Itinerary suggestions based on First-Time, Beginner Skiers and Snowboarders.
Arrival Day:
• 3:00 p.m. Pick up rental equipment and any forgotten equipment.
• 4:00 p.m. Check in to condo.
• Call the Childcare Center (4182 from a Resort phone) to make daycare and babysitting reservations (see below).
• 5:00 p.m. Pick up or buy lift tickets.
• 6-8 p.m. Grab a pizza for dinner at Pizza on the Plaza in Lakeside Village and then head over to the Adventure Center for ice skating.
Day 1
• Determine a family meeting space (in case someone gets separated), and zip an ID card into each child's pocket.
• 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Head up Dercum Mountain via the River Run Gondola to the beginner area. Scout and Endeavor are great, short runs to get first-timers accustomed to skiing in a "V" and allow first-time riders to perfect their "falling leafs." Make laps together on Endeavor, which can be accessed by a surface lift (aka a "magic carpet"). Mom and Dad can alternate making solo runs down intermediate trails Bachelor, Flying Dutchman, Wild Irishman, and taking the Montezuma Express lift back to Summit House to check on the progress.
• 10:30-11:00 a.m. Take a break in the Mountain House to use the bathroom, use the mitten / glove dryers, warm up with hot chocolate, and eat a hearty snack.
• 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. If your first-timer is able to stay in control, make turns and - most importantly - stop, head over to the Schoolmarm run, which is a long green run down to the Mountain House base area. If they're not quite ready for a long run, head back over to Endeavor and Scout.
• 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Enjoy lunch at the Mountain House food court. While you give little legs a chance to rest, Mom and Dad can take turns heading up the Peru Express lift and coming down Last Hoot, which is an advanced black run.
• 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Take the family up the Peru Express lift and ski your way over to Schoolmarm via Freda's Incubator. (Freda's Incubator is a green run that cuts through the A51 Terrain Park - so keep a close eye on little ones and avoid jump lines and the bases of features.)
• 3:30-4:00 p.m. Ski your way back to the village. Pay attention to signs so you end up at the right base area – either River Run or Mountain House. To get to River Run: Follow Ina’s Way, which splits off to the right of Schoolmarm.
• 4:00-6:00 p.m. Do some stretches and relax at the condo. Take a load off or take a nap, you deserve it.
If you're visiting during a time when Night Skiing is open, Mom or Dad can draw straws to see who gets to head back up for a few more runs before dinner.
• 6:00 -7:30 p.m. Dinner at Big Horn Steakhouse in the Keystone Lodge (reservations recommended). We suggest making it an early night tonight and letting your little ones recuperate after a day in the cold learning new physical skills.
Day 2
• 10:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m. Meet your child's Ski & Ride School instructor for their group lesson. (Children must be at least three years old to enroll in Ski & Ride School. To enjoy a day of adult skiing, leave your child in the responsible and professional hands of our Childcare staff.) Reservations are required for lessons. Call 970-496-4170.
While your kids are off learning more advanced skills with an Instructor, or are snug as a bug in the Childcare Center, take the opportunity to head to Keystone's second and third mountains, North Peak and The Outback. The blue and black runs are more challenging for Intermediate and Advanced skiers and riders.
If you're feeling ultra-adventurous, take the Outback Express lift to the top of The Outback mountain and for just $5 (cash only) take a cat into the South Bowl. Keystone's legendary Independence Bowl is also open, featuring our steepest, most expert terrain.
• 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Pick up the kids, and treat them to a special, sugary snack from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Lakeside Village on your way back to the condo.
• 5:00:-6:30 p.m. Dinner at Paisanos Italian Restaurant in River Run. Make sure to take hats, mittens, and snow pants with you to dinner so you can leave directly from the restaurant to go tubing.
• 6:30 -7:00 p.m. – Pick up your tubing tickets at the Keystone Logo Shop in River Run and get on the gondola for your 7 p.m. tubing session (reservations required, call 970-496-4FUN ).
• 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tubing at Adventure Point atop Dercum Mountain.
Day 3
• 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Take the River Run Gondola up to the peak of Dercum Mountain and spend some time on the Scout and Endeavor runs letting your kids show off their new skills.
• 10:00 -10:30 a.m. – Pop into the Summit House to use the bathrooms and let everyone warm up with some hot chocolate before striking out on the family's biggest adventure yet!
• 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Ski Toads down to the River Run trail. If your kids have progressed beyond your wildest expectations and are ready for a new challenge, head down River Run, which is a blue Intermediate trail. River Run takes you to the River Run base area.
• 12:30-2:00 p.m. Sit down for lunch at the Kickapoo Tavern, home to the Best Burgers in Keystone
• 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Head back up Dercum Mountain via the River Run Gondola or Summit Express lift. Take the Schoolmarm run down to Freda's Incubator and let your kids try out some of the smaller features in the A51 Terrain Park. While in the park, it's very important to keep a head's up (literally) for skiers and riders coming off features, and to stay clear of landing zones. Keep little ones immediately in front of - not behind - you while you navigate the Park.
• 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Relax in the condo and prep your kids for the babysitter's arrival. Just as you would at home, make sure to leave a cell phone number where you can be reached with questions or in case of an emergency.
• 5:00 - 5:45 p.m. Head to the gondola for your 6:00 dinner reservations at the Alpenglow Stube, located in The Outpost on the top of North Peak Mountain. The gondola ride takes approximately 45 minutes, so arrive at the gondola entrance as close to 5:00 as possible.
• 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Dinner at Alpenglow Stube – The Stube is ranked as one of the best on-mountain restaurants in the country, and is described by Zagat Survey as "Fabulous old-world food and service and the best setting in the state." (Reservations Required, call 4FUN.)
Day 4
• 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Meet your Ski & Ride Instructor for a private lesson with the entire family. Private lessons are not only a great way for the family to get a guided tour of the Mountain together, but our experienced Instructors can help mom and dad brush up on techniques, as well as provide you with tips and tools to keep your child progressing.
• 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Let your little one take the afternoon off to enjoy the hot tubs and pools at the condo.Mom and dad can take turns putting their new skills to use on North Peak and The Outback.
• 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Enjoy the freshest seafood you'll ever eat two miles above sea level at the Summit Seafood Company. Located at the Inn at Keystone, Summit Seafood is a casual environment with a pool table and a fireplace.
Day 5
• 9:00 -11:30 a.m. Take a family vote on favorite runs and chart your trails for your last day.
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Enjoy a slice of pizza at Bite Me Pizza in the Mountain House.
• 12:30-3:00 p.m. Continue getting your fill of skiing and riding. Remember not to push little legs too hard this last day. If your child seems tired, draw straws again and let one spouse continue skiing or riding while the other takes the kids tubing or on a scenic gondola ride to The Outback.
• 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Relax at the condo and unwind in the hot tub.
• 5:15-5:45 p.m. Head over to the Adventure Center in Lakeside Village.
• 5:45 -9:00 p.m. End your stay with a memorable dinnerSleigh Ride to the back ranch of Keystone. Reservations are required, call 4FUN.
When considering what time to leave for the airport, remember that winter in the mountains brings snow-packed roads and heavier traffic. Build enough time into your schedule so you don't have to rush and to accommodate slow-downs on I-70 Eastbound.
Call 970-496-4FUN for dining and activity information and reservations. This is a sample itinerary, please do not ski or snowboard the trails mentioned unless you feel you are of the intermediate or advanced level to handle the terrain.
