportation to shop and spa in Beaver Creek or Vail.

A Gift from the Mountain

One glorious morning, I hike up Vail Mountain to commune with splendid alpine peaks, a cobalt sky, and rushing mountain streams. Emerald hummingbirds play tag in fields of pink cosmos, purple lupine, and tangerine zinnias.

While winter is a wonderland of fresh powder, summer offers different pastimes: mountain biking, white water rafting, fly fishing, or soaring over a canyon in a hot air balloon. In the sweet cool air, just walking is pure pleasure.

Catching my breath, I notice a large rock submerged in the dirt. I pry it loose. What a surprise: the pink granite rock, glittering with silver mica, is a perfectly shaped heart.

This special gift from the mountain, here on my desk, is a treasure from my visit to Vail Valley.

If You Go

•St. James Place, www.beavercreekresortproperties.com.

•The Lodge at Vail, www.ROCKRESORTS.com.

•Trapper’s Cabin, jfisher@vailresorts.com.

•Spago, Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, www.ritzcarlton.com.

•Splendido at the Chateau,  www.SplendidoBeaverCreek.com.

•Game Creek Lodge, www.gamecreekrestaurantvail.com.

•The Wildflower, The Lodge at Vail, www.ROCKRESORTS.COM.

•Kelly Liken,  www.KELLYLIKEN.COM.

•Allegria Spa, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek,  www.allegriaspa.com.

•RockResorts Spa, The Lodge at Vail, www.ROCKRESORTS.COM.

•Info on Beaver Creek:  www.beavercreek.com.

•Info on Vail:  www.vail.com

Vail Valley: www.visitvailvalley.com.  800-653-4523.

Story and Photos

c2008 Sharon Spence Lieb