My winters are made for skiing!!

Don't Make Rookie Mistakes! Follow the Tips below to help ensure you have the most enjoyable visit possible! 

Vail/Beaver Creek is the only United States resort to hold a World Competition (aside from the Olympic Games), and this is the third time that Vail/Beaver Creek had been chosen by the FIS (1989, 1999, and now 2015). 

Vail was the very first ski resort that I had ever experienced in the Rockies or for that matter anywhere outside of the east coast. And it was and still is magical! 

If you are an east coast skier and/or you have never been to the Rockies - you definitely need to go!
 
"Ever since that very first day of hitting the slopes Vail became my favorite ski resort! 
Since that day and now skiing worldwide, it still remains one of my very favorites!" 

FIS Tips & Info:

  • Parking is ridiculous! Especially on the weekends. Lots fill up FAST. Arrive very early or expect a long walk to the Bus Shuttle.
  • Bring a FLASHLIGHT - in case you are parked on the side of the road and return to your vehicle in the dark - some streets have no street lights and it is pitch black. Completely unsafe to be walking to your car!
  • FREE BUS SHUTTLES
  • All Bags will be Checked. ZERO policy for: Illegal Drugs, Weapons, Knives with blades over 3.5 inches, Glass Bottles, Alcohol, Umbrellas, Air Horns
  • Although it may be suggested to show up 1 hour prior to the start time - unless you want single seats or stand only room - you must arrive when or close to when the gates open!
  • Souvenirs readily available, Food, and Drinks available at the stadium. You may bring in your own.
  • Vail/Beaver Creek is playing host to the world, with 70 nations competing. This one of the biggest ski competitions in the world. 
  • Served 67,500 athlete meals (as of 2/08)
  • The Men's Downhill (02/07) had the BIGGEST spectator turn out of any US Ski competition to date.

My itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrive ti DIA, Check in at the Double Tree, and Sleep!
Day 2 - Check out, Drive up to Vail (2hrs), Ski Beaver Creek, 
Watch Men's Downhill 11a-12:55p
Day 3 - Watch Men's Alpine Combined DH 10a-11:45a,
Watch Men's Alpine Combined SL 2:15p-3:15p
Day 4 - Watch Ladies Downhill Combined DH 10a-11:35a
Ski Vail, Drive back to Denver, have dinner, Fly Out!

Where we stayed:

Hotel in Denver - DoubleTree by Hilton Denver

All of the resorts in Vail had drastically raised their rates during the FIS, so I opted to save a bit of cash and stay in Minturn (8 miles away. In between the Vail & Beaver Creek resorts). 
This small mining town established in 1904, and has been noted in a New York Times article as 'Vail, the Thrify Way'.
B&B in Vail - Minturn Inn - Nice stay. Awesome Jacuzzi Tub! Terribly uncomfortable bed.

Where we ate:

Nozawa's in Vail - Definitely a great surprise and will definitely go again on future trips!
May Palace in Vail - Quite boring and not worth ever going again!
Root Down in Denver - Has an airport location in Terminal C - lucky to find vegan options at the airport! 
But...kinda boring food and unless I was desperate - will not go again...ok I take that back maybe I'll go again but only to order a Coconut Fizz (non-alcoholic and quite tasty).

More...

Every year I take the kids on a family ski trip to Colorado. This year I decided instead to do a road trip/ski trip to Utah with the kids instead of doing Colorado (being that Cosette hasn't ever been yet). 
So the plan was that we'd skip the 2014-15 Colorado ski season and pick up back in Colorado for the 2015-16 ski season. 
Well...while we were visiting in January '14, I had noticed that this pretty HUGE world ski competition was coming to Vail & Beaver Creek in 2015 - and I was inspired to visit and go see the action in person! 
Dave and I will just bop into town for an extended weekend of skiing, and plenty of fun...I just couldn't resist!!