I have something to share with you.

My husband won the coin toss so off to Park City we go for a ski vacation. At almost 40,  I knew ski school would be tough for me and fun for my daughter but I was ready to take on the challenge.  Happy to report that my six-year-old is already better than me after two days of ski school!

Waldorf Astoria Park City
There is a Waldorf in Park City and it proved to be a great choice for our family vacation. We were hoping that the convenience of being close to the mountain would be a plus and it definitely was!  The powder room on the fourth floor was great to store our boots and the ski valet picked up and dropped off our skis each morning and afternoon.  As for the room, we needed a roll-away bed for our daughter and due to fire code ended up being “upgraded” to a Jr. Suite(see stock photo).  I was hoping as a Gold elite we would get a better upgrade especially since we “heard” the hotel occupancy wasn’t as high as expected but that didn’t happen.(Interesting how when you ask different people at the hotel about occupancy you get ALL different answers)  Would we go back?  Yes. But we would probably book a larger room next time!

The Canyons Ski School
If you are looking for a place to learn to ski, we had a great experience.  My daughter loved ski school and the class had four children and one instructor.  I signed up for the Ultimate 4 which was 4 women and one instructor.  And if you are looking for the most wonderful instructor, ask for Don.  AMAZING!!!!!!!  Especially if you need a boost in confidence!

Gorgoza Park: Park City Tubing
We needed a one day break from skiing and found a spot to go tubing.  Let me tell you – it was awesome!  You need to arrange transportation from the hotel to their location but it is a quick drive from the Canyons and so much fun.  You buy a pass for two hours, and go up the mountain, tube down and repeat!  The trick is to get there as early as possible since the crowds do get big.

Powder at the Waldorf Astoria
It was quite convenient to have a great breakfast spot at the hotel.  We only ate at Powder for breakfast a few days but I was able to get OpenTable points each morning we dined which was an extra bonus!  My daughter ordered the French Toast with berries and the chocolate chip pancakes.  My husband ordered the steel-cut oatmeal and an omelette.  I ordered the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with the blueberry compote one morning and the Chilaquiles the two other mornings – everything was delicious!

Red Tail Grill At the Canyons
This was our first stop after we arrived as we needed to get our boots and skis at the rental shop and confirm ski school.  Very convenient to get to, the gondola from the Waldorf takes you up to the Canyons and this restaurant is at the base.  Since it was after 1pm, I ordered a bowl of the chili so I would not ruin my appetite for dinner.  A great place to stop at the end of the day, food is good and the patio is great to enjoy with a cold drink!  It was also our last stop before we left for a quick bite before heading to the airport(after dropping off the skis and boots).  I opted for the carnitas potato skins….will skip this next time!

Purple Sage
A friend recommended this spot to us and it was great.  It felt very cozy with a small bar in the back and the staff were all very friendly.  Since we ate lunch on the later side, I wasn’t too hungry so I ordered the shrimp thinking it would be light.  It was served on golden griddled polenta cakes and a chipotle creamed leek sauce- Delicious!  My daughter ordered the mac and cheese which I loved and my husband ordered the house specialty, veal meatloaf.  I would definitely return to this restaurant!

The Farm
I really enjoyed the Farm.  It is low key, casual with great food.  Depending on where you sit, you have a view of the mountain and they have a great patio for après ski.  We started with the oxtail soup, which they just won an award for, my husband had the chicken and dumplings and I ordered the trout.  I loved my dish….light, healthy and flavorful!  Plus, it’s super close to the hotel which meant an early bedtime.

Zoom
“Oh Hubbell, how I wanted to love this restaurant.”  I fell in love with Mr. Redford the first time I saw The Way We Were as a tween and my expectations were set so high.  And I did love the atmosphere, and the server we had was fabulous, but how it pains me to say that I was underwhelmed by my choices.  My husband said his chicken was great but I opted for two small plates, the Pan Seared Scallops over grits and the Truffle Mac n Cheese.  Both were fine, but I guess I was expecting more. Hubbell – Maybe next time you can join me for dinner and make some personal recommendations!

Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley
After a fun morning of skiing with the family, we stopped by the Stein Eriksen for lunch.  I was told this was the best spot for lunch and I opted for the skiers buffet while my husband ordered off the menu.  There was so much food, so many options and it took me a while to get back to the mountain because I ate way too much.  I started with the wild game chili, then tried some chicken from the carving station, some veggies, steak and cold shellfish.  Then I got to the desserts – cookies, parfait, jello, cobbler…..I think next time, I will need to stop by for dinner.  

Grappa
I hate to report on a not so great meal but the best part of this meal was the homemade plain pasta my daughter ordered.  That was it.  I ordered Veal Osso Buco, one of my absolute favorite dishes, my husband ordered the Seafood Risotto, one of his favorite dishes, and BOTH of us were disappointed.  The happy part of the meal was handing the server a coupon that we found in the local paper for a buy one get one free dinner entrée.  Too Bad the meal wasn’t as good as the photos…

Riverhorse on Main
Must go…..one of the best meals of the week.  The meal started out with a Chef’s surprise – in this case pimento cheese, delicious!  They also have a fabulous kids menu although geared towards an older child.  My daughter ordered the steak bites(see below) and felt very adult with that and a salad with ranch dressing.

My husband and I shared the poached pear & burrata salad which was amazing and the ahi tuna duo appetizer.  We both ordered the bone-in filet and left the restaurant very happy.  This is definitely a “make a reservation through OpenTable” in advance.  The desserts looked great but we had already made the promise below!

  

Java Cow
A must visit spot for ice cream at the end of a long day!  We made a promise that if “someone” ate all of their dinner, we would get ice cream.  Use this as your negotiating chip and both you and your child will be happy!  It’s right on Main Street and offers coffee, ice cream, fun items for purchase and the best part has lots of happy, smiling children!!!  Grab a seat inside or out front and enjoy!

 

The Eating Establishment
Rather than dining at the hotel every morning, we went into town one day for breakfast. We found this spot at the top of Main Street and enjoyed a nice quiet breakfast.  They offer skillets, eggs, pancakes, the normal menu items.  I chose corned beef hash –  it was good. Would I return, yes, but I may want to try some other spots first.

At the end of the week, I definitely want to come back to ski AND to eat.  There were a few other places I wanted to try but we just didn’t have enough nights.  I am adding Fletcher’s, High West Distillery and Handle to the list for next time.