Visiting a new resort is a complex thing. There are dozens of hotel options, an infinite combination of activities, lots of places to eat and explore and experience for the first time. As such, there are a ton of questions that people like me have.
That list goes on, but you get the idea: a resort is like a grocery store full of options, all of the ingredients for a fantastic meal are there but…well…we leave it up to the guest to figure out the right combination.
Sometimes all I wish existed was a few recipes to guide my shopping. Something like this.
—
So you’re thinking about coming to Innisridge but want to be sure you have an awesome time? We’ve reviewed hundreds of reservations and heard from dozens of guests to come up with this step-by-step guide to a perfect vacation.
For families, we’d recommend the Falcon Fountains lodge. There’s a pool with a water slide, game room, and each unit features a separate bedroom for kids and parents. It’s really popular with families (link to lodging page).
If you can arrive by early afternoon on the first day, we’d two nights is a great length for a family trip to Innisridge in the summer. This will give you time to do everything on the mountain with enough space in you calendar left over to repeat your favorites once or twice.
If you’re coming in July and August, it can get warm in the afternoons but start cool in the mornings. Bring both shorts and long pants, plus a light jacket to add layers during cool mornings or if the occasional afternoon thunderstorm pops up.
For families, we’d suggest visiting the Falcon Cafe for breakfast. There are lots of options for adults and children. If you tend to keep the morning simple, you can grab cereal, milk, bagels, yogurt, etc. at the Falcon Market or bring it from home. Each unit in Falcon Fountains Lodge has a full-size refrigerator, range, and microwave (link to menu).
For lunch, the Coyote Grill is a great way to grab a quick bit without having to come all the way back into the village. You can find salads, sandwiches, and soup that fits everyone’s needs (link to menu).
After a full day of playing, a perfect place for families to enjoy a nice dinner is the Timberlodge. Located a few steps from your room at Falcon Fountains, you’ll find a large menu for both adults and children (link to menu).
DAY 1
4:00pm – Arrive
Pull up to the main lodging office and get checked in. We rarely have a line and should be able to get you into your unit quickly.
5:00pm – Scenic Lift Ride
Pick up your lift ride tickets at the main ticket office in the center square (link to map) then proceed directly to Boyd’s Triple lift. The ride takes about 30 minutes round trip, but get off and the top and spend an hour wandering the trails and grabbing a picture at Larry’s Lookout.
6:30pm – Dinner at Timberlodge
Reservations are recommended, but not required (link to menu and reservations).
8:00pm – Swimming & Games
Head down to the pool to let the kids burn off some more energy while you soak in the hot tub. The pool is open until 11:00pm. After swimming, spend a few minutes playing pool or arcade games before bed.
DAY 2
9:00am – Breakfast at Falcon Cafe
Start your day with a quick breakfast overlooking the mountain (link to menu).
10:00am – Mountain Biking
Rent bikes from the Cycle Shop next door to Falcon Cafe and ride the 1/4 mile to Boyd’s Triple. Pass your bike to the attendance and they’ll load it for you. At the top, beginners and casual riders can take the dirt road to the right all the way to the base. More experienced riders can take Sam’s Slide to the left down singletrack trails. Each lap will take about an hour and three laps is usually what most guests find is the right amount.
1:00pm – Lunch at Coyote Grill
Return your bikes to the Cycle Shop and walk about 100 yards north to Coyote Grill for lunch (link to menu).
2:00pm – Guided Nature Hike
Our afternoon guided nature hikes explore some of the most scenic areas of the mountain while teaching you about the wildlife and plans you’ll see in the area. Bring a bottle of water for each member of the family and plan on about 2 hours. Much of this will be sitting in the shade, so don’t expect to get too worn out.
4:00pm – Swimming
It can get warm in the afternoons, so take a quick break and cool off in the pool.
5:30pm – Shopping
The village features logo gear as well as higher end gifts. Spend a few minutes looking for something fun to take home that will remind you of your trip.
6:30pm – Dinner at Timberlodge
Again, reservations are recommended, but not required (link to menu and reservations).
8:00pm – Evening Scenic Lift Ride
If you’d like to watch the sun set from the summit, be at the lift by 8:30 at the latest (earlier is better since this is a popular time to ride the life).
DAY 3
9:00am – Breakfast at Falcon Cafe
Start your day with a quick breakfast overlooking the mountain (link to menu).
10:00am – Repeat Your Favorites
Whether it was mountain biking, nature hikes, swimming, or something else you added to your itinerary, spend your last morning enjoying one more round of those activities before you leave.
12:00pm – Check Out
Check out is at 12:00pm, but you can park in the main lot for as long as you need if you’d like to enjoy lunch in the village or an afternoon activity before you head home.
—
Again, resorts are like grocery stores. All of the ingredients are there but there are sooooo many to choose from.
A loyal guest probably knows how to combine them all into a fantastic trip, but a first timer doesn’t. Give them something – just a simple starting point – and I believe that will help a more people have enough confidence to pull a few things off the shelf, toss them into their cart, and check out.
About Gregg & SlopeFillers
I've had more first-time visitors lately, so adding a quick "about" section. I started SlopeFillers in 2010
with the simple goal of sharing great resort marketing strategies. Today I run marketing for resort ecommerce and CRM provider
Inntopia,
my home mountain is the lovely Nordic Valley,
and my favorite marketing campaign remains the Ski Utah TV show that sold me on skiing as a kid in the 90s.
New stories, ideas, and jobs delivered to your inbox every Friday morning.