2026 Ins: Developing a new hobby as an adult.
I spent last weekend on mountain time, after a decade hiatus from skiing, getting comfortable again with hurtling my body down a slippery slope all for the panoramic views and the promise of aprés.
We arrived in Denver on the direct Southwest flight from Charleston – a luxury in itself if you’re familiar with flying to/from CHS. We checked bags big enough to last us two weeks in Europe that somehow made sense for four days of warm ski gear and bulky sweaters.
Our time in Denver was spent eating very well. A highlight: Kawa Ni and a life-changing coconut curry squash dish that still has a chokehold on my tastebuds. Other favorites: the addictive cabbage, hamachi crudo, chicken karaage, and the cold sesame noodles. We sampled sandwiches and local beers at The Grateful Gnome, cocktails at Lady Jane (fresh off a James Beard nod), and spent an uncharacteristically warm afternoon wandering RiNo Art District – popping into Denver Central Market and a few local breweries along the way.
It was our first time visiting Vail, and we spent most of it on the mountain, with our home base at The Hythe, a Luxury Collection Resort, Vail in Lionshead Village. The complimentary shuttle between Lionshead and Vail Village kept things quick and easy, as did the ski valet just in front of the gondola and a quick three-minute walk from the hotel (ok, maybe seven minutes in ski boots).
From the little I experienced of The Hythe, it feels like an excellent choice for families, or for travelers who want to be slightly removed from the buzzy scene in Vail Village. Our room had a cozy fireplace, and breakfast was delightful: a generous buffet, omelet station, and fresh-squeezed OJ – all the key elements needed to fuel up for the day.
A stop into Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail for cocktails made for great people watching, a swanky, sophisticated atmosphere, and a perfectly executed Old Fashioned (because when there’s snow on the ground, we drink bourbon).
An overindulgent dinner at Mountain Standard left us needing a post-meal wiggle, and the perfect place to groove with locals and travelers alike took us to Chasing Rabbits for late-night DJ spins.
What I loved most about Vail was the ease of traversing the mountain as a green girly. Follow the right trails to the next lift and you can keep going all day without ever needing to download until the mountain closes at 4pm.
Aprés felt a little tame, but the energy picked up at Express Lift Bar when the DJ started at 2pm. Maybe our expectations were slightly warped by Instagram feeding us European aprés raves in the Dolomites and the French Alps. I’ll soon be able to share a comparison – stay tuned!
Skiing in my 30s definitely hits different than the fearless 20s, but it was a great reminder that developing new skills – especially the kind that get you into nature and away from screens – is always worth the time and money spent.
If nothing else, for the Aperol spritz reward at the end.
Book Like an Insider
As always, reach out to book our partner properties – rates are the same or better than booking direct, and always include:
- Complimentary breakfast for 2 daily
- Early check in and late check out (if available)
- Room upgrade priority
- $100 hotel food & bev or spa credit
- Welcome amenity from yours truly
Considering a ski trip outside of Vail? Get started here.
