Beaver Creek: A Hidden Mountain Gem For Families
Growing up in Colorado, I’ve visited so many mountain towns, and I must say I love them all. Surprisingly, we had never visited Beaver Creek before, so we were so excited to take our boys there and explore for a weekend getaway. And let me tell you, Beaver Creek did not disappoint! It is the most kid-friendly mountain town that I have ever been to. The entire trip I felt completely at ease because Beaver Creek feels so safe, peaceful and quaint. I felt like I could let the boys have some freedom; they didn’t need to be glued to my hand while walking through town. There was no sense of danger in sight. No cars zooming through town, simply other families strolling around also enjoying the adorable mountain town. As a mom, finding a vacation spot that you can let your guard down and truly relax is such a blessing.
Not only is Beaver Creek the best mountain town for families with young kiddos because it’s safe and peaceful, but there are endless activities available for kids to enjoy. We were there for three days and had new and exciting activities to do with the kids every moment—we could hardly squeeze all of the fun in!
The day we arrived, we checked into The Osprey, which I would absolutely recommend. It had a delicious daily breakfast that we all enjoyed, clean and luxurious rooms, and a pool that my boys couldn’t get enough of. Fun fact, The Osprey is closer to a chairlift than any other lodge in North America! Truly ski-in/ski-out.
We ate dinner at the Chophouse (steak pictured below) and it’s absolutely a spot to try in Beaver Creek. It sits right at the base of the slope and has the most incredible views of Beaver Creek Mountain. Sipping on an IPA while enjoying the views was truly a highlight of my weekend. I highly recommend their salmon dish, it was some of the best salmon I’ve ever had- which says a lot considering that’s my restaurant order nine times out of ten. Chophouse also had delicious steaks, and even had a steak meal option on the kids’ menu which my boys greatly appreciated and enjoyed.
In my opinion, here is the best post-dinner routine in Beaver Creek: gelato at Rimini Café and then relaxing in a chair while watching your kids play in the river that runs through town. This was our routine each evening while staying in Beaver Creek and it was the most peaceful way to end our days there. Beaver Creek flows down the mountain and through Beaver Creek Resort and it provides the sweetest little stream for kids to play in. It was so precious watching our boys make new friends as they moved river stones around, working together to build a dam.
The second day we took the gondola (Centennial Express Lift) up Beaver Creek Mountain and went on a hike. When we got to the top of the mountain, we all paused to enjoy the gorgeous 360-degree view of our majestic state. It was such a humbling reminder of God’s creation and how beautiful Colorado truly is. Pictures truly don’t do the views from the top of the mountain justice. Beaver Creek offers more than 60 miles of different trails, but of course we had to choose the most kid friendly trail. We hiked the Cinch Trail which was absolutely adorable for kids. Our boys are 9, 5, and 3 and they were able to do this hike, with the exception of my littlest needing to be carried for the final uphill part. Along the trail you’ll see signs that say “Kids’ Adventure Zone”. There are play stops along the trail, like a mysterious cave with a pretend bear inside for kids to discover, a small pretend town with Jumpin Jack’s Jail, a “wanted” photo-opp spot, and Big Buck’s Bank. There was also a long pretend mining tunnel for the kids to walk through. Beaver Creek has made it so special and entertaining even for the littlest kids. At the top of the mountain you can eat at Spruce Saddle Lodge, which had some quick bites and American Grill-style dishes.
My biggest tip for hiking at a higher altitude with littles is to make sure to stay super hydrated—both you and the kids. Our littlest started getting dizzy and sleepy towards the end of our adventure up the mountain. We had him drink some electrolytes and then headed back down the mountain and he quickly started feeling better.
Post-hike we headed over to the adventure park that is just steps from the base of the gondola. This was our boys’ favorite part about Beaver Creek, they couldn’t get enough. With putt-putt golf, panning for gemstones, rock climbing, and a bungee trampoline, there was something for everyone. We stayed here for hours, and right at 3:00 pm it was Cookie Time! Beaver Creek is known for its daily baked cookies in the village. This tradition creates such a fun sense of community in the village when the chef walks out with a serving tray of cookies and everyone in the village gathers around to enjoy a sweet treat.
We had a delicious dinner at Citrea, which has the best patio seating for people-watching and if you’re lucky like we were, live music. I loved their burrata appetizer and the pizza at Citrea, the crust was incredible and I’m still dreaming about the burrata. Post-dinner we had some more gelato at Rimini, of course. Then headed to the hotel for a quick swim before bed.
Another must-do with kids in Beaver Creek is the 4x4 Jeep tour. What a safe but fun way to see the mountain with little ones! The views were incredible, of course, and the kids loved every moment of this tour. If you go, request JB as your guide, he was fantastic with our boys.
Like I said before, there is an abundance of activities for families in Beaver Creek. So many that we didn’t even have time for everything. We will definitely be coming back next summer for more mountain fun! One thing we missed on this trip that is a must-see on our next Beaver Creek trip is walking down to Creekside Park and having a picnic. Other families in town were telling us about the nest-like structures for kids to play in. It sounds like a beautiful park and we were all bummed we missed it.
I’m truly blown away by Beaver Creek. It’s one of the most incredible hidden gems for families. Like I said before, it was such a blessing to find a vacation spot where I felt like I could relax and let my guard down. I felt incredibly at ease with my kids here and they had such a fun time. My oldest asked me if this could be a yearly trip, and I was thinking the same thing! Thank you Beaver Creek, for keeping parents and kids in mind in everything you do, it didn’t go unnoticed.
