Vail Run Resort

Conveniently linked to the slopes via shuttle, Vail Run has a slightly retro architectural vibe, all slanted roofline and angled cedar siding. Ski school waits for no one, so bundle everyone up and catch the VIP bus service to the base, where you can drop off the lesson-takers, then ride Vail’s new Gondola One or Lionshead Gondola up. If you plan to spend the day browsing shops instead, you can catch the free town of Vail bus from the stop next door to the resort. Ski days are bookended with complimentary treats, starting with Cocoa and Corduroy for the chirpy early birds who make it up to the top of the Centennial Express Lift by 9:30 AM each morning to hit the newly-groomed runs (late December through March). Then make your way down the mountain by 3:00 PM for the daily afternoon Cookie Time, where chefs serve platters of warm, freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies (495,000 munched each year!). The freebies continue back at Vail Run, where you’ll find complimentary hot cocoa, coffee and tea ready and waiting for your grand return from the slopes during ski season. If you’ve caught a second wind, hit the gym – if not, join the kids in the heated pool and hot tub.

Welcoming studios, one- and two-bedroom vacation residences are designed to make friend-groups and families feel right at home. Gather around the fireplace with drinks and platters of snacks for a DIY après ski. Or pop in a DVD for the kids until you can get dinner on the table. The well appointed kitchen is perfect for a chili cook-off or taco top-a-thon. Head out for one last game room, hot tub or sauna run, then come back and crash hard. There are enough beds to sleep a crew of two to ten mountain-conquerors, depending on which condo you choose.

Beaver Run buzzes all year round. Check out the impressive lineup at Villar Performing Arts Center, from symphonies and Broadway musicals, to film, live comedy, children’s theater and more. Winter is packed with nightly activities for families, from Thursday Night Lights and rail jams, to disco skate nights and twilight snowshoe tours. (Take a vote or play the surprise angle.) Summer opens up a whole new realm of possibilities, from on-mountain wine and cheese excursions, to fly fishing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, and gem panning for kids (fingers crossed they’ll hit the jackpot). The Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Beaver Creek Golf Club is open from early May to early October, with its stunning scenery and challenging fairways. And nearby Red Sky Golf Club has been ranked by Golf Digest as one of the 20 Best Golf Resorts.