Resort or Hotel - Pitstops for Kids

Where to stay in Portland: Governor Hotel review

February 12, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

We’ve reviewed a good number of hotels for families planning a Portland Oregon vacation. No matter which you pick, our recommendation is to stay downtown, within walking distance of the fun shops, restaurants, attractions (and easy-to-use MAX transportation line) that make Portland such a family-friendly city. Downtown hotels will often lack the cost-saving perks of suburb hotels (free parking, free breakfast, and the like) but make up for this in my personal favorite hotel amenities: location and ambiance. Our Governor Hotel review below shows ways in which this property excels in both.

The Governor Hotel is located downtown on 11th Avenue in Portland, adjacent to the bustle of food trucks, shopping centers, and the MAX. Valet parking is the way to go; pull up curbside at the historic hotel, and the parking hassle will be taken care of for you. We visited the same night as a major evening event hosted by the Governor, and still had no delay getting our car when we needed it.

The lobby is small but light and elegant, and looks larger due to beautiful high ceilings. The front desk staff is among the most friendly and helpful we’ve experienced anywhere: immediately upon arriving, you know you’re in a four star hotel, but are greeted like you’re friends. It’s the perfect combination. Adjacent to the lobby is Jake’s restaurant (award winning in Portland…and good news; your room service menu comes from this kitchen). Down the hall is a large, airy, and light exercise room filled with state-of-the-art equipment, and free wifi is available throughout all the common areas of the hotel.

Value:

Room prices reflect the four-star status of the Governor, but this doesn’t make it inaccessible to families. Kids 12 and under stay free with adults, and package deals are always listed on the Governor Hotel site. During our visit, we experienced the Elementary, My Dear package that included tickets to the OMSI traveling exhibit on Sherlock Holmes. The package price included a luxury room, dining credit at Jake’s, and two tickets to the exhibit, plus fun extras like a Sherlock Holmes hat, chocolate bar, and detective notebook. Since we planned to buy tickets to the exhibit anyway, the value was there. Note that you will pay $35 for parking daily.

Room Amenities:

We stayed in one of the Governor’s Princeton rooms, which occupy the 5th and 6th floors, are newly remodeled, and more spacious than standard rooms. (Rollaways are complimentary.) We appreciated the added security of key card-only access to these floors, and loved the high ceilings, large windows, and window panes that opened to fresh Northwest air. In our room, we found a mini fridge (which contained mini bar items but had room for our own snacks as well), a nice coffee and tea service (you know some are not so nice!) and a large screen TV, plus new iPod dock. We had plenty of plugs (crucial to charging devices while we travel) and bathrobes to don after using the shower and tub. Northwest wines are featured in the mini bar offerings, and The Governor will even bring you a pint of famous Salt and Straw ice cream (for a whopping $12, but I hear it’s worth it).

Dining:

Room service is available 24 hours a day, and Jake’s Grill and a Starbucks are located on site. Jake’s is fairly pricey (tip: stop here for a drink special before heading out for dinner), but the front desk staff can direct you to many casual restaurants within walking distance. We love the food trucks on Washington Street. We brought our own breakfast items (and easily stored them in our room) and ordered muffins and juice from Jake’s via room service to add a bit of comfort food to our meal.

Date last visited:

November 2013

Distance from the interstate:

A few minutes from I-5 and I-405.

Directions:

The Governor is located at 614 SW 11th. From I-5 South, merge onto I-405 South. Take the Couch St./Burnside St. exit and stay on 15th Ave. for two blocks. Turn left onto Alder. Turn right onto 11th Ave. Hotel entrance is on the left side of the street.

As I disclose whenever applicable, our stay at The Governor with the Elementary, My Dear package was complimentary, for the purpose of review.

