Cut to summer 2017 in Beaver Creek and there wasn’t much snow in sight. Instead, I was greeted by colorful fields, blue skies and friendly staff of the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch.

The Hotel

First and foremost, this property has a pet dog. Cue the men, women, and kids ohhh and ahhing all the same. His name is very fitting as he goes by Bachelor, the Bernese Mountain Dog and needless to say, the resort is paw-sitively pet-friendly. Now that we’ve gotten the best part out of the way, let’s continue.

If there’s an establishment that screams every bit of winter lodge no matter the season, the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch wins hands down. Even in the middle of summer, daily temperatures hover in the mid 70 range, thus making s’mores totally acceptable once the sun starts to go down. Bring Bachelor into the picture and boom, your perfect family photo is ready for capture. Here, there’s an activity for everyone whether it be a daily naturalist guided hike, a non-guided hike (ask about Bear Paw loop, Village to Village loop, Beaver Lake, Hanging Lake, Nottingham Lake, Missouri Lake Trail), whiskey and woodburning (color me intrigued), painting and pinot (my canvas would be sloppy/abstract no doubt, a real modern-day Picasso), shopping (shuttle to/from Beaver Creek Village) or spa-daying…

The Spa

A highlight of the trip was bathing in a copper tub in the Bachelor Gulch Spa, 1) because I want all things copper and 2) because I LOVE TUBS. You probably know that already with my #tubtravels recurring hashtag 🙂 I could have spent a good portion of the day inside this Forbes Four-Star 21,000-sq.-ft. establishment, but alas, I had work to do which DID include reviewing a massage treatment, a fabulous way to spend an hour on property might I add. Don’t miss the grotto or the copper tub soak!

I can’t go into the final paragraphs of this post without mentioning yet another highlight – that one time I morphed into a Nat Geo photographer. Allow me to humble brag for a tiny second because my photo of this hummingbird is kind of amazing if I do say so myself…

Winter

Some things in life should be easy, and the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch excels in this category by simplifying winter with their ski-in/ski-out property. The Bachelor Gulch Express high-speed quad chairlift is accessible in the backyard, making the sport of skiing a breeze. No boarding buses with heavy equipment. No hassle. No problems.

So let’s just break this down real quick: with s’mores galore, a heated pool year-round, world-class spa, complimentary shuttle to shopping/dining attractions, skiing at its finest, AND a pet dog, it’s easy to see why Bachelor Gulch is a favorite among families, couples and friends alike!