There is something truly magical about Colorado in the winter. The snow transforms these rugged mountains into glistening white peaks, while the crisp mountain air invigorates the soul. The stillness of an early morning by the river allows us to pause as well, to disconnect from the busyness of everyday life, and reconnect with those most important to us. Outdoor winter adventures abound here, with plenty of options for kids and adults of all ages.
Keystone Resort is located 100 miles west of Denver International Airport in Summit County, Colorado. Family-friendly adventures await in this quaint resort town. Keystone is built for families in mind and we enjoyed all that this beautiful mountain had to offer.
Things to Do
Ice Skating
Keystone Resort has two outdoor ice skating rinks on property with skate rentals at each location. The smaller rink is located in Dercum square. This area is part of River Run Village which has several restaurants and shops, as well as the River Run gondola. The other skating rink is actually a 5-acre lake. In the winter months it is open for both ice skating and ice hockey! This huge ice rink is located in Lakeside Village, where shops and eateries can also be found. I was actually quite surprised how much our kids loved skating. To be honest I was expecting their patience level and stamina to be quite low. However, they begged to return to the skating rink several times during our trip. It made for a great morning or afternoon activity!
Snow Tubing
Up on the mountain in Keystone snow tubing is offered. Now, this isn’t your average leisurely tubing down the hill, this is adventure snow tubing! You will scream all the way down and then scurry back up as fast as you can to head down for another exciting ride! You start the adventure by checking in, going over some safety info, and then you are off to grab a tube. The staff members are very helpful and direct you through the whole process. Once at the top of the tubing area, a staff member will ask you if you want to slide down straight or if you want to spin. You are then launched directly down the hill or spun by the staff member in a circular motion down the tubing chute!
One really amazing detail comes at the bottom of the hill. When it’s time for the journey back up you simply ride the “magic carpet.” This is essentially an escalator of sorts that easily transports you and your tube back to the top of the hill. So, no need to wear yourself out trying to drag your little people up again. Amazing! Definitely check this out for a family fun activity. Just know that reservations are required. Also, you must be at least 42 inches tall and 4 years or older to participate.
Scenic Sleigh Ride
Keystone Resort offers horse drawn sleigh rides that begin at the Lakeside Village. Each sleigh is pulled by two of these beautiful and massive horses. The kids loved petting and interacting with these majestic beauties! Each row of the sleigh accommodates about four people. Thick, comfy blankets are available for you to bundle up if the ride gets chilly. The temperature during our winter ride was eight degrees outside! I will say, I was extra thankful for that nice little extra detail the resort provided that day!
Even with the weather being impressively cold, we were all so distracted by the breathtaking scenery around us. You travel through the snow covered Soda Creek Valley before arriving at the original Keystone homestead. During the ride over the wranglers tell the story of the origin of Keystone, as well as pertinent facts about the valley, and the wildlife that inhabit this area. Once we arrived at the homestead we were greeted with warm cups of apple cider. We then had time to leisurely walk about and explore the area. With a large snowfall the night before, it was magical to play in the snow a bit before taking our return trip home.
Snow Cat Family Adventure Tour
The best way to enjoy the panoramic views of the mountains here is to travel into a remote area of this winter wonderland by snow cat. This is another great activity for everyone in the family. Even GG and Papa joined us! The snow cat tour begins at the designated meeting point on the mountain at the Keystone Resort. You are able to enjoy your private, scenic journey through the wilderness from the comfort of the heated snow cat. Our guide was a wealth of knowledge and shared with us an abundance of information about the environmental issues in the area, in addition to the wildlife native to the region.
After traveling through the snowy forest we visited both Erickson and Bergman bowls. At each location we were able to hop out of the snow cat to take in the beauty of the mountaintop. Throughout the entire tour we were completely on our own. It was such a special experience to move through the forest and walk around the peak of the mountain in utter seclusion!
Scenic Gondola Ride & Snow Fort Play
Every year beginning in December the world’s largest snow fort is unveiled atop of Dercum Mountain at Keystone Resort. This snow fort is absolutely massive! With slides winding through the fort, to secret passageways, this is every kid’s winter dream! You can even explore the snow fort late into the evening, when it is illuminated with neon lights for a night-time adventure. Part of the fun of visiting this snowy attraction is the ride up the mountain. Starting at the bottom of River Run you take the completely enclosed gondola up to the top of Dercum Mountain. The view of the snow covered resort in the background is straight out of a fairy tale. Plus, the gondola provides complete protection from the elements, so even the smallest passengers can enjoy the journey.
Swimming
Yes, you can swim in the winter at Keystone! The lodges and hotels at Keystone have heated pools and/or hot tubs that are perfect for some family relaxation time after a long day on the mountain. Some members in our group were more adventurous than others, ha! Jon and Big E braved the water and loved their winter plunge. Little C and I were content to make snowballs from the 12 inches of fresh snowfall, that had accumulated from a snow storm that blew in right as we arrived! You can see from the tabletop in the picture, it was really quite impressive!
Visit the Keystone Chocolate Village
If you visit Keystone during December through the beginning of January, you must stop in to see the chocolate village! Every year the pastry chef at Keystone, Gabriel Geers, uses over 7,000 pounds of chocolate to create this incredibly detailed winter village. Some of the many scenes include a working chocolate gondola, miniature train, and chocolate waterfall. The kids were completely mesmerized pointing out all the different creations. The village is free to visit and can be found in the lobby at Keystone Lodge & Spa.
