Skiing Deer Valley Resort – Utah
Skiing Deer Valley Resort
Deer Valley Resort is one of many ski resorts located just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. However, Deer Valley isn’t your average ski resort. A short 45 minute drive from the Salt Lake City Airport, Deer Valley Resort is the number 1 ranked ski resort in North America according to Ski Magazine. With amazing customer service, upscale amenities, and unique experiences, it is no wonder that Deer Valley Resort has a hold on the top spot to book your ski vacation.
I recently spent a few days exploring all that Deer Valley Resort has to offer.
I started my skiing off with one of the most unique experiences available at any resort – Ski With a Champion. The Ski With a Champion experience allows guests to spend a half or full-day skiing with one of seven former U.S. Olympic snowsport athletes. Deer Valley Ambassador and 3 time U.S. Olympic downhill skier Heidi Voelker was my Ski With a Champion athlete. After a few runs trying to keep up with Heidi, we headed to the NASTAR course where Heidi showed off her speed. Definitely a fun experience to race against a former Olympian. With the 2018 Winter Olympics finishing up, it was special to hear about Heidi’s experience as an Olympian and get her perspective on the current Olympics. To watch Olympians on TV is one thing, but to be able to ski with one is truly incredible.
After an amazing morning skiing, talking with, and learning from Heidi, it was time for a filling lunch at Snow Park Lodge. Deer Valley Resort’s world famous Turkey Chili was just what I needed to get me ready for another afternoon on the slopes.
In the afternoon, I spent more time exploring Deer Valley Resort’s Olympic ties. Did you know that Deer Valley Resort hosted the freestyle mogul and aerial and alpine slalom events of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games? You can enjoy and experience those same runs and imagine that you are an Olympic champion.
After an evening of more eating at Deer Valley Resort’s seafood buffet for dinner – an experience I highly recommend when visiting Deer Valley or the surrounding Park City area – it was time for some rest.
With views like this on fresh snow, you’d be smiling too. After enjoying the view it was time to take a few runs. One of the best things about Deer Valley Resort is that they limit the number of lift tickets that are sold on each day. This is pretty unique and ensures that you spend more time taking runs and enjoy the resort than waiting in lift lines. I don’t think I waited more than two minutes in a lift line during my entire week of skiing. Since I wasn’t waiting in lift lines by the time lunch came around I was famished. Thankfully the Royal Street Café at the Silver Lake Lodge provides a place to rest your legs with table service. It wasn’t Tuesday, but that didn’t stop me from ordering quite possibly the most delicious tacos I’ve ever had.
Well fed, it was time to enjoy more of those Deer Valley views in the afternoon before preparing for quite an evening…
Dinner was at the Mariposa, rated #1 in all of Utah by the Zagat Restaurant Guide for food and service. It did not disappoint. It truly was an experience of the senses. The food was delicious, the service impeccable, and each course was perfectly paired with a nice glass of wine. I started things off with some roasted cauliflower, moved on to some gnocchi, before finishing with some wagyu beef. The beef was simply incredible. Of course a meal like this wouldn’t be complete without some dessert – look at the details, little skis!
When skiing, I always try and get first chair. Whether it is a powder day or not, it is most definitely worth the early rise. At Deer Valley Resort, this is no exception, but maybe more so on the non-powder days. Why? Well, in addition to being the overall #1 ranked resort in North America, Deer Valley is also ranked #1 in grooming. So getting out on those perfect blue bird days and carving some turns first thing on perfectly groomed runs is something that shouldn’t be missed.
At least one day a requirement is to cut the skiing a little short and enjoy some Après. Deer Valley Resort is a great spot for that. Not only is the city of Park City, just down the road, but Deer Valley has you covered with spots such as the Stein Eriksen Lodge, Snow Park Lodge, or at the Goldener Hirsch Inn in my case. Some pretzels and a large brew certainly hit the spot for some early afternoon post-skiing relation. And yes, I do ski in bibs.
Deer Valley Resort truly is a unique ski destination. From being ski only to limiting lift tickets to experiences where you can ski with an Olympian, Deer Valley Resort is more than just your average ski vacation. So, when are you booking your trip?
A few more nuggets to share…
Those views.
Fun with an Olympian (Heidi Voelker) Learning with an Olympian (Jillian Vogtli)