Hoodoo Ski Area: family skiing in the NW

March 10, 2014 By

The motto of Central Oregon’s Hoodoo Ski Area is ‘steeper, deeper, cheaper’. After spending a full day on the mountain, we concur. Located in the Willamette National Forest about 12 miles from Sisters, Oregon, Hoodoo is only an hour from much larger (and more costly) Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, and even in a drought year, enjoyed over 160 cm of powder the March day we visited. As for ‘steeper’, Hoodoo certainly has its challenging runs, but for us, the challenge came from the thick powder and terrain more than from sheer vertical angle. For the steepest skiing in the Northwest, we suggest Mt. Ashland Ski Area in Southern Oregon.

We visited Hoodoo on their annual Winter Carnival day, which includes wildly fun extras in the already low lift ticket price: a ‘dummy derby’ of creatively decorated sleds sent down the slope, a bonfire, games such as archery and axe throwing (yes, we competed), a pie-eating contest, and fireworks. The community spirit at this family-owned ski resort was high, but we noticed details that suggested Hoodoo is always a friendly, community-driven resort, not just during their carnival. For instance, families are encouraged to bring in outside food to most sections of the spacious lodge, creating an almost pot-luck atmosphere during meal times. Many even brought crock pots and plugged them in at the tables: a practice we’re used to coming from a small ski resort ourselves, but which is literally unheard of at large resorts. We observed many skiers and snowboarders going out of their way to assist children carrying gear, and every staff member was cheerful, friendly, and helpful.

hoodoo-ski-area

Hoodoo offers five lifts, and no, none of them include high tech windbreak bubbles or seat warmers. This is old-school skiing, but after spending roughly half the price on lift tickets as you might at mega resorts, you won’t mind the scenic route up the mountain. Beginner terrain is accessed from Manzanita Chair and Easy Rider (a separate ticket price allows beginners to access Easy Rider all day for a discount), and intermediate skiers will find the most options off Ed Chair and Hodag Chair. The Big Green Machine takes you to the top, where a ridge and face await. We felt the black diamond runs had earned their designation, especially on a day like we had, which included heavy, choppy snow. There is a small terrain park off Manzanita Chair, but the bigger thrills for our tween and teen boys awaited them in the trees: Hoodoo offers excellent tree and glade skiing, especially around mid-mountain off Big Green Machine (there’s even an option to off-load at the half-way point of this chair).

hoodoo-ski-area

Hoodoo offers a day care center on-site (a surprise for a small resort), dining services, and full lesson packages and rentals. The lodge is open, bright, and larger than we expected. Remember that homegrown, community feel I spoke of? It’s alive and well in other ways too: throughout the lodge, air hockey and pool tables are on offer, and there’s a fun little arcade for kids. Our boys had a blast playing games in the area adjacent to the bar while we relaxed.

hoodoo-ski-area

It’s impossible not to notice Hoodoo’s signature rental item: the snow bikes. These skis on bike frames can be rented on-site for $30-$50, and include a 30-minute lesson to get the basics of the particular bike. If you’re brand new to snow biking, a ‘license’ is required, making the lesson and rental package $40 instead of $30. Next time we visit Hoodoo, we’ll be trying it out! Hoodoo also offers their Autobahn tubing park and miles of nordic trails. Trail tickets are $14 for adults, but on most Tuesdays and Thursdays (their non-grooming days) the trails are free.

hoodoo-snow-sculpture

Tips for visiting smaller Oregon ski resorts: As an Oregon resident and frequent visitor of smaller and family-owned ski resorts, I recommend keeping the following in mind:

  • Be sure to obtain and display an Oregon snow parks parking permit in your vehicle. Permits are only a few bucks for a single day pass, or around $20 for the season. Pick them up in the lodge, or at your accommodations.
  • Bring quarters for the arcade games and pool tables!
  • If you bring your own lunch, store it to the side of lodge areas permitting gear. Keep tables clear for others while you’re skiing. Be sure to ask whether the ski area charges a small fee for extras such as empty cups, bowls, or utensils you may need.
  • Keep your outerwear weatherproofed. Small ski resort chair lifts can be wet, snowy, and chilly on the bum!

