The fourth Utah personality….

THE FAMILY ON A BUDGET:

Wolf Creek is a family paradise.  Where else can you rent a brand new luxurious 7 bedroom home, with 3 family rooms, home theater and a gourmet kitchen, that sleeps 16 for only $575 per night…that boils down to only $35 per person for five star luxury. For those with smaller families, Wolf Creek also has condos starting at $125 per night.

The budget conscious yet spacious digs is not the only reason I deem this the ultimate family playground…the ski resort has family written all over it.  The tone is set by the base lodge, which is housed in a vintage dairy barn, instantly giving it a non-intimidating family feel.  The mountain has tons of beginner terrain and even a kid’s ski school set in a Yurt…with lift tickets only costing $32, everyone in the family can join in on the fun.

If your kids are the next Picabo Street or Flying Tomato, then more challenging terrain is not far, with Snowbasin just a short ride away. Owned by the Sun Valley Resort, this super posh mountain has some of Utah’s longest downhill runs.  With no lodging offered, lift ticket prices are still moderate ($63) considering the vast terrain. For more info visit www.wolfcreekutah.com, www.snowbasin.com

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The third Utah personality…

THE CUDDLY COUPLE:

If you are looking to hideaway with a loved one, Solitude is your resort. The aptly named resort is a place where you can feel like you are the only two people on the mountain…as one local said, even on the busiest day last year there were no lines for the lifts.

Much like Alta, this is the type of place you never have to leave…but rather than being holed up in one lodge, Solitude has a village layout.  There are several condo complexes, a hotel and a number of restaurants…all with ski-out access.

For ultimate mountain-style romance, you definitely want to checkout The Yurt dining experience. Adventurous diners follow a guide through snow-covered evergreens on cross-country skis or snowshoes to this secluded Mongolian Yurt for a five-course extravaganza. The restaurant’s popularity with visitors and residents alike make reservations required for this fixed price meal that only seats 20.

To continue the romance, the center of the village features an outdoor ice-skating rink, a heated swimming pool and several Jacuzzis.

Solitude is also great for the romantic couple with kids in-tow (A.K.A. a family).  The clubhouse offers activities and movies for children, allowing parents to sneak away for some romance.

For more info visit skisolitude.com

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The second Utah personality….

THE ATHLETE: 

The more advanced skier longing for a traditional alpine experience will find what they are looking for at Alta Mountain and Lodge. Here it’s about performance and camaraderie with fellow skiers…the rooms have boot warmers and humidifiers instead of TVs and the lobby has Scrabble instead of a bar.

With breakfast and dinner included in your room rate, and the ability to literally ski to the lobby door, this is the type of place you check-in and never emerge until your checkout day. Unfortunately for snowboarders, we (yes I am of the evil mono-ski clan) are banned from riding Alta…but only one mile down the road is Snowbird, an equally impressive and challenging winter play land, where equality reigns.

If cabin fever settles in during your stay, there are a few other resorts you can visit for dinner or a cocktail.  The Rustler Lodge is also located at the base of Alta Mountain and with-in walking distance from Alta Lodge.  At the end of a hard day of tackling Alta or Snowbird…the weaker athlete (like me) will look forward to one of the Sore Muscle Therapy massages offered at the Rustler Spa…it was only because of this massage that I was able to walk after a grueling day of mountain sport Snowbird. 

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I spent last week discovering Northern Utah’s ski country…what amazed me the most was the vast differences each resort had to offer and how close all the mountains are to each other and the Salt Lake City Airport (all resorts are 30 to 60 minutes from the airport). I found that each mountain really lent itself to a particular kind of visitor…

THE LUXE LOVING SNOWBUNNY: 

If you are a Luxe Loving Snowbunny, head on over to Park City, home of the famed Sundance Film Festival…this great ski town spews luxury, offers great shopping, a bustling nightlife…while keeping it’s small-snowy-mountain-town flair.

For the skier/snowboarder there are three great resorts to choose from: Park City, Deer Valley and The Canyons. Since all the mountains are close to the city, mountain hopping is easy and staying in a condo in town offers the most versatility…but for some, staying in a condo means giving up hotel amenities. 

Club Lespri offers a convenient solution to this dilemma through their chic clubhouse which features a private restaurant, high-tech gym, bar and spa…only available to people who rent a condo/home from the Club.  Lespri represents properties all over Park City and the clubhouse is conveniently located downtown…and please do not leave without checking out their restaurant Cellars, hands-down the best food Utah has to offer. More info at ClubLespri.com

In honor of spending last week in Utah I decided to do a google search on Utah recipes and I happened upon a website called MormonChic.com ….and this is one of their recipes…..Raspberry Jell-O Jubilee…

2 can crushed pineapple

1 – 6oz. pkg raspberry gelatin

1 – 4-6 oz. pkg frozen raspberries

2 sliced bananas

1-1/2 cups boiling water

Drain pineapple reserving juice. In large bowl place raspberries, top with pineapple. Dissolve gelatin in boiling water and pour over raspberry mixture. Stir to thaw raspberries. Stir in bananas. Then take reserved pineapple juice and add enough cold water to make 1-1/2 cups liquid. Stir into gelatin mixture, pour into dripper (9×13) pan and chill until set.