After sitting in nightmarish I-70 traffic for 2+ hours, we arrived happy but exhausted at the Lodge.
The Keystone Lodge and Spa sits at the bottom of the Keystone range, just past the gorgeous blue Lake Dillion. Colorado mountains loom overhead, and fields of Queen Anne's lace blow in the always cool and crisp mountain breeze. (Also, is there anything as wonderful as valet parking?)
We checked into our comfy lodge room. It had a fantastic balcony with a view to beat, and also overlooked the pool. The room wasn't dazzling, but it was nice.
A nap was in order before heading down to the Bighorn Steakhouse, which is located in the Lodge. We dazzled ourselves up the best that we could and headed down.
The antlers! The view! It was so lovely that I stepped outside to take a picture of the view and ended up locked outside the restaurant. Like a loser, I had to wave to my MOM to come let me in. Awesome and classy, as always.
It was all very elegant and serious, but had a comfortable atmosphere which I'm sure pleases both European skiers and parents with kids on vacation. Since we had a voucher, we went ALL out - my Mom and I ordered New York Strips, and my sister had the Yellowjack. Both were...ohh...mouthwatering. Has there ever been anything as splendid as strawberry cream butter and rolls? No, that's the answer to that question.
After a wonderful dinner, we returned back to the room for pj time and several episodes of Say Yes to the Dress (when did wedding dresses get so...CHESTY? Nothing says "I'm committing my life to this man" quite like showing the goodies to everyone attending the wedding!) before turning in. The bed was super soft, and surprise - the pillows actually were okay! In all the hotels I have reviewed so far, the Keystone Lodge and Spa definitely has the BEST pillows. All others were either rocks, rocks masquerading as knives or empty air.
The next morning, we headed downstairs to the Spa, which was....ohhh...words cannot describe it. We were greeted with cucumber water, foot baths and robes.
My treatment began with my therapist, Peggy, offering me different oils and salts to smell. "Pick which one smells the most like you." I wasn't sure about smelling like me, but I picked the ones that smelled the best TO me. I picked a vanilla "rejuvenation", a pink sea salt, and a red clay mud. My taste? Basic and sweet. Anyone surprised? The treatment began with the therapist "smudging" me, which was lighting tiny leaves on fire and waving them in front of my face. The room then smelled dark and woodsey - like burning Eucalyptus. Probably because there was ACTUAL burning Eucalyptus.
Wooden bowls were rubbed up and down my spine, and then I was covered with the vanilla oil and sprinkled with the pink sea salt.
Being sprinkled was maybe my favorite thing - it was such a unique feeling, delightful really. I was exfoliated (as I made painful faces into the cushion and repeated to myself "Pain is beauty, pain is beauty") and then got covered, head to toe (AND the bottom of my toes) with Red Clay Mapi Body mud. It felt heavenly being sloughed over my skin.
The mud smelled like childhood, like dirt and earth and purity. It felt so good on my skin, like a balm. After I was thoroughly covered with mud, I was wrapped up like a mummy in warm towels while my therapist massaged my head. To say it was relaxing would be an understatement. I kind of felt like a really calm burrito.
After she unwrapped me, she left the room and I got up to rinse off. The massage table looked like someone had been murdered, murdered in a big way, m The massage table looked like someone had been murdered, murdered in a big way, murdered in a Dexter way. There was an interesting moment, standing there covered head to toe in mud, like some ancient, tribal warrior, as I listened to Aborigine vibration music pulsing through the cd player.
I thought "I should grab a spear and run out the window." Something wild roared in me. I longed to run my red hands over the walls, draw buffalo, shriek and run free, like a mad cavewoman. Like a wild creature. Like a woman who runs with wolves.
But then I thought, "Nope. My massage is next." So I didn't. My massage was incredible, nice and relaxing and light. I'm not someone who enjoys being physically assaulted during a massage, so the therapist who can deliver relief without bruising is a true find.
After the treatment was done, I was taken into the "Relaxation Room" and give antioxidant tea, grapes and water. Every day should be like this, I thought.
Then I realize I forgot the combo to my locker, and I'm wearing a ROBE and not much else.And then the fantasy is over.
Overall, I would give the hotel three and a half stars, the view five stars, and the pillows 10 stars. This equals out to four strong stars in my book. read more