La Tour is a French-American restaurant located in the heart of the Vail Farmer’s Market and offers natural and sustainable products. For brunch, which is when I was there, they serve lovely French toast with banana fosters brioche (pictured below), eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce, mussels, escargot, a trio of summer tomato salads, summer truffle grilled cheese and other delicacies including lovely madelines with lemon sauce all made by Chef Paul Ferzacca.  The handcrafted cheese plate includes goat cheese and assorted creameries, berries, pecan raisin bread and marcona almonds and is as divine as it looks (below).  The atmosphere is lovely and the dining rooms are adorned with world class sculptures, paintings, photographs and glass art. To top it off, the service was absolutely perfect…both cordial and accommodating. I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Location: 122 East Meadow Drive, Vail Village, Tel: 970-476-4403. Follow them on Twitter.

Terra Bistro is another of Vail’s favorites, offering free-range meat, poultry and vegetables from local markets. The restaurant is beautiful, with big glass windows in an intimate setting with a fireplace. The menu focuses on contemporary American cuisine that throws in a few Asian, Mediterranean, and Southwestern influences. For starters, we shared a few interesting dishes including Sprouted Quinoa Cups, crispy baked kale chips (YUM) and ahi tartare. Entrees include Grilled Amish beef tenderloin with Yukon mashed potatoes and cornmeal-crusted Rocky Mountain trout with sweet-potato hash and Sweet potato ravioli which is a signature and was delicious – I sampled an eating companion’s (pictured below). My main dish was Pan Seared Steelhead Filet, which was heavenly and akin to salmon, a fish I’d never had. They also serve excellent home made juice drinks and exotic wine. Kids can munch on their edamame, butternut squash ravioli or a meat dish while you explore your own palette. Location: Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa, 352 E. Meadow Dr., Vail Village, Tel: 970-476-6836. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

If you’re in the mood for something really special and exotic, and your kids can keep up with your palette, or you have no kids to worry about and want an exquisite night out, try Matsuhisa, Japanese and Peruvian fusion cuisine from Chef Nobu Matshuhisa. We went on a sample binge and tried multiple dishes including Jalapeño yellowtail, broiled black cod with miso and Tomato heirloom salad and I can’t even begin to describe my satisfaction. The food is as good as it gets and the only way to describe it is orgasmic. There were actually kids in the dining room and I was impressed and wondered how my kids would fare in such a restaurant. Nonetheless, I was glad to be on my own and able to explore dish after dish after dish.  I hung onto every bite. Location: 141 E Meadow Dr, Tel: 970-476-6628. Follow them on Facebook.

Disclosure: I was on a press trip so all these meals were complimentary.  However, as always, opinions are my own.

Disclosure: I was a guest of Vail Local Marketing District, who hosted my experience at the Vail International Dance Festival.

Last Saturday night I experienced something very special: a night at the Vail International Dance Festival.  I was in town for a few days which happened to coincide with opening night, which celebrated its 25th anniversary.  In celebration of that, the festival featured a bill of repertory highlights at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater stage.  We were privy to some of the finest dancers in the world, including Charles “Lil Buck” Riley, Maria Kochetkova from San Francisco Ballet, Jeffrey Cirio from Boston Ballet, Analia Centurion and Gabriel Misse performing tango, dancers from the NYC Ballet and best of all, a performance of “Serenade” by the Pacific Northwest Ballet, bathed in natural moonlight and accompanied by full orchestra.  Each act had something both interesting and beautiful about it, either in the performance or the message.

Sitting in the beautiful amphitheater, surrounded by art, music and dance lovers, smack between the beautiful mountains of Vail, I was struck by a city’s love of life and culture.  There were people who must come to the festival year after year and respect the Artistic Director’s opinion of who the most important dancers are in the world.

That person is Damian Woetzel, who has been Artistic Director since 2007 and since then, the festival has grown immensely and is considered a nationally recognized summer showcase for dance.  He also heads up the Director of Arts Programs at the Aspen Institute, where he creates programs aiming to further the value of the arts in society, focusing on education, economics and cultural diplomacy. Among his recent projects, he produced and directed an arts salute to Stephen Hawking at Lincoln Center for the World Science Festival, and directed the first performance of the White House Dance Series, which took place in the East Room of the White House and was hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama. He clearly puts a lot of thought into each act chosen to dance in the festival, based on his background, knowledge and passion.

