Sitting at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain, the Colorado sun gleaming off pristinely groomed pine-flanked ski runs, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa beckons with approachable prestige.

The luxury alpine retreat takes the ski resort’s longtime marketing slogan—”Not Exactly Roughing It”—one step further with slopeside ski valet (they’ll have your skis or snowboard ready to step into as you exit the ski-in/ski-out hotel doors and glide onto the snow), fireside aprés s’mores, and a year-round heated pool and jacuzzis a stone’s toss from the gondola.

Entering the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa lobby after a swift and courteous exchange with the valet and luggage bellhop, orange flames flicker from an LED fire table extending the length of the room, illuminating the gorgeous metal and marble Brass Bear Bar just beyond. Guests are greeted with a welcome flute of bubbly as a hodge podge of happy guests buzz about in chic ski onesies, white logoed hotel spa robes, and an on-trend mix of suede boho hats, leather fringe, and fur.

A yorkshire terrier is perched on its owner’s lap, watching the aprés scene float by. Kids head to the fire pit outside with brown bagged s’mores kits procured from the front desk. A couple cuddles next to the grand fireplace sipping aperol spritz and watching the day’s final skiers schuss down the white ribbon of snow on the other side of the bar’s floor-to-ceiling window panes. Two 30-somethings clink espresso martinis, positioning themselves to take in the guitarist in the corner strumming John Denver classics.

It’s all very Colorado high country.

I knew I would be back in this lobby bar, enjoying gratis coffee service in the morning, sinking into the deep plush chairs, maybe securing a nook in the stunning sunlit library room where I could flip through the local paper before taking a dip in the pool or nudging myself to do some vacation exercise—an easy feat after one look at the hotel’s polished state-of-the-art fitness center equipment.

Rooms With a View

When it comes to Colorado ski resorts with dog- and kiddo-friendly lodging, Beaver Creek was an obvious choice. The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek crowns the landscape between the slopes and the lively village area where shops and restaurants wrap around open-air sculptures, happy hour musicians, and an expansive ice rink (skate rentals are available).

The third-floor balcony on our mountain-facing room opens up to endless snowy peaks and a bustling base area, prime for gazing down on the hotel restaurant patio below where afternoon rosé and garlic parmesan fries with bearnaise aioli are thoroughly enjoyed by famished skiers.

With our pup and 10-year-old son in tow, our king room was outfitted with a roll-away bed and extra pillows and blankets. The hotel provided a special robe and slippers for our son and the Pampered Paws Welcome gave Bruce (the pug) VIP treatment with thoughtful amenities that included house-made artisanal dog treats courtesy of executive chef Jonah Friedmann.

The elevated-meets-effortless theme came through with sophisticated mountain modernism infused into every detail. Following a recent redesign, guestrooms wore fresh textures of herringbone plaid wool, cognac-toned leather, and bespoke brass and bronze accents. Quartz and polished chrome bathrooms outfitted with thoughtfully crafted natural toiletries, rainfall showers, and lush towels added to the mountain residence feel.

Celebrity Status Skiing

My family of three loved being able to pop outside and be on the mountain. Sliding into our gear at the outdoor ski valet and plopping onto the chairlift took a mere 90 seconds. Gentle beginner-friendly runs spiderweb the naturally steep mountain’s intermediate and expert terrain, so there truly is something for every level of skier. The 2,000-plus-acre world-class resort takes great pride in its meticulous and impeccable grooming, delivering picturesque corduroy runs alongside challenging moguls, powdery aspen-gladed lines, and the famed double black diamond Birds of Prey World Cup downhill course (which my son insisted on ripping down with his dad while I took in the views from the mid-mountain Talon’s lodge patio, bloody mary in hand, bopping along to the DJ).

Fun perk: Every day at 3 p.m., like clockwork, chefs emerge with silver trays piled high with homemade chocolate chip cookies. It’s quite the swarm of kids and adults and the cookies go fast, so keep an eye out for the white chefs hats making their way out onto the snowy base area next to the Park Hyatt.

Serene Spa and Soaking Time

Though the skiing and spring sunshine are unbeatable, I have to say I was a little jealous of the blissed-out moms and dads spending their day in the 30,000-square-foot Lavish Spa. Worthy of some quality thaw-out time, the treatment area wows with scented steam and sauna rooms, heated chairs, a couple’s relaxation lounge, tea, and fresh fruit-infused mountain spring water. 

Spoil yourself with the exclusive Aqua Sanitas Roman baths—a five-step water ritual that includes soothing herbal body wash, traditional thermae and ancient sea salt soaking pools, and a cooling rainfall shower. Indulge in post-massage Prosecco and truffles and be sure to venture out to the jacuzzis after dark to take in the stars punctuating the mountain night sky.

8100 Mountainside Grill

Named for the restaurant’s elevation at 8,100 feet above sea level (stay hydrated!), 8100 Mountainside Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The breakfast buffet is a pre-ski ritual with help-yourself stations boasting smoked lox, whipped goat cheese, capers and more ready to be piled on house bagels. There’s an acai bowl station, a made-to-order omelette station, fresh fruit, pastries, charcuterie, carving stations, and a cereal bar and wall of donuts that kids can’t get enough of.

For dinner, it’s all about locally sourced cuisine inspired by the season. Think dry aged trout tataki in cilantro ponzu, bison oxtail onion soup (to die for!), Colorado lamb rack, and a buttery ribeye cooked to perfection and sided with bone marrow bordelaise wild mushrooms and a burning tallow candle. Choosing our cuts of steak, specialty knives from the server’s case, and family-style sides was a lovely experience. 

A worldly wine list, table-fired smoked old fashioneds, and maple bourbon cheese were memorable standouts.

For a special occasion or just a fun après or dinner gathering, the hotel offers the Beaver Creek Barrel Experience where guests can book a private wood barrel for a multi-course dinner for up to six people. The unexpectedly chic walk-in whiskey barrels sit slopeside on the 8100 Mountainside Grill patio and feature a menu of seared duck, hamachi crudo, churro bread pudding, and more paired with Stranahan’s Whiskey and Maestro Dobel Diamante Tequila. The experience is priced at $145 per guest.

When you’re craving a Colorado getaway that feels incredibly intentional, comfortable, and luxurious without any hint of pretension, the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek has mountain living dialed in.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cover photo courtesy Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa.

Lisa Blake is a Colorado-based food and travel writer who is motivated by new river stretches, wellness and culinary travel, and chefs who forage their own mushrooms. Lisa travels to learn and to remember. She specializes in ski resort, food and drink, and mountain town content and has published four children’s books and a journal created around our deep connection with nature.