After being on the receiving end of a few less than perfect snow years, Keystone Ski Resort recorded one of its best years in 2005/06, and with it's earlier than scheduled opening on November 3rd for the 2006/07 season - its set to be another awesome year.
Keystone was beginning to become the "Red Headed Step Child" in the Vail Resorts family until its re-emergence from its slumber to become one of the hottest resorts in the region.
Just talk to the locals - after only swinging over to Keystone to grab a few turns after work for the last few years, with the dumps of "freshies" that the snow gods bestowed in 05/06, they rediscovered the amazing variety of terrain that Keystone has to offer.
They sampled the new Cat Skiing program that is opening up some major bowl skiing without the hard work of hiking for it, tore up the trees on North Peak and The Outback, the Jibbers amongst them slayed the rails, rode the walls, and hucked the SuperPipe in Area 51.
When they were done for the day (and that could be up to 12 hours of hard skiing or riding after the lights come on!) they then stopped off to party in the Villages with all of the "Après Ski" action provided by the new bars, restaurants and clubs at the base.
Vacation lodging wise, Keystone has choices galore and prices too.
As a general rule, the closer you get to a ski lift, the more expensive your condo becomes.
However, Keystone has something for everyone.
The original Village is the Mountain House, and there are affordable lodges and options as well as intermediate priced new complexes (there are a couple of high-end gems in there too!).
The newer European style pedestrian village at River Run has a great location, and all buildings are of a similar layout and standard, and are generally priced a little higher than the Mountain House.
The two true "Ski in Ski out" lodges right across form the Gondola at the River Run base area are Lone Eagle and The Timbers, and are much sought after, if a little rough on the pocketbook! Keystone also has much more to offer than just the two base areas.
Laid out over 7 miles along the SnakeRiver, there are many neighborhoods full of great lodging options with great prices.
From value orientated to brand new condo complexes, nice family style townhomes, or higher end private homes you will find everything you need.
Almost everything is only a short walk from a free shuttle bus stop to whisk you to the slopes, or a short drive will take you to the ample parking lots at both base areas (the free lot at River Run is HUGE).
Local Knowledge is the key to finding your perfect lodging in the perfect location at the perfect price.
That is why it is so important to get good advice from the experts who know the area inside and out.
Someone who knows each complex and each location, someone who knows their advantages and disadvantages and can sift through all of the options to find the perfect place that fits your requirements.
How do you do that on your own without spending an entire year on-line planning your next getaway? You need help from the local experts.
You won't find that on any of the big travel sites.
They specialize in volume reservations; you are just another number to them.
The place to go is to the independent travel planners.
They will plan your entire vacation for you on an "a la carte" basis - everything you need - nothing you don't! They can also do it at the same or better prices than are available to the mega-sites, and with no additional fees - why would you go anywhere else? You work too hard for too long to have anything less than perfection when you finally get your vacation.
Make sure your time spent on your next ski vacation is "Pure, Simple, Pleasure" Now you have a friend in the Colorado Ski Vacation business - The Mountains USA