The setting is also interesting because there is no curtain, it is totally outdoors and during intermission, we watched the Pacific Northwest Ballet warm up wearing fleeces, necessary in the chilly Colorado weather. Woetzel pairs up dancers from around the world with great skill.  Some of them have never met or danced before hitting the Vail stage.  He announced this being the case with the first act of the evening, “Don Quixote”. Choreographed by Marius Petipa, the father of classical ballet, and premiered in 1869 at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre, the re-staging for Vail was performed by San Francisco Ballet’s Maria Kochetkova and Jeffrey Cirio of Boston Ballet. You never would have known they had never met.

My favorite act of the evening was the kooky and vibrant “I Can See Myself in Your Pupil,” performed by Jonathan Royse Windam and Francesca Romo. Apparently, it was his return to Vail, where he first performed at age 10 in a community production of Annie.  And I loved “Gangsta Walk” performed by the hip hop dancer Charles Riley, who is currently a featured performer in Cirque di Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE in Las Vegas.

Source: DenverPost.com

The Vail International Dance Festival, going through August 9th, is quite an experience, so there is still time to get tickets and go.

Monday features five new pieces by choreographers Paul Taylor, Larry Keigwin, Fang-Yi Sheu, Brian Brooks and LilBuck.

Tuesday offers a “Dance for $20.13″ program that brings back LilBuck and adds Tiler Peck and Robert Fairchild from the New York City Ballet, Keigwin + Company and others. Thursday’s main event is the legendary Paul Taylor Dance Company.

All tickets on the lawn are $20 each for every performance and offer good views.  Food and drinks are served at every performance, and the menu is very varied.

All performances are at 7:30 p.m. at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Prices vary. 970-845-8497 or vaildance.org.

Disclosure: My visit was sponsored by Vail Summer but all opinions are my own.

During a recent stay at Arabelle at Vail Square during a weekend getaway, I was completely transported from every day life. From the minute I walked into the lobby, just me and my bags (no kids in tow), I knew I was in for a treat. Clearly I knew that in the winter, the hotel is a winter oasis for skiers, but I really didn’t understand how nice it (or Vail) would be in the summertime. Between the service, decor and proximity to central Vail, I was set. The property is steps from the Eagle Bahn gondola and Born Free Express lift; Vail Village is a short (5-10 minutes) in town, a shuttle ride away (which happen to be free all day, all night) and there are plenty of great restaurants, bars and shops close by.

Immediately upon arrival, I was struck by the hotel’s look and charm. The lobby is a combination of mahogany and antiques and offers an element of comfort and style. Service was immediately responsive upon check-in and I instantly felt the vacation vibe settling in.

My room was also exceptionally cozy.  Despite my busy agenda, I milked very moment I had at the Arabelle.  Decked out in lush antique furniture that is reminiscent of another time and place, the hotel offers unusual touches like pumice stones in the shower, fresh, plush towels (not just 2 or 3 like other hotels, more like 4 or 5 so you never have to ask for more), a Keurig coffee maker, free fresh water, a shower with two valves so two people can shower at the same time (very romantic), plush robes and slippers, fully thick curtains that shield the light from the room, a dramatic balcony with a new of Vail, a flat-screen TV, free Wifi and…ready for this? An electric fireplace built into the wall with an armchair that is easily pulled up in front for rest and relaxation.  I have to say, at the end of a busy day, coming back to the room for a break before dinner to a lit fire (set by the room attendant when turning down the bed) is pretty wonderful.

Breakfast on the balcony, reading the NYT, wasn’t bad either. Looking out at the lovely view of Vail was one heck of a way to start my day.

My zen state that resulted from my stay at the Arabelle really culminated with a visit to their spa. Voted #19 out of the top 270 spas in the world in the 2012 Conde Nast Reader’s Poll, it was easy to see why.  Guests of the hotel get free access to its relaxation room, whirl pool, sauna, steam room and Swiss showers.  So I took advantage of these facilities each day and also indulged in a aromatherapy massage which was HEAVENLY.  The 10,000-square-foot spa complex also includes a full-service nail salon and a retail shop with professional skin care lines, lotions, soaps, oils, meditation books, cards and other spa products.  The Spa uses only the most advanced botanical technologies in its treatments. Treatments feature organic ingredients, indigenous massages and wraps, rejuvenating facials, and other special amenities.  The Arabelle Spa is definitely one of the nicest hotel spas I’ve ever been to and I highly recommend a visit.

