Hi everyone.my wife and I are planning on a trip to salt lake this winter in February. Unfortunately, we have to go presidents week because that is the only time we can get off of work. I have never been to salt lake, but I was wondering what you guys would recommend in terms of resorts and what geographic region to stay. I am a pretty advanced skier, and both of us are looking for good off piste terrain, terrain parks are a good addition but not a priority. My wife likes the shopping aspect as well, so I will have to fit that in as we'll, but we definitely want great skiing terrain above all else. Thanks for any advice.
Salt lake ski trip
- Thread starter SkiSicko
- Start date
skiminnesota
Active member
if your wife wants to shop ( I assume ski town shop?) then Park City is really the only option. I also know I wouldnt enjoy a vacation out here as much if I were staying in SLC VS Park City.
if you just want to go ball to the wall skiing then stay in Sandy somewhere for quick access to Little Cottonwood and Big Cottonwood.
if you just want to go ball to the wall skiing then stay in Sandy somewhere for quick access to Little Cottonwood and Big Cottonwood.
JWoods
Active member
If your wife likes shopping then for sure stay in Park City or SLC. Park City has all the outlets which are super tight and really close to PC and Canyons but they don't really have the off piste advanced terrain as resorts in Little Cottonwood canyon like Alta/Snowbird but Alta and Snowbird is only like a half hour from SLC and then you get the shopping aspect as well.
yeah, that's what i'm, starting to see. the only appealing thing about the park city slopes is the terrain park, but really nothing else. the two most interesting resorts to us seem snowbird and alta. canyons/pc don't seem that they would provide the advanced, off-piste terrain.
R.Fahey
Active member
Salt Lake City has a lot of shopping.... you just have to go further to get to it. Closer to Alta/Bird in the valley is Fashion Place Mall, and then downtown are tons of boutiques and City Creek Mall.
PC is definitely more of a ski town, and ski town shopping, and ski town prices. SLC is classic mall shopping.
As far as skiing goes, you have it figured out. PC = Park. Canyons is lame. Alta/Bird for pow/all mountain or even Brighton/Solitude for a couple days for less crowds.
PC is definitely more of a ski town, and ski town shopping, and ski town prices. SLC is classic mall shopping.
As far as skiing goes, you have it figured out. PC = Park. Canyons is lame. Alta/Bird for pow/all mountain or even Brighton/Solitude for a couple days for less crowds.
R.Fahey
Active member
For Utah, if someone refers to "the valley" it's likely just Salt Lake Valley. Both Big and Little Cottonwood come out of the valley in a town called Cottonwood Heights. If you choose to stay up by those resorts (alta/Bird or Brighton/PC), it's cool but there isn't much to do after skiing compared to PC or staying in Salt Lake City.
If your lady wants more nightlife/shopping/restaurants, and you have the budget, stay in downtown SLC. You'll be able to walk to places, and skiing is only like 40 minutes away.
If your lady wants more nightlife/shopping/restaurants, and you have the budget, stay in downtown SLC. You'll be able to walk to places, and skiing is only like 40 minutes away.
skiminnesota
Active member
dont let the name fool you. i now live in Utah after having vacationed here many times.
if you want to go on a vacation (in the traditional sense of eating out, shopping, being able to walk places, etc) stay in PC. salt lake is nothing special. if your wife wants to shop i assume she doesnt want to shop at Nordstroms or Macys because you can go to those places anywhere. That is what you will get in Salt Lake, the same stores you would find at any mall in the nation. why fly across the country to shop at some cookie cutter mall?
you really want to stay in PC if you want to "vacation"
the resorts up at Snowbird / Alta are great if after skiing you want to eat at a fancy restaurant or go get hammered at the bar. But other than that your options are nill. The options at Brighton are even more limited, but solitude has more than brighton
if you do decide to stay downtown, check out the Red Lion for good rates, decent rooms, and a decent walkable location for downtown. but i would stay far far away from vacationing in Sandy or cottonwood hights. which are at the base BCC and LCC
feel free to PM me if youve got anything else.
if you want to go on a vacation (in the traditional sense of eating out, shopping, being able to walk places, etc) stay in PC. salt lake is nothing special. if your wife wants to shop i assume she doesnt want to shop at Nordstroms or Macys because you can go to those places anywhere. That is what you will get in Salt Lake, the same stores you would find at any mall in the nation. why fly across the country to shop at some cookie cutter mall?
you really want to stay in PC if you want to "vacation"
the resorts up at Snowbird / Alta are great if after skiing you want to eat at a fancy restaurant or go get hammered at the bar. But other than that your options are nill. The options at Brighton are even more limited, but solitude has more than brighton
if you do decide to stay downtown, check out the Red Lion for good rates, decent rooms, and a decent walkable location for downtown. but i would stay far far away from vacationing in Sandy or cottonwood hights. which are at the base BCC and LCC
feel free to PM me if youve got anything else.
nkmo.
Active member
Talisker is the scum of the earth, but as far as mountains go, Canyons would be my first recommendation for all the things OP is looking for. Its not amazing at any one thing, but it offers a decent amount of everything. Park is good, groomers are good, 9990/Peak 5/Dream Peak area is good for off piste, good lodging, close to the Outlet stores, close to PC...
Sure, you're not getting an amazing park like PC, or amazing terrain like LCC, but if you can't make it into multiple canyons (LCC/BCC/Summit) while you're here, Canyons has the most to offer.
Sure, you're not getting an amazing park like PC, or amazing terrain like LCC, but if you can't make it into multiple canyons (LCC/BCC/Summit) while you're here, Canyons has the most to offer.
yes, thank you all for your help.
I believe were we are right now is to stay somewhere in Salt Lake. I'm going to begin looking on airbnb for a hopefully reasonable apartment rate. the top priority is excellent terrain, and her second priority is something to do after skiing, most likely shopping. i really have no other priorities after good terrain, but if you are not married yet, this is one thing you will have to deal with. i just consider myself lucky i have a wife who loves to ski (we did chamonix last year for our honeymoon!)
so we are thinking to stay in salt lake, ski alta, snowbird, brighton, solitude, and maybe one or two nights head by park city just to hang out after skiing (which i am assuming will be quite a bit of driving, but oh well).
let me know if there are any other thoughts. thanks!
I believe were we are right now is to stay somewhere in Salt Lake. I'm going to begin looking on airbnb for a hopefully reasonable apartment rate. the top priority is excellent terrain, and her second priority is something to do after skiing, most likely shopping. i really have no other priorities after good terrain, but if you are not married yet, this is one thing you will have to deal with. i just consider myself lucky i have a wife who loves to ski (we did chamonix last year for our honeymoon!)
so we are thinking to stay in salt lake, ski alta, snowbird, brighton, solitude, and maybe one or two nights head by park city just to hang out after skiing (which i am assuming will be quite a bit of driving, but oh well).
let me know if there are any other thoughts. thanks!
I think that's your best bet. As was mentioned, she isn't going to be blown away by anything in Salt Lake...SLC is really just a sprawling suburb that could be pulled from anywhere in the country. Park City is what she'll enjoy, but don't stay there because the drive from PC to LCC/BCC is an hour +. (There is a mountain pass that cuts directly from PC to Brighton in like 20 minutes, but it's only open in the summer and early fall.) Stay close to the mouth of the canyons and youll be close to great skiing and not too far from PC for her.
