| VITAL INFORMATION | |
| Population | 2,200,000 |
| Languages spoke | English |
| Currency | US Dollar |
| Average temperature | Summer: 73°F-77°F; Winter: 27°F-37°F |
| High season | December to April |
| Elevation | 4,300 feet |
Those who love the outdoors know that Utah is a special corner of this small world. Utah has enough recreation and outdoor activities that a newcomer could venture out every weekend for several years and never visit the same place twice. When compared to the Midwest tabletop, the terrain makes Utah's residents seem almost spoiled with opportunities to get outside. But for those Middle-Americans and snowbound Northeasterners, a winter sports trip to Utah can invigorate the season and undo those gray-sky blues.
If you have some time to explore the state, choosing where to go will be the most difficult decision you make. Fortunately, the weather allows for summer sports in the winter and winter sports in the summer. For a three-day Utah sports rush, starting in Salt Lake will put you near the action, allowing you to set up a base camp and venture out from there.
Day 1: Park City
One of the best resort towns in the nation, Park City, was one of the selling points in Utah's bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Your first day should be spent at one of several top resorts, and getting a rental car at the airport will get you on your way quickly. Only 45 minutes from Salt Lake is Deer Valley, a luxury resort that was rated No. 1 in 2001 and 2005 by SKI magazine; a warranted title given that it boasts 21 lifts and 91 slopes, some of which were used for the slalom and alpine events of 2002.One day in Park City will not be enough for ski lovers, and the resorts offer various kinds of lodging for their visitors, from house to condo to cabin. If you are a novice skier, you can get lessons from professional instructors who are paid not to laugh at the ridiculous wipeouts of newbies. And for those who are averse to skiing altogether, you can chicken out by floating over the mountains with such outfits as Park City Balloon Adventures.
The nightlife in Park City might not be as rugged as the miners and cowboys once were, but some of the names still are. Butcher's Chop House & Bar, The Spur, The No Name Saloon, and Texas Red's Pit Barbecue are just a few of the places to eat. Butcher’s restaurant claims that it has "elegance without arrogance," which is much like Utah itself. Its cherry wood walls and mountain views go well with their 24-ounce porterhouse steak.
The town is maintained with the look and feel of a modernized Wild West. Victorian buildings create a colorful main street that serves as the centerpiece for many local events. The city was originally a mining town, but the miners trudged off long ago. Now the city is host to high art and culture, as the Sundance Film Festival takes place here every January. For cozy lodging, you can stay at the Old Town Guest House, a bed and breakfast with rooms designed to have a cabin feel, such as McConky's Suite. Flannel robes and slippers are gratis and the food is fresh and local.
Day 2: Provo
The drive from Park City to Provo, the third-largest city in the state, will take you past scenic Deer Creek State Park and Wasatch Mountain State Park. Gradually, you will curve southwest into the city that is home to Brigham Young University. West of Provo is the Utah Lake, which is the biggest freshwater lake in the state. Located 45 minutes from Salt Lake City, Provo was named by ForbesSundance Ski Resort is located in the Provo Canyon and it is owned by the man who started the Sundance Film Festival, Robert Redford. Because you already had a full day on the Park City slopes, you can try another winter sport that is usually on ice in Northern states.
If you have ever watched and wondered what fly fishing is all about, several companies will guide you through the learning process. Rocky Mountain Outfitters and Fly Fishing Adventures are two of the services who will teach you the difference between a Sage rod and a Ross reel.
A four-hour morning session of expert instruction will give you enough time to hook a hopper and make a series of casts. With some luck, you may get to battle a feisty brown trout and feel the thrill that becomes addictive to so many fishermen.
If you don't get to catch and eat a fish, you can drive on to Orem, Utah, just north of Provo, and take lunch at The Sensuous Sandwich, a local eatery that is an upgrade from Subway. One reviewer and sandwich enthusiast said, "Sensuous has been a true local dive for going on 30 years now, offering zero ambiance and fantastic sandwiches at ludicrous prices."
The sandwich stop will give you energy for an afternoon in Lehi, Utah, which is north of Orem. Here you'll find Thanksgiving Point golf course, considered to be one of the best public courses in America and named the best course in Utah for 2006 by Golfweek. The course has 10,000 trees and 55 acres of sand for hackers to get trapped in. Various legends of the game have played the course, such as Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Hale Irwin, and Gary Player. The 200-acre, 18-hole course was designed by Johnny Miller and a round costs between $58 and $78, depending on the day of the week.
