Taking the Kids: To Keystone, Colo., one of the most kid-centric ski areas in the country
But what I like best about Keystone is that not only is there plenty of terrain for all levels, but there is plenty to do besides downhill ski -- there are two ice-skating rinks, cross-country skiing at the Nordic Center with 5.6 miles of groomed Nordic ski trails and 8 miles of snowshoe trails and snow-biking at Adventure Point at the top of the gondola, and even snowshoeing at the top of the mountain.
One blue-sky day last season, while my daughter and nephew explored the mountain on skis and snowboard, we opted for a top-of-the-mountain snowshoe tour that took us 3 miles into the Bergman Bowl. We certainly felt the altitude as we climbed from 11,200 feet to 11,900 feet. But the view of the mountain ranges is spectacular, as were the snow-covered trees and even the slopes above the tree line.
A nice alternative to downhill skiing, we think, and the scenery couldn't be better. We only see a few skiers and riders hiking into terrain that has only had enough snow to open in the last week.
We ended our day with drinks and snacks at the historic Ski Tip Lodge, the home of the first owners of Keystone, Edna and Max Dercum, and before that a stop on the stagecoach route. Now it's a bed and breakfast famous for its multi-course dinners (think caramelized fennel with lentils followed by pan seared foi gras and seared beef tenderloin or Colorado lamb chop and homemade apple cobbler and flourless dark chocolate torte.
We loved checking out the artifacts -- six-foot-long wooden skis and the modern handmade skis produced by one of the staff, old-fashioned snowshoes and ski boots -- as we snacked on homemade potato chips, homemade apple and thyme elk sausage and homemade breads (I especially loved the rosemary chipotle muffins).
We don't feel the least bit guilty after our snowshoe trek. We were all reveling in a fun vacation day.
Snow trips, I'm glad to report, work for families no matter how old the kids and especially when there is so much for everyone to do.
Our Keystone getaway completed, we headed back to historic Breckenridge and the Blue Sky at Breckenridge, a Wyndham Rental Resort, (www.wyndhamvacationrentals.com. Click on "deals" for early season deals at Breckenridge and Keystone) for our last night together. (I'll write more about ski towns and families in an upcoming column.)
Where will we go next season, everyone asked?
I'm working on it.
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