Hi I am traveling with my husband and another couple for a weekend ski trip to Utah. We are all in our 30's with no kids, and live in Colorado. Our ski ability is advanced, with one of us being a snowboarder who loves fresh powder. We would like to stay in a condo, but would enjoy going out to nice restaurants for dinner. Any recommendations that will help make this a memorable first ski trip to Utah would be helpful.

If it's just a weekend, I think Snowbird would offer plenty to keep you busy. Snowboards are welcome there, but not at next-door Alta. Lots of challenging runs from the top of the tram.

As for dining, there are several nice restaurants to choose from at the Snowbird resort (Aerie, Wildflower, and Lodge Bistro), and a wonderful one up the road in Alta, the Shallow Shaft. Be sure to reserve in advance for that one.

There are lots of condos, all reserved through the main Snowbird resort website.

So, Enzian,

Did you finally make it to the Shallow Shaft this summer? Sounds like you enjoyed it!

Dayle---yes we did, thanks to your advice and information. Booked in advance by e- mail, and went on a Thursday night. We liked it better than any of the Snowbird places, so we're sure to go back next summer.

Hi koala,

I'm a little surprised that you live in CO and are advanced skiers, but have no opinion on which ski area to visit. Anyway, the best skiing is at Snowbird and Alta, or Solitude. As enzian says, there are plenty of good restaurants you can walk to and plenty of good powder in Little Cottonwood to keep you busy for more than just 2 days.

Solitude has a small "village" area too.

If you want more nightlife and a wider range of loding prices, you might try Park City. 3 areas there to choose from and lots of fun runs.

Have a good time!

Dayle,

I had heard that snowbird and alta are great places, but wondered if they were really that better as far as conditions and terrain than the resorts around Park City. Again, I have never skiied in Utah, only Colorado. Thanks everybody for your input. I will talk the options over with my friends.

I would vote for Park City too. Although no snowboarders are allowed at Deer Valley.

I've been to all the Utah resorts, and would say Deer Valley is tops. But they don't allow snowboarders (maybe that is why they are tops.... sorry). 2nd, I think, is Park City.

We did a couples trip to Park City a few years ago and had a great time. We also did a couples trip to Snowbird. The other couple was a bit bored with the lack of nightlife/restaurant/bar options in that area. I'd go with Park City.

Koala,

It depends on what you want in a ski trip. If you are hard core expert skiers, you will prefer Snowbird and Alta. They most resemble Telluride regarding terrain in that they are glacier made V-shaped canyons. Very steep, lots of cliffs, bowls, shutes and difficult tree skiing lower down. Challenging intermediate runs.

The Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons get much more snow due to geographic location and lake effect. They are on the west side of the Wasatch Range and higher in altitude therefore collect most of the snow as the storms come across. Snowbird and Alta base elevations about 8000 ft. and tops 11,500 ft.

Park City resorts are on the "Wasatch Back" and get the leftovers. Not to say they still don't get plenty of snow, just not near as much. Read the ski areas snow reports and you will see!

Park City resorts also resemble more of the CO areas (Steamboat, Aspen, Vail). More rounded mountains, skiing through a combination of pines and aspens. Some bowls at the very tops of these areas. Base elevations are about 6800 ft and tops are approx. 10,500.

Some people don't ski that hard during the day and like to have plenty of nightlift (or else are very young)! Then choose Park City.

Some people ski from lift opening to lift closing, don't stop for lunch and don't require anything more than a hot tub and excellent dinner. Choose Snowbird and Alta.

Thanks for the input. We have decided to stay in the Park city area since this is our first trip. Maybe later we'll take the more laidback trip to Snowbird. Can anyone recommend any mogul runs at Park city Mtn or the Canyons that have small tight moguls? Also any favorite moderately priced restaurants in Park City?

Go with an open mind. I have skiied both CO and Park City and I don't think they compare. Utah ski is much different from CO and I prefer CO.