It's time to plan your annual family vacation. In the past, you've made sacrifices. You hugged Mickey at Disney, and lost money at Vegas. This year, the tribe has spoken. You're going to Keystone.
Getting There Is Half The Fun
Keystone is the perfect choice for a family ski vacation. If you're traveling by plane, your flight arrives in Denver International Airport. Kids get a kick out of the inter-terminal train, which plays cowboy music upon its arrival. Then, there's the special ski baggage carousel, which features separate, upright compartments for your skis and snowboards. As you await the arrival of your beloved quiver, you and your family can watch the possible Darwin Award recipients that try to sit in the compartments.
Renting a car? Make sure that it has snow tires. While this might sound like a no-brainer, in heavy snow, you won't be allowed on certain sections of I70 without snow tires or chains. Fortunately, Keystone is closer to Denver Airport than other resorts, so you won't have to spend too much time listening to choruses of "are we there yet?" If weather permits, take the Loveland Pass. This steep mountain road is the highest pass in Colorado. At certain points, you can get out of the car and take in the spectacular view. Now, onward to Keystone!
Sea level visitors might find that they feel a bit light headed upon arrival. Resist the temptation to go directly to the slopes. Keystone has night skiing and night tubing. Once you've acclimated, you can make up for lost time by extending your ski day. Older folks are often more susceptible to altitude sickness, so advise grandma and grandpa to lay off the booze. One drink at altitude equals three at sea level, so if you don't want grandma singing off-key Sinatra songs at Dos Locos Karaoke Bar, restraint is advised!
Hopefully, you decided to rent a multi-bedroom condo, as opposed to a number of separate hotel rooms. What you might sacrifice in privacy, you can make up for in convenience. Extended family members can help take care of the kids, and cooking becomes a family event. If you book a condo in any one of Keystone's villages, you will receive the valuable Adventure Passport, which offers perks such as:
*15% Discount at a variety of Keystone Restaurants
*Free Salad Bar at the Edgewater Cafe with the purchase of an entree
*Free Salsa and Chips at Parrot Eyes, with the purchase of an entre
Keystone Family Adventures
The Adventure Passport also offers free NASTAR family racing. It starts at 10:30 at the Flying Dutchman Race Arena. Advice for parents with teenagers: They will most likely beat you. Get over it! There's more to skiing than speed. Keystone offers 3,148 acres of varied terrain, as well as 3,128 spectacular vertical. Its 121 trails are serviced by 20 lifts including two gondolas, 1 express six-pack and 5 high-speed quads. Mom and dad can take the guided backcountry Keystone Adventure Tour, while Aunt Alice and Uncle Horace can cruise the long green and blue runs such as Schoolmarm. Let your teenage knuckle draggers jib in the new A51 Terrain Park. The key to a successful family ski trip is balancing family time with individual freedom. Stay connected either by cell phone, or one of those portable radios. However, keep in mind that other people can hear your radio conversations, so watch what you say.
Group Hug
Never try to force family members to ski terrain that is inappropriate for their abilities. Sure, ski lessons are expensive, but so are divorce attorneys. If you take your wife on terrain that freaks her out, forget about "getting lucky,' even with the romantic in-room Jacuzzi! Worried that she might fall for the handsome ski instructor? Either find a coach whose "pole swings in a different direction," or enroll your wife in one of Keystone's famous Betty Fests, designed for female skiers and riders. You can have some family time by enrolling in one of Keystone's Mom, Dad and Me sessions. For $95, three family members can get a one-hour lesson with one of Keystone's fantastic coaches. This type of lesson helps family members learn how to accommodate each other's skill and terrain preferences on the slopes.
Family ski lessons are just one way for families and extended families to enjoy their time at Keystone. In addition to downhill skiing, there's cross-country skiing, snowshoe hikes, tubing, skating and sleigh rides. Even new moms can enjoy a family vacation at Keystone. She can purchase a sturdy baby carrier, and head for the Keystone Nordic Center. Cross-country skiing or snowshoeing while carrying the baby adds weight to the activity, and can therefore burn off extra calories. Furthermore, the $9 dollar trail fee at the Nordic Center is considerable less expensive than lift tickets at any downhill resort. Athletic grandma and grandpas can join the family on the downhill or cross-country slopes, or enjoy the various shopping opportunities in the Keystone Village. Reward them for their babysitting services by treating them to a day at the upscale Keystone Lodge and Spa. Let them hold the video camera to film the family members as they come down from the slopes. Memories are made of this.
This guide to your Keystone family vacaton was brought to you by Lisa Marie Mercer.