Colorado Review

I’m all about weekends spent camping somewhere in Colorado with the family. And my husband and I try to regularly book escapes to Denver for a splash of romance in our busy, kid-centric lives.

But if I really want to “recharge and refresh,” I plan a girls’ getaway with my female friends.

My women-only weekends take different forms–sometimes it’s a scrapbooking retreat in Marble or Breckenridge; sometimes it’s just dinner out and an overnight at a hotel in Aspen. But my favorite girls’ getaways involve some sort of pampering spa treatments and outdoor exercise with the glorious mountains as our backdrop. And for that, Beaver Creek in the autumn fits the bill.

Beaver Creek is an Alpine-style village just a few miles from Avon in the Vail Valley. Fall colors are stunning here, and you can’t beat the ease with which you can hike straight up the ski mountain to get the blood pumping. Yes, it can be expensive to stay in Beaver Creek (the drive-through-security-gates resort is exclusive), but I think it’s fun to splurge every once in a while and live the like the rich for a couple of days.

Two upscale Beaver Creek resorts offer fall packages ideal for gal pals.

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek: Autumn at Allegria
September 3 to November 20, 2007
Last year the Allegria Spa at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek underwent a $12 million renovation, expanding locker rooms, enhancing the fitness center and introducing a nifty water sanctuary called Aqua Sanitas (with a complimentary water ritual with any spa treatment). The “Autumn at Allegria” package includes one night’s lodging plus a spa credit good for a mani/pedi, 50-minute massage OR a 45-minute holistic facial and 25 percent off additional spa treatments. Rate is $249/night. 866.471.7658.

The Pines Lodge, A RockResort: Ladies Culinary Weekend
September 21-23 and September 28-30, 2007
The Pines Lodge is teaming up with the acclaimed Eat! Drink! food market and wine bar to offer fall culinary weekends. The events combine lessons in nutrition and food preparation, as well as yoga classes to promote healthy lifestyles. Eat! Drink! is based in the nearby town of Edwards and is an artisan cheese shop and specialty foods market combined with a wine bar. Eat! Drink! also features Dish, a small plates restaurant, where the cooking classes will be held.

The program includes two nights’ accommodations at The Pines Lodge; a Saturday yoga class at Dogma Athletica, a new state-of-the-art fitness center; a “Live to Eat!” organic culinary demonstration at Dish restaurant on Saturday afternoon; Sunday brunch for two people at Dish; a welcome basket from Eat! Drink! featuring wine, cheese and chocolate. Rates start at $285/person based on double occupancy; stay Sunday night and pay only $79 plus tax. 800.859.8242.

Colorado, Beaver Creek, girls getaways