Later in the evening we took a drive off the beaten path, towards Minturn. This small, ex-mining town is just a couple minute drive off the freeway between Vail and Beaver Creek. It has an authentic feel to it, with historic homes and restaurants in old buildings. It was hard to believe a small town like this exists so close to the huge hotels, construction cranes, and shear luxury of Vail and Beaver Creek. We probably won’t include the Minturn restaurants in our Vail Valley dining guide because they are a little out of the way for most tourists, but it’s worth noting there are some hidden local spots like Minturn Saloon and Chili Willy’s that are worth checking out if you have the time.

Another restaurant we checked out this week is a local’s favorite tucked away in Avon called the China Garden. It’s a little hard to find, but owner Sharon has been at the same location for over 18 years now, so she must be doing something right. Sharon treated us to lunch and we went with the Peking Shrimp and General Tsao’s Chicken. All lunch entrees come with soup, wantons, rice, and a very tasty egg role for less than $8. The portions were more meager than places like Szechuan in Park City, but we still left full and satisfied. The food came out quickly and was presented well, with just a small amount of spiciness and tangy flavors. Check out China Garden if you are in Avon, and make sure to avoid Panda City at all costs. We walked out of Panda City before ordering because of bad vibes and the place was pretty dirty. This is saying something because I can’t remember the last time we walked out of a restaurant.