Date last visited:

March 1, 2014

Distance from the interstate:

Hoodoo is located on Highway 20, about 30 minutes from Highway 97. It’s an hour and forty-five minutes from I-5 at Salem, OR.

Lift ticket rates:

At the time of our visit, adult all-day tickets sold for $45 and a child ticket was just $31. Kids five and under are always free. Night skiing is offered Friday and Saturday nights.

Lodging:

There isn’t on-site lodging at Hoodoo, but we recommend staying at Black Butte Ranch located 12 miles away near Sisters. Black Butte offers home rentals, recreation centers, dining, and kids’ programming. For a quieter stay, try Lodge at Suttle Lake.

Directions:

From Bend OR, take Highway 20 through Sisters and up the pass to Hoodoo Ski Area. From Salem Or, take Highway 20 from the opposite direction. Hoodoo is very easy to access!

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced Hoodoo Ski Area as guests of the resort, for the purpose of review. While we appreciate Hoodoo’s hospitality, all opinions are our own.

Mammoth Mountain lodging option: Mammoth Mountain Inn

February 24, 2014 By

Mammoth Mountain Resort’s Mammoth Mountain Inn isn’t the flashiest lodging in the Mammoth area. Nor is it the newest. But for families needing all the basic ski lodging amenities—hot tubs, game rooms, restaurants, and ski rentals and valets—it has it all, and in the most prime location on the hill.

mammoth-mountain-inn

Located directly across the parking lot from the Main Lodge and Panorama Gondola (and Broadway chair), the Mammoth Mountain Inn is friendly and inviting with a wonderful, cozy lobby with grand fireplace, full valet service, and relaxed vibe. The inn is ‘retro’ in appearance (remember A-frame entrances and wooden, connected exterior decks?) without being at all run-down. In fact, it’s spotless, and much more comfortable than other older hotels I’ve visited. Families can easily walk to the lifts and to Main Lodge.

The inn is comprised of a main building with rooms with slope views, and a secondary building of multi-room suites. You lack the views (for the most part) in the second building, but are closer to the pool and hot tubs (more on that below).

Amenities:

mammoth-mountain-inn

Next to location, the most important aspect of any ski lodging is the amenities offered. At Mammoth Mountain Inn, families are on the full village and airport shuttle service route (a big savings in transportation and parking costs), and a full ski valet and ski rental service is located in the lobby. An impressively large game room for the kids includes multiple screens and game consoles (though little else…we wished they had a ping pong table), and there’s a decently-sized exercise room.

Outside the main building in the secondary building are the hot tubs and pools. Finding them can be tricky for a first-timer: from the first floor of the main building, exit and head down the stairs to the parking lot. Cross the parking lot and take the exterior stairs of the secondary building. You’ll be in the first floor hallway. Head up the interior stairs to the second floor, and follow signs to the exterior pool and hot tub and interior hot tubs. Sounds confusing (and it is) but once you have it down, it’s only a two-minute walk from the main building. The pool area includes a small heated pool, hot tub, and three interior hot tubs, plus towels and changing rooms.

Rooms:

mammoth-mountain-inn-rooms

I stayed in a standard hotel room in the main building which included the basics and not much more (standard rooms for a family of four are $199 in regular season). You get internet, coffee service, a bathroom with tub and shower, and separate vanity area. The best thing about my standard room was the view of the ski slopes, with sliding glass door to the connected deck with chairs (no deck walls between rooms). The view was fantastic, and fun to get up in the morning and check out the conditions from the room! The only standard item missing from my room: a mini fridge, which I consider very useful for families. If you want more space, the inn offers one or two bedroom condos, some with upstairs lofts, ranging from $299 (sleeping four) to $449 (sleeping six) and $629 (sleeping 11).

Dining:

Directly inside Mammoth Mountain Lodge is Mountainside Grille and Dry Creek Bar. The bar is a great place to head while the kids are in the game room pre-dinner; the ambiance is lovely, and the bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable. Mountainside Grille is a bit pricy for most family meals, but they do offer full room service as well, which can be convenient.

