There are some places that instantly feel special the first time you visit. Beaver Creek was exactly that for our family. After such an unforgettable ski trip the previous year, we knew we had to come back. So when December 2025 rolled around, we decided to return to celebrate the New Year in the mountains.

Once again, we stayed at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, a hotel that has quickly become one of our favorite ski properties for families. From the moment we arrived, it felt like coming back to a familiar winter home.

A Snowy Welcome and Dinner at Allie’s Cabin

The very first evening set the tone for the entire trip.

We had reservations at Allie’s Cabin, which is truly one of the most unique dining experiences in Beaver Creek. To get there, you take a Snow CAT ride—essentially a snow “sleigh”—up the mountain. The pickup point is located at the base of the resort near the Centennial Express lift.

It happened to be snowing the evening we went, which made the experience even more magical. Make sure you are dressed for the weather! The ride is short but exposed to the elements, and if it’s snowing, you’ll definitely feel it.

Once we arrived at the cabin, we stepped into the warmest, coziest atmosphere imaginable. The staff even had extra slippers available so guests could swap out their snowy boots before sitting down to dinner. Between the glowing fireplaces, rustic wooden interiors, and comforting mountain cuisine, it felt like the perfect alpine dinner experience.

After a long travel day, it was exactly the kind of evening we needed.

Tip: Reservations fill up quickly, so I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

Skiing the Rockies (Even Without Perfect Snow)

Like many ski seasons out West this year, Beaver Creek had been experiencing lower-than-usual snowfall (as you can see from our view of the mountains from the plane). We were a little worried leading up to the trip, but at the end of the day, this is life and mother nature. Instead of stressing about it, we decided to simply enjoy the trip. And honestly? It was still fantastic.

Every morning after breakfast, we headed straight for the slopes and skied our hearts out. We are definitely not seasoned skiers, and the groomed trails were more than enough for us to have an amazing time. The resort did an incredible job with snowmaking and grooming, and conditions were still far better than what we’re used to on the East Coast.

For beginner and intermediate skiers especially, Beaver Creek remains an incredibly enjoyable mountain.

Tip: Don’t forget to sign up your kids at the incredible ski school at Beaver Creek! Eli loved going to ski school and learned so much during our time there. As mentioned in my Park Hyatt Beaver Creek review, the ski school is literal three minute walk from the hotel.

Skiing Made Easy at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek

Speaking of Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, one of the biggest reasons we love staying at the Park Hyatt is the ski valet service.

If you’ve ever traveled with ski gear (especially with kids) you know how chaotic it can feel carrying skis, boots, helmets, and gloves across a resort. At Park Hyatt, the process is seamless. Each morning we simply walked down to the ski valet where our warm boots and skis were waiting for us. After skiing, we handed everything back and walked straight into the hotel.

It’s such a small detail, but it completely transforms the skiing experience for families.

Read our full review of Park Hyatt Beaver Creek here!

Afternoon S’mores by the Fire

One of our favorite daily traditions quickly became the complimentary s’mores at the Park Hyatt, which start at 4 PM each afternoon.

After hours on the mountain, we would head back to the hotel, grab a s’mores kit, and settle by the outdoor fire pits.

Each kit came with two marshmallows, graham crackers, and a Hershey’s chocolate bar: simple but perfect. There’s something about roasting marshmallows in the crisp mountain air that makes the moment feel extra special.

It became our little ritual to warm up, slow down, and recap the day.

Our Favorite Village Restaurants

One of the nice things about returning to Beaver Creek was revisiting some restaurants we loved from our previous trip.

A few of our go-to spots included:

Dusty Boot Saloon
Blue Moose Pizza
Coyote Cafe

All three are casual, family-friendly, and perfect after a long day on the slopes. Sometimes when you’re exhausted from skiing, the last thing you want is a complicated dinner. These spots delivered exactly what we needed!

Tip: These restaurants do not require reservations, but there may be a wait to get in if you go during peak times. We always went around 5:30PM - 6PM for dinner and never had long waits.

Evening Hot Tub Ritual

A ski day would not be complete without relaxing at the hot tubs in the evenings. The outdoor hot tubs at the Park Hyatt are fantastic. There are five separate hot tubs in different sizes, as well as a heated pool. Towels are provided and you easily grab as many as you need as you head outside.

There is something magical about sitting in a steaming hot tub while snowflakes fall around you and the mountain air turns crisp and quiet. It quickly became our favorite way to unwind and melt away the soreness from skiing.

Tips: Make sure to pack some slippers or flip-flops to wear outside. This is such a small detail but easily overlooked (because why would you pack slippers or flip-flops in winter?), but makes your life so much easier.

The Highlight of the Trip: Beaver Creek’s New Year’s Eve Ski Down

Without a doubt, the most memorable moment of the trip was the New Year’s Eve Ski Down. Every year we try to find a special New Year’s fireworks experience for Eli, and this one might be our favorite yet.

Earlier in the evening, participants gathered at the ski school at the base of the mountain to register. Sign-ups began at 5 PM, and people started lining up to ride the gondola around 5:45 PM. From there, everyone took the gondola up the mountain together. It took about an hour for the entire group to make their way up, but the atmosphere was full of excitement and anticipation.

Each skier was given a glow stick.

As darkness settled over the mountain, the group began skiing down the trail together, forming a glowing ribbon of lights weaving down the slope. And just as everyone reached the base, fireworks lit up the sky to celebrate the New Year.

It was truly magical.

Eli went up to participate in the ski down with his dad, and he absolutely loved it. Watching them ski down together under the fireworks was one of those travel moments we know we’ll remember forever.

Why Beaver Creek Keeps Pulling Us Back

Beaver Creek has a way of making winter feel magical.

Maybe it’s the charm of the village, the family-friendly atmosphere, or the way every detail. From ski valet to afternoon s’mores, every detail feels thoughtfully designed for families.

Whatever it is, this trip reminded us why we fell in love with this mountain the first time and this definitely won’t be our last New Year’s Eve in Beaver Creek.

Celebrating New Year’s Eve at Beaver Creek with Kids