If you ask my children to name the happiest place in Colorado, they would respond with a resounding, "KEYSTONE!" and it's easy to see why. Keystone is a place that caters to families in so many amazing ways.
Disclosure: I was provided with a private family ski lesson, dining credits, and one-night lodging to facilitate this review. All thoughts and photos are 100% my own.
Fun at the Resort
The resort is where the fun truly begins. As we checked into our condo at the registration desk, my children were greeted with backpacks full of goodies (an activity book with crayons, stickers, tattoos, and more!) Well played, Keystone. Well played.
We unpacked our bags at the Dakota Lodge in River Run Village. Our condo had an awesome setup: a master bedroom on one side of the unit and another bedroom (with 2 twin beds) on the other. My kids were thrilled to have their own beds in their own space. To top it off, we had a balcony with mountain views, so we could've watched the weekend fireworks show without even leaving our rooms! However, the heated pool and hot tubs provided a more kid-appealing place to view the show when it came time to it, as many other traveling families agreed.
As tempting as it was to relax in the condo all weekend, we were visiting Keystone on the last day of the Kidtopia Music Experience, a festival that's part of the Kidtopia Signature Event Series, and therefore had LOTS to do and explore. We played at Kidtopia Headquarters, admired ice skaters at the Dercum Square Ice Skating Rink, and ventured a whopping 2-minute walk to Ida Belle Drive, where we found restaurants, shops, music festivities, and hands-on fun such as the chessboard and instrument shown below. The Kidtopia Music Experience had special events (parade, face-painting, ice cream party, science, tubing, and concerts, to name a few) ALL WEEK LONG, and most were FREE to participate. Win-win for parents and kiddos!
Fun on the Mountain Top
Bright and early on Sunday morning we picked up our equipment rentals and headed up the mountain for our private family ski lesson. We went into the experience with low expectations considering our children had NEVER been on skis before, and my husband and I hadn't skied in almost 10 years. (Blasphemous, I know!), but we were ultimately thrilled with how our day went! Our instructor, Nabil, was incredibly patient with us, particularly with our 3-year old who had the occasional meltdown. Nabil quickly helped him gain confidence in himself and we even saw a few smiles despite a few tumbles.
Though both kids are still a few lessons away from being confident enough to ski down any regular runs, I'm glad we were able to have this opportunity as a family. We'll certainly never forget the first time we took our kids skiing!
We concluded our lesson with lunch at the Outpost, a cafeteria-style restaurant tucked atop Keystone mountain just a gondola ride away. And speaking of gondolas, they're really fun! My kiddos could've spent the whole weekend riding them up and back if we let them. From restaurants to the Kidtopia Snow Fort, Keystone has kid-friendly amenities at each gondola stop, a bonus feature for gondola-lovers like ourselves.
Macaroni Kid Recommendations
- For traveling with little ones, book a condo in River Run Village. Everything is so close that you can simply walk from one activity to the next. The resort is equipped with wagons to help you haul your gear (and your kiddos!) making it easy to get where you need to go.
- Make a list of "must-do" activities but leave room for some downtime. Try window-shopping while sipping hot cocoa. Rest near one of the fire pits while indulging in a snack from the Mountain Top Cookie Shop. Or, as my daughter suggests, relax in a hot tub while watching the fireworks.
- Dining at the resort can be a bit more expensive than you're used to in your hometown. One of the perks of a condo is having a kitchen! Bring your own groceries to help save some money. Rather go all out? Try fondue night at Der Fondue Chessel or enjoy the Dinner Sleigh Ride.
Keystone Resort is a short 2-hour drive from the Denver Tech Center, making it a great choice for a weekend getaway destination. From the moment you arrive until the moment you leave, you'll feel cared for in a way that makes traveling with children a joy-filled experience. (Yes, seriously!)