If you’re thinking of going to Vail this summer (what’s left of it), the Arabelle is offering a weekday summer saving where you can save up to 33% off when you stay between Sunday and Thursday. In addition, if you spend 3 nights there this summer, you can get a 4th night free.  

If you are organized and want to book early for the winter, book by July 31st and save up to 40% off. Stay 10 or more nights this winter and save up to 40% off. You can also book next year’s winter vacation by September 15th and save up to 33% off.

There are really a lot of reasons to go to Vail, both with and without the kids – I’ll be writing more about them in the upcoming days.  Stay tuned.

Summertime in Colorado is something special, alright, who knew?  Posting about the trip here and elsewhere shortly.

Disclosure: My visit was hosted by Vail Summer but all thoughts expressed are my own.

So for those reasons and more, you should pay attention to this contest!  This sweepstakes in particular is really going above and beyond the norm—between the airfare, large group size, and $1000 credits for equipment and dining—this Beaver Creek trip is really a standout.

•    Four-night stay at the luxurious (and exclusive) Trappers Cabin, a four-bedroom cabin sitting at 9,500 feet.
•    Airfare for eight (perfect for two families)
•    Three all-day lift tickets per person
•    $1000 Gift Card to Beaver Creek Sports
•    $1000 on-mountain dining credit
•    Round-trip airport transfers for eight with Colorado Mountain Express

Those interested can enter the contest by visiting Beaver Creek Resort Properties’ Facebook  pageby February 21st and “liking” their page.

Disclosure: I was not compensated to feature this information.

Here are some of our favorite culinary spots to check out while you’re visiting, both with and without the kids:

Starting with the kids:

Toscanini is located in the heart of the village at Beaver Creek Mountain, right next to the ice-skating rink.  The atmosphere is jovial and they serve home-cooked Italian food.  The menu is very family-friendly and offers smaller portions of dishes for the kids, including build your own pasta or cheese and pepperoni pizza.  They serve plentiful antipasta dishes for $10-15 that are shareable, as well, ensalada options for $12-$15 and piatti dishs for $27-$39 that includes lamb t-bone, risotto and gnitted hanger steak with pancetta.  When we were there, they were offering 30% off every bottle of wine on the menu, and on a regular basis, if you are attending a show at the Vlar Center, you can show your ticket to get 10% off your entire check.  We tried the pan fried parmesan crusted artichoke hearts, the mediterraneo salad and the risotto with roasted butternut squash, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, sage pumpkin seed oil and shaved pecrino cheese and everything was cooked to perfection.  This is a good place to go after a day of skiing when everyone is hungry.

Toscanini is located at 60 Avondale Ln  Avon, CO 81620, Tel: (970) 754-5590 and you can make a reservation using Open Table.

Chop House is located at the foot of Beaver Creek Mountain and offers great views of the action on the slopes.  It’s a great place to chill out with the family after a morning either skiing or snow-shoeing.  There is something for everyone on the menu as it’s basic American fare.  The kid’s menu offers pasta, chicken fingers, mac & cheese, burgers, pizza, and if you’re kids are more adventurous than my own, mahi mahi.  We were there for lunch and tried the Hand Diced Organic Salmon Mixed with Lemon, Dill, Eggs, Capers and Panko, as well as the Mahi Fish Tacos which has Fresh Mahi in Corn Flour Tortillas with Cabbage, Cheddar Jack Cheese and Chipotlé Mayo with Avocado-Tomato Relish.  Both dishes were delicious, very reasonbably priced and quite filling, but the best part about it was the low key atmosphere and time to recover from a day on the mountain.

Chop House is located at 15 West Thomas Place, Avon, CO 81620, Tel: 970-845-0555. No reservation is required and the restaurant becomes a big bar scene at night.

And without the kids:

The Coyote Cafe is a great night stop.  If you want a pint of beer, a plate of nachos, cheese and guacamole, quesadillas, some margaritas, this is the place for you.  It’s very laid back and the most inexpensive food you can get in Beaver Creek. Our waitress was from Rhode Island and happy to have some neurotic New Yorkers in there for a change.  We had just arrived from NY and needed somewhere to compress after a long plane ride.  They also have a simple lunch and dinner menu with burgers and the cheapest kid’s menu in town ($6 per meal).  The atmosphere is lively and fun and attracts a lot of Beaver Creek employees late at night.

