Avon gondola to Beaver Creek, winter activities

NEW GONDOLA FROM AVON TO BEAVER CREEK MOUNTAINFamilies and individuals staying in the Town of Avon can begin their ski day with added comfort and convenience by riding the new Riverfront Express Gondola, anticipated to open during the winter season. The gondola provides the fastest and most convenient route from Avon to Beaver Creek Mountain. A three-minute gondola ride delivers guests to Beaver Creek Landing, where two existing high-speed quad chairlifts deliver skiers and snowboardersof advanced beginner level and abovein 16 minutes to the main mountain. The eight-passenger gondola is 2,100 feet in length with nine towers, 18 cabins and can carry 1,200 people per hour. The gondola is a short 400-foot walk from the Town of Avons new transit center and is expected to decrease traffic volumes and improve the winter vacation experience. The gondola is part of the $500 million Riverfront Village mixed-use development, with the centerpiece Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa anticipated to open Summer 2008. This 210 room luxury hotel will feature finely appointed studios to three bedroom residences with first-class services and amenities including Spa Anjali and the Watermark restaurant. The Westin condo hotel is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). FLY IN, SKI FREEBeaver Creek guests can take advantage of the new Fly In/Ski Free promotion. Fly non-stop to Vail/ Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) Nov. 16, 2007 through April 13, 2008 and ski for free the day of arrival at Beaver Creek with a valid boarding pass and lodging confirmation. Simply show your boarding pass and Vail Valley lodging confirmation to any ticket window and ski free with a complimentary same-day lift ticket. Passengers on flights arriving from Atlanta, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas/ Ft. Worth and Denver will be able to take advantage of this program. For details call 800-503-8748. NEW SPAGO BACHELOR GULCHWolfgang Puck is coming to Bachelor Gulch and not just for a ski trip. The Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group announced plans to open a Colorado outpost of its legendary Spago at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, the Vail Valleys only AAA Five Diamond resort. In keeping with Chef Pucks guiding culinary philosophy, Spago Bachelor Gulch will fully engage and implement Wolfgangs Eating, Loving and Living (WELL) program and will include a commitment to sourcing from local family farmers and purveyors who support the humane treatment of animals and to offering products that meet the natural, fresh and organic standards of the company. Opening in November 2007, the 126-seat, 4,400 square foot restaurant will be crafted by esteemed New York-based hospitality designer Tony Chi. DIAMONDS ARE FOR EVERYONEBeaver Creeks Diamonds in the Rough grooming initiative offers high intermediate and low advanced level skiers and snowboarders a smoother transition into the big leagues. Award-winning groomers groom one or more black diamond trails nightly, helping guests to build confidence on freshly manicured advanced terrain. Carve corduroy on the double-black diamond Birds of Prey Downhill course, site of the only mens World Cup downhill race in the United States. Diamonds in the Rough is part of the resorts commitment to groom half the mountain each day. SIGNATURE EVENTSThe young and young-at-heart can spend time on the slopes with some of their favorite ski-movie professionals when SKI Magazine and Beaver Creek present Ski with the Pros, March 28-30. Dont miss other signature events including the Beaver Creek Cookie Competition, Nov. 21, Visa Birds of Prey World Cup, Nov. 27-Dec. 2, The Talons Challenge, Jan. 26, the tenth annual Beaver Creek and Bon Appetit Food and Wine Focus, Jan. 31-Feb. 2, The New Yorker Presents Humor on the Slopes, Feb. 28-March 2, and the new Cookie Kids Fest, March 13-15. KIDS FLY FREEFamilies who choose Beaver Creek can take advantage of free airfare for kids when flying into the Vail/Eagle County Airport (EGE). Each paying adult (18+) may bring one free child, aged two to 12. Reservation must include lodging to redeem this special offer. Offer is valid for both non-stop and connecting jet service into EGE. A two-night minimum stay is required. American Airlines promotion is valid from Jan. 6-Feb.15, 2008, for travel to EGE Sunday-Wednesday, and departing from EGE Tuesday-Friday. United Airlines promotion is valid Jan. 4-Feb.14, 2008, for travel to EGE Sunday-Thursday, and departing from EGE Tuesday-Friday. Restrictions apply. Call 800-587-4560 or visit [ http://www.beavercreek.com/ ] with the Talons Challenge.www.beavercreek.com. CULINARY APPRENTICE PROGRAMColorado Mountain Colleges culinary arts program teams up with Beaver Creek Mountain Dining to expand culinary excellence in the Vail Valley. This new partnership will give the colleges culinary apprentices more benefits and an enhanced learning experience as they work toward their associate of applied science degrees in culinary arts. Beaver Creek executive chefs Steven Topple of Beanos Cabin and Tim McCaw of Zachs Cabin will welcome winter diners in Beaver Creek following presentations at the James Beard House in New York. Both restaurants hold a 2007 Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine and Beanos recently introduced organics into its menu. [Marker]GUEST SERVICE GURUS [Marker]Need a helping hand? Beaver Creek’s dedicated employees and more than 150 mountain hosts helped Beaver Creek to win the 2007 Best Overall Customer Service Program award from the National Ski Area Association. This is the second consecutive year that Beaver Creek has received this award. Hosts seek to provide a seamless family vacation experience by greeting skiers upon arrival, carrying equipment, distributing grooming maps and snow reports, leading free Mountain Welcome Tours, serving Cocoa and Corduroy daily and offering tailored assistance on and off the slopes. Greet and Seat western characters use radios to help guests find a table at lunch. Always a favorite, the resorts Cookie Time program treats guests to fresh baked chocolate chip cookies each afternoon. SKI FREE, STAY FREEBuy three nights of lodging and three days of skiing in Beaver Creek and get a fourth night and ski day free. Price starts at $393 per person based on quad occupancy in a two-bedroom condominium with a four-night minimum stay. Offer is valid Nov. 17Dec. 14, 2007. Buy four nights of lodging and four days of skiing in Beaver Creek and get a fifth night and ski day free. Price starts at $533 per person based upon quad occupancy in a two-bedroom condominium with a five-night minimum stay. Offer is valid Jan. 6Feb. 15, 2008. Beaver Creek opens for skiing and snowboarding on Nov. 21, 2007. Taxes, surcharge and gratuity not included. Offer based upon availability. Other restrictions may apply. Other dates, rates and properties available. Call (800) 404-3535 or visit http://www.beavercreek.com for reservations and more information. STONE CREEK CHUTES OFFERS BIG ADVENTUREIn its second season, Stone Creek Chutes offers big thrills and hidden powder stashes with 180 acres of in-bounds extreme terrain. Short, steep gladed chutes ranging from 400-600 vertical feet in length with pitches up to 45 degrees await expert skiers and riders. Stone Creek Chutes is located to the East of Rose Bowl and offers spectacular views of the Gore Mountain Range. The area can be reached from the Cinch Express Lift (#8) and the Rose Bowl Lift (#4.)