With so many winter activity options available for the whole family in Keystone, it’s a little hard to fit it all into a long 3-day weekend. But if you are lucky enough to get even three days here, you are lucky enough! Here are some ideas on how to maximize three perfect winter days in Keystone on a family ski vacation.

Arrival Evening

You were able to book a discounted rental car since you booked your lodging with SummitCove Rentals, so pick it up at DIA and then hit the road and head West to Keystone Ski Resort! After a little over an hour of driving, get off of I-70 at the Silverthorne/Dillon exit 205 and stop at the City Market grocery store to pickup some essentials for the weekend like eggs, bagels, soda water, granola bars and sandwich supplies. There is a liquor store next door if you want to pickup a 6-pack of Colorado Craft beer. Now the family is complaining of hunger, so head into one of Summit County’s most well-known restaurants, the Dillon Dam Brewery.  After dinner, drive 7 miles further into Keystone and stop by Mountain View Sports to pickup your discounted ski rentals that you reserved in advance.  When you’re all fitted up, head across the street to the SummitCove check-in office to pickup your condo keys. After a quick run down on the condo, directions and everything you need to know your stay, you are officially ready to start your vacation!  Park the condo in the heated parking garage at The Springs Condos and take the elevator up to your two bedroom vacation rental condo! Turn on the fireplace, unpack the groceries and if you have time, head down to the pool area for a quick dip in the hot tub or steam room or for a round of pool in the lobby.  Hit the hay and set your alarm for your first day on the slopes tomorrow!

Day 1

Having eaten at the Dillon Dam Brewery the night before, you could nibble on leftovers in your River Run Village condominium refrigerator for breakfast. But since you also, smartly, picked up some groceries at the Dillon City Market, whip up your omelets and bacon (or bagels with cream cheese) to fuel your day on the ski slopes at Keystone Resort.  Pack a granola bar in your pocket for a mid-morning snack on the mountain.

You’ve registered your kids for a full day of ski school, so walk from your condo to the River Run Village Children’s Ski and Snowboard School, near the gondola. Wave good-bye to the kiddos and enjoy your kid-free day on the slopes until about 3 p.m. You can stop for an amazing lunch and much needed break at the Four-Diamond Alpenglow Stube. Be sure to get a photo from the overlook!

While your husband tosses kids’ wet clothes into the condo’s dryer, scoot out to your late afternoon massage at the spa at the Keystone Lodge and Spa. Chances are, the kids are exhausted — especially if you’re in the high-altitude mountains from sea level! So, take it easy tonight with dinner at a Village restaurant or even get a pizza delivered from the best pizza joint in the county, Pizza 101. If you’re feeling energetic, shuttle over to the Snake River Saloon, your tastebuds will thank you for the extra effort. Hunker down with a family movie before bedtime!

Day 2

One adult can trot over to Inxpot for lattes, breakfast burritos and cinnamon rolls to go, while the other adult gets the kids up and at ’em. After feasting comfortably in your condo’s dining area, gear up for a family ski day on the slopes.  For lunch, everyone will find something that appeals at the Outpost Lodge.  Or, plan on packing a lunch with cold cut sandwiches, granola bars, string cheese and apples.  You can leave your backpack in a rented locker and head back there for your lunch break.  Enjoy the slow green runs of Schoolmarm and the Family Ski Trail for lots of fun that everyone can enjoy.

At 2:30 p.m. make your way over to Adventure Point for your tubing reservations. Try not to shriek louder than your children as you sail down the steep slopes! Stop at the Keystone Kidtopia snow fort to admire the awesome ice sculpture. Kids will have fun throwing snowballs at their parents!

After a relaxing soak in your condo’s outdoor hot tub (or brief late afternoon nap), bundle up for a gondola ride to Der Fondue Chessel, where you’ll gorge yourselves on vegetables and bread dipped in the most savory melted cheese, as well as meat, seafood or still more veggies cooked on your table-top Raclette grill. In between courses, get up and do the chicken dance with the oom-pah-pah band. Save room for a variety of chocolate fondue for dessert. Waddle to the gondola for the ride home.

Day 3

For your final day, either strap your skis back on if conditions are phenomenal, or consider one of my favorite family activities in the area: dog sledding with Good Times Adventures in Breckenridge (about 30 minutes away). Even young children can drive the dogsled!

This afternoon, head to the Keystone Adventure Center at the Keystone Lodge to rent skates to take some turns on frozen Keystone Lake. (If you prefer to stick closer to “home,” you can also skate at Dercum Square in River Run Village.

To celebrate a successful three full days at Keystone, splurge on a family meal at the Ski Tip Lodge. This former 1800s stagecoach stop is now a cozy bed and breakfast offering a marvelous three-course gourmet dinner menu (with simple kid-pleasing items like burgers and pasta, too). Gathering around the fireplace for an array of delicious desserts is a lovely way to cap off a Keystone getaway!