family ski trips - Pitstops for Kids

Deer Valley on a budget: How to plan a skiing trip

November 8, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

During my visit to Deer Valley last ski season, I repeatedly heard two things: it’s so expensive, and the dining scene is amazing. After spending two nights and three days at Deer Valley, Utah, I can tell you one of these things is true.

Deer Valley has an amazing culinary scene that you will want to indulge in. However, this resort is not the most expensive in Utah. In fact, lift ticket rates at Deer Valley are right in the average range for the area. Deer Valley fans know this is only one of the many misconceptions out there about this resort. In addition to hearing that it’s unaffordable, I’ve heard it ‘only has easy groomers’, is posh to the point of snobbishness, and that it’s a playground for the rich and famous. While it certainly boosts some A-list names among its home owners, the rest simply is simply false.

Deer Valley on a budget: Yes, it CAN be affordable!

First off, we simply have to accept the fact that most skiing in major resort in the US is expensive. In fact, it’s downright out-of-hand in many parts of Colorado, Utah, and California. The Park City area is no exception; however, you’ll do more damage to your wallet at Park City Mountain Resort now that Park City and Canyons have merged ($122/day for adults). When I skied recently in Colorado, lift ticket prices were upwards of $140. A Deer Valley one day adult lift ticket is $120, which makes it just below industry standard for resorts of its size. Not cheap, but certainly not the ‘splurge’ people think it is.

Buy lift tickets in advance:

Of course, you won’t want to pay day-of lift ticket prices. Make your Deer Valley trip more affordable by buying lift tickets online before your trip. Don’t overlook the season pass section: depending on how many days you plan to ski, buying a season pass can be a better deal (look for sales in October and November…in other words, right now!).

Stay in a condo:

Next, make your trip affordable by staying in a condo or house, splitting the cost with another family or two. Many people consider Deer Valley unaffordable because they’re thinking of all the amazing four and five star resorts situated around it. While its true that you can spend thousands a night at the St. Regis, Stein Ericsen, Montage, and more, less ritzy lodging is available. With the money you save, you can splurge on dining out (more on that below).

During our stay, we were in a condo in the Snow Park base area. We were minutes from downtown Park City and minutes from the lifts. Included in our condo stay was a complimentary shuttle in either direction, plus internet access, a full kitchen, multiple bathrooms and bedrooms (so crucial when sharing with other families), a washer and dryer, and lots of space to spread out. We sacrificed ski-in, ski-out access for price.

Enjoy some meals out:

When skiing Deer Valley, you cannot miss noticing the amazing culinary scene. Everything from breakfast at the base to on-mountain dining and evening apres ski is amazing, and if you deny yourself all of it, you’ll miss a key part of the Deer Valley experience. With your condo, you can decide which meals to eat in-home, and select a few nights to treat yourself. Here’s where to go:

Fireside Dining: Holy. Moly. Fireside Dining is an experience NOT to miss. It’s offered Wednesday through Saturday, and features four courses served from stone fireplaces, European Alps-style. Diners visit each ‘fireplace station’ at will, in buffet style. Start with the raclette (melted cheese with toppings), then move on to soups, stews, grilled vegetables, leg of lamb, and dessert fondue. It will feel overwhelming, but your waiter will walk you through it. We were told to remember to eat in order of ‘cheese, stew, lamb, fondue’. In truth, you can do it any way you’d like! Be sure to stop mid-way through your meal for a sleigh ride, offered right out front. The servers will hold your table for you, and the break will be welcome. Rides are only $20 per family. Even your meal is affordable, considering the uniqueness and quality: adults pay around $60, kids $30. Alcohol is not included in the price, but you can even bring your own without a corkage fee.

Seafood Buffet: I’m told many diners choose between Fireside Dining and Seafood Buffet when they visit Deer Valley. I’d be hard pressed to choose which! As the simple restaurant name suggests, Seafood Buffet is just that. Thanks to the hub airport at SLC, Deer Valley gets the same fresh seafood as LA or New York, at the same time, if not earlier. It’s offered Thursday through Sunday, and includes a Poke bar, raw bar, rotating selection of grilled and baked fish, prime rib, shellfish, and wonderful desserts. Adults are $68, kids are $34. It’s worth it.

Royal Street Cafe: This restaurant on the snow at the mid-mountain Silver Lake area offers sit-down, serviced dining mid-day. Don’t think of it as a splurge: the prices are only a fraction higher than they’d be at the buffet nearby, and you can actually sit down and put your feet (or boots) up. I had an amazing burger, and others ordered fish tacos, an ahi tuna tower, and Asian salad.

