Ski Magazine Rates Deer Valley Number 1 in the Nation and Park City Mountain Resort Number 4
Just got the October Issue of Ski Magazine in the mail. Each year they survey their readers for the best ski resorts in the US and Canada. And, the results were no surprise.
Deer Valley was rated number 1 overall again (3rd year in a row). And, was rated number 1 for Grooming, On-Mountain Food, Lodging, Dining, and Service. (Eat your heart out Vail!) I've got to admit a certain prejudice for the resort since I live here, but I think they really deserve the award. The staff goes out of its way to make you're time on montain as a great as it can be ... from valeting your skis when you pull up to free overnight storage (if you want your skis waxed its $5) to lifties that keep the lift areas smooth (and always give the chairs a bump if you need it) to perfectly groomed slopes (and nice power and trees in Lady Morgan if you want it) to great food (nothing beats Deer Valley's Turkey Chili on a cold, crisp moutain ski day). The instructors are also great if you need lessons or want someone to take the kids for the day. And, not least, the fact that they limit the number of people on moutain ... it make you feel like a VIP.
Park City Mountain Resort was rated number 4 overall (right behind Vale). And, was rated number 1 for access...you can basically pull into the parking lot (less than 30 minutes from Salt Lake Airport), strap on the skis, and be skiing greatest snow on earth in less than 15 minutes. Park City Moutain Resort also allows snowboarders (which Deer Valley doesn't ... that could be a plus or minus depending on what you want). They also have night skiing and a top-notch ski school (check out the Signature 5 program -- 5 kids per class maximum if you don't want to go the private lesson route. Plus, it is right in downtown Park City ... so, lodging, night life, dining, and shopping is easy to get to.
Rounding out the pack of Park City area ski resorts is the Canyons ... ranked number 20. We actually decided to get a season pass at the Canyons this year (along with our Deer Valley renewable 10 pack) ... their military discount on season passes was just to great not to take advantage of (I'm a retired Air Force LtCol). I love skiing the back areas of The Canyons the conditions are usually awesome and slopes uncrowed. The downside it can be a bit time consuming to get across the mountain but you have lots of open glade, deep powder skiing and are rewarded with no crowds. The one fault I've found with The Canyons (in the past) was with their grooming -- on the slopes and the lift areas. We're all hoping that Talisker (high end property developer who recently bought The Canyons) will take that service up a notch because The Canyons has some of the best terrain in the country and it would only take a bit of management focus to bring the service levels up to Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort. (Note: I'm probably being a bit picky because we get so spoiled at the other two resorts in town ... The Canyons is still a cut above most of the other resorts I've been to.)
And, to top it all off ... the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency is predicting an awesome ski season (see my other blog entry). So, come out prepared for great snow conditions and the best vacation you can have. (Or, be like us ... dump the rat race and come out to live permenantly -- we did that 8 years ago and haven't looked back.)