On the main floor is Sierra General Store, which is a lofty name for a very small store will convenience foods, snacks, and coffee service and danishes. Don’t get me wrong: the fare here is good and prices are reasonable, but the word ‘store’ is misleading. If you’re in a condo, stock up on groceries pre-arrival.

Next door to the inn is the Yodler, a popular watering hole for apres ski among die-hard skiers and a great option for more affordable pub-fare for families. Within easy walking distance of the inn, the Yodler is friendly and lively.

Directions:

The Mammoth Mountain Inn is located at the base of Mammoth Mountain directly across from Main Lodge. From Highway 203, continue straight through Main Street and turn right on Minaret Road and follow for approximately four miles. Address: 1 Minaret Road, Mammoth Lakes.

Disclosure: I stayed at Mammoth Mountain Inn as a guest of Mammoth Mountain resort. All opinions are my own.

Northstar California with kids: a stay at Big Horn Lodge

February 3, 2012 By

As with any large Tahoe ski resort, families have many lodging options at California’s Northstar-at-Tahoe, from rental homes to studio suites and condos, to hotel rooms. For our three-day weekend family getaway, we choose to stay in a luxury condo at Big Horn Lodge. Operated by Tahoe Mountain Lodging, Big Horn Lodge is located ideally in the heart of the Northstar Village. From our 5th floor balcony, we could watch the Big Springs Gondola whisk skiers and boarders up the mountain and eye the comings and goings on the lively village street below.

northstar

Last winter, our family enjoyed a week in an isolated vacation home on the south side of Lake Tahoe, so at first, the kids weren’t sure how much they’d like being so close to the action. They were won over by ‘village life’ almost instantly; they loved being steps away from the village ice skating rink (open afternoons and evenings and free to use), the hot tubs (directly across the village street from the Big Horn building), and most importantly, enjoying the novelty of grabbing their skis out of our assigned Big Horn locker and walking 35 steps (yes, they counted) to the gondola.

northstar

Our 1300 square foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom Big Horn condo included a full, gourmet kitchen (stocked with everything you’ll need except groceries), a dining area, living area (with fireplace), and sleeping space for six (two bedrooms, plus a quite comfortable pull-out sofa). The kids loved the deep tubs, and I appreciated having a full-sized washer and dryer…no more damp gloves! Our ski locker downstairs fit six pairs of skis, and the proximity to the lifts made getting three kids ready to go each morning very easy. Ditto for the reverse: it was so fun to ski right down to our door!

NorthstarIn the evenings, we stepped outside Big Horn (located at the end of the village next to the slopes) and walked just a few doors down to all village shops and restaurants, as well as the ice skating rink (rentals are $10, and run big), where the kids (and me!) loved roasting marshmallows on the big fire pits (surrounded by welcoming outdoor seating). Tip: S’mores kits are available for purchase at True North, directly across from the ice skating rink, but plan ahead…they close at 8 pm!

All Tahoe Mountain Lodging guests enjoy the use of fitness centers and hot tubs located within their properties (the closest to us was right across the street in the Catamount Lodge) and the heated outdoor pool (with lap lanes) in the Village Swim and Fitness Center (directly across from the village near the Hyatt). All amenities were within easy walking distance for our family.

northstar

Bottom line? Our condo at Big Horn Lodge was beautiful inside and out, but what guests are really paying for (and is it ever worth it!) is the location. At the end of our stay, I asked the kids again if they would rather be deep in the woods like last year, and they couldn’t decide! They truly loved both experiences, but if a relaxing stay for you, Mom and Dad, is paramount, go for village living! Our experience at Big Horn Lodge was the epitome of logistical ease: everything we needed was at-hand, and we never even saw our car again until we checked out!

Date last visited: January 26-28, 2012

Distance from the interstate: Several miles off I-80 near Truckee CA.

Rates and reservations: Rates vary by season and condo size. The rate for our two-bedroom, two-bathroom Big Horn condo was $425/night, at the time of our booking. Rates for a similar condo range from $300-900.