Snow Park Restaurant: Snow Park is at the Snow Park base area (and turns into Seafood Buffet at night!). It serves the usual breakfast in the morning, but makes this list due to its wonderful Natural Breakfast Buffet. This buffet area in the center of the room features granola, yogurt, berries, fruit, oatmeal, nuts, and the like. I made my own custom yogurt parfait.

And for those meals you simply must eat in? Don’t miss out on some of Deer Valley’s signature meals, even in your condo. Deer Valley’s famous Southwestern turkey chili can be bought as a mix in almost all Deer Valley gift stores; add your own meat and veggies, and you’ll have a huge vat of this chili for under $8. Additional mixes are available as well! You’ll have a taste of Deer Valley while feeding the whole crew for pennies!

What to expect on the slopes:

Yes, Deer Valley has a lot of green and blue runs. They’re long, impeccably groomed, and oh-so pleasant. While skiing down them, it’s fun to look at the huge ski vacation homes lining them (Deer Valley is surprisingly ‘urban’ in this way). However, expert terrain definitely exists, if you want it. During my visit, I was lucky enough to ski with former 3x Olympian Heidi Voelker, who is now an ambassador at Deer Valley. She showed me amazing bowls and chutes I didn’t know existed, especially off the Empire chair. Deer Valley also boosts a lot of glades that hide stashes of powder after the bowls are skied out.

No matter what type of terrain you like, you’ll notice that at Deer Valley, the runs and chairs are very well spaced and ‘crowd control’ is very well handled. I never found I needed to traverse or ‘hike’, and I never waited in a long line. Part of this is because Deer Valley actually limits ticket sales per day. They base their capacity level on how many chairs they have available on-mountain for lunch. It’s a great system that results in a very peaceful atmosphere, both on the slopes and at lunch.

Tip: Definitely book lift tickets well ahead if you plan to come during holiday periods, so you don’t arrive to find the capacity has been met. In fact, I was told to book lift tickets and ski school at the time I book lodging.

If you like to shop:

You will have ample opportunity! However, if you want to stick to a budget, head into Park City and do your outdoor gear shopping at Cole Sports. This huge retailer of skis, outerwear, boots, shoes, and more has frequent sales, especially in the pre-season and late season. In Deer Valley, many upscale shops exist; if you need to avoid temptation, however, it’s easy, as there’s no central base area shopping here, where everyone converges.

Will your Deer Valley ski vacation be ‘cheap’? Goodness no! But it’s certainly possible to ski here for no more, and perhaps for less, than at other major ski resorts.

Disclosure: I visited Deer Valley as a guest of Ski Utah.

Breckenridge winter vacation tips

March 5, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

I am lucky enough that I have now spent time in and around Breckenridge, Colorado in summer, fall, and winter. All are wonderful times to visit with their own merits, but winter certainly is a popular choice. With a world-class ski resort and magical winter atmosphere comes an increase in visitors and potentially challenging driving conditions. Here’s what you need to know to have an amazing winter Breckenridge vacation, from dining recommendations to ski tips.

Stay in a condo within walking distance of everything.

The first of our Breckenridge winter vacation tips is probably the biggest. The good news: staying within easy distance of both the slopes and the town is easy to do. Because Breckenridge spans five peaks with lifts touching down in locations across the town, most lodging along South and North Park Avenue, Village Road, and Ski Hill Road will be ski-in, ski-out, or close to it.

We stayed in this unit at One Breckenridge Place, managed by Great Western Lodging. We were about two blocks from the Quicksilver Lift at Peak 9, and one block from Main Street. The unit is a three-bedroom, with lots of room to spread out, cook some of our own meals, and do laundry. The condo village has access to a year-round pool and hot tub complex, which is just 100 yards from the door. Unfortunately, during our stay, the hot tubs were too dirty to use, but the pool was heated. I recommend paying a bit more for a unit at One Breckenridge Place with a private hot tub, which is located on the back deck.

Plan DEN-Breck shuttle trips carefully.

