I Fell in Love at The Westin Riverfront

As a queer creative, I thrive in the city scene. I love the chaos, the hustle, the commonplace, random fling that can pop up out of nowhere. I’ve also felt the weight of COVID and quarantine isolation pretty hard, and have been ready for a change of scenery after prioritizing work and no play over the last year.  I got the idea to treat myself, get out of the city, and head up the mountain, and so I decided to take a trip up to The Westin Riverfront. The luxurious resort and spa just outside of Vail sounded like just the getaway I had been craving, and over the course of those three days, an unexpected and life-changing thing happened: I fell in love.

I have been monogamously dating the same woman for close to four months, and for many reasons, I am thankful for that. Not only is it a challenge to meet date-worthy people, now more than ever, I had found a connection in this person that was unlike any other. The phrase “I like, like you,” had been thrown around quite a bit, if you know what I’m saying. We had been spending a lot of time together, but we are both extremely busy, so spending a full, three-day weekend together was almost impossible. However, with the urge to peace out of Denver and explore some mountain scenery, I asked her to join me on this little getaway. I figured one of two things would happen: we would either really enjoy the solo time together, sans distractions, or we would be ready to go our separate ways due to realizing we weren’t such a good pairing after all.

So, I booked the hotel, got us a couple spa treatments on the schedule, packed up some snacks and a plethora of La Croix, and we were on our way to The Westin Riverfront in Vail Valley.

As we drove up the winding, mountain roads of I-70, the air was crisp but the weather was just right. She had made us an epic driving playlist full Tegan and Sara, PVRIS, Janelle Monáe, and The Dresden Dolls; I was in lesbian heaven and knew we were off to a great start. It really felt like our vacation had begun, and even though we were only traveling an hour or two away, we may as well have been jet-setting around the world. The conversation was stimulating as we got deep into politics and then quickly would shift gears into laughing fits of recalling childhood, cringe-worthy moments. I really like-liked this girl.

Upon arrival, I was stunned with how gorgeous the resort was. While I was expecting fancy and refined, the reality of the space blew my mind. Nestled into the sweet town of Avon, Colorado, The Westin Riverfront was a remarkable standout, yet felt incredibly approachable to someone who doesn’t typically splurge on an upscale hotel stay. As we walked to the front desk to check in, the grand lobby was warm, cozy, and smelled of home. My date and I looked at each other in awe and got the giddy giggles as we eagerly took the space in.

One thing that I’m admittedly fearful of is traveling as an out, queer woman. I often date masculine-presenting women, and this can be a point of frustration or soreness when my partners are referred to as “sir,” or when we are treated in a manner that feels awkward and avoidant. While folks are “well-intentioned” at times, it can either stir up confrontation or force us to remain invisible in order to just go along and get through. However, my fears were immediately squashed as we checked in at The Westin. The staff were not only polite and welcoming, they were excited to greet us; they were helpful and informative, and they were incredibly queer-inclusive.

With an internal, and external, sigh of relief, we shuffled up to the fourth floor to get settled in for our first night. As we held the room key up to the door and heard the click of it unlocking, we made our way into the classy, modern, and stylized suite. We hung our coats at the entry way sitting area, and noticed an incredibly roomy closet that ran along a short hallway, leading to the bed and living room area. To our left was a doorway that led to a grand bathroom with both a standup shower and a bathtub suited for two, as well as hers and hers sinks and plenty of conterspace and storage areas.

We wandered into the large room, which housed a cozy couch and ottomans, as well as an entire kitchenette with a stove, sink, and all the pots, pans, and dishes we might need. I was now wishing we had brought more than snacks and instead enough food to make a delicious feast worthy of this incredible kitchen. However, cooking was the furthest thing from my mind, as we dropped our bags and quickly got lost amid the folds of the King-sized bed.

The following morning, we reluctantly parted from the pretzel our bodies had intertwined into and got dressed, for we had a town to explore and only a couple hours to do it before our spa treatments! We drove the few miles into Vail, and while neither of us are into winter sports, we perused the shops in the village began to get lost amid the slope fiends and ski bunnies. We tried on silly outfits, warmed our hands over the outdoor fireplaces, and took cute and cuddly selfies with my polaroid. Making our way back into Avon, we headed into The Westin Riverfront so we could catch our appointments at the day spa, Spa Anjali.

The sound of trickling water, the scents of aromatherapy, and the plush robes that each guest adorns are in and of themselves enough to help you  relax and recharge the soul. I opted for a full-body scrub and massage with expert massage therapist Catrin while my lovely lady friend went the direction of a fresh haircut with hair stylist Pam.

After my 90-minute treatment with Catrin, whose hands are a gift from the gods and have never made me feel more comfortable and relaxed, I met up with my getaway date, who was just as calmed and refreshed as I was. We made our way to the resort restaurant, Maya to fill our bellies with some delicious Mexican food. From the dimly-lit and warm ambiance, to the divine and beautifully presented ceviche, perfectly cooked flatiron steak carne asada, and rich chicken mole poblano, our waiter Uncle Alex gave us a faultless dining experience.

I’m the type of person who likes to sit on the same side of the booth as my date, and at times, I have chosen not to based on the kind of dining environment I’m in. Since we had been so welcomed and accommodated at The Westin, and I was still in a hazy glow of my spa treatment, without second thought I chose to sit on the same side as my lady friend. We snuggled up, held hands, and shared sweet moments of closeness as we took nibbles of each others dinner. Without hesitation, Uncle Alex continued to check on us, called us beautiful and lovely young ladies, and executed the best service I have had in a long time. Allowing us to be in our own romantic bubble, the weekend was feeling more like a dream than reality, and I wasn’t ready to wake yet.

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Another night spent in our room saw us sharing intimate, emotional connection, as I was learning more and more about the person I had invited to join me on this staycation in the mountains. We laughed; we were vulnerable; we shared music, and we snuggled. I could feel with every passing minute that led us into the wee hours of the morning that my feelings were deepening, and I felt a joy in the depths of my heart and the pit of my stomach. I was falling in love; no, I had fallen in love, at The Westin Riverfront with an amazing woman whom I could be completely myself with.

Sunday morning, we begrudgingly packed our bags and bid farewell to the suite where we had uttered those simple and deep, three small words, “I love you.” Without wanting to say goodbye entirely to The Westin yet, we wandered the grounds once more, sat in the gorgeous lobby, and cuddled in front of the fireplace, watched The Westin gondolas take the winter sporters to the slopes, and ate brunch inside Maya before our departure. After another incredible meal (I had the eggs and chicken sausage while my love dined on the best huevos rancheros she’d ever had) we packed up the car and took one more selfie for the road.

I’m not sure how many times we said “I love you” between Saturday night, our drive back through the windy roads of I-70, Sunday traffic, and our final arrival back in Denver that evening, but I surely never could replicate the perfection of that weekend. Not only was I lucky enough to have found my person in 2020, but I was able to whisk her away to a romantic place where we felt free to be queer selves and bask in the adventure of a new, budding love. Now, nestled back into our respective, separate homes here in Denver, I’m already imagining what our next getaway might look like. For all the future trips we will undoubtedly take together, we can always say that we first fell in love at The Westin Riverfront in Vail Valley. What a magical place, indeed.

*Photos provided by The Westin Riverfront