Ski & Snowboard
Keystone Resort has families in mind when it comes to skiing and snowboarding on the mountain. The resort is known for their amazing ski school, which is named the Ski & Ride School. Full day ski lessons are offered for kids 3-14 years old, and snowboarding lessons are available for kids 7-14 years old. Parents can choose between group lessons for the kids or semi-private lessons, which includes four kids or less in the group for a more individualized experience. If you need to brush up on your own skills, adult lessons are also available. So everyone is well taken care of and sure to have the best time possible weaving down the slopes!
Where to Eat
Montezuma Roadhouse
This casual eatery is located in the heart of River Run Village making it a great stop on your way to the gondola. They offer great hamburgers and sandwiches, etc. with plenty of options for the little ones in the group. Don’t forget the killer hot chocolate, it’s a crowd favorite!
Luigi’s Pasta House
What better way to wind down the day than with a glass of wine, pasta, and a wintery view from your table? Perfection! Luigi’s is most definitely our favorite dinner spot in Keystone. Located in River Run Village, it is an easy walk from the surrounding condos in this area. Despite the convenient location and tasty dishes, there never seems to be a long wait here either. A definite benefit when you have the little ones in tow!
Now let’s talk about the dishes that are sure to bring smiles all around the table. The meals at Luigi’s are prepared with the freshest ingredients and are made from their own family recipes. The portions are generous and there is also the option to order “family style” if you would like to share among your crew. All of our dishes have been great, but the chicken parmesan deserves a special mention. It was a clear winner at our table! Now, don’t forget about the dessert menu. The chocolate mousse is always a good idea!
Spoon Cafe
This eatery is a quick walk from the gondola in River Run Village, making it an easy stop on the way to a winter excursion on the mountaintop. The Spoon Cafe serves up some serious breakfast sandwiches! Take your pick from the Lifty, Warrior Burrito, or the Chicken N Waffle sandwich. Or stop by for lunch for a grilled panini, burger, or fresh salad. And, if you are a fan of craft brews, they have you covered! The outdoor area is actually what we enjoyed most about the Spoon during our midday visit. There are several outdoor picnic tables along the back portion of the restaurant. The tables face a children’s play area that is usually surrounded by snow in the winter. The kids absolutely loved jumping into the thick, fluffy snow and gathered snowballs for an epic fight. Meanwhile, the adults in the group could sit back, relax, and watch the battle unfold. A fun and relaxing break for sure!
Where to Stay
VRBO
There are several condos in Keystone that can be rented through VRBO or other rental sites. The River Run area is convenient to the lifts, restaurants, and shops, which is nice. There are smaller and bigger sizes available for single or multiple families. We have stayed in both a large one bedroom and two bedroom. Both were very nice with full kitchens, plus a washer and dryer in the unit. A definite plus for an extended vacation with kids!
One of the condos we stayed in backed up to a really beautiful walking path that led down to the river. You can see the natural beauty of the area in the picture I shot at the top of this page. The winter river scene was so peaceful and completely unexpected, being so close to the condo. This area is also another great place to let the kids run free and play in the snow. We found a few good sledding spots as well!
Hyatt Place Keystone
The Hyatt Place in Keystone Resort is a great option to stay in the mountains, especially if you have points to spend! The hotel has 103 rooms, including 15 suites, and is centrally located in the Mountain House area of Keystone. Situated just west of the River Run area, there are multiple lifts close by to get you up on the mountain quickly! There is also a free shuttle that will take you anywhere your heart desires within the Keystone Resort. Furthermore, free breakfast awaits you and your crew every morning. A great perk if you are traveling with the kids!
Savings Strategy
How to Stay at Hyatt Place Keystone for FREE
Currently, the best option to stay for free at Hyatt Place is to sign up for a Chase premium credit card (Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserved) and for business owners (Chase Ink Preferred). One of the benefits of having a premium card is that you are able to transfer Chase points to Chase travel partners, which includes Hyatt. Historically, the sign-on bonus for any one of these cards ranges from 60,000 – 100,000 Chase points. Currently the Chase Sapphire Preferred minimum spend requirement is $4,000 over the first three months of opening the card. After this amount is met, 100,000 Chase points are awarded to you for use. The “cost” of staying at Hyatt Place Keystone is 15,000 points per night during peak ski season. Therefore, you have enough points to stay 6 nights for free in Keystone!
How to Fly to Keystone for FREE
Denver International Airport is a major carrier for Southwest Airlines. We live in Texas near a major airport with numerous Southwest flights. If you also live near an airport that services Southwest, read on! The best option to acquire Southwest points is to open a Southwest credit card. They have numerous cards that are both personal and business cards. However, each person is only allowed to have one personal and one business card. Currently, the best card to open is the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority credit card. With this card you earn 65,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening the card. Typically a flight for us to fly to Denver is 20,000 points round-trip per person. So, with the 65,000 point sign-on bonus, three people could fly for free. However, if you have a spouse, they too can open a card and earn 65,000 points. You then have enough points for an additional three free tickets. Happy travels!
