Want to take the entire family, (including grandparents) somewhere unforgettable? It’s such a thrill to ski with – or watch the kids and grandkids make a snowman. Where can you take a group of non-skiers, elderly folks, wriggly young kids and hard-to-impress teens? It’s got to be an absolute bucket list luxury ski experience and the obvious choice is Deer Valley in Utah, USA.
Deer Valley, Utah
Deer Valley enjoys a long standing reputation of impeccably groomed ski runs with state of the art snowmaking and is a magnet destination for celebrities. It’s an upmarket snow holiday where everything can be taken care of to make your life easy. Deer Valley has a ski butler service, ski-in ski out stunning hotels and the full array of dining options. As a skiing destination it’s even more amazing as the resort just added an additional 3700 acres of skiable terrain to its 2000 acres on the East side and a new gondola linking Mayflower ski area to the Snow Park Base Village called Keetley Express. This more than doubles the size and makes Deer Valley one of the largest ski resorts in North America. When the upgrades are completed, 37 chairlifts will deliver skiers to 238 ski runs on over 5726 acres.
Grand Hyatt Deer Valley
My stay at GRAND HYATT Deer Valley East was absolutely incredible both from a stunning hotel perspective and the side of Deer Valley to base yourself from, due to views over Jordanelle Reservoir & the countryside of the Heber Valley with mountain views and natural landscape vistas as far as the eye can see. You can take it all in from the comfort of the outdoor jacuzzis or pool or get out there on the ski hill, Deer Valley is all interlinked by chairlifts. Right out the front is Keetley Express, Deer Valley’s first six-pack chairlift with heated seats and protective bubble.
Convenient
Fly into Salt Lake City and take a shuttle bus up to Deer Valley. It will take between 30 to 60 minutes (depending on the traffic). That means you’re in your accommodation after a long flight with kids fairly quickly and travellers needing the reassurance of being close to medical care can be assured there are top specialist doctors at Park City and Salt Lake City hospitals.
Kids
Deer Valley has an incredible ski school to take care of kids of all ages as well as a facility to take care of non-skiing children from 2 months of age to 12 years. That means parents can get out on the snow or join an off-snow activity and know the kids are taken care of and are happy and warm indoors. Activities include art projects, singing, storytelling as well as toys, quiet areas, performances and indoor and outdoor playgrounds. The area separates kids into age groups so they can make friends of similar ages, which is always fun. Full day programs include lunch. Please note snowboarding is not allowed at Deer Valley so this is the perfect opportunity for your snowboarders to get skiing lessons.
Ski Butler
Reserve your rental equipment ahead of time and pick up your equipment at your hotel. Rental Equipment can be stored on the new east side outside the Hyatt Regency and Snow Park Base. There are plenty of retail stores in and around the resort if you need to buy gloves, handwarmers, clothes or souvenirs too.
Shopping
For days off snow or for the non-skiers it’s easy to jump on a free and electric shuttle bus and head into Main Street, Park City. The streets along and around Historic Main Street are nothing short of stunning and are a mix of retail stores, groovy bars, upmarket or family restaurants, cafes, breweries and specialty stores. You could easily dine out for weeks on end and not eat in the same place twice. Park City museum is located here too and worth a family visit.
Dining and Après
It’s important to remember liquor licensing is a strict and serious business in Utah. The drinking age in the US is over 21. Many venues will ask to see your physical passport (a photo or photocopy is not sufficient) so if you plan on having champagne at lunch, or want to eat in a licenced venue you’ll need to tuck your ID into a secure pocket.
Deer Valley is cashless so don’t worry about carrying greenbacks. There is a reverse ATM in the Snow Park Base lodge if you have US dollars you wish to convert onto a card for in-resort use.
Fireside
Don’t miss this warm location if you’re looking for a meal with a large group. There are four huge fireplaces which give a lovely fire-y smell to the room. You can try the Raclette cheese or the Prime Rib, there are also stews, veal and lamb dishes and you can even arrive by sleigh, if you want the full experience.
