Family-friendly Luxury at Viceroy Snowmass in the Colorado Rockies

After a hard-hat tour of Viceroy Snowmass last fall, when the luxury property was still under construction, I couldn’t wait to experience the slopeside hotel “for real.” My family and I spent a weekend at the Viceroy — about 30 minutes from my house — last month, and we were duly impressed. The hip and sophisticated property would make an excellent grown-up romantic getaway, but it does welcome children with a number of family-friendly amenities and services. Here are just a few of the hotel highlights that impressed this mom:

Sophisticated decor at Viceroy Snowmass includes cowhide and leather pillows in the living room.

Accommodations: One-, two- and three-bedroom residences (they are individually owned) have full kitchens, which are a godsend to parents like me who appreciate the ability to store snacks, drinks and breakfast foods. This is one key way we save money on vacation — eating in at least one meal a day on vacation. We stayed in a “one bedroom plus den,” which was a long and narrow configuration with a master suite, living room with pull-out couch, dining table, galley kitchen and den with pull-out couch. Each kid got his or her own bed — nice!

Video games: I know a lot of families wouldn’t want to play Wii on vacation when its a staple at home, but my kids absolutely loved finding one hooked up to the TV in our den. We also found two games they’d never played before; after skiing on Saturday, it was nice to chill out with some friendly family competition before dinner. (The Wii also kept my school-age kids entertained when they woke up before us each morning.)

My son helps himself to hot chocolate in the lobby of Viceroy Snowmass.

Afternoon treats: Complimentary hot cocoa and marshmallows, homemade Gatorade-like sports drink, cough-drop lollipops and candy for the kids can be found in the lobby every afternoon. A huge hit with my children !

Convenient location: Adjacent to Snowmass ski area’s Assay Hill, a chair lift is literally a stone’s throw from a side entrance of the hotel. In the summer, I envision families hiking together up the mountain, or parents otherwise letting their kids expend energy outside on the vast expanse of grass. One night we had the friendly valet staff shuttle us over to the restaurants in Base Village (Sneaky’s & The Sweet Life), but made the 5-minute walk back afterwards.

The Viceroy Snowmass outdoor pool is open year-round.

Pool: A small pool and two hot tubs are open year round. The area heats up with upbeat crowds in the late afternoons during ski season — especially on the weekends, but kids are always welcome to use the pools/hot tubs with parents’ supervision (no lifeguards on duty). In the winter it’s fun to sit in a hot tub and watch skiers on the chairlift above — just beware of cheeky children who like to toss snowballs.

Spa: Okay, not much for kids here (unless your children are teenagers), but for moms who like to pamper themselves, a visit to the elegant Viceroy spa is a must. Here’s a sneak preview: While waiting for your body treatment, you’ll relax on a  chaise lounge and have warm water poured over your feet, which are then rubbed by a friendly attendant — all the while, you’re sipping bubbly and eating raspberry dark chocolate.

Eight K Restaurant: The on-site Viceroy Snowmass restaurant is phenomenal. I’d actually like to return for date night with my husband — it’s just got a great, chic, nighttime vibe with its 87-foot-long bar, hightop tables near the open kitchen, and cozy lounge seating around a fireplace. Low lighting also sets the scene for intimate dining at Eight K (so named because the hotel is at 8,000 feet in elevation) — but children are certainly welcome here, too. The kids’  menu — which will soon be available via 3-D Viewmaster, according to the friendly restaurant manager — includes healthy items like crunchy organic chicken strips and grilled salmon, as well as grilled cheese on wheat bread and mac ‘n’ cheese. The main menu focuses on seasonal, contemporary American fare with some world accents: blackened tuna rolls, Mexico City Street Tacos or Mom’s Meatballs are example starters, Rocky Mountain trout, Colorado rack of lamb or diver scallops are just a few of the entrees.

Cool bar scene at Eight K, but kids are absolutely welcome in the adjacent dining room.

My children, ages 8 and 10, got a kick out of the colored, flashing-light ice cubes in their cups of ice water, and the Wikki Stix they received to play with before dinner arrived. But the piece de resistance was the unexpected, decorate-your-own cookie platters that each of them received for dessert. Not on the menu, this interactive create-your-sweet came automatically after our meal, and the kids had a blast decorating sugar cookies with the generous supply of colored icing, sprinkles and candy. Honestly, the goods were more than enough to bring smiles to their faces — I think the two of them could have easily shared one platter of four cookies. Instead, we were all in sugar heaven with eight total cookies to share — and bring home to enjoy later. The children keep asking when we get to return to “that restaurant where we got to make the cookies.”

Decorate-your-own cookies for kids' dessert at Eight K.

I suppose the only drawback of Viceroy Snowmass is that it’s not cheap. That said, the hotel regularly offers discounts and special packages; you’ll find the least expensive rates during the quite spring and fall seasons. In the coming months, consider this good deal through June 16, 2010: Complimentary parking and 50 percent off all Viceroy Snowmass amenities, including dining at Eight K and Nest (the slopeside cafe), spa treatments and items at the boutique. Studio residences start at $175 a night. Use the promo code INDULGE when you book online.

Thank you Viceroy Snowmass, for hosting my family for a fabulous weekend. We will be back to eat at Eight K for sure — perhaps next time, sans children.