If you take a shuttle service such as Colorado Mountain Express from Denver International to Breckenridge (and we recommend this if you don’t want to hassle with a rental car or driving in wintery conditions), try your best to avoid shuttle times between 4 pm and 6 pm on Friday nights. Traffic is very heavy to the mountains on Friday afternoons, and you can expect your trip to take twice the standard 1.5 hour time. Sometimes, of course, this can’t be avoided…on our last trip, we had to travel on Friday, and had no choice but to get a 4:30 shuttle. Still, it helps to be aware and set expectations. Make sure everyone has water and has eaten a snack before departure.

Going home, if the weather is bad, consider calling your shuttle service to book an earlier departure back to DEN. We learned that CME aims to give travelers a four hour window (two to get back to DEN, with two hours buffer before flight). However, the drive can sometimes take as long as three hours or more in snow storms, and it’s generally up to you to ask for a new departure time.

Get take out for affordable meals.

When you’re too tired to go out to eat, order the ‘pasta bucket’ from Fattys. This local favorite pizza place on Ridge Street offers a take out option that feeds the whole family for about half what it would cost to eat out. Pasta buckets are $30 (you pick your sauce and pasta choice), and comes with rolls and butter. You can add a salad bucket for $20. For $50, we fed our crew of five, and had enough left-overs for lunch the next day. Fattys says their buckets serve 4-5, but we believe it’s closer to 6-8 (and we have teens who eat a lot!).

Eat lunch early or late on the mountain.

When skiing Breckenridge, avoid the base areas between 12 pm and 1 pm, opting to break for lunch at an upper mountain lodge instead. Crowds will be far thinner, and lift lines shorter. Use the Breckenridge Mountain app to see lift line wait times at a glance. We really enjoyed eating quick meals at Vista Haus on Peak 8 and The Overlook on Peak 9.

Use Ski Butlers.

Use Ski Butlers for any gear rentals. If your family owns skis, boards, and boots, and you’ll be skiing or riding for more than a few days, it’s usually more economical to check ski gear on the plane than to rent for multiple days. (Tip: Alaska Airlines allows free boot bag checked luggage with a ski bag.)

However, if you don’t own your own gear, use Ski Butlers. It’s easy to order your rentals online before your trip, and once you arrive, Ski Butlers brings your rentals to your condo or hotel room. The ‘butler’ fits you there, and even offers a direct line for any problems that may arise. We had an issue with one snowboard (the binding wasn’t set to our liking), and Ski Butlers came out the same evening and fixed the problem at our condo immediately. We were very pleased with their attention to detail and willingness to do what it took to ensure we were happy with our gear.

Beware of altitude sickness.

Don’t take the altitude lightly! See our post on avoiding altitude sickness, and be sure to drink lots of water before and during your trip to Breckenridge. I feel symptoms of altitude sickness with every trip, despite taking precautions. Know that one symptom can be insomnia…don’t be surprised if kids and adults have a hard time sleeping at first. Get to bed early, drink fluids, and avoid caffeine and alcohol at least on your first few nights.

Check for seasonal events and festivals.

We happened to time our latest visit to Breckenridge with the annual International Snow Sculpture championships, which meant we could view amazing snow sculptures created by teams across the world.

View during the evenings to see the finished sculptures lit up starting the day of the judging. There’s a people’s choice type of award as well, so be sure to pick your favorite and ‘vote’ with a dollar. Look for additional activities in and around the Riverwalk Center by the Blue River, where the sculptures are located.

Don’t forget to check out the arts district.

Located between Main Street and Ridge Street, Breckenridge’s art district is located in repurposed small buildings with pedestrian friendly walkways. You’ll find all manner of artisans here, and can usually watch them work in addition to buying in the galleries. Kids enjoy this too!

Think ahead before heading out to dinner.

Remember that many family-friendly dining options in Breckenridge do not take reservations. Instead, put your name in early, and use the time before your table is ready to shop along Main Street or check out the small history museum at the Welcome Center (along the Blue River near RiverWalk Center). Some restaurants, including one of our favorites, Downstairs at Eric’s, uses an app to tell you when your name is called. Just give them your phone number and you’ll know how many parties are ahead of you in line. Tip: for the best burgers in town, head down Main to the north end to Canteen. Expect big portions!

Don’t forget snow play gear!

Bring an extra set of gloves or mittens and a waterproof pair of snow boots for each family member, in addition to what you wear if you ski or snowboard. Exploring the village of Breckenridge is part of the charm of a vacation here, but kids will definitely get snowy on even the simplest walk down Main Street. They’ll find places to slide down hills and have snowball fights!

Disclosure: Our stay at One Breckenridge Place and our transportation on CME were provided complimentarily, 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.