Ski vacations are no longer the bare bones experience common in the 70s and 1980s. Now ski resorts spanning Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming are in a competition to build the top ski resort experience.
The last ten years has brought continual expansion to western ski resorts. They have expanded their size, quality, and breadth of services. Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah and Vail Resort in Vail, Colorado have risen to the top of the ski resort show down. Deer Valley Resort has been ranked the #1 Ski Resort in North America by the readers of Ski Magazine in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, and 2001. Vail Resort held the honor in 2006, 2003, 2002, and 2000.
To earn the #1 spot Deer Valley Resort has focused not only on the quality of its skiing, but also on mountain services and the Deer Valley restaurant experience. Deer Valley Resort does not just serve visitors lunch during the day. At night they convert their day lodges into fine restaurants which are arguably a few of the best restaurants in Deer Valley and Park City UT.
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 many 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.
Park City has also added many fine dining establishments as well as hundreds of new top notch ski accommodations. The modern traveler demands a decidedly more luxurious experience than the traditional ski trip lodging options and restaurants were able to provide.
As a result of the transition to a more discerning traveler, area restaurants have responded by providing sophisticated dining experiences worthy of the most distinguished palate. There are several restaurants in close proximity to Deer Valley Resort that receive high rankings though distinguished rating agencies such as Mobile, Michelin, Zagat, and AAA.
Although there are many fantastic Deer Valley dining options, my favorite choice is the Goldener Hirsch Restaurant which is tucked away in the Austrian inspired Goldener Hirsch Inn. The Stein Eriksen Lodge has arguably one of the finest restaurants in the country with its Glitretind Restaurant. The Glitretind is also famous for its daily Skiers Lunch Buffet during the ski season.
Deer Valley Resort definitely lives up to its #1 North American ski resort ranking. Why not have it all and visit a resort that not only provides the utmost experience on mountain, but also the perfect balance of off mountain restaurants and shopping as well? I definitely recommend taking a closer look at Deer Valley Resort.
Robin Rutecki lives in Park City Utah with her husband and has been working as a professional travel journalist for over 15 years. Robin recommends this website for information on Deer Valley dining and Deer Valley Resort.