The case for park city

For the past five years, my husband, daughter, and my dad have done a February ski trip to Park City. It was important to us that our daughter (now 8 years old) start skiing at a young age to ensure she was comfortable, and this year, we witnessed a massive surge forward in her ability – definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

We ski Deer Valley, and there are three reasons we keep going back.

First, their ski school is truly fantastic. They have several hundred ski instructors on staff, and our daughter has loved literally every single instructor she’s had – male, female, young, old – they are wonderful with kids, and we felt 100% comfortable with her in their care. She was dying to use poles this year, and we were told “PPP” - Perfect Parallels for Poles. Maybe next year ;)

Working toward her poles!

Second, Deer Valley is ski-only, and I absolutely love it. I realize this may be a negative in many people’s eyes but for me, it’s heavenly. I would classify myself as a barely average skier, and I appreciate the calmer atmosphere of a ski-only environment (sidenote, a snowboarder did come to my rescue once in Beaver Creek when I was certain that I would fall off the mountain. I am eternally grateful but overall, ski people are my people).

Third, I love the Park City vibe. All ski towns seem to have their own personality, and I don’t think I’ve come across anyone in Park City, from the ski resort staff to shopkeepers to fellow tourists, that weren’t just completely down to earth and genuinely welcoming. It’s an incredibly friendly place. Historic Main Street also checks every box – there are really good restaurants, great art galleries, and fun boutiques. I’m always happy to return.

Historic Main Street

Deer Valley has gone through a MASSIVE expansion in the last few years, more than doubling the resort’s size. The expansion added ten chair lifts and over 100 new runs, bringing the total to over 200. The longest new green, the Green Monster, stretches nearly five miles making it the longest green run in Utah. Deer Valley hosted freestyle ski events in the 2002 Winter Olympics, and it will again in 2034, with moguls and aerials slated for the resort.

25-26 Winter Trail Map for Deer Valley

Where to Stay

Montage Deer Valley

For families looking for multi-bedroom accommodations with a full kitchen, I partner with an incredible ski lodging company that can source multi-bedroom villas/condos/homes in nearly every ski destination on the planet, from Zermatt to Whistler to Niseko. Of course, home-sharing platforms are always an option in these destinations, too, but for something truly vetted and reliable, there is another option.

That said, Deer Valley has several impressive ski-in/ski-out hotel options: the Montage Deer Valley, Stein Eriksen Lodge, and Goldener Hirsch (Auberge). The St. Regis is slopeside and stunning, though access is via a private funicular rather than true ski-in/ski-out.

I toured the Montage Deer Valley this trip, and it absolutely delivers. Highlights worth knowing:

·      Excellent ski-in, ski-out access via the Empire chair lift

·      Private ski instructors will meet you right at the hotel

·      Excellent ski valet service

·      Kids Club is fantastic

·      Onsite bowling alley, arcade, and a tubing hill – families were gobbling all of these up during my tour

·      Legitimately great sushi restaurant

·      Utah’s largest spa

·      Massive indoor pool plus a heated outdoor pool

Indoor pool at Montage Deer Valley

This hotel is so spacious and even with the family-forward amenities, it still felt completely appropriate for an adult getaway. There are 2-4 bedroom private residences available in the rental pool, as well as multi-bedroom suites. This place deserves serious consideration for your next trip to Deer Valley.

For those of you blaspheming me for my lack of snowboarder love, Park City Mountain Resort (largest ski resort in Utah) is a fantastic option for snowboarding and skiing. It will also host several 2034 Olympic events: snowboard and freestyle ski halfpipe and slopestyle.

The Pendry Park City, Montage's sister property in Canyons Village, is a great option when skiing Park City Mountain. Opened in early 2022, it skews a bit younger and more energetic — there is a rooftop pool (the only one in Park City), a lively après scene with a DJ, and it’s a prime slopeside location steps from the new heated 10-passenger Sunrise Gondola. Multi-bedroom residences are available here as well, making it a great option for families or group trips. Don't let the "hip" label scare you; it has broad appeal.

Both properties offer additional perks and amenities when booked through me — feel free to reach out for details.

Beyond the Slopes

Who’s a good sled dog??

Utah is a winter activity playground. Dog sledding, horseback riding, sleigh rides, ice skating, snowmobiling, snow tubing, snowshoeing -there's no shortage of ways to fill a non-ski day. This year we took our dog-obsessed daughter dog sledding, and it was a hit (with one twist).

This was an off year for snow in Utah, and thank goodness for snow machines or it would have been a lost ski trip. At the time we traveled, Utah typically would have received around 300 inches of snow. This year they had 50.

Low snow meant the dogs couldn't pull sleds, so our guides pivoted to "dog carting", which meant small, motorized vehicles used for off-season training. Our guide was endlessly patient with our questions, and the experience was fascinating. A few highlights from our crash course in sled dogs:

·      Don't picture enormous animals! These dogs weighed between 35 and 65 pounds.

·      The breed is called the Alaskan Husky, a very deliberate blend of Husky, Malamute, and Hound. The Hound genetics keep them lean with a shorter coat (think marathon runner instead of body builder). The shorter coat is important because these dogs actually risk overheating from how hard they work. A bit of Labrador gets mixed in for temperament, since most of these dogs are working in tourism.

·      Before every outing, guides sweep the area for moose, which have been known to charge.

·      Teams of 8 to 10 dogs can cover up to 100 miles in a single day.

·      Most importantly: these dogs LOVE their job. The howling, yipping, bouncing, and frantic tail wagging while they wait to work is an absolute scene, and if you have a dog lover in your family, this is activity is a no-brainer.

Park City has a way of pulling you back, and with Deer Valley's expansion complete and the 2034 Olympics on the horizon, it’s a wonderful time to go. This year’s highlights were our daughter who skied harder than we'd ever seen her, and a pack of howling sled dogs who couldn't wait to get to work. If you're ready to plan your own trip, I'd love to help. Reach out and let's get started.

Sledding break; the vehicle we toured in is visible at the top of the image.