We just got back from our annual trip to Beaver Creek with the Ranelles. We had a great time and I would definitely rate this trip as one of our best ever! (But after last year's trip when Cory's luggage got lost, I think anything would have qualified as good!) The weather was perfect, the food was incredible, and we had the opportunity to attend the 2015 World Ski Championships that were being held in Beaver Creek.
We chose to attend the Ladies Giant Slalom races on Thursday afternoon and got the chance to see American skiers Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin race for a gold medal. Neither one of them ended up earning a medal but it was great to cheer them on during their races. We also attended the medal ceremony later than evening in Vail.
Another thing that made this a great trip is that Cory was able to work with an adaptive ski instructor and get back on the mountain a little bit. He started thinking about looking into adaptive skiing a few months ago but wanted to try skiing one more time to make sure it was time to make the switch. After unsuccessfully trying to ski the first morning, we went to find out more information about adaptive skiing and met Brett, the adaptive coordinator for Beaver Creek. He was full of not only information but encouragement for Cory. He took us and showed us all of the adaptive equipment and helped Cory decide that the ski bike was the best place to start. He even offered to be Cory's instructor the next day.
Cory's lesson went well and he said that even though he feels like he's back to being a beginner skier, he enjoyed learning to ride the ski bike. I was very proud of him for not letting MS take away his dream of skiing again. Hopefully after a few more lessons next year, he will be back up on the top of the mountain with Heath again.
As always, the food on this trip was amazing! We ate at a couple of new places this trip and they didn't disappoint. The décor at Saddleridge was beautiful and the food was great too!
We happened to be in Beaver Creek on Valentine's Day this year, which meant we enjoyed a lot of treats that we usually don't have on a normal Valentine's Day. We spent the entire morning at the spa being pampered with massages and facials and then enjoyed some chocolate fountain treats in the Beaver Creek Club with the Ranelles.
That night we enjoyed a Valentine's dinner at Splendido. My steak was wonderful and Cory loved his crab claws but the best part of the meal was the butterscotch bourbon milkshake we had for dessert. Words can't describe how delicious it was! It was the perfect ending to a great trip!
It truly was one of our best ski trips, even though I didn't ski one day! I enjoyed getting away with Cory so much and reconnecting with him for a few days without the kids. But all good things must come to end and we were welcomed back to real life by coming home to a child with the stomach bug!
We are so thankful to the Ranelles for opening up their home to us year after year. We are already looking forward to our trip next year!