The Coyote Cafe is located at 210 the Plaza, Avon, CO 81620, Tel: 970-949-5001.

The Osprey Lounge is located in the Osprey at Beaver Creek, the closest hotel to an actual ski lift in North America.  It’s a great spot for tapas, small plates and cocktails.  It offers custom cocktails and a tapas-style menu with options such as lobster nachos and deep fried snicker bars.  Chef Michael Wilganowski won the Beaver Creek Master Chef Challenge put on by Bon Appétit magazine two years in a row.  They have very original dishes lime sweet potato ravioli, marinated ahi tuna tostada, truffeled meatballs and other delicacies.  We tried the yummy spicy carrot soup, brussel sprouts, mushroom pizzas and steak tapas.  This is a great date night spot or when you’re traveling without the kids.  Of course, if your kids are more adventurous than mine, they’ll like it, too.

Source: BeaverCreek.com/

The Osprey Lounge is located at 10 Elk Track Lane  Beaver Creek, CO 81620, Tel: (970) 754-7400.

Disclosure: The meals at Toscanini and the Osprey Lounge were complimentary to facilitate this review, but the others were out of pocket.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.

From the moment you step into the crisp air with mountains gazing at you from every direction, you will be transported. The views are stunning and the resort is immaculate and perfectly built with ski in/ski out accommodations.  But the beauty of the resort is not only that it provides a unique amount of ease for families (everything is close, transportation is free and efficient, there is ample family programming) but also that everyone at the resort loves either visiting, working or living there.

This is the first of my many posts about Beaver Creek.  All week I’ll be blogging about the resort so you have all the information you need as you plan your next trip there (because you’ll want to after you read my posts).  You can read about it here and on other web sites which I’ll point out.  Before I launch into details, I now present my top ten reasons you and your family should choose Beaver Creek as your next family getaway:

1. Beaver Creek Resort was voted the #1 place to ski and stay by Conde Nast Traveler this year calling it “tops for terrain, speedy lifts and apres-ski to the hotel havens that provide to the softest of landings.”  It even edged out Whistler Blackcomb, in British Columbia.  That came straight from the expert’s mouths.

2. The resort’s mountain is unique in that the harder terrain is at the bottom so more beginners can go to the top.  It’s pretty terrific for beginners, especially, young children, riding all the way to the top of the mountain (11,400 feet) to ride down the greens.  If you plan your trip in advance, book your Beaver Creek lift tickets online to save a significant amount.  It’s usually cheaper within 7 seven days of your visit.

3.  The resort is less crowded than Vail, at all times of year, so the lines to the lifts are shorter, the lines in the restaurants are shorter and it’s easy to make reservations for meals.  The resort also uses Epic Mix, an app allows you to track your vertical feet, connect with friends, and share photos from your ski vacation.

4. The resort is extremely family-friendly.  In addition to ski-school, they offer day care for children 2 months – 6 years old, ice-skating, tubing, sleigh rides, complimentary snow shoe tours one day a week and different activities every day of the week from Christmas to March including disco ice-skating, story-telling, Cookie Time and others that I will be going into more detail about this week.

5. As mentioned above, everyone loves Beaver Creek who visits.  Many never leave, as witnessed from my meetings with hotel staff, shuttle drivers, ski instructors, wait staff in restaurants and ski equipment rental staff.  The people seem to be on happy drugs, but they’re not.  Everyone is just happy to live near good skiing terrain and seem to really, really, really enjoy life. It takes natural high to a whole new level.

6. The shuttle service is free, accessible and easy at all times of day from 7am until it stops its service at midnight.  All you do is call the front desk, tell your waiter, or step into designated areas with phone service to call Village Transportation (tel: 970-949-1938) and transportation comes right away.  It’s quick, efficient, clean and free (I have to mention that again).

7. There is a wide variety of food in Beaver Creek, and it’s really good.  There are top-rated restaurants with prestigious chefs, like the Pines Lodge’s Grouse Mountain Grill, a AAA Four Diamond Award- winning restaurant and a 2011 James Beard Best New Restaurant nominee. Other restaurants worth noting include Toscanini, Coyote Cafe, the Osprey, the Chop House and when you’re skiing, the Spruce Saddle.

