We stepped out of our comfort zone a bit this holiday and ventured to Alta Ski Area for our annual New Years ski trip. Bodie actually started begging to visit Alta last year while we were at Deer Valley. Like Deer Valley, Alta is close to Salt Lake City and consistently has some of the best snow in the country, especially during the early season. *Also like Deer Valley, Alta is skiers only; no boarders. However, Alta is next to Snowbird, which allows snowboarders. It’s possible to ski from one resort to the other!
We were joined by two other families whose skill level ranged from beginner to advanced. I will say that Alta is not where one should learn to ski. The terrain is geared more for experienced skiers who are very comfortable on the mountain. However, our friends were troopers and improved quickly.
Not only is the terrain meant for seasoned skiers, the resort as a whole is designed for those who really only care to ski. There’s not much of an apres scene and the dining options are limited. You will not find big fancy hotels at Alta…no St. Regis, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons or Montage properties. Or anything even remotely similar. This was fine for our group of fifteen, but worth noting if you’re wanting a luxury ski trip. If I’m being perfectly honest, I prefer a bit more luxury than Alta provides. I wouldn’t go to Alta on a couples trip.
Before I get ahead of myself, here is where we stayed: https://www.altachalets.com/nicholson-chalet/. The house was roomy and comfortable. The kitchen is very well stocked with two fridges, two dishwashers, two coffee pots, and plenty of dishes, flatware, tools and utensils. We cooked many meals here and it was easy to feed a crowd. The fellas especially enjoyed the fancy stove with griddle. We made good use of that every morning. The house is located in an area that makes getting to and from the slopes a breeze. The Alta shuttle is available on demand and we never had to wait long for it. That being said, the house is definitely dated and could use a refresh. If you want dinner ideas for a family ski trip, look no further: https://emerybodie.com/travel-tuesday-ski-trip-dinners/
Also worth mentioning is that the house has a top notch boot room/ski storage situation. Fifteen people, all with gear, and we had room to spare.
Boot Room
The house, especially the back porch and kitchen window, has some great views!
House views
Now on to the fun stuff: SKIING! We skied SO MUCH on this trip. The first half of the trip was nothing but blue skies and sunshine. We got some good snow for the last few days. Overall, a perfect mix. Not much makes me happier than a bluebird day. The temperatures were comfortable, even on the snowy days.
The Fun Stuff
I thought the on mountain dining (all two options) was really good! Every day I looked forward to lunch at Alf’s or Watson’s Shelter. The chili at Alf’s is delicious and the Thai bowl with tofu at Watson’s was my go-to. So, so good. I’m hungry just thinking about them. The bowls are huge, so we shared. As with most on mountain dining situations, the prices are high. However, given the quality of the food, it’s worth it. Alf’s gets SUPER crowded, so we usually skied over to Watson’s. It seems to be a secret! We never had a problem finding a table there.
Alf’s
Our only apres experience was at the Peruvian Lodge bar. You must be 21 to enter, so the kids skied home. It’s a fun spot with televisions and a large fireplace, but definitely rustic. Nothing like the caviar yurt (Chute 11) in Deer Valley. Ha!
The Peruvian Bar
Emery and I took one day off from skiing to get massages at The Stillwell Spa at The Snowpine Lodge. This is a small hotel that looked really nice. The spa is lovely. We ate lunch at the hotel and, although the food was good, service was quite slow. As our shuttle driver said, “The Snowpine is a beautiful property run by ski bums.” I had to laugh because this is such an accurate description. No sense of urgency. But I’d go back to the spa in a heartbeat. The hotel is definitely the nicest spot in Alta with great access to the ski area. I think its recently been renovated. Very pretty.
Stillwell Spa
We only went out to dinner twice the entire week and I didn’t take a single picture. Our first outing was with the kids to The Steak Pit. Our food and service were okay. I ordered the burger and devoured every last crumb. However, my friends who ordered steak were underwhelmed. I should note that this was New Years Eve and the place was very busy, which may have contributed to the average experience.
Our other dinner out was adults only and we dined at The Aerie, which is located in The Cliff Lodge at Snowbird. This “lodge” is enormous and looks quite nice! If we return to this area with just our family of four, we will stay here. Our Alta shuttle conveniently dropped us off and picked us up. It’s a quick ride. The food and service at The Aerie are exceptional. We particularly loved the appetizers and desserts. I’d definitely add this to your list if Alta/Snowbird is your destination.
Plot twist: the forecast the day we were scheduled to leave included LOTS of snow. Ben and Bodie couldn’t resist and extended their stay…they’re still skiing Alta as I type this. Emery and I missed the pets and she can’t miss school, so we headed home. I think Bodie is an Alta resident at this point. They snagged a room at The Goldminer’s Daughter, which Bodie said is surprisingly nice. Not sure it’s for me, but glad they’re having fun.
Extended Stay
And that’s a wrap! Hopefully my boys come home tonight. Would I go back to Alta? Yes, I would definitely repeat this trip with our dear friends. Is it my first choice? No. At the end of the day I am more of a Deer Valley or Steamboat girl. I like skiing, but I love a nice town, too. As always, please let me know if you have any questions about Alta!