Directions: Northstar-at-Tahoe is located 30 minutes from Reno, NV or three hours from Sacramento, CA off of the Highway 267 exit on Interstate 80 (I-80). Follow signs from Big Spring Drive to the second loop (by the Hyatt), where you’ll see parking for Tahoe Mountain Lodging. Check-in is easy at their offices (open to 11 pm nightly).

As I disclose whenever applicable, Northstar-at-Tahoe and Tahoe Mountain Lodging generously hosted our stay at Big Horn Lodge. This compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.

Northstar on Dwellable

Best Ski Towns: Keystone Resort, Colorado

November 7, 2011 By

Vail, Colorado has long been synonymous with top-notch skiing, but vacationing families may overlook one of the most family-friendly gems in its crown: Keystone Resort. Less well-known than nearby Vail, Beaver Creek, or Breckenridge, Keystone is located an easy two-hour drive from the airport hub of Denver on I-70, right in the heart of the Rockies. Operated by Vail Resorts, Keystone is a ski town unto itself, with a quaint slopeside village, a full scope of lodging options, fine and family dining, and so many apres-ski activities, kids will certainly sleep well at night!

keystone-gondola-river-run

I had the opportunity to visit Keystone last month, and the moment I arrived, I knew it would make my list of Best Ski Towns. All the essential elements for a great family ski vacation can be found within the resort: convenient, cozy lodging, easy and affordable dining, great skiing, a top-tier, full-service ski school, stunning scenery, and most importantly, a dedication to the family ski experience on the mountain and off.

During the high season, Keystone is literally buzzing with activity. While I was visiting in the fall off-season, construction crews were hard at work on a brand new, full-sized family ice skating rink, located in the heart of the village, and despite the fact that the snow hadn’t yet begun to fall, I kept hearing about KidTopia, a family festival running on scheduled weekends throughout the ski season. KidTopia is a full program of winter events, movie nights, themed parties, and entertainment, at the center of which is a real-life ice castle snow fort (remade each winter, of course!) for kids to explore slopeside. Families can also snowshoe, snow tube, and take sleigh rides when not hitting the slopes.

ski-and-ride-keystone

For quality ski and boarding instruction, Keystone offers their Ski and Ride School, where families can choose between group lessons by their children’s age, family lessons in which the whole family is involved, or private lessons. All take place in a centralized section of the mountain, where fun interactive elements vie for kids’ attention and offer a whimsical addition to lessons. Keystone also offers a full-time daycare for the littlest ones, and–most appealing to my family of skiers–an adventruous Cat Skiing and Riding program that delivers families (or just mom and dad) deep into unexplored power to make new tracks! Every level of skiing is catered to, and with such mix-and-match options, families won’t feel ‘boxed in’ to lessons that take them away from each other.

keystone

Tip! As with any ski resort, don’t forget about the off-season! Temperatures may rise, but prices drop in the summer and fall, making the off-season a great time to visit Keystone. During our stay, we enjoyed the many hiking trails in the immediate area (Keystone employees at both the lodge and condo registration offices can point out great hikes on a map). Bike and jogging trails criss-cross the resort, offering miles of beautiful scenery, and only 25 minutes away by car, Lower Cataract Lake awaits with a family-friendly two mile loop amid quaking aspen and high peaks. Summer activities also include river tubing, fishing, and rafting.

Lodging: Keystone offers so many different types of lodging, it’ll make your head spin. Every level is accommodated, from lodge hotel rooms to home rentals. During our stay, we called the family-friendly River Run condominiums home. Comprised of two and three bedroom condos in beautifully themed multi-level buildings, the location is perfect: right in the heart of the River Run village, it’s ski-in, ski-out, so there’s no hassling with shuttles or parking. The lobby of our building housed a roaring fireplace, comfy couches, and ski lockers, and the outdoor patio welcomed us with a steaming hot tub and guest-use BBQ. Laundry facilities are located in-house as well; though I’ll tell you they’re on the top floor to save you from looking for them as long as I did! Our unit in River Run was very spacious and comfortable for a family with a full kitchen, living and dining area, and two bedrooms and bathrooms. We were able to shop for food on our way into Keystone and cook most of our own meals, and from our balcony, we could see a main gondola.

