Beaver Creek, located in Colorado's Vail Valley, is cosy and luxurious for holiday makers . The ski resort is one of the most popular in the United States, particularly with families.

The community in the Colorado Rockies is just ten miles away from the world famous resort of Vail and combines great facilities with a lively atmosphere and an impressive range of terrain. Beaver Creek has been catering to US skiers for 25 years and it provides a stunning location in which to hone skills.

There has been a settlement in the Beaver Creek Valley since George Townsend arrived in 1881 and the mountain is still home to a local population, as well as the expanding resort complex. Beaver Creek Mountain has played host to the World Ski Championships twice and its Birds of Prey descent is thought to be one of the three most difficult in the world.

Beaver Creek regularly hosts Alpine Skiing World Cup events and the entire resort is owned by a corporation, Vail Resorts, which also owns Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, and Vail Mountain. There is some tension between the company and locals about ownership of Beaver Creek Mountain itself, which is leased by Vail Resorts from the National Forest Bureau.

The facilities at Beaver Creek are, on the whole, excellent, with heated walkways and escalators leading to top-of-the-range chairlifts. The terrain ranges from excellent beginner slopes to advanced black and cross country runs. Ski hire and tuition are easy to arrange and there are several ski schools based at the resort catering to all abilities.

The views on the slopes are beautiful, with the dramatic Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, and Beaver Creek has 5,300 acres of skiable terrain. The resort is also very popular with snowboarders and there are a growing number of snowboarding instructors and hire shops in Beaver Creek.

The holiday resort has a good selection of evening entertainment to suit every skier, from lively bars and fine dining restaurants to a performing arts center and excellent shopping. Beaver Creek Mountain is home to three 'villages' – Beaver Creek Village, Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead. Of the three, Beaver Creek itself is the liveliest and Arrowhead the most secluded.

The three villages at Beaver Creek Mountain have an array of quaint shops, bars and restaurants. Beaver Creek Village is home to an ice rink, the Vilar Center for the Arts and the Small World Play School, which is ideal for families. Bachelor Gulch Village has the priciest accommodation, including the lavish Ritz-Carlton, and several of the best restaurants, while Arrowhead has the Arrowhead Alpine Club, with a fitness centre and spa, and dial-a-ride shuttles to Beaver Creek Village.

The resort is easy to reach from Denver International Airport and some companies offer package deals for British skiers to Beaver Creek, including accommodation, flights and ski hire. Accommodation varies wildly from plush condominiums and hotel rooms to keenly priced lodges and bed and breakfast options. Beaver Creek is a firm favourite with families, many of whom return year after year because of its varied and high standard facilities.