Rest, relaxation and rejuvenation await you in the Colorado mountains
Just on the outskirts of Vail and Beaver Creek on Highway 70 outside of Denver is the sleepy area of Cordillera. Known for great golf in the summer and easy access to multiple ski resorts in the winter, The Lodge &Spa at Cordillera is a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Spa
The Avanyu Spa has undergone amazing renovations in the last two years, but you’ll be happy to know it’s still conveniently located on the first level. (Read: Put your robe on, and head down.) Get up early to start your day off right — yoga’s morning salutations welcome you with breathtaking mountain views.
You simply can’t miss the Spirit of Cordillera signature treatment. It’s a wrap, but in the best sense of the word. (Typically, wraps start with a scrub and are interrupted by a shower — totally waking you up and risking negation of the soothing effect of the rub.) The purpose of this treatment is to re-moisturize the skin, so you begin with a bee nectar rub. Then, the blankets around you become a heated wrap as the technician begins a 25-minute scalp massage. What a great way to revitalize your entire body. Talk about paradise!
Eat
A unique take on meals, the Mirador offers the entire menu as a tasting menu. Whether you are interested in appetizers or an entrĂ©e, you can try anything — a little or a lot. Try it all — the portions are negotiable! I started with beef Carpaccio with a warm haystack goat cheese cake, arugula salad, spiced pecans and chipotle aioli — for an appetizer. For the main course, the herb-crusted sea bass with ravioli and the Colorado lamb T-bone with fennel-roasted spring vegetables, marscapone polenta and roasted garlic hit the spot.
Explore
The mountains here are fabulous and can be viewed one-on-one by taking a Jeep tour. You’ll experience 14,000-foot peaks; and you can use the dust from the Aspen Pine trees as sunscreen!
Essentials:
The Lodge &Spa at Cordillera
2205 Cordillera Way
Edwards, CO 81632
1 (866) 650-ROCK
www.cordillera.rockresorts.com
Mirador at The Lodge &Spa at Cordillera
(970) 926-2200
Nova Guides Inc.
1 (888) 949-NOVA
www.novaguides.com