keystone

Dining: Right in River Run village are a vast number of family-friendly pizza parlors, pubs, quick-service sandwich shops, coffee shops, and even a small grocery store. When not dining in, any type of food you might want can be found within a few steps of your condo, and most deliver. For a special night out, I recommend one of two fine dining restaurants, with or without the kids: the dining room of the Keystone Lodge and Spa serves delicious, locally-inspired options from top chefs (I had a house-made ‘pocket pasta’ that was to die for), and the unique Ski Tip, housed south of River Run in the historic Ski Tip Lodge offers an amazing wine list and four-star culinary options paired with the wonderful ambiance of a cozy ski cabin (the original home of Keystone’s founding owner). If the weather is nice, take cocktails on the outdoor patio, and ask for your dessert by the cavernous fireplace in the living room. Kids are welcomed at Ski Tip with their own varied and inspired kid menu, but keep in mind that your fellow patrons and inn guests will most likely be seeking serenity and relaxation after a long ski day.

Keystone-resort

Getting there: If you’re driving, Keystone is very accessible on I-70. From Denver, travel west on Interstate 70 and exit at the Silverthorne/Dillon exit (#205). At the end of the exit ramp turn left (East) at the stop light onto Highway 6. Travel 6.2 miles into Keystone Resort.

While staying in River Run, cars are parked in the nearby indoor, underground garage, but you may not need it again until you depart: the Keystone shuttle service, operated by Colorado Mountain Express, got us everywhere we needed to be in the resort. For those flying into Denver, the same shuttle service gets families efficiently and safety to Keystone straight from the airport.

Tip! Keystone Resort is situated at over 9,000 feet above sea level. Families not used to this altitude will want to take it easy on their first day, and be sure to hydrate while on vacation and before arriving! I was raised at 5000 feet, and still felt the effects quite strongly!

As I disclose whenever applicable, Keystone Resort hosted me during my stay, covering accommodations, transportation, some dining, and a spa treatment. While generous, this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.

Timberline Lodge and ski resort

February 7, 2011 By

If you’re looking for a Pacific Northwest ski resort experience that will really impress while remaining kid and family-friendly, you’ll want to book an overnight ski package at Timberline Lodge, a ski-in and ski-out resort nestled on the slopes of Timberline in Oregon’s Mt. Hood area.

We love Timberline Lodge’s historic beauty, cozy rooms, and majestic views, but the best thing is, guests don’t have to sacrifice any of these features for family-friendly prices. Kids under age 11 eat free in the dining room (off the children’s menu), ski and stay packages are always on offer, and rooms are reasonably priced (kids stay free in the same room as parents, or add an extra room for the kids with two twin beds for only $105 a night!).

During ski season, families love the convenience of the lodge’s ski-in and out location, the cavernous ski locker and storage area on the main lobby level, and the wonderful (and filling) ski morning breakfasts in the main dining room. Visitors in the off-season can fill their days hiking, biking, and wildflower spotting on the high mountain peaks. And all year round, Timberline’s heated outdoor pool and hot tub ease the muscle aches of a busy day. Kids love swimming under the stars at night, and adults will appreciate the free coffee, comfortable couches, and games and reading material on-hand in the beautiful lobby.

Main lobby of Timberline Lodge. The stone fire...

Image via Wikipedia

The ski resort itself is perfect for beginners and families representing multiple ski and riding levels. The ride up the top chair offers plenty of challenging terrain, but much of the lower mountain sports wide, groomed trails and expanses. We love that the Wy’East ski lodge is just across the parking lot from the Timberline Lodge for quick snacks, ski rental equipment, and other ski resort fare.

Distance from the interstate: Timberline is located just over an hour from Portland, OR just off Hwy 26 past Government Camp.

Room rates: $155 for a queen room and $105 for a double twin room at time of this publication. Consider coming midweek, when your room will include ski tickets, complimentary breakfast, and a $20 dining room credit!

