Rec and Sports

Upscale Dining is Essential to the Ski Trip Experience

The ski vacation has changed substantially from the no frills experience common in the 70s and 1980s. The ski resorts across Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah have been upgrading their facilities to craft the perfect ski vacation experience.

Ski resorts have expanded the overall size and quality of their facilities, increased levels of service, and focused on the quality of their dining and shopping. Ski Magazine readers consistently rank Vail in Vail, CO and Deer Valley in Park City, UT as the number 1 and number 2 resorts in the U.S.A. and Canada. Vail Resort held the #1 position in 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2006. Deer Valley Resort won the top honors in 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Deer Valley focuses on the quality of its superbly groomed ski runs, on mountain services, and on mountain restaurants to retain its #1 ranking. The resort prides itself on its award winning lunch menu as well as its fine dining restaurants open every evening during the ski season. The restaurants are located in Deer Valley Resorts elegant ski lodges.

Deer Valley Fireside Dining is held in the Empire Canyon Lodge and features a Swiss menu of alpine cuisine served fireside. The Seafood Buffet located in the Snow Park Lodge offers all types of seafood delicacies including sushi, prawns, shrimp, crab legs, and even duck and prime rib. The flagship Mariposa Restaurant serves continental cuisine and is located in the Silver Lake Lodge at mid-mountain.

The town of Park City UT has countered by increasing the amount of luxury accommodations, upscale dining, and shopping options. The expansion over the previous ten years has been very dramatic with hundreds of new luxury accommodations gradually replacing the more traditional ski vacation accommodations.

As a result of this recent transition towards a more discerning visitor, Deer Valley and Park City restaurants have responded by providing an ever improving dining experience. Zagat, Michelin, Mobile, and AAA rate several restaurants close to Deer Valley Resort as top choices within their widely read travel publications.

The Goldener Hirsch restaurant located in the renowned Goldener Hirsch Inn and the Glitretind restaurant located in the Stein Eriksen Lodge are two such restaurants. My personal favorite is the Goldener Hirsch Restaurant because of the delicious cheese fondue appetizer and the quaint Austrian decor.

Living up to its #1 ski resort reputation, Deer Valley Resort absolutely will not disappoint. No matter what your personal preference you will definitely be able to find something to your liking both on and off the mountain. Deer Valley Resort is definitely worth a closer examination. Two thumbs up!