For all skill-levels
Day 1: Fly in and check into hotel/loding (hotel recommendations convenient to skiing Cottonwoods). Dinner at Cafe Molisse downtown and walk around Temple Square/City Creek area - the Gallivan Center has an adorable outdoor ice rink that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a Hallmark movie! If you need rentals, there are countless options in the area, but I recommend Christy Sports or one of the many Ski N' See locations. When reserving, select to pick up the night before to save yourself some time before your first day!
Day 2: Historic Park City! First, put your name in at the Eating Establishment for brunch, the wait tends to be long on weekends. While you wait, visit the Pink Elephant coffee shop above Prospect shop (such a fun location for a coffee shop and barber shop). Brunch at the Eating Establishment is great! I recommend either the hot toddy if you need to warm up or a classic bloody mary for drinks. For food, portions are big so expect leftovers or to share! I recommend the Hungry Miners Skillet or the Corned Beef Hash and Egg Skillet if you’re in the mood for breakfast. If you’re in the mood for lunch, the skiers chili is incredible! There are a few fun options for after lunch, like the Ice Castles or Midway Hot Springs (Homestead Crater) at the Homestead Resort. *Don't forget to pick up your rentals if needed.
Day 3: Wake up, eat breakfast at the hotel or on the way to Park City Mountain Resort for the first day on the slopes. [*tip - pre-purchase lift tickets online to save money] I highly recommend Park City as the first day, especially for beginners; between the two sides (Park City and Canyons), there are runs for all levels and some of the best greens and blues to build confidence on. I also recommend lessons at Park City; a half-day adult group lesson is the perfect way to learn or improve to start the trip (prices range from $175-195 depending on time of the season)! To save a little money, I suggest packing lunch and bringing it up on the mountain to eat at any of the incredible lodges that offer outdoor seating, so you can fully appreciate the views. After a long day on the mountain, the perfect spot to end the day is at the Umbrella Bar in Canyons Village - whether you were shredding on that side or not, you can park in the main Canyons parking lot and take the cabriolet up to the village to grab a drink. Great spot to hangout by the fire pits and relax before dinner - which I recommend Cafe Galleria in Midway to eat in one of the Alpenglobes. It’s a bit of a drive from the resort, but the vibes are worth it! I recommend building your own pasta with fettuccine, white wine sauce, and buffalo sausage (and of course a glass of wine of your choosing).
Day 4: Skiing/snowboarding day 2! Solitude Mountain is the perfect resort for a second day on the mountain, as it offers great beginner/intermediate terrain - great for building confidence after your first day. Again, I always recommend buying lift tickets online in advance to save and for Solitude, carpooling saves you some money on parking, as they do charge for their lot. I love parking in the lot so you can tailgate during lunch! If you are more local, bringing a portable grill and some burgers is the perfect way to spend a lunch hour; however, Solitude has great on-mountain dining as well. I highly recommend Little Dollie for their hot chocolate and waffles, so delicious! There are so many good options for dinner near Big Cottonwood Canyon: Silver Fork Lodge (in the canyon as you drive down), Porcupine Grill (right outside of the mouth of the canyon) and Eight Settlers Distillery are just a few of my favorites!
Day 5: Another beautiful day for skiing/snowboarding - today is spent at Brighton Resort, also up Big Cottonwood Canyon! Brighton is definitely one of my personal favorites in the area for the gorgeous views and tree-lined runs. There are tons of beginner/intermediate runs to choose from off of every lift! The day would not be complete without stopping in Molly Greens (the A-frame building between Majestic and Crest lifts at the base) for some delicious food and pitchers of local beer. Again, there are many great restaurants to choose from for dinner, but one of my favorites is Bohemian Brewery, one of the few places to get amazing German food and beer. I suggest getting the Bavarian Brats, Schweinshaxen (slow-braised pork shank) or the Bohemian Schnitzel (with spaetzle of course).
Day 6: Last but not least, we finish the trip at one of the hardest resorts in the area, Snowbird (open to both skiers and snowboarders, unlike its neighbor, Alta, which is only open to skiers but is equally as amazing to ski at). Snowbird does have beginner areas, but it would help to get some practice in during the days prior before tackling this resort. My favorite area is the Gad-area lifts (Gadzoom, Mid-Gad and Gad 2 lifts). Whether you take the runs down or not, I recommend taking the Tram up to the top to experience the incredible views and even grab some food at the lodge. If you stay at the base, the Tram Car Pizza in the Snowbird Center has great pizza options and lots of seating options to take a break inside. After a long and hard day on the mountain, I recommend visiting Bandit’s Bar and Grill for dinner. They are known for their tri-tip steak, so definitely get one of these dishes (my favorites being the Steak Salad, The Unbeatable Sandwich or the Barbeque Combo). Don't forget to return any rentals you may have and rest up for a morning flight home :)
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