Dining: For a single lodge, there are a surprising number of dining options for families. The Cascade Dining Room can’t be beat for breakfast, and if you’re looking for an upscale evening meal in a no-fuss or frills atmosphere where kids are welcome (and eat free!), this is the place for dinner, too. If you’re looking for something more casual after a day of skiing or hiking, the Ram’s Head Bar, located on the second-floor landing, has great pub-type food and drinks.

Directions: From Salem, OR: Follow I-5 North to I-205, then take I-205 North to the Mt. Hood exit; turn right. Follow signs to Mt Hood/Government Camp,then follow Hwy 26 to the Timberline access road, just past Government Camp. Turn left on Timberline access road; follow the road to Timberline (6 miles).

From Portland: Take the 205 South to I-84 East (The Dalles exit), then I-84 East to exit 16 “Wood Village”. Go right at stop sign on to 238th, then follow 238th (which becomes 242nd) to Burnside (approx. 3 mi.) Take a left on Burnside, which turns into Hwy 26 East. Follow Hwy 26 East to the Timberline Road turn-off (about 40 mi.); pass through the towns of Sandy, Welches, and Rhododendron. Turn left on the Timberline access road; follow the road to Timberline (6 mi.)

Sunriver Resort, Oregon

November 8, 2010 By

Toby kicks back and relaxes in the snow at Sunriver.Located thirty minutes from Bend, Oregon along Hwy 97, Sunriver, Oregon is an outdoors-lover’s paradise four seasons out of the year. The Pit Stops for Kids family has visited in winter, spring, and summer, and had so much to do and see each time that we definitely need to go back!

Sunriver is a vibrant resort community of vacation homes and a village center of shops and restaurants centered around a main lodge, all nestled among the pines of central Oregon and in the shadow of Mt. Bachelor. The lodge often runs special packages ideal for families and weekend getaways, but if you’re looking for a magical place to spend your winter holiday vacation, Pit Stops for Kids recommends one of Sunriver’s vacation home rentals, such as these listings currently offered by HomeAway.

We were fortunate enough to spend a Christmas week here, and the kids (and I!) have never forgot it. Right in the Sunriver community, you have it all: snow outside your door (most of the time, anyway!), a sledding hill within walking distance, a year-round pool and hot tub (at the lodge, free access with most home rentals), cross-country and snow-shoe trails (doubling as walking and biking trails in the summer months), a village center with outdoor ice skating rink, award-winning restaurants, and kids’ activity clubs.

Holiday lights at the Sunriver Resort.

During the holiday season, there are tree-lighting ceremonies, cookies with Santa, The Night Before Christmas readings, bonfires, and more. We ate a delicious and festive Christmas Eve dinner at one of the lodge’s several dining rooms before returning to our cozy rental to hang the stockings and leave out cookies and milk for Santa. Christmas Day, we spent most our afternoon sledding, sipping cocoa, and playing board games. It really couldn’t be beat!

If you’re a skier, Mt. Bachelor ski resort is only twenty miles away, (arguably) offering the very best downhill experience of the area. Check for bundled ski/stay rates with Sunriver!

Distance from the nearest interstate: Right on Hwy 97 (30 minutes from OR Hwy 20).

Date Last Visited: December 2009

Rentals and Room Rates: Vary. Check the above links for room rates from the source!

Dining options: There are many, but our favorites are The Grille at Crosswater (for fine dining) in the lodge and Goody’s in the Sunriver Village. There is also a grocery store in the village, but for better prices, you might want to head into Bend, where you’ll find a Trader Joe’s, Albertson’s, and the like.

Website: Sunriver Resort

Directions: To get to the resort from Bend, take highway 97 to the exit at Cottonwood Road. Take a left at S. Imnaha Rd, then another left at E Cascade Rd. At the traffic circle, continue straight to stay on E Cascade Rd, then turn left to stay on E Cascade Rd. At the next traffic circle (yes, it’s confusing!), take the 3rd exit onto Abbot Dr, then turn left at Summit View Dr to the resort entrance.

A Pit Stop a Day (Day 15): Westgate Park City Resort and Spa

July 11, 2010 By

View of resort from our seventh floor balcony.