Cast and Cut
If you love your sustainably sourced seafood check out Cast and Cut located at Snow Park Base. They have seafood specials, cheese wheel pasta, artisanal breads. Book a table for a large group and age 5 and under eat free.
Chute Eleven
Step inside this cool yurt for champagne, oysters, cocktails and lobster and caviar. Check out DJs who play here, they have a seriously good line up over the winter season. It is located outside Empire Canyon Lodge and is for over age 21 only.
Sticky Wicket
This retro skiing-themed Apres venue is upstairs in the Silver Lake Lodge and available to over 21s. Duck in for a sandwich or a salad or an ice cream made locally from Deer Valley Creamery and the Mixed Berry Tart Cobbler.
Family Activities
There’s so much to do in Deer Valley and in the local area for a family of all ages. You will never be bored here and the activities are the full spectrum of action, outdoors and regional uniqueness.
Cat skiing
This fantastic activity is available from now on the East side and is a fun way to see and ski on different terrain to lift-accessed areas. You can rent a Cat privately for a group, non-skiers can hang out in the warmth of the interior of the cat and watch all the action.
Snowmobiling Tours
Experience the thrill of snowmobiling over 7000 acres with your family, or come by yourself! It’s available every day and based out of Garff Ranch, just 8 miles from Park City Main Street. Transport is complimentary from Park City.
Cooking classes and Cocktail Making
Perfect for a day off, for the grandparents or the non-skiers in the group. Deer Valley Creative Academy offers classes, including baking delicious carrot cake or gourmet side dishes, bread baking, cake decorating and wine talks by wine industry experts.
Wine Tasting
Visit Stein Eriksen Lodge and experience this stunning lodge’s collection of over 20,000 wines. You can book private wine tastings for up to10 guests. The session will be led by a certified sommelier, it’s extremely educational.
Champagne and views
Napoleon Bonaparte famously opened champagne with his saber and the St Regis Hotel continues the tradition as an evening ritual signature experience.
Head to the hotel for this special champagne toast and enjoy great views of the mountains.
Ski with a champion
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to ski with an American Olympic athlete. Book an exclusive tour with your family and friends for a half day or full day.
High Chocolate experience
Don’t forget to book ahead for High Chocolate on the East side of Deer Valley at the base of the Keetly Express in the new Grand Hyatt Deer Valley. Ethically sourced chocolate delicately handmade and served in towers enjoyed with tea, this is already a huge hit with children and kids-at-heart. Book early! Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, 1702 Glencoe Mountain Way.
Ice Castles
You’ll need a rental vehicle to access the activities at Soldier Hollow or an Uber will take you there and back easily. This is an immersive experience, the teenagers will also like this and you’ll need to dress warmly. Ice tower walls, caves and slides are lit up with different neon lights and are a winter wonderland for something different.
Snow Tubing
Right next door to the Ice Castles at Soldier Hollow is a fantastic snow tubing experience. Dress warmly and wear gloves, this is a fun experience for all ages.
Getting there and Away
Salt Lake City is easily accessible from most cities in the USA, including Los Angeles or San Francisco if you’re flying in from Australia or New Zealand. Air New Zealand flies directly to Salt Lake City from Auckland. If you’d like to add on some sunny weather on the way there or back, Hawaiian Airlines flies from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne via Hawaii.
Location: Deer Valley, Utah USA
Famous for: Celebrity-spotting, 5-star skiing and dining experiences. Skiing-only, no snowboarding allowed and arguably the best groomers in North America.
Elevation: 9,050 ft (2,760 m)
Lifts: 37
Ski School/s: Yes
Terrain Park: No
Pass: Ikon Pass (read more here)
Accessible travel: Adaptive instructors available for private lessons and groups.Best for: Multi-generational families of every age, luxury travel, skiers.
