Updated 5/17/18
I’ve been to Keystone Resort many times, so it’s about time they got some major ink. Perhaps you associate this resort with skiing, and yes, it’s a first-rate ski resort and really fabulous for families. However, it’s also a fantastic summer destination as you will find out in this post.
One of the main keys to Keystone Resort, and the reason they are important to HeidiTown is their festival scene. Keystone Festivals puts on SIX major events during the summer starting with Bacon & Bourbon Festival in June, Wine & Jazz Festival and an Arts Festival in July, Blue Grass & Beer in early August, the Mountain Town Music Festival in mid-August and Oktoberfest in early September. These are top-notch fests; these guys/gals know what they are doing.
I’ve attended Wine & Jazz for the last two years and it’s become one of my favorites. For wine lovers it’s a must. They have this amazing app that allows festival goers to easily save each of their favorite wines and even share it with their friends. It’s available on both iPhone and Android.
Last summer we attended Bacon & Bourbon Festival with friends and it totally lived up to the hype. If this one has been on your bucket list, make it happen this summer. We ate so much delicious bacon and drank some fabulous bourbons (if they have another bourbon presentation this year, be sure to go).
Some of Keystone’s festivals are free, but even the ones that charge a fee for tasting, etc. are reasonably priced.
River Run, the village at Keystone, is the perfect venue for festivals and if you plan your trip around one of these events you will not be disappointed.
On two of my trips, I stayed in River Run and both properties were outstanding. My friend Sharon and I stayed at Buffalo Lodge and our one bedroom condo overlooked the festival. On our trip to Wine & Jazz, we stayed with extended family in a two-bedroom condo at Dakota Lodge. This time we enjoyed an evening at the swimming pool and made friends in the hot tubs. Both lodges are modern and feature great amenities like Netflix and awesome kitchens.
On most of my trips to Keystone Resort, I’ve eaten at Kickapoo Tavern. The food never disappoints and on our last visit there was a fantastic band there playing swing music. The service isn’t always top notch. During our last experience I blame the fact that it was a festival weekend and I think our waitress had simply had enough of the crowds – something I can relate too.
My other go-to spot is Pizza on the Run. We can’t leave Keystone without ordering Pizza on the Run to take back to our condo.
The other key to Keystone Resort is the gondola. The summertime view is well worth the price of your gondola ticket. Have lunch or just hike around taking in the views. Ride up in the early evening for glorious views.
Other random suggestions include grabbing a coffee at Inxpot – they have excellent coffee and this Pacific Northwest gal should know. The $5 happy hour mojitos at Spoons Cafe are awesome and you can sit on the patio and watch the hummingbirds.
Lastly, if you’ve got kids, bring them with you to Keystone Resort. There’s a ton of fun activities for them to do from mini-golf to panning for gold and so much more. Be sure to check the Kidtopia schedule before you go.
Thank you to Keystone Resort and Keystone Festivals for hosting me on these trips.
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Sounds like loads of fun!!