Playing & Pampering / COME TO LIFE SIDETRIPS Eagle is growing in popularity as a homebase in the valley. Centennial Park is a hub of activity in Eagle, with yoga, a playground, Cottonwood-shaded picnic areas, summer concerts and other events. The Eagle Pool & Ice Rink is another hot spot and the launching point for the town’s main trailheads for mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers. There’s also a pump track, BMX track and a new radio-controlled car track. Brush Creek and the Eagle River run through town and provide excellent fishing opportu-nities. Stop in to Batsons Corner Store to get the inside scoop on conditions. Avon ’s a treat with meandering trails and Harry A. Nottingham Park, home to the state’s largest Fourth of July celebration, paddle boats, stand-up paddleboards, fishing and picnic spots. In winter Nottingham Lake opens for old-fashioned ice skating and hockey. In any season the 10th Mountain Division Huts provide backcountry stopovers for showshoers/skiers and hikers. The West Avon Preserve offers mountain-biking and hiking trails for all ability levels, and the beautiful Walking Mountains Science Center connects visitors to a stream, wetlands, pond, aspen forest and National Forest access. Minturn ’s galleries, antique shops and summer farmers’ markets are worth a gander; Red Cliff is a jumping-off point to mountain biking, cross-country skiing, wildflower hikes and more; Edwards ’ Riverwalk shopping district has a relaxed feel and several mountain boutiques; and Gypsum has a shooting range, fishing ponds, a championship golf course that’s usually one of the first to open in the mountain region for the summer, the new Dry Lake motocross track and access to BLM lands. 3 @katiestrawser 4 The Vail Valley has more than 100 unique restaurants and chef-inspired events, including Taste of Vail (April), Gourmet on Gore (Septem-ber) and Vail & Beaver Creek Restaurant Week (Septem-ber/October). Then, stroll Vail Village (6) or nearby Beaver Creek Village (5) for world-class shopping — fur coat shops, glitzy jewelry dealers and couture clothing outlets as well as more down-to-earth T-shirt shops, art galleries, home décor shops and more — bustling year-round. Wind down your afternoon with an alpine-inspired treat-ment at one of the valley’s premier resort spas, including Bloom Spa, Spa Anjali, Spa at the Arrabelle and Aria Spa . You’ll be refreshed and ready for an unforgettable night in the Vail Valley. Creek offers another unique restaurant option at Beano’s Cabin , a grand yet rustic on-mountain epicurean experience. Getting to either restaurant is half the fun, with transportation choices ranging from a gondola, wagon or horseback ride. After dinner, get an earful of the plentiful live music around town. Shakedown Bar and Pepi’s (4) provide the best opportunities to linger over a 5 cocktail while watching live musicians, and be sure to check the schedules for summertime special performing arts events such as the Hot Summer Nights Concert Series , the Vail Jazz Festival , the Bravo! Music Festival and the Vail Dance Festival (3) , which brings dancers from top compa-nies all over the world to a gorgeous outdoor stage. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: TOWN OF EAGLE; VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL, MILES/ERIC GRAY; BEAVER CREEK VILLAGE, JACK AFFLECK; VAIL VILLAGE, JACK AFFLECK; PEPI’S, @KATIESTRAWSER. 6 EVENING STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Avon (page 189), Beaver Creek (page 189), Eagle (page 195), Edwards (page 195), Gypsum , Minturn , Red Cliff , Vail (page 206) Treat yourself to the delight of gourmet dining at 10,000 feet at Game Creek Restaurant , whose location on Vail Mountain provides unmatched views. Beaver COLORADO.COM / 157
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2018: Page 157
