Active Romance

Five Colorado escapes for lovers—or anyone in love with the great outdoors.

The Takin'-It-Easy Escape
Vail

Playtime: You've mastered the Game Creek Bowl, you've downed frightfully large beers at the Red Lion, and you've noshed on expensive eats at Restaurant Kelly Liken. So pass, for a moment, on the village scene and take a trip up Vail's Eagle Bahn Gondola to the top of the mountain, and then head to Adventure Ridge in search of one of the most underrated, overlooked on-mountain thrills: snow tubing. OK, it's not exactly hard-core recreation, but it qualifies as crazy good fun, and you can slide your way down the original locals' hill in the valley. One hour of tubing costs $25.

Downtime: Once you're done playing, leave the village and head down the road to Avon for the couples' aromatherapy massage ($280) and his-and-her pedicures ($65 each) at the Westin's Spa Anjali, a 23,000-square-foot, four elements-inspired refuge located in the Westin Riverfront Resort. If you venture into nearby Edwards, the tiny Juniper Restaurant satisfies with great wine, contemporary American comfort food, and an intimate yet bustling atmosphere. Grab a corner table and order the roasted butternut squash soup, the glazed duck breast, and the hot, sticky toffee pudding cake with Myers's Rum sauce.

Stay the Night: Sometimes you just want to be wowed—by service, decor, amenities, cuisine, location, everything. If that's the case, Avon's brand-new Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa is your retreat. The studio suites that feel like your own apartment (only much fancier) offer a sleek, minimalist sanctuary complete with kitchen and stocked mini-fridge. You'll be able to dip your toes in three hot tubs and a heated pool on the outside pool deck, which overlooks the Eagle River. For foodie couples, Thomas Salamunovich (think Larkspur in Vail) mans the burners at Avondale, the on-site eatery, turning out a locally inspired, seasonal menu.