Family ski trips can be a lot of work — there’s planning, carrying gear for kids and figuring out how a group with different ski levels will eventually meet up again. The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain, located a little more than a two-hour drive west of Denver, makes it easy on parents. This luxurious hotel, with an onsite gondola, ski rental and valet, heated lap pool, three Jacuzzis, a world-class spa, kids club and a long list of other amenities, has something for everyone in the family.

Each of the 236 units in this nine-story hotel is privately owned, yet identically decorated. They range in size from standard guestrooms to three-bedroom suites with full kitchens. Located along the Eagle River, at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain, the rooms and public spaces have magnificent mountain views, too. And the Jacuzzi tubs provide prime spots to take in all the vistas. An adjacent lap pool, consistently heated to 86-degrees, is another splendid way to enjoy the great outdoors, right from your hotel.

When you’ve had enough of the outdoors, Westin Riverfront has plenty of great indoor options. Beaver Creek Ski Resort is known for their family-friendly apres-ski scene that kicks off every day at 3 p.m., when fresh-baked chocolate cookies are handed out at the base of the slopes. Westin Riverfront celebrates that kid-friendly tradition by offering up platefuls of their own chocolate chip cookies every day at 4 p.m. in the lobby. After your kids have had their fill, there’s a lively happy hour for adults at the lobby bar, with drink specials and live music daily.

The hotel’s hip restaurant, Maya, serves up modern Mexican and a vast menu of specialty tequilas and margaritas. If good food and wine are as important as great terrain, the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain is a great choice.

Westin is a worldwide hotel chain that features family-friendly resorts with exclusive amenities for kids. Popular amenities include welcome bags filled with treats for kids, onsite dining options, pools and more. Read more about Westin Hotels and Resorts.

Westin Riverfront's rooms are decorated in modern, muted color tones and furnishings. The nearly floor-to-ceiling windows add to the contemporary feel and make the most of the breathtaking valley or mountain views.

Each room has luxurious marble bathrooms with bathtubs and rain showerheads, making your shower feel like a trip to the spa. Standard rooms have the shower in the bathtub, while larger suites offer separate Jacuzzi bathtubs and luxurious walk-in showers. All rooms offer flat-screen TV's, a coffeemaker and two robes.

Standard rooms are 400 square feet in size and have two queen beds. Studio suites range from 400 to 450 square feet and include a gas fireplace, along with a kitchenette that features a two-burner stove, sink, microwave, mini-fridge and toaster oven, in addition to dinnerware that serves up to four. Some of the studio suites have a balcony or patio.

One-, two- and three- bedroom units have all the amenities of the studio suites, but come with a full kitchen and full-size washer and dryer unit, including detergent. They also have a separate living room and dining area with a pull-out sleeper sofa and 32-inch flat-screen TV. Each bedroom also has a 32-inch flat-screen TV.

One-bedroom units have a king-size bed in the master bedroom. All of the 1,200- to 1,400-square-foot, two-bedroom units have a balcony or patio, a master bedroom with a king-size bed and a second bedroom with two queen beds. The 1,700- to 1,900-square-foot, three-bedroom units also all have a balcony or patio, a king-size bed in the master bedroom, one queen bed in the second bedroom and two queen-size beds in the third bedroom.

Throughout the hotel, there are a variety of connecting rooms, a great option for families traveling together or for larger, multi-generational groups. Cribs are available upon request, as well.

Your kids will never get bored at this hotel at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain. During ski season, the resort's private complimentary gondola provides easy access to the ski slopes of Beaver Creek.

In the spring, summer and fall, you can stroll the path along the scenic banks of the Eagle River, just steps from the resort's pool and Jacuzzis. Or let the good times roll by renting bikes right at the resort. Kids will surely enjoy watching the fly fishermen who cast from the banks of the Eagle River. Should they want to cast off themselves, the hotel offers free daily casting clinics on the lawn during the summer.

The surrounding mountains offer plenty of warm weather activities, as well. Hike, horseback ride, kayak or mountain bike among the aspen trees, or tee off at the Greg Norman-designed Red Sky Golf Club or 18-hole Beaver Creek Golf Club. Across the street from the Westin Riverfront is family-friendly Nottingham Park, with volleyball courts, a soccer field, playground and a lake where you can rent paddleboats.

For kids age 5 to 12, the Westin Riverfront offers a colorful and well-staffed kids club, filled with board games, a teepee, paints and a variety of crafts. Parents will appreciate having the option at sign-in not to have their kids watch TV or play on the Internet or Wii during their time at the kids club. The Westin Kids Club is open noon to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. It costs $24 per hour, $65 for three hours or $95 for the full day. Hours are often extended during peak winter weekends.

