Pillow Talk: Between the Sheets of Gravity Haus Vail Hotel, Colorado

Housed in the former Vail Mountain Lodge, a major refurb has elevated this spired landmark hotel to loftier heights of style and sex appeal. At its heart is The Slope Room, where blue velvet banquettes and crystal chandeliers set the tone, enhanced by handcrafted cocktails and local drafts. The food here is Old West with a modern twist, placing a strong emphasis on local, seasonal produce. A cafe roasts small batches on a zero-emission roaster. Rooms crank up the cozy with gas fireplaces and bathrooms with deep tubs and heated stone floors. Topping it off is a superb recovery-focused spa complete with organic oils and outdoor hot tubs, perfect for après-ski soaking.

Just a couple minutes’ stroll from the hotel, this free-to-enter museum takes you on a journey through the history of the mountains. Learn how Vail evolved from a remote area only accessed by the native Ute people as a summer retreat, to its role in the Gold Rush and to becoming America’s top ski resort. It also tells the story of the 10th Mountain Division – America’s elite WWII mountain soldiers – who trained here. You can jump on a guided tour for a small fee.

For a full-on Austrian-Alpine experience, there’s only one place and that’s Pepi’s. Built in the style of a traditional European chalet by acclaimed ski racer Pepi Gramshammer, this has been a Vail landmark since its early days as a resort. Dining mixes American classics with hearty Austrian cuisine, the likes of schnitzels and bratwursts, which can be enjoyed on the popular covered and heated terrace. Inside, choose from a range of Austrian beers at Pepi’s Bar while you peruse the wall of fame and Pepi’s collection of racing medals.

For a wholesome stroll through nature without having to don your hiking boots, the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens distills a wonderful array of mountain flora – both native and from around the world – into immaculately landscaped grounds. They’re the highest botanical gardens in North America and showcase more than 3,000 species of high-altitude plants. Even over winter, it’s a lovely place to while away an hour or two but return in summer to see the gardens explode into color.

No self-respecting Colorado town is complete without a brewery and this veteran- and ski-bum-owned outfit is Vail’s best-known and multi-award-winning brewer. You can choose from around a dozen own-brews at the fun and friendly tap house, from their quaffable Hot Mess Blond Ale to the punchy, hoppy Gore Creek IPA. There’s a tasting flight if you want to try a selection, plus their excellent kombucha if you’d rather keep your mountain head clear.

If you favor the grape over the grain, then this refined wine bar is just the spot to sample from over 50 labels in a sophisticated-yet-unpretentious ambiance. There’s a tightly curated wine-by-the-glass menu, or a more extensive choice by the bottle, with prices ranging from accessible to blow out. Pair with cheese or share a small plate or two while you quaff. Oysters are flown in daily from the West and East Coast, so you can’t get fresher in Vail.

A real locals’ favorite, this unfussy restaurant has been serving up a menu of Tex Mex and authentic Mexican flavors since the early Seventies. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a friendlier restaurant to chow down on sizzling fajitas or bulging burritos. It scores highly for location, too, with a terrace affording views over Pepi’s Face – a spectacularly steep ski run. If you’re still feeling chilly, you can pick from dozens of tequilas or their double-shot margarita, dubbed ‘The Troublemaker’.

Known as ‘The Amp’, this fabulously intimate-yet-open amphitheater treats audiences to a packed program of summer shows, live music and dance. You can choose from reserved (and covered) seating or a spot on the sloping grass, surrounded by pine woods and dramatic mountain scenery. Food and snacks are available on-site, or pack yourself a picnic, blanket and umbrella (just in case) and really make an outdoor experience of it.

Keen to immerse yourself in mother nature, but don’t want to get lost in a forest? The Vail Nature Center is housed in a quaint, 1940s homestead, set in seven acres of picturesque scenery between mountain meadows and the forested bank of Gore Creek. Inside, you’ll find exhibits to help you swot up on local flora and fauna, plus you can arrange guided walking tours including wildflower hikes, beaver pond tours and stargazing excursions.