Best Ski Towns: an overview of Keystone Mountain for kids

February 10, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

We love Keystone Resort for kids! If you’re planning a Vail area ski trip with children, head to Keystone where kids ski free, kid-friendly programming abounds, and ski village convenience reigns. There’s no better place to start kids off skiing or riding, but if you have expert skiers and riders in tow, don’t worry: so do we, and we found some of our favorite expert terrain and challenging runs at Keystone! Here’s our overview on Keystone Resort vacation planning:

Resort overview:

Keystone Resort is located in Dillon, Colorado in the heart of Vail ski country. From Denver, it’s a two-hour drive (read up on Keystone transportation tips below). Once in Keystone, families find themselves in a sprawling resort including 10 distinct ‘neighborhoods’, with lodging options ranging from vacation homes in the woods to condos in the heart of the villages (yep, there’s more than one). The ski terrain consists of three distinct peaks (Dercum, North Peak, and Outback), with a very orderly system: front Dercum Peak serves beginning and intermediate skiers and riders exclusively, with the terrain getting more challenging the further ‘back’ you go.

Where to stay:

For ski-in, ski-out lodging (for which there’s an abundance at Keystone), families will want to base themselves in either River Run Village or Mountain House. Mountain House offers Kamp Keystone headquarters, while River Run houses Kidtopia (more on both Kamp Keystone and Kidtopia below) and many more dining and entertainment options.

Condo and suite options abound at Keystone. Our pick: River Run Village. All River Run Village accommodations offer ski-in and ski-out proximity, or an easy walk to the River Run Gondola. You’ll need to take the free Village to Village Shuttle to the Mountain House area for Kamp Keystone (or ski there) but everything else is at your fingertips. In River Run, we stayed at The Springs, adjacent to the gondola and steps from dining and village fun (with an excellent pool complex, to boot) but you really can’t go wrong with any of the River Run buildings.

Where to ski:

As noted above, beginners and intermediate skiers will find an entire mountain of offerings on Dercum Peak. The newly opened Schoolyard features on School Marm include terrain features and trails with fun structures to ski through (like mascot Riperoo’s dog house). The H&H Mine (located off intermediate Santa Fe) lets kids ski through mine shafts. The A-51 terrain park is also located on Dercum. Intermediate and advanced skiers and riders will want to progress to North Peak for long, steep groomers and moguls, and finally to Outback Peak for tree runs, powder runs, and steeps.

One of the best features on Keystone for expert skiers and riders is the easy access to hike-able and kat-serviced terrain. From the top of Outback, skiers can wait in line for a kat shuttle, taking them to North or South Bowls for very fun powder runs without long hikes. (There’s also a five minute hike from this point that takes skiers or riders to great tree runs.) You’ll need to be an advanced skier to take advantage of this, and you’ll need $5 to ride the kat shuttle. Be flexible: the terrain is only open after avalanche control is conducted by ski patrol and only when weather and conditions permit. We waited about 10 minutes for our turn on the kat, and noted that advanced Kamp Keystone classes were enjoying the experience with their ski guides.

Tip: Allow 30 minutes or more for traversing between the three mountains: if you’re on Outback and need to get back to the front of Dercum, you’ll need to take the slow Wayback chair, which takes some time. There are no services (i.e., bathrooms or dining) on Outback, so plan time to get back to the Outpost on North Peak. The River Run Gondola and the Outpost Gondola run both directions, allowing you to download, but do close in strong winds.

Where to eat:

River Run Village offers great apres ski fare at 9280 Taphouse and Kickaboo Tavern. Both are kid-friendly, but the livelier bar scene is usually at 9280. New Moon Cafe serves a good, fast breakfast of burritos, breakfast bowls, egg sandwiches, and waffles (and keeps on serving it all day). Rockin’ R Ranch has grocery items in a pinch, though you’ll want to shop in Dillon for most ingredients for food in your condo.

For a nice night out, consider Ski Tip, located adjacent to River Run and the site of the historic beginnings of Keystone Resort. The charming B&B at Ski Tip offers gourmet (and often locally sourced) cuisine. We’ve also had great meals at Bighorn in Keystone Lodge, located in Lakeside Village. If you time your meal right, you can get a great view of the Saturday evening Kidtopia fireworks from Bighorn (which overlooks the lake). Spend a few hours skating, then head over for dinner.

For a truly special night out that’s also decidedly kid-friendly, book a dinner sleigh ride through the Adventure Center (in Lakeside Village). We loved our chilly but serene sleigh ride (complete with cozy blankets) to a remote historic ranch, where we were served classic cowboy fare and serenaded by a friendly guitar player. Kids of any age will enjoy the experience, but note that the event departs and returns to Lakeside Village, necessitating a Village to Village Shuttle ride pre-and post dinner (making for a long night). Kids over age 4 will have the best time (as will their parents).

