I grew up on the East coast. The snow I grew up with was always wet and squishy and the sledding hills we had were limited. Any real skiing or sledding had to be done in the mountains, and most of the great resorts were at least two to three hours away, so my parents rarely, if ever, took us on a winter adventure.
It wasn’t until later in life that I was able to visit Utah. The tourism department claims Utah has “the greatest snow on Earth,” and I was dying to see if the slopes lived up to their reputation. I bravely dared to visit three very different ski resorts over the course of a single weekend. I am so glad I did!
Deer Valley Resort
The Deer Valley Resort was a short drive from the Salt Lake City airport. My hotel was amazing, complete with an in-room fireplace and excellent restaurants. The resort has an astounding 91 slopes to choose from and recently opened an additional lift that gave access to another 200 acres of black-diamond slopes, including tree trails. The quad lifts are quick and efficient as well. I highly recommend taking the lift to the top of Bald Mountain – the view is breathtaking!
Sundance Resort
My trip to the Sundance Resort from Deer Valley took just about an hour. The resort is famous for a number of reasons. Robert Redford once claimed it as his hideout and the resort is especially busy during the highly acclaimed annual Sundance Film Festival. The ski amenities aren’t as luxurious as some of the larger resorts, but the focus on the outdoor lifestyle made this resort well worth the trip. Options for evening entertainment are limited as well, as there is only one bar; but the atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and friendly.
Snowbird
The Snowbird isn’t as aesthetically pleasing to the eye, as most of the buildings are made from concrete in an effort to keep the resort “avalanche-proof.” Fortunately, the resort is much warmer on the inside and the slopes are nothing to reckon with. The resort boasts 2,500 acres of land, with over 85 trails.
The most unique aspect of the Snowbird experience is the Peruvian Tunnel. It was opened for the 2006-2007 season and pulls skiers on a conveyor belt to the Mineral Basin, which was previously inaccessible. The trip through the tunnel, created by a mining company, gives the skier a chance to warm up before hitting some of the best intermediate trails in the country!
If you liked this post subscribe to our feed to get regular updates.
