Nestled in the Vail Valley, Colorado’s Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa allows you to succumb to nature the way Mother Nature intended.
I’m a mountain girl at heart. I grew up in Montana, and although I ventured as far as the coast of Santa Barbara (I know, poor me), I always wanted to go back to my roots and really, my only requirement was the mountains. I wanted fresh mountain air; the kind of air that invites you to take a deep breath and enjoy nature.
So, when the Westin Riverfront & Spa opened its doors in Avon, Colorado, a year ago I was intrigued. The resort, unlike many of the monoliths in the Vail area, was taking the natural route with construction, not only utilizing green building materials (including roof tiles made from recycled tires), but also green building techniques, including sourcing materials locally (as much as possible), and preserving and donating 5 acres of land to the Town of Avon. The spa, which of course, was my biggest draw, promised natural materials, including bamboo, and 100% organic skincare products and therapies. Yet, I’ve seen this before, and often these attempts fall short. So, as a spa critic, I was a bit skeptical.
Driving up the I-70 through Vail and into Avon, I was surprised how the “landscape” altered; the cars changed from Bentleys to more standard fare, including a fair share of Prius’s. (For the record, the Bentleys didn’t disappear; this is Vail Valley afterall.)
Situated along the banks of the Eagle River and at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain, the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa takes advantage of its natural views from every turn. Immediately upon walking into the hotel, you’ll be swept away by wide expanses of glass, beckoning you to step outside and take a breath. (Or, ski, hike, or fly fish all three are literally steps from the resort.) While modern in design, the hotel never feels cold. The designers like to refer to the style as Mountain Modern, and for a mountain girl who cringes at typical “mountain” d©cor, including trophy heads and bear skin rugs, I was thrilled. I’d love to see more of this simplistic, yet warm and natural design elsewhere like inside my house!
The hotel features 210 rooms designed to feel more like residences than regular hotel rooms. Full kitchens, five-piece marble bathrooms, and gas fireplaces are standard features. And, most rooms offer amazing views. Some, like ours, even feature two balconies. From one balcony we had glistening views of the river, and from the other the wildflower-covered mountain.
After checking out our room, my husband, daughter, and I went downstairs to the hotel’s signature restaurant, Restaurant Avondale, which features Mid-century modern design, and a seasonally inspired menu. The restaurant has an amazing deck that overlooks both the river and the mountain that offers a great vantage point for weddings as well. Next door, you’ll find Market Avondale, which has a wonderful assortment for to-go items, perfect for fueling up either before or after you hit the mountain.
But as I said before I came to the Westin to see the spa. And, immediately upon walking through the hotel to the Spa Anjali entrance, I was impressed. Anjali is a Sanskrit word, meaning “divine offering,” and as soon as you enter the 23,000-square-foot space you’re forced to pause and take a deep breath. (Catching a theme here?) The white walls, accented by bamboo floors, natural stone details, and rich mahogany furniture, lend a very eastern feel to the spa. Organic lines prevail, including the guest lounge furniture, which is decidedly very Mid-century modern, as well as the salon space, which features a rounded mahogany wall “encasement”, that helps separate the deluxe pedicure space from salon. (Not that it matters, since all of the products used are natural and therefore, breathable!)
Treatments at the spa are inspired by the mountains mountains from all over the world that is. The concept is beautiful, helping guests unwind and truly heal with therapies both time-tested and new. There are essentially three journeys on the spa menu, and you can pick and choose as you’d like: Alpine, Rocky Mountain, and Himalayan. All three of these journeys feature ingredients indigenous to their respective areas, including mountain honey, red clover, glacial mud, wildflowers, and neem. I decided to sample the Indian Head Massage, which is a separate offering from the traditional Indian head therapy Shirodhara. While oil is still used, the oil is massaged deep into the scalp, helping erase all of that tension we carry in our head and heck, while also infusing the scalp with extra moisture a necessary ingredient in Colorado. In between different strokes, my therapist also utilized acupressure techniques on my face, and massaged my upper back, shoulders, arms, and hands. The result was a complete release of all of my pent-up, computer- and mama-related stress. Afterward, I nearly walked into the wall trying to get back to the spa lobby.
My husband, Steven, went the Alpine route and sampled the Therapeutic Sports Massage, perhaps the most popular item on the spa menu. Not a spa novice himself, Steven particularly enjoyed the extra attention on his hiking-sore muscles, including his notoriously tight Iliotibial bands and upper back. Afterward, while he also felt relaxed, he felt much more invigorated than his drowsy wife a perfect therapy for the setting, helping skiers and hikers get back to the hills.
In between spa treatments and meals, we hiked, swam in the saline swimming pool, and soaked in the hot tubs, overlooking the river. This was a family getaway, and we had our 15-month-old daughter in tow, and never once did we feel like we were out of place. In a valley that is sometimes associated with pretentiousness, the Westin Riverfront is a breath of fresh air. And, as of press time, we realize how fresh that air really is the resort was recently awarded
Silver LEED certification the first in the state, and the ninth in the country. Ahh.
By Melissa B. Williams
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