Beaver Creek, Colorado

The Quintessential Winter Village

Though it can’t compete with the beau-monde glamour of Aspen or the vast scale of Vail, the trim little town of Beaver Creek is Colorado’s most well-rounded resort. Known for its downhill slopes, the town also has snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice-skating, and plenty of après-ski appeal.

WHERE TO STAY For a seat at the base of the mountain, the polished, 190-room Park Hyatt Beaver Creek (970/949-1234; www.parkhyatt.com; doubles from $550) can’t be beat. Plus, the hotel’s Allegria Spa just doubled in size after a $12 million renovation. The lofty Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch (970/748-6200; www.ritzcarlton.com; doubles from $625), which is accessible both by ski and a 15-minute shuttle from Beaver Creek, is the apotheosis of luxe-lodge style with its private chairlift, a cosseting spa, and an underground hot-tub grotto. Even if you don’t book a room, do pop in for an afternoon drink and a taste of Aspen-style high life at the bar; on a nice day you can sit outside and watch the skiers come down the mountain.

WHERE TO EAT Beano’s Cabin (970/949-9090; dinner for two $198) ferries diners up the mountain on a sleigh before serving them a decadent prix-fixe dinner. For sushi, head to Foxnut (122 The Plaza; 970/845-0700; dinner for two $110), in the town center.

WHAT TO DO Good news for expert skiers: a set of steep gladed runs, the Stone Creek Chutes, is set to open this year. Not so keen on the expert-only—or even beginner—terrain?Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are making a comeback, and Beaver Creek’s McCoy Park, an enormous Nordic playground with 20 miles of winding trails, is leading the charge. —Amy Farley