Keystone Summer Bucket List – A Different Take on the Countdown to Winter.

Earlier this week Keystone’s Facebook page started the 100 days ’til Opening Day countdown  to mark the start of the ski season.  It made me realize summer is moving faster than I am.  It feels like summer just started and already it’s more than halfway over and it feels like I have done nothing.  In a panic and feeling ambitious, I pulled out ALL OF MY SUMMER GEAR.  With a renewed promise to use it.

Digging out and cleaning off my summer gear includes swim gear, fishing poles, tennis rackets, golf clubs, climbing gear and not one but three bikes: 1. Cruiser bike 2. Road bike 3. Mountain Bike out for the summer season.  Before you get the idea that I am some Rocky Mountain uber-athlete let me set you straight. As I sort through all of this stuff the more appropriate phrase that comes to mind is “Jack of all trades but master of none.”

So here’s the play by play breakdown by piece of equipment for how I am going to be fitter, faster and having more fun with Keystone this summer.

Tennis Racket
Usage: Doubles game a couple of times a season
I actually love playing tennis. The problem is I am just not especially good at it. Last week I signed up an Adult Beginner Clinic with a group of friends. It was awesome! We did drills focusing on the fundamentals of forehand, back hand, volleying and serving. This was so much. I’ve got to tell you, hitting 100’s balls from the ball machine is a lot more fun then spending half your court time chasing down the 6 balls you brought with you.

The Keystone Tennis Club is open year round with two indoor tennis courts and 12 seasonal outdoor courts. Tennis players of all ability levels are invited to participate in the club’s private lessons, junior clinics, adult drop-in clinics and events. Keystone’s outdoor courts will open Memorial Day weekend (weather dependent) but the indoor courts are open year round regardless of weather conditions.

Bonus Family Activity: The Keystone Tennis Center offers free court times to parents when their kids are participating in any of the kid or Junior clinics

My Mom’s old golf clubs
Usage: Hitting balls into a field – never seen course play
Golf for me consist of riding around in the cart with my husband enjoying the scenery and my husband’s swing but not this year.  Summer ’14 is when I ‘m going to get my game face on with weekly clinics. The New Birdies & Betty’s clinics are every Wednesday Mornings, June 4th – September 24th, 2014. Play alternates between Keystone Ranch & The River Course
$65 per week includes 18 holes of golf, golf car rental, practice balls & prizes.

Bonus Family Activity: Juniors Golf free with a paying adult after 5 PM. Plus both courses have orange tees. The 18 hole orange tee course plays to a yardage that is approximately 2700 yards. Essentially the tees transform our two regulation 18 hole courses into an executive length golf course which is great for our juniors, families and the less accomplished player. Our guests experience all of the peaks, streams, lakes and vistas that our courses offer at a fun yardage that offers up plenty of birdies and eagles.

Yoga Mat –
Usage: About once a month
While technically a year round activity, this summer Keystone is offering Mountain Top Yoga every Saturday. I am pretty psyched to get all Zen and Limber at an altitude of 11,444 ft. overlooking the Ten Mile & Gore Range.

Bonus Family Activity: Have the Fam take the Gondola and meet for lunch at the Mountain Top Grill. This location boasts one of my all -time favorite sandwiches and fun lawn games.  Or force my interests on my family by signing my kid up for Kids Yoga on Sundays at Lakeside Village.

 

Mountain Bike
Usage: Hasn’t been seriously used in over two years due to pregnancy and the arrival of our baby girl last August.

But this year I can’t wait to get out Women’s Wednesday Mountain Bike Clinics. For $30 you can get a lift ticket, bike, helmet and protective gear rental from 3:30 – 5 p.m. at Keystone Sports.  I can’t wait to get out with my girlfriends and shred the mountain and there is a skills and progression park at the bottom of the Gondola with my name all over it.

Fishing Rod
Usage: twice a summer

No shock here but my fishing rode hasn’t seen any usage the last few summers but now that my son is two I think it is time to start impressing him with my sportsmanship.   A great introduction to fishing skills for me will be to attend the Free Thursday casting clinics located at Lakeside Village.

Bonus Family Activity: Lakeside Village is the best place to sit back and soak up the summer while enjoying a frosty beverage. Sit back and watch or join in the fun as your kids play in the sand box, paddle boat or SUP around the lake during the Summer on the Lake Series.

 

 

 

Cruiser/Road Bike
Usage: A few times a summer
Embarrassing but the Keystone Bike Rec Path is right outside my office and I haven’t ridden on it at all this summer…or last summer.  I’m also conveniently close to the Adventure Center which has daily bike rentals so there really is no barrier to jumping on a bike and enjoying the view from the rec path.  My goal is to bring my bike in and ride from Keystone down the path to Lake Dillon.  It’s a perfect after work ride.

Bonus Family Activity: Ride on over to Keystone Stables on Tuesday nights for a free bike-in movie, s’mores by the campfire, horse-shoes and lessons on how to lasso from the Keystone Wranglers. Stick around for Brats & Beers at the Giddy Up Grill.

And so there it is my action packed summer activities and a reason to keep all this STUFF in the garage year after year. Hope to see you out there!