Another helpful kid-friendly amenity is the $30 ski school car pool, where resort staff will bring your child to the Beaver Creek Ski/Snowboard School and pick them up at the end of the day.

The front desk has a Wii gaming system and a variety of complimentary board games available for guests to bring to their room. Babysitting for younger children can also be arranged through the front desk.

Westin Riverfront offers a rich menu of dining choices. For grab-and-go coffee, sandwiches and snacks, there's The Market, located just steps from the gondola. It's a great place to grab breakfast sandwiches or fruit to fuel up before hitting the slopes. You can pick up a hot pizza or a frozen one to heat up in your room, too. The Market also sells a variety of your typical hotel gift shop items -- aspirin, toothpaste, contact lens solution and more.

Across the hall from The Market is The Lift, serving up breakfast and lunch. From pancakes, to soups and sandwiches, it's a great option if you have time to sit down for a meal before heading into the great outdoors.

The hotel lobby lounge hosts a popular happy hour each day with live music and drink specials for adults.

And que bueno! That's what you'll be saying after a meal at the Westin Riverfront's showcase restaurant, Maya. Serving modern Mexican in a stylish setting with mountain views, this could be a wonderful date night meal, but the inexpensive kids menu means families are welcome. Kids can order quesadillas, tacos or standard chicken fingers. Specialty guacamoles are made right at the table and the mole sauces are not to be missed, nor are the custom crafted cocktails, which include prickly pear margaritas and a long line of tequila choices.

All About the Extras
There's a large, complimentary fitness center, overlooking the mountains and pool area and offering plenty of CYBEX equipment. Daily exercise classes from yoga and Pilates to spinning and kickboxing are offered, most costing an additional fee. The locker rooms have steam areas and showers for guests to use.

Wi-Fi is complimentary throughout the hotel and guestrooms. A business center offers complimentary use of computers and a copy machine. The front desk will fax for a fee.

If you're bringing along a canine companion, you'll be happy to know that Westin Riverfront welcomes dogs in all of their guestrooms. In fact, it's the only hotel in the Beaver Creek Valley that doesn't charge a fee for Fido. The staff will even bring up a dog bed and food bowl, upon request.

Getting There
Denver International Airport, a two-hour scenic drive east of the Beaver Creek area, offers the largest choice of daily flights, both domestically and internationally. Rental car agencies are plentiful. However, parking in Beaver Creek is not. It's best to leave the car at the Westin Riverfront and take the free shuttle when you want to go into town -- it picks up and drops off across the street from the hotel. The daily hotel parking fee is $25. There's also a Hertz car rental station located onsite at the hotel.

Eagle/Vail Airport is only 20 minutes from the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain. Flights to and from this regional airport are limited and more expensive than Denver International Airport, but can be well worth it for a quick weekend ski trip. Eagle Airport promotions like the Fly In-Ski Free deal, in which you ski free on the day of your arrival, are also a budget-friendly perk. Currently, Eagle/Vail Airport has direct flights to Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Newark, N.J. and Toronto.

If you'd rather not rent a car, Colorado Mountain Express offers shuttle service from both Denver and Eagle/Vail Airports. It's $51 per person each way to Eagle. Another option for families is MPG Express. Up to six people can ride in one of their SUV's for $198 one-way from Eagle/Vail Airport and $498 one way for a ride to and from Denver International Airport.

The Art of Smart Timing
December through spring break time is high season in the Beaver Creek area, yet any time of year is a good time to visit the mountains of Colorado. The surrounding aspen trees mean that fall brings a vibrant spectacle of color. Spring has warm-enough temperatures for biking and hiking. And summer temperatures never get too hot, perfect for rafting, kayaking and mountain biking. Another summer highlight? The Westin Riverfront sponsors the Beaver Creek Rodeo, with free shuttle service from the hotel.

For Mom and Dad
Spa Anjali offers a tranquil oasis which can be found adjacent to the pool and fitness area. Signature treatments feature Native American influences and pay tribute to the mountains, from the Riverstone massage to the Ponderosa Pine body treatment using sage, pine and lavender aromas. The ultimate experience is the Rocky Mountain High, four hours of pampering at its finest, including a facial, massage and pedicure. Spa Anjali also offers couple massages, a perfect way to end a day on the slopes with your loved one.

The lobby lounge, with its live music during happy hour, is also a relaxing way to unwind and have some time alone.