When the winter winds blow and snow accumulates on your doorstep, there are basically two things to do: either stay inside with furry rabbit slippers and a cuppa hot chocolate, or hit the slopes. I was tempted to do the former, but I opted to do the latter, and am I glad I did.
If you are ready to ditch the slippers, then pack your ski threads and head to Utah, where life’s a slope.All Utah ski resorts are not created equally. Just like people, each area has its own unique personality and style. Alta Ski Area, for example, currently celebrating seventy-one years of great skiing, is legendary for its pure alpine ski experience. It’s Switzerland in the U.S.A. Park City Mountain Resort screams “youth” and “adventure” offering high-thrills terrain parks for freestyling snowboarders and skiers.
Utah is proud of having the Greatest Snow on Earth and for being an uber-friendly destination with thirteen ski areas to choose from. Seven of them are less than an hour away from the Salt Lake City International Airport. Whether you’re like me—a middle-aged skier returning to the sport after years off the boards—a beginner or seasoned slope vet, Ski Utah has something to rock your world.
Park City
The Inside Scoop: Here’s a little known secret: While the stars are shining in Park City, home to the famed Sundance Film festival each January, you’ll slalom and snow plow down the slopes and terrain parks at Park City Mountain Resort and marvel at the lack of crowds. “Don’t let the movie stars and their fancy après ski wear fool ya,” one local told me. “Festival is one of the best times to hit the slopes. There’s practically no one there.”
Sleep: The vacation condominiums and luxury homes available through Park City Lodging and Club Lespri are a great choice for families and groups.
Fuel up: Before hitting the slopes, skiers like to boost their energy levels with a Main Street Omlette at The Eating Establishment. Don’t worry if you’ve been partying half the night because breakfast is served til 4 pm. And, if you can wrangle a dinner invite to The Cellars at Club Lespri, you’ll be privy to one of the finest dining experiences in Park City. I’m sorry to report that it’s members only, so you’ll either need to stay at Club Lespri or flash a big smile at a member.
Hang out: If you think shuffling is for cruise ships, think again. Join the eclectic crowd at the No Name Saloon for a raucous game of shuffleboard.
Alta
The Inside Scoop: If you want a taste of classic Utah ski culture, head up Little Cottonwood Canyon to Alta Ski Area, where the crowd comes back year after year and the powder is legendary. The tradition-rich ski scene is giving Europe a run for its Euro. If you have visions of fluffy powder, you are correct, but be warned: this is no place for the faint. If the skiing and setting hadn’t been so awesome, I might’ve let the sans-sissy-bar chairlifts keep me off the slopes.
Sleep: Simple and rustic, the Alta Lodge is a rare kind of ski-in/ski-out mountain inn that inspires generations of families to return year after year. Yearning to be pampered? The Rustler Lodge offers a spa and deluxe slope-side rooms.
Fuel up: The best place to fuel-up at Alta Ski Area is slope-side, either at one of the mountain eateries or your lodge. Remember, it’s all about the powder here.
Hang out: Sipping a whisky at the “Sitz”—local speak for the Alta Lodge Sitzmark Club bar—is one of the sweetest ways to end your perfect ski day. It’s all about the cozy camaraderie, and even the finest Scotch takes a back seat to schmoozing.
Solitude
The Inside Scoop: This resort is a haven for in-the-know skiers and snowboarders lured by its off-the-beaten-path seclusion, high-speed quads and varied terrain. Though only about 50 miles from Park City and Salt Lake City, you almost never have to line up for a lift. There are wide-open runs and the isolated setting make Solitude a hidden treat.
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