The Ultimate Staycation: Limelight Hotel, Snowmass

“ISN’T THE WHOLE POINT OF GOING ON VACATION TO ACTUALLY GO SOMEWHERE?” my brother asked.

 “Not during a pandemic,” I said.

A downhill mountain biker pauses to catch his breath and take in the view at Elk Camp.

It’s true, I second-guessed our decision to spend the money to book a room at a hotel 20 minutes down the road at the Limelight in Snowmass for the weekend, but the Colorado Resident rate made it relatively affordable, even for us, at just under 200 bucks a night. No, that’s not including things like parking, resort fees, taxes, and everything you decide to eat and drink from the comfort of this centrally-located hotel that has just the right amount of cush—but still. It’s a lot less expensive than flying, driving out of town, and it felt very safe.

“I just want to stay in a nice hotel,” I whined to Ryan. “I honestly don’t care where it is. I just want a fluffy robe, clean sheets and someone else to cook my food and make the bed.”

I don’t know about you guys, but I have planned a few vacations since the pandemic started, the equivalent of fantasy shopping for things we’ll probably never buy like Airstreams and hot tubs. I’d spend hours pricing out airfare, surfing rentals on Airbnb, and bidding for rental cars on Priceline until I realized it was just easier—and safer—to stay home.

“This is just going to be a shit year,” became my refrain. Why take a risk that wasn’t necessary?

Here’s the good news: Whether you live on the other side or just down the road, a weekend at the Limelight at Snowmass Village fit the bill for the perfect family getaway.

Eureka, you actually feel like you are on vacation, and without having to pay for an astronomically overpriced babysitter!

Yoga Pants and Flip Flops
Unlike the gilded lobbies of Aspen’s swanky hotels where frozen faces and designer skiwear might make you feel off trend, the Limelight has a decidedly casual, laid back vibe. It’s a place where kids and dogs are given equal reign and parents can relax, padding downstairs from their rooms in those provided plush robes I’d been craving. The airy, modern eclectic lobby has ample comfy seating, free games to keep the kiddos occupied, and things like ample space, good ventilation, and free hand sanitizer stations make it feel safe. Still it has the luxuries you want in a resort hotel, from the deliciously comfy beds to the large outdoor hot tubs (more like hot pools) that are warrant an hour soak at least twice a day.

Built-In Babysitter
With is location smack dab in the middle of Snowmass Base Village with the rink right outside its front doors (converted into a large grassy area in the summer with fountains for frolicking in) your kids can run free and keep themselves entertained for hours. Lounge about on the comfy outdoor patio furniture where fire pits keep things perfectly climate-controlled and maintain the ideal vantage point to keep your rug rats in your line of sight. No screen time necessary: this place is teeming with kids of all ages to keep each other entertained until the food comes. Eureka, you actually feel like you are on vacation, and without having to pay for an astronomically overpriced babysitter!

Dishing it Out
While I might typically be pretty discriminating about finding the perfect restaurant when I go on vacation, it almost doesn’t matter what I eat, as long as someone is serving me and I’m sitting in a space where, if someone sneezes, I’m not going to die. While the Limelight menu is relatively simple and does offer several healthy options for plant-based eaters, the star is the gourmet pizzas (the pulled pork was our favorite). Levi liked the chicken fingers so much he asked if he could have them again for breakfast, so kid’s menu got his little two thumbs up, too.

It’s all downhill from here.
I had no idea what a huge scene downhill mountain biking is, but SBV is teeming with riders decked out in enough protective gear to fly to outer space, heaving bikes decked out with suspension so beefy suspension they look almost like motorcycles. Bikes can be uploaded onto the gondola and then onto the Elk Camp lift to access a massively long downhill without even having to break a sweat. The extensive network of trails that has everything from terrifying manmade park features to glassy single track. I especially got a thrill seeing so many female riders with their kids, following them like little armored ducks. The good news is you don’t have to invest thousands of dollars into equipment. Four Mountain Sports (located smack dab next to the Elk Camp Gondola) rents the whole set up: bike, helmet, and protective gear for $65/half day.

Got dogs and kids?
As the mother of a 4-year-old, it’s so fun to experience resort life through his eyes, and to do things I never would have thought about when I was single and more interested in beer swilling on sunny patios than jumping on a roller coaster ride. We had a blast exploring the Lost Forest, including the Breathtaker Mountain Coaster, the climbing wall and ropes course. Ryan and Levi rode the coaster a dozen times while I hiked the pugs up the Vista Trail to Elk Camp, a stunning trail that meanders up the east side of the ski area, basically traversing from SBV over toward Two Creeks and then shooting straight up through a series of steep, glute-busting switchbacks through the woods for the last quarter mile. In addition to epic views of the valley, this trail offers plenty of shade and one creek crossing that make it ideal for your pooches. The pugs also loved their stay at the Limelight, where they were greeted with squeals and requests for photos and treated like the rock stars they truly are. Now that’s what I like to call the royal treatment. //limelighthotels.com

With a stiff drink in a pretty glass, backbends, and fall gondola rides,