Why Go?
Deer Valley: An enclave of the most beautifully groomed slopes, top-notch places to stay and over-the-top services in the Wasatch Mountains just around the corner from Park City in Utah. It’s the place you go to get away from the real world, luxuriating in family-friendly condos while reveling in Utah’s ‘greatest snow on earth.’ Children love the perfection and the unreality, and staying in places that will forever alter the perception of their own rooms at home!
The Skiing
Definitely a ski resort. This is one of only a handful in the country that still bans snowboarding. And it’s never crowded, as it limits the number of skiers, perfect for learners who want space for confidence. The light, dry powder is some of the finest you’ll find in the country, if not the world. There are also some of the best-kept pistes anywhere making even the steeper slopes a possibility for young novices. Glorious corduroy is everywhere, especially on 9,400 ft high Bald Mountain, which has panoramic views across to the Jordanelle reservoir.
Deer Valley was where the 2002 Wither Olympics slalom was held, yet not all runs are that long or that demanding. There is lovely tree skiing, through groves of quivering aspen as well as 13 children’s Adventure Trails that come with a map for the youngest skiers. For the adventurous and skilled skiers 16 and up, the Ski Utah Interconnect is a wondrous experience, departing Deer Valley most days for a 25-mile backcountry tour to the resort of Snowbird, via the ski slopes of Park City, Solitude, Brighton and Alta.
The Resort
The main base area, Snow Park, is home to a collection of sublime lodges, hotels and condos which all look the part – exclusive contemporary rustic with giant fireplaces and giant sofas – inside and out. There’s a lack of a real heart, though, with many places strung out along the road. Mid-mountain Silver Lake Village is a tucked away pedestrian affair with hotels including the Stein Eriksen Lodge, rated the best five-star hotel around Park City, named after the 1952 Olympic slalom ski champ who for many years was Deer Valley’s figurehead. Winter activities include hot air ballooning with awesome views over the Great Salt Lake, Nordic skiing, dog sledding and horse-drawn sleigh rides. A great family activity is the Snowshoes and S’mores evening with a walk to a campfire for sticky treats.
Children’s Facilities
The Children’s Ski School promises plenty of hot chocolate and snow cone parties along with lessons on natural and man-made terrain. There’s the Fawn Special, Bambi Club, Reindeer Club, Adventure Club and Teen Escape, all broken into age groups and are full day with lunch provided. The resort is designed so youngsters and learners can access most of the place without fear. The Children’s Center offers non-ski care for ages two months to 12 years.
Getting Around
Salt Lake City and its well-served airport is a 45-minute drive. Deer Valley has its own facilities, but most people at some point want to pop into Park City with all its restaurants and entertainment. There are free buses but it’s handy to have a car here for scenic drives out to the Great Salt Lake with its eerie beauty, the bright lights and history of Salt Lake City, and to other ski resorts, such as Robert Redford’s style show Sundance, plus Brighton and Solitude. A car makes it easy for local jaunts to Utah Olympic Park and the nearby outlet stores.
Nick Dalton, a U.K.-based travel writer for newspapers, such as The Times, has visited nearly 90 U.S. ski resorts (and another 20 or so in Canada). When not skiing he’s also an expert on cruises, and his children, Georgia and Henry.