Friday was our last day in Aspen. After wrapping up some business, we packed up and hit the road. The drive from Aspen to Vail is less than two hours and is incredibly scenic. We took highway 70, which winds its way through a canyon carved out by the Colorado River, and checked in at the Vail Village Inn Plaza. We are staying with a few new locals who own a condo here at the center of the resort.

After we unloaded our portable office and settled in a bit, we decided to check out some dining options in the nearby Edwards. We came across Gore Range Brewery and decided to check it out. Gore Range Brewery touts itself as being “the liveliest restaurant in the Vail Valley” and I can assure you, they don’t lie! After a small wait, we sat down and ordered some micro-brews to go with our dinner. Kevin ordered the Pulled Pork Platter, which was served in a hollowed-out baked potato, and I tried the Ahi Tuna Burger. The food was very tasty, and better than other breweries we’ve eaten at. The Gore Range Brewery seems to attract a younger crowd on Friday nights, so if you’re in town with a bunch of ski buddies and looking for a place to party on a Friday night, check it out.

On Saturday, we planned to walk around the Vail Village and learn about the restaurants nearby. However, as soon as we stepped out the door, we stumbled right into Vail’s Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is an annual festival that celebrates beer, people, music, and brats. Many ski towns across the country hold their own Oktoberfest, and Vail’s is by far and away the best I’ve been to. We walked around a bit, munched on some sample pastries and brats, and then decided it was just too busy to speak with restaurants in the village. Instead, we jumped into the car and drove over to the nearby Beaver Creek Resort.

Beaver Creek is the definition of luxury, privacy, and high-end relaxation. If you want to escape and experience all that a ski vacation can offer, this is the place to do it. Between intricately placed rivers, pricey boutiques, and escalators, the only work you’ll have to do is ski. During the winter, the mountain hands out hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies to it’s guests, and after skiing, there is no shortage of fine-dining to whet your palate. Kevin and I spent the day meeting with hotels, restaurant managers, and a few concierges. Everyone recommended eating at Grouse Mountain Grill, which we’ll probably look into later in the week.

During one of our stops, we discovered Rimini Gelato, and had to stop for a coffee and Gelato break after I sampled a few flavors. I’ve traveled all over Italy and have tried to find Gelato here in the states. Rimini is the only place I’ve ever been to that makes Gelato the way it tastes in Europe, and to come to Vail/Beaver Creek without trying it would be wrong! Try the pistachio and chocolate, you will thank me!

When we finished with our meetings, we drove around Avon, the city just below Beaver Creek, and ate at an Irish Pub called Finnegan’s Wake. The food was typical Irish fare and the view from their outside patio was easy on the eyes. We then headed back to Vail Village to check out some live Oktoberfest music, and relaxed in the lodge’s hot tub.

Sunday, we spent the morning planning our coming work week while eating breakfast at Blu’s. Blu’s reminds me of The Eating Establishment in Park City. It definitely appears to have been here a while, serves delicious breakfast, and has an open airy atmosphere. After breakfast, we headed over to LionsHead, located within walking distance from the village and is apart of the Vail Resort. We spent our afternoon and evening gathering restaurant data and then finished the evening off with diner at The Red Lion.

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