Choose Powder… Choose Utah!!

The Skiing / Boarding

Snowbird and Alta are really the Powder Mecca’s of Utah and although they are not as well known by UK skiers, they are equivalent to Jackson Hole in terms of gnarly factor! There’s lots of steep chutes, tight tree lines and huge hucks (cliff jumps) into blankets of powder. I highly recommend Snowbird’s 'Mountain Experience' - a superb package, allowing you priority lift access, a guide to the best snow and secret spots, as well as some great tips to hone your skills and build your confidence.

Solitude – this was one of my favorite secret spots! It is a smaller resort with limited groomers and lifts and is known more as a family resort…BUT….whilst all the locals are tracking out Alta and Snowbird, the beautiful 'Honeycomb Canyon' is empty – so there are freshies all day and no lift queues - just non-stop powder heaven!

Snowboarders – although Deer Valley and Alta do not allow snowboarders there are still loads of options. Park City has won the 'North America's best Terrain Park' award a number of times. The Canyons hosts the World Cup Boardercross and has some fantastic tree lines in their newly opened Dreamscape area. Brighton is also a local snowboarder’s hang out and is often featured in magazines because of its powder lines and parks.

For the more leisurely skier/boarder, there is a huge variety of perfectly groomed ski runs in all the resorts, but Deer Valley and The Canyons have some of the most diverse, and you’ll never find a spot of ice!

Park City Town

Alternatively, if you have a slightly higher budget you can base yourself in The Cliff Lodge in Snowbird or even do a twin centre with Park City.

The Road Trip

Once you have had your fill of the slopes you can start down the road to Las Vegas!

Although a long way, you travel through some of the most spectacular scenery the USA has to offer, passing through all these National Parks:

• Moab - famous for its mountain bike terrain
• Bryce Canyon – pictured to the right
• Coral Pink Sand Dunes - take your skis/boards for a bit of dune riding!
• Lake Powell
• Zion
• Grand Canyon
• Hoover Dam

You can take as much time as you like to do this trip and the accommodation along the way is really cheap. The shortest duration would be a 2 day trip, stopping at Bryce Canyon and The Grand Canyon or St George (Zion National Park).

Bryce Canyon I found as impressive as The Grand Canyon and, as you can easily walk into it, you can explore more extensively. It is a photographer's dream walking through tight red rock canyons with crystal blue skies above.  It is approximately a 4hr drive from Park City and best to stay at on the first night.  The Best Western Ruby's Inn is not at all special, but a cheap and easy-to-find hotel to rest your head for a few nights.

The Grand Canyon is fantastic to visit over the winter as you don't get the huge crowds that you can get at other times of year and, although you can get some snow during the evening, the day time temperatures are really pleasant. You can walk along the canyon rim or alternatively take the bus. Sunset over the Grand Canyon is always an experience to savour.  It is approximately a 5 hr drive from Bryce Canyon and then another 5hrs on to Las Vegas.  An alternative (and quicker) way of seeing The Grand Canyon is to catch a plane or helicopter from Las Vegas - http://www.papillon.com/popris/home.aspx.
 

St George (Zion National Park) is one of the most stunning destinations in Utah’s National park.  It is easier to get to than The Grand Canyon (saving 7hrs driving) and, as a proper town, it is a great place to base yourself for up to 4 nights to fully explore the area at your own pace. It is approximately 2 ½ hrs from Bryce and only 2 hrs to Las Vegas. St George (and Zion) also offers a wide arrange of activities, such as Horseback Riding, Jeep Tours, Para Gliding as well as all year round Golf with a wide range of stunning courses.

Useful Web Links:

Utah National Parks	http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/
Activity Operator in Zion	http://www.zioncountryactiontours.com/
St George and Zion	http://www.utahstgeorge.com/index.html
Golf courses in St George	http://www.utahstgeorge.com/navgolf.html

Las Vegas!

Again you can take as much time as you would like here, though I did find a couple of nights was enough to soak in the casino scene, see the bright lights and maybe take in a show. There is a huge array of hotels and even though you may be on a tighter budget and stay in one of the cheaper ones, you can still experience all that the larger casinos, such as The Bellagio, MGM Grand or The Venetian have to offer. You will also find that the swankier the hotel, the more expensive the drinks and the higher the minimum bets.

Las Vegas does offer a great destination for families as well, with lots of child focused activities. Here are some Travel Tips and Ideas in Las Vegas: http://www.lasvegas.com/traveltips/