Salt Lake City Ski Vacation

The ski resorts of Alta and Snowbird, just minutes away from downtown Salt Lake City, offer all levels of skiing from "I've never done this before" to "I hope my health insurace is good."

Alta, designed for the skiing family, offers long, gently sloping runs that are perfect for the novice or infrequent skier. Their policy of banning snowboarding limits some, but offers a peaceful atmosphere for learning or enjoying gentle runs. For those who have the skills to make the steeper runs, Alta does have some challenging runs.

Snowbird, adjacent to Alta, offers more challenging runs, including some very steep runs at the top of the mountain that should only be attempted by very experienced skiers.

Quick Tips:

As with any ski vaction, plan a day or so in the middle of the week to allow muscles to heal and to see the town. The Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) complex in the middle of town offers a great guide to the history of the area.

Best Way To Get Around:

Rent a car while in Salt Lake. Trams run to the ski areas, but to really see the area, you'll want to drive around a bit. Talk to staff at the rental counters at the airport. Four wheel drive Suburbans and Yukons are available for about additional for the week.

Located at the bottom of the mountain road going up to the ski slopes, the Residence Inn Cottonwood is convenient both to Salt Lake City center and to Alta and Snowbird.

A relatively new hotel, it is a popular place for families during the ski season. The complimentary breakfast (including made-to-order omelets, pancakes, and waffles) helps those trying to control costs and eliminates the need to stop, unload, unzip, and stand in line for breakfast on the way to the slopes.

A favorite of the kids is the outdoor heated pool. Even in the coldest weather, with snow lining the poolside, the heated pool offers a place to warm up and stretch out those sore muscles.

Another popular Residence Inn standard is the outdoor all-weather basketball court. For those with kids, it offers them an opportunity to get outside, meet new friends, and shoot a few baskets rather than sit in the room at night watching television.

Residence Inn is located adjacent to Interstate 215, the loop road around Salt Lake City. Easy access to the airport, downtown, shopping malls, and restaurants makes it a nice place for cost concious skiers to bed down.

Rodizio Grill was a very pleasant surprise while shopping at Trolley Square. Based on the Brazilian steakhouse format, it offers an excellent salad bar, a limited vegetable menu, and an unforgettable selection of grilled meats.

After entering the restaurant, diners visit the salad bar and order some vegetables. Each place setting has a small wooden cylinder next to it, each with a red end and green end. When someone is ready to begin the meat courses of the meal, all he or she has to do is turn the wooden cylinder over so that the green end is on top, and sit back and wait for the meat to be delivered.

The meat is cooked on large metal "swords" over an open fire. There are 6-7 types of beef, several types of pork, chicken, and lamb. Servers dressed as Brazilian gauchos walk around the restaurants with these swords, stopping at any patron with their cylinders "turned to green" to offer cuts of the meats that they are carrying.

Be prepared to eat. Go lightly on the salad, and losen the belt. Trying even a small serving of each type of meat is a challenge in itself, and requires determination and energy to complete.

Rodizio's is a nice family atmosphere, and although the tables are a bit close together, the low price makes it very worthwhile. A dinner that would cost $40-$60 per person in Atlanta, Dallas, or New York can be had for a very reasonable price.

And be certain to try the pork rolled in parmesan cheese - but don't try it first, or you'll never get around to the other cuts.

Seven miles from shore in the middle of the Great Salt Lake sits Antelope Island. Home to various wildlife and a 600 head American bison herd, the park offers plenty of wildlife observation opportunities. In addition to the bison, the island also serves as home to antelope, bobcat, elk, and many varities of birds and waterfowl.

Most popular is the herd of bison that often greet visitors as they drive off the causeway through the lake and onto the island. Visitors can stop their cars along the road, and carefully watch the bison, often less than ten feet away. While visitors should observe the warnings to not approach the bison, many capture memorable photographs and video clips through their car windows.

There is a compound toward the back of the island where the resident caretakers count, check, and innoculate the bison herd. Once each year, all bison are rounded up and herded to the complex. There are usually a few bison in the compound year round for observation.

The park has an excellent visitors' center and museum that tells visitors about all of the various wildlife living on the island, as well as the history of the bison herd.

Plan to spend 3-4 hours driving over, taking slow drives around the island, then visiting the park center. Cost is $7 per vehicle, or $3 for cyclists and walk-ins.

Alta is a great family-oriented ski resort. Long, winding, gently sloped runs are great for getting one's "ski legs" back after a few seasons off. Also a great place to learn.

As with all ski areas, arrive early. The best snow and the shortest lines are early in the morning. Spend a few minutes with a ski patrol member getting recommendations about ski levels on the runs. The green slopes vary widely, but there is something at Alta for skiers at all levels.

Check in with the ski school for "touch up" or advanced lessons. The school is highly recommended, and the senior level instructors that teach there make the skills behind the praises quite obvious.

While in Salt Lake City, plan to spend a couple of hours at Trolley Square. The converted Trolley warehouse and repair depot is now a collection of unique local artisan shops and restaurants.

Designers and artists display their goods in shops inside the large shopping areas. Glassware, ceramics, and sculptures from the local artists make great souvenirs.

Plan to go around lunch time and sample some of the dining opportunities, including small cafes and a Brazilian style rotisserie buffet.

Trolley Square has ample free parking very close to the shops.