Whether you’re traveling from the East Coast for Spring Break or just for a long weekend from Denver, Keystone Ski Resort is a great place to bring your family for a winter ski trip.
There is a reason Colorado is such a popular ski destination. The gorgeous Rocky Mountains, the fluffy, powdery and consistent snow, all set against the perfectly blue skies. There is an incredible mix of terrain suited for all abilities, tons of fun winter activities (on and off the mountain) and a fun ski culture. Plus, most Colorado ski resorts are located within 2 hours or less of an airport.
But not every resort is well suited for kids and beginners. What makes Keystone such a great spot for families?
Close to Denver, Keystone is just a short hour and a half drive from the Denver airport, making it one of the easiest Colorado ski resorts to get to. Less travel time and more fun time! You can even book a shuttle from DIA direct to your lodging, so you don’t have to drive at all!
Keystone Ski Resort is home to THREE beginner learning areas, equipped with magic carpet lifts which are the easiest to learn on, plus two kid-sized beginner chair lifts. You will find plenty of both easy green runs and intermediate blues across three mountain peaks. The Ski School program is excellent and you’ll find expert, friendly instructors who are experienced in working with kids. Book a private lesson or a kids group lesson where they can make friends while they learn! Once they are ready, kids can show you their new skills on ‘Schoolmarm’, which is a 3.5 mile long green run on the front side that was designed as a family ski trail.
There are so many family-friendly lodging options in the main skier village, called River Run Village. It's so easy to walk back to the condo for a mid-day ski break and make lunch (hello kitchen!) instead of having to eat out at the lodge, though there are some great options for on-mountain dining. Additional lodging amenities available include heated outdoor pools with hot tubs, in-room laundry, fireplaces, and heated parking. If you are staying outside of the village, don’t worry, Keystone offers a free resort shuttle, making it easy to get to and from the slopes. There is also free day parking at Keystone, which you definitely don’t see at some of the other Colorado resorts! SummitCove Lodging offers unique, family friendly vacation rentals at Keystone with affordable rates and great value. When you book with SummitCove, you’ll also receive access to their ‘Key to Keystone’ coupon books, which offers guests all sorts of discounts on transportation, dining, activities and more to use during your visit.
The dining options in Keystone are top-notch and offer plenty of options that kids will love, like breakfast waffles at the New Moon cafe or family pizza night at Rotolo’s . When you stay in the main village, you’ll enjoy walking to dinner and being able to grab a quick bite on the way to the ski slopes.
You’ll also find that there are so many fun things to do off the mountain, like ice skating at one of two outdoor ice skating rinks, snowshoeing or sleigh rides. Spend an afternoon strolling through the village and stop to warm up at the outdoor firepit to roast marshmallows! Keystone is known for their famous larger than lift snow fort at the top of the mountain, which is free to visit and explore! There are also multiple tubing hills at the resort for some fast paced fun on the snow!
Looking for the best value? Keystone offers the unique experience of night skiing and is one of the few resorts in Colorado where you can ski under the lights. Night skiing doesn’t cost anything extra, it is included with your lift ticket or season pass on nights it is open. The resort is also included on some of the lowest priced epic pass options including the Keystone Plus Pass or the Keystone / Crested Butte 4 pack, which are both great options if you plan to ski mostly at Keystone and / or limited days in the season. When you stay in a vacation rental with a kitchen instead of a hotel, you can save on food costs by eating some meals in.
There are so many reasons to love Keystone! It is the perfect place to spend your next family ski vacation in Colorado.