How to get around:

If you didn’t bring a car to Keystone, no worries: the Village to Village shuttle is free, fast, and easy to use. This shuttle connects guests between Lakeside Village (home of Keystone Lodge), Mountain House, and River Run with ease; we’ve never found need to travel to any other sections of Keystone during our stays.

The drive from Denver International Airport to Keystone is approximately two hours, and we’ve always taken CME (Colorado Mountain Express). This van service should be factored into your transportation budget (check to see if it’s cheaper to fly to Vail from Denver), but after three trips with CME, I’ve found them to be always on time, always professional, and always good to work with. CME will take you directly to your condo registration or hotel registration building, then to your front door.

What’s Kidtopia?

Kidtopia is Keystone’s version of a kid-centric cruise schedule: it includes weekly free activities for kids and families such as scheduled parades, scavenger hunts, firework displays, painting and clay crafts at Kidtopia Headquarters, ice skating with Riperoo, and much more. The Kidtopia snow castle sits at the top of Dercum Peak, in which kids to can stop to play, climb, and slide down icy tubes into snow. You’ll get a Kidtopia schedule at check-in, allowing you to plan what you’d like to do or see. Tip: Kidtopia Headquarters are open most days for drop-in visits to paint or create pottery for a fee. This is a great activity in poor weather, or for younger siblings while older siblings ice skate at the adjacent outdoor rink.

In addition to official Kidtopia activities, Keystone also offers tubing at Adventure Point, which is at the top of Dercum Peak. We love that families can stop to tube in the middle of their ski day (if you’re wearing ski boots, you have to tube solo), or that non-skiers can ride the gondola up for a top-of-the-mountain experience. Make a reservation ahead of time! Ice skating is available at both River Run (on a traditional outdoor rink) or Lakeside Village (on the largest Zamboni-served skating lake in the US). There’s also a Nordic Center and snow biking.

What about lessons?

Keystone’s lessons for kids center around Kamp Keystone, a ski and ride center designed to be a multi-day experience. Kids booked in Kamp Keystone three days or more are guaranteed the same instructor each day, which is kind of a big deal (try getting the same instructor daily at other resorts and you’ll know what I mean). At the end of each day, parents are given a detailed account of their child’s progress, as well as a full report on EpicAcademy. (EpicAcademy is a new feature of EpicMix; with a Vail Resorts’ lift ticket, you’ll get mountain stats, photos, and Academy updates for yourself and your kids.)

Even advanced skiers and riders are taken care of at Kamp Keystone; they offer lessons through level 9. These groups head to the higher peaks of the resort, and often eat lunch on the go at any of the on-mountain dining areas instead of in Kamp Keystone, as most groups do. (Lunch is always included in full day lessons.)

Tip: Depending on the size of your family, opting for a family private lesson may be less expensive than enrolling each child in a group lesson. We love private lessons: usually, up to six people can be on one lesson, and family groups get to dictate where they ski and what they hope to do during their ski day. Instructors not only teach during the day, but also act as excellent guides, showing families parts of the mountain they may miss otherwise. Plus, private lesson parties use the ski school line…a huge savings in time during crowded days. If your whole family (or even just the kids) could use a lesson, but you’d still like to ski as a family, check out private lesson options! (Unlike group lessons, private lessons depart from both River Run or Mountain House from the Ski and Ride School buildings. It’s also possible to meet your instructor elsewhere on the mountain.

Have you skied Keystone? What tips can you share?

The above post is written in conjunction with my partnership with VacationRoost.com. As I disclose whenever applicable, our stay at Keystone was complimentary, for the purpose of review.

Homebase for a San Diego vacation: Manchester Grand Hyatt review

January 29, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

When most families dream of vacationing in San Diego, they picture themselves staying right on the beach. And this option does exist: namely in Coronado or north in Del Mar. But if you plan to spend the majority of your time in the city (and not in the car), you’ll want a downtown hotel by the harbor. I spent three nights at the Manchester Grand Hyatt and was pretty blown away by this perfect home base for a San Diego vacation. Why? Incredible location, luxurious accommodations, and family-friendly amenities, like a 4th floor pool, fire pits ready for s’mores, and full-sized sport courts.