After golfing, enjoy the Harvest Restaurant at Thanksgiving Point, which offers fresh, organic, hormone-free fare; from roasted, free-range chicken to more verbose titles like the "Morgan Valley Herb Crusted Lamb Rack." After some dessert and Spanish coffee, you can proceed to nearby Salt Lake City and your five-star lodging, the Grand America Hotel.
as one of the best cities to live in for its business and career opportunities.
Day 3: Salt Lake City
The Grand America Hotel recently the won the AAA Five Diamond award for 2007. It is located in downtown Salt Lake and provides views of the Wasatch Mountains from most rooms. Cherry wood, Italian marble and English wool carpets create a luxuriously warm ambiance. High-speed internet access is available as well, but that doesn't mean you should check your work e-mail.Upon seeing the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young, who was not a skier, reportedly said, "This is the place." Perhaps he noticed the massive lake; the Great Salt Lake has more salt than ocean water, but some shrimp live in its waters, as does a single flamingo known as "Pink Floyd." You can stroll along the lake or rent a Kayak and paddle part of its 1,700 square miles.
Again, skiing is just a shuttle bus away. The birthplace of modern powder skiing, Alta, is a resort for purists, where the atmosphere is as laid back as "The Dude" in The Big Lebowski. The Great Salt Lake provides the moisture for a weather phenomenon known as the "lake effect," which can result in massive amounts of snowfall, averages 500 inches annually.
Alta is renowned for pristine powder and top-notch, "no-frills" skiing. An adult day-pass costs $52 for all 54 slopes. Two ski-in/ski-out restaurants make for great lunch stops, and provide a place to sip on some hot chocolate or spiked coffee. You will want to spend an entire day here, extracting all the Alta you can before you get back in the car and drive back to Salt Lake City at dusk.
In the evening, the ice rink in downtown Gallivan Plaza is a multimedia display of blue ice and white lights, perfect for a pre- or post-dinner romantic twilight stroll. For places to eat in downtown Salt Lake, try Bambara restaurant in the Hotel Monaco. Elevated ceilings and dark wood give the interior an elegant atmosphere. As a former bank lobby, Bambara still has remnants of the bank in its tasteful power-décor. Bambara is a private club where you can get to know the city's idiosyncratic law on drinking. People often assume that drinking is illegal in Salt Lake, which is anything but the case.
Private clubs can serve any kind of alcohol. Memberships cost between $13 and $30, but a temporary membership is as low as $4, which amounts to the same as a cover charge anywhere else. Restaurants usually serve alcohol, and pubs serve only beer. No membership is required to belly-up in a pub, other than being 21 years old. After Bambara, another good place to wet your whistle is the Cotton Bottom Inn.
At the end of the night, you can return to your plush room at the Grand America or have a nightcap of Remy Martin at the regal Gibson Lounge, which is just north of the hotel lobby.
If you don't stay out too late with your new private club membership(s), the next day on your way to the airport is Wingpointe golf course, another of Utah's renowned links locations. 12 of the 18 holes on the course have water hazards, where the waters of the Great Salt Lake lap at the shore. After shooting a round, have a Polygamy Porter, let your sore muscles relax and chances are you will find most of your stereotypes about Utah dissolving.
tips for the trip:
- Bring sunscreen, as the slopes are guaranteed to give you a raccoon tan.
- Make sure you have four-wheel drive because some of the roads are pretty curvy.
- If you hope to find lodging at a resort during peak season (especially during the Christmas-to-New Year’s period), book early, as literally every room at every resort gets booked during this time.
- The first half of December offers good snow conditions without the crowds that come later in the season. You can often get discounts in lodging rates during this time as an added bonus.
winter wonderland
Utah is a dream-come-true for people who like winter sports. Its reputation for having the best snow in the world is coupled with gorgeous views, charming towns and warm, friendly people. This year, don’t try to escape winter; instead, make the most of it.Resources:
http://www.visitsaltlake.com/
http://www.utah.gov/visiting/travel.html
http://www.utah.com/ski/resorts/alta.htm - Ski resorts
http://www.utahfairways.com/articles/golfweek_rates_utah_courses.htm
http://www.saltlakecityutah.org/liquorlaws.htm - Liquor laws
http://www.saltlakecityutah.org/saltlakegolfing.htm - Golf
http://www.utah.com/provo/ - Provo
http://www.utah.com/ski/skiing/sundance.htm - Skiing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provo,_Utah - Utah
http://www.utah.com/amusement/thanksgiving_point.htm - Thanksgiving golf course
http://www.piratereview.com/reviews/58.asp
http://www.thanksgivingpoint.com/golf/index.html
http://www.grandamerica.com/quick_facts.html
http://www.parkcityutahguide.com/
http://www.thecanyons.com/
Salt Lake City Travel Guide
0 comments:
Publicar un comentario