8. Accommodations come in every price range and are plentiful and scattered all over the village.  You can stay in hotels like the Pines Lodge which offers ski in, ski out and a full-service restaurant  or in condos like the Elkhorn Lodge with a full kitchen and multiple bedrooms so you and your children can sleep separately.

9. Ski and snow shoe equipment are easy to rent.  Places like Beaver Creek Sports or Beaver Creek Nordic Center make it really simple, and you can can’t beat the customer service.  They can also hook you up with group ski lessons, show shoeing tours and private lessons.

10.  If you’re not a big skier or you’re going with your family and want to sit some of the skiing out or relax, there are other offerings around town.  There are free wine tastings offered on occasion, and there’s the Vilar Performing Arts Center, a 350 seat theater where you can catch a symphony, dance performance or popular band or singer. There are also spas like Spa Struck, located in the Charter Hotel, where you can get a massage, facial or bodywrap (which also comes in handy when your muscles are sore from skiing or snowshoeing).

Check out my Flickr collection below from the trip and stay tuned for my many reports coming down the pipeline this week on Traveling Mom and elsewhere.  Believe me, you’ll soon be packing your bags to experience Beaver Creek for yourself.

Disclosure: I visited Beaver Creek to research this article and others and received what was largely a complimentary stay, but all opinions expressed are my own.

Looking for a getaway without the kids?  Want to explore your culinary side? Bon Appétit and Beaver Creek Resort will join forces Jan. 27 – 29, 2011 for the much-anticipated 13th Annual Beaver Creek Master Chef Classic. Highlights of the three-day epicurean affair include an awe-inspiring Master Chef Challenge at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek Village, intimate cooking classes, an après-ski cocktail seminar and a Grand Tasting at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch. With world-class skiing and epicurean festivities in such close proximity, attendees can ski exhilarating vertical runs in the morning and sample delectable cuisine in the evening. The Beaver Creek Master Chef Classic is highly-anticipated by both ski enthusiasts and food lovers alike, as it marks the first celebration of the year where two favorite pastimes join forces to “peak” the palate.

Celebrated Beaver Creek chefs will be joined by the following guest chefs selected by Bon Appétit magazine:

John Besh – Chef: August, Besh Steak, Luke, La Provence, American Sector, and Domenica (New Orleans)
Joey Campanaro – Chef/Owner, The Little Owl (New York); Chef, Kenmare (New York), Owner, Market Table (New York), Village Bele (Philadelphia)
Stephanie Izard – Executive Chef/ Partner, Girl & The Goat (Chicago)
François Payard – Pastry Chef, FPB (New York, Las Vegas, Japan and Korea), Payard, François Chocolate Bar
Jacques Van Staden – Chef, London Club (Las Vegas); Vice President of Food & Beverage Operations, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises
Jose Garces – Executive Chef, Mercat a la Planxa (Chicago); Owner/ Executive Partner, Garces Restaurant Group (collection of restaurants in Philadelphia)
Marco Canora – Co-Owner/Chef, Hearth and Terroir (New York); Finalist on “Next Iron Chef”

Due to an overwhelming response last year, the 2011 Classic features additional Master Chef cooking classes, allowing participants to get up close and personal with some of the hottest chefs in the industry. Bon Appétit’s Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport and Restaurant Editor Andrew Knowlton will be in attendance.

Master Chef Classic lodging event packages are available starting at $522 per person, which includes two nights of lodging, two days of lift tickets and one ticket each for the Master Chef Challenge and the Grand Tasting. This package is available Jan. 27-31, 2011. Additional lodging options are available and additional restrictions may apply. Event-only ticket packages are also available including a Master Chef Package for $475, which provides one ticket to the Master Chef Dinner, Master Chef Challenge, Grand Tasting, one Seminar (choice of Chophouse/Wine Seminar or Osprey/Cocktail Seminar) and one Cooking Class (Marco/Splendido or Joey/Park Hyatt). The VIP package is $575 and includes the Master Chef Package offerings plus early admittance to the Grand Tasting for exclusive access to the Chefs. The Just a Taste Package for $165 includes tickets for the Master Chef Challenge and the Grand Tasting.  A portion of proceeds from the Master Chef dinner on Jan. 27 benefits the Bright Future Foundation. To purchase tickets and for information on lodging packages, visit http://www.beavercreek.com/masterchefclassic or call (800) 404-3535 (lodging packages) or (888) 920-ARTS (event tickets only).