The Manchester Grand Hyatt stands tall right at the bay’s edge with two massive towers: Harbor Tower and Seaport Tower. Within steps are Harbor Village, the Gaslamp Quarter, and the trolley line to get you wherever you need to go. The rooms are large, the views are stunning, and the laid-back California atmosphere prevails even amid the luxury, making it a great pick for kids. The rooms are newly renovated, with a full renovation of the common areas and lobby scheduled for 2015.

Rooms:

Wow. The windows truly make the rooms at the Grand Hyatt. (Check out the view in the photo above and below!) In my standard level corner room, I had no fewer than three separate floor-to-ceiling windows. I was told I had a city view (as opposed to a bay view), but I think this is a no-bad-seat-in-the-house type of situation: my room looked out over both. Beds are incredibly comfortable, families can snuggle up for a movie on a wide flat-screen TV, you get an iHome docking station, and plenty of plugs for your gadgets. In-room fridges and coffee makers make breakfast easy.

Rooms are located on both towers, and rooms at level 30 and up are considered Grand Club rooms. They include special elevator access to the Grand Club, a concierge lounge on the 33rd floor of Harbor Tower. What you’ll find there: complimentary breakfast offerings, plus all-day snacks and drinks, including soda, bottled water, and Perrier. In the evenings, cocktails are on the honor-bar system. When I visited in the morning, I was greeted with a full array of healthy breakfast offerings, including yogurt parfaits, homemade oatmeal with all the fixings, danishes and breads, cereal, and egg sandwiches, and in the afternoon, cookies, trail mix, yogurt, and fruit were available. In the evenings, light dinner fare is set out; during our visit, we saw sliders and sushi. Grand Club guests also have access to a private concierge on the 33rd floor.

Amenities:

Families will want to spend significant time at the 4th floor level outdoor pool and hot tub deck, overlooking the bay. The pool is not overly large, but the views and ambiance make up for this. Adjacent is the hot tub, plus a dedicated kids’ space with grass called ‘the backyard’. Toddlers (and their parents) will be happy. Dining services are available at the pool (menus listed throughout the pool deck) and the 24/hour fitness center is located there as well. Also on the pool deck: a fun fire pit perfect for visiting after dinner.

The Hyatt sport courts sit on the roof over the parking garage, offer city views, and include tennis courts, a basketball court, volleyball court, and shuffleboard space. Tennis rackets can be borrowed in the spa, and basketballs are on-hand at the courts. No need to reserve ahead of time unless you’re visiting in the peak of the summer season.

Camp Hyatt is available to kids 4-12 during the summer season and spring break, and includes activities at the pool deck and in the ‘backyard’ all day long. Sign up ahead of time, or drop in for morning or afternoon sessions. (Expect to pay $30-$40 per session.)

Kin Spa is located on the 3rd floor, and is a great place for a little R&R. I experienced the signature facial, which I chased with some time enjoying the spa-guests-only amenities. As always, my spa tip for parents is this: if you carve out time to book a treatment, plan to stay late or go early to enjoy the solitude and relax!

As with most downtown hotels, there is a parking fee at Manchester Grand Hyatt. Families can valet park for $40/night or self-park for $28/night.

What’s nearby:

Bikes can be rented from the Hyatt for a small charge, and ridden along the Embarcadero or on Coronado Island via ferry (just load the bikes right on). This is a great way to see the city. Want to explore the city from the water instead of by wheel? Steps behind the Grand Hyatt are docks with multiple watercraft rentals, including sailboats and personal watercraft. A tour of the bay on the Hornblower is a more economical choice for families, and will give kids a fun history lesson on the various naval ships dotting the harbor.

The Grand Hyatt is directly adjacent to the trolley line, making it easy for families to park the car and explore the city by foot. You can walk to the Gaslamp Quarter for dinner, and access Seaport Village, the harbor area and marina that sits on the water. This is a great location for spotting sailboats and freight ships.

The U.S.S. Midway is a five minute walk away (or you can take a fun pedicab). In short, families can walk to just about any dining, shopping, and transportation to attractions needed from the Hyatt.