On Day 15, we traveled down Hwy 89 from Grand Teton National Park to Park City, Utah to stay overnight at the Westgate Park City.

The Westgate Park City is a beautiful resort nestled against the base of The Canyons ski resort about five minutes from downtown Park City. Winter is their peak season (no pun intended!), which makes it a great choice in the summer months to beat both high prices and crowds. And lest you think they only offer ski-oriented activities, rest assured: there’s plenty to do! In fact, had our itinerary allowed for it, we’d have gladly stayed two nights so the kids could spend more time at their Kids Club, pools, basketball court, playground, and nearby hiking trails, bike rentals, and alpine slide.

For our party of six (three adults and three kids), we were reserved the Presidential suite, which comprised of a similar layout to a two-bedroom suite plus adjoining one-bedroom suite, and had more than enough room. With a full kitchen (with granite counter-tops and quality appliances), we could have prepared Thanksgiving dinner had we wanted to (but who would, with all of Park City’s great restaurants?) and with three bathrooms, no one had to wait for showers. There was also a full dining room and living area, which made for a cozy place to share a dinner ordered in after a long day of traveling.

Full kitchen in suite.

Westgate master bedroom.

Full dining area.

The beds were ‘super comfortable with tons of pillows’ (in Nate’s words) and the living room also offered a pull-out bed/couch. With working fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, and a large balcony, the Westgate suite was the perfect place to spread out and relax for prices lower than you might think (as I said, I wished we had more time).

As guests of the ‘Moose Lodge’ section of the resort (buildings are distinguished by various animal names), two pools were at our disposal: the main indoor-outdoor pool (protected by a glass ceiling and walls for winter months) and hot tubs, and a smaller outdoor pool and hot tub closer to our lodge. The kids had fun at both, and Toby especially loved that each were only 3-4 feet deep max…making it easy for him to keep up with his older brothers without too much swimming. Another perk of the main pool was its proximity to the basketball and tennis courts; you could keep an eye on other kids playing while in the pool area.

Indoor-outdoor pool with atrium.

The Westgate also offers a fitness center (which I used) and exercise studio (offering yoga and other exercise classes at designated times), an adult-only relaxation pool and sauna, and a Kids Club, which had an extensive itinerary of programs and supervised care for kids 2-12 ($15/hour for non-Westgate Resort members).

Date Last Visited: July 5, 2010

Room Rates: At the time of this posting, rates ranged from studio rooms started at $107 per night to two-bedroom units from $215 per night during summer (off-season) months. Since Westgate Park City is a timeshare resort, you can also rent the units directly from resort owners, sometimes at cheaper rates than when you book through the resort.

Restaurants and Dining: Westgate has a quick service pizza counter and marketplace on-site for sundries and convenience foods (limited hours in summer) and a fine dining restaurant (closed Mondays) which offers room service. Otherwise, guests need to drive into Park City (five minutes) for their choice of an array of dining options. We ordered pizza from http://www.davanzas.com/, one of the only places with delivery to the Westgate, and it was delicious and fast.

Distance off the interstate: Minutes off I-80 on Hwy 224.

Directions: From I-80, take Exit 145/Highway 224 South toward Kimball Junction/Park City. Travel 2.7 miles and turn right onto The Canyons Resort Drive. Continue 0.5 mile to Westgate Park City Resort & Spa.

Note: Our only criticism of Westgate was its confusing layout. To their credit, they did try to warn us: right after I checked in, I was sent to guest services, where they explained how to find my rooms. Helpful, but not a good sign for me after a tiring travel day! The way the resort is divided into ‘lodges’ causes a complicated system of various elevators (especially when trying to approach from the underground parking garage). After another day on-site, I’m sure we would have had the route down, but for the first day, we were certainly lost more than once in the vast resort, and we weren’t the only ones. My advice: accept the resort’s offer of a valet to help show you to your room; the escort will be worth the price of a tip!

As I disclose with all compensated reviews, Westgate Resorts hosted us free of charge. While we greatly appreciate their hospitality, this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.

Up Next: We drive south to Zion National Park and check in to the Cliffrose Lodge and Gardens.