Deer Valley, UT
- Skiing and Snowboarding
- Dog Sledding
- Olympic Park
- Zip Lining
- Roller Coaster in the Snow
- Park City
- Amazing Restaurants
Excellent trip for the whole family! Recommended: 4-5 days. Cost: $$$$$
Our little Fit Family Travel Video:
Love Skiing! Love Snowboarding! Love the Snow!
Accommodations:
We headed out to Deer Valley UTAH for winter break. We were able to plan the trip at the last minute which was ideal for us since we weren't sure if we wanted to go to the snow or sun. Most of the resorts were sold out. We checked the St. Regis (our favorite), Stein Erickson but all were fully booked. I hadn't been to Deer Valley for years and I'd forgotten how close all of the hotels were to the slopes so it didn't really matter if we stayed next to the chair lift.
We ended up staying at a hotel that was super close to Deer Valley Ski Resort. It was terrific, very clean and we were able to get a 1 bedroom suite with a full kitchen and jacuzzi on the balcony. Other than being a little small, it was so nice to have a full kitchen and the option to make coffee and quick breakfast before hitting the slopes instead of going out for breakfast. It was also wonderful to be able to kick back in our private jacuzzi with a glass of wine after a long day skiing and rest your muscles. Even though the heat was on, of course I'm freezing wearing a faux fur coat while scrambling eggs!
Being a Beach Girl, I loved the chance to wear my faux fur jackets and bundle up! I was really cold, 60 degrees is freezing to me, so you can imagine how 20 degrees felt to me!
SKIING:
Ski Areas all nearby: Deer Valley, Park City, Snowbird, Alta
We decided to rent equipment at the lodge to make it easier on ourselves instead of lugging it all in the SUV. Renting gear was very organized and fast at any of the shops at the base of the mountain.
In college, I raced on the Ski Team in the Slalom event. I was always the first one on the chairlift at 7-8 am. Now with kids? Um, we arrive after breakfast at half day. Takes alot longer getting everyone ready with ski gear than just yourself!
On the positive side, and I always find one, we skied half day and there we NO lines at all. We could ski right on the lift without any waiting in line at all. It was as if we had a private mountain all to ourselves. In the past when we have skied at crowded places such as Mammoth Mountain, CA or Aspen, CO, we have waited 45 minutes plus in line! It was wonderful being able ski down the mountain directly on to the chairlift without any wait! Loved it! So worth it!
With ski / snowboard / pole rentals and 4 tickets, we paid over $700 per day. Yikes! Expect to pay quite a bit for lift tickets
Other Activities at Deer Valley Ski Resort
Roller Coaster in the Snow
In addition to skiing and snow boarding, there were other really fun things to do! There is literally a Roller coaster that speeds down the mountain through the snow! This was so much fun and something I'd never imagined! We had a blast!
Zip Lining
There was also Zip Lining over the slopes where you can watch the skiers and snowboarders below you as you fly by!
Dog Sledding
One of the most memorable activities we did was to go Dog Sledding! A short 1 hour drive from our hotel, landed us at next to dozens of beautiful, furry dogs anxious to take us on a ride!
Restaurants: Healthy Eats
There were so many amazing restaurants in Deer Valley to eat, all of the places we ate were seriously delicious, and unique in their own way. We went out for Sushi (Being from Hawaii, I was hesitant to go out for sushi in Utah!? The family wanted sushi so we tried it - they said they flew the fish in daily from Japan and it was very fresh and excellent!) We went out for steak one night, and even to a place that makes their own whiskey where we enjoyed a cup of hot cider and whiskey by the fire while it snowed.
