Just a stone’s throw from Vail, a small town in the Rockies embraces the art of slowing down: Avon. Here, artisan shop windows mingle with gourmet tables, and forest trails climb towards secret alpine lakes. Easily accessible via Interstate 70 from Denver, this “Heart of the Valley” offers a subtle blend of small-town charm, XXL skiing at Beaver Creek, and escapes into the Holy Cross Wilderness. If you dream of shops, authentic flavors, and picturesque trails in a grand setting, welcome.
Just steps from Vail, a charming hamlet in the Rockies awaits you with its shops, authentic flavors, and picturesque trails
Without the hustle and bustle of Vail but just fifteen kilometers from its legendary slopes, Avon nestles beneath the glacial peaks of the Holy Cross Wilderness. The Beaver Creek resort watches over, boasting over 800 acres of skiable terrain, while the vast expanse of Vail unfolds its powdery bowls in the distance. And yet, the atmosphere remains family-friendly, simple, almost intimate: clever hotels to find great deals, small eateries that delight, pedestrian squares to stroll, and a network of paths to stretch your legs.
Its shops
Head to the Main Street Mall, a pedestrian alley where bronze sculptures punctuate the walk. You can enter small shops that smell of polished wood and mountains: pretty objects, warm outfits, clever accessories. A must-visit stop, R Farmers’ Market & Kitchen: crunchy vegetables, farm meats, take-home jars — the terroir of Eagle Valley directly in your basket. Right next door, Boot Mechanics Avon takes care of your skier feet with custom boots designed for both beginners and pros, and a solid reputation among local riders.
Its authentic flavors
Food lovers often keep the news to themselves, but we’ll let you in: Avon is a generous table. In the early morning, we indulge in bakeries that crunch like the West Coast. At noon, we enter a trattoria for a wood-fired pizza. In the evening, it’s time for mountain flavors: fondue, charcuterie, wines that warm your cheeks. A flagship address, Northside Kitchen has been delighting for years: imagine a lamb hash topped with eggs at dawn, or a Colorado ribeye for dinner, tender as a promise of fresh snow. For an insider experience, Rocky Mountain Raclette brings a large Swiss raclette to your lodge — grill, cheeses, and pickles — right in your home. Friends, hikers, and skiers, you’ve been warned: post-sport here means melting into pleasure.
Its picturesque trails
When the flakes settle, we put on our skis; when the snow fades, we lace up our hiking shoes. Just five minutes from Avon, the Beaver Creek area becomes the gateway to a mosaic of hikes. The Five Senses Trail winds through the woods, passes fish-filled ponds, and reveals the mountain at a child’s height. It connects to the Beaver Lake Trail, a beautiful round trip of about 10 km that wends through flower-filled meadows to a secret lake nestled in the Holy Cross Wilderness. Further south, the ambitious will gaze towards the legendary Mount of the Holy Cross, a “14er” reserved for seasoned mountaineers: a long route, bivouacs, airy ridges — high-altitude adventure with all the preparation it entails.
How to get there (and when snow gets involved)
From Denver, Interstate 70 heads straight west and drops you in Avon in just over two hours when the road is clear. In the depths of winter, generous snowfall can lead to temporary closures of I-70. In this case, alternative routes exist but will lengthen the journey — and the adventure. Local tip: keep an eye on the weather and plan your departures to savor your hot chocolate a little longer upon arrival.
Where to lay your bags (and live like a local)
The village embraces its identity as a family-friendly destination: cozy accommodations, clever lodges to find great deals, easy shuttles to the lifts, and that friendliness that makes you quickly learn your barista’s name. Between sessions, treat yourself to an immersive experience and connect with artisans, or draw inspiration from these ideas to enjoy a trip close to the locals: homestays, shared meals and encounters that give meaning to your stay.
Wants for elsewhere, same thrills
Does Avon awaken the appetite for escape? Continue the journey of ideas with a selection of dream destinations to add to your wishlist: inspirations from around the world. Opposite the mountains, head for a fjord cruise for a ballet of cliffs and northern mist: set course for the fjords. Prefer charming alleys and heritage? Take a temporal leap into a medieval village near Paris: medieval getaway. And for dreamers of the infinite, the Sahara reveals its sandstone cathedrals in the heart of the Ennedi massif: desert treasure. Because one journey always leads to another.
Invigorating winter, panoramic summer
In winter, you can choose between the vastness of Vail — one of the largest ski resorts on the continent — and the refined softness of Beaver Creek. Spring unfolds its waterfalls, summer chills your water bottles in the shade of the pines, and autumn paints the valley gold. Four seasons, one promise: breathe deeply, eat well, sleep even better.
