Zermatt Hotel in Heber, UT

With Memorial Day fast approaching you may be trying to decide where to have some fun this weekend. Homestead and Zermatt are both celebrating with a variety of events and opportunities to head out of town. The weekend is kicking off with a Cajun dinner at Z’s Steak and Chop House at Zermatt. A variety of New Orleans flavored dishes will be served alongside of one of my favorites, the Chateaubriand. Advance reservations are required and wine pairings are also available.

On Saturday the Homestead resort will host the 2^nd Annual Crawfish Festival with authentic crawfish boil and blue crab with drawn butter. They will also be having live New Orleans-style music. The event is free to the public, with food and drink charges if you decide to eat. The crawfish boil is $25.00 for adults and $12.00 for ages 6-12. Tickets can be purchased in advance on their Facebook page at Facebook.com/HomesteadResortUT. Tickets can also be purchased the day of the event.

The Homestead also has a summer concert series with a mix of Bluegrass, Country, Contemporary Pop and Folk music. Picnic dinners are available for pre-order and on other concessions are available on-site. If you want to make an evening of it, summer concert room packages include a guest room, picnic blanket and dinner at the concert. Grab a handsome gal or guy and enjoy these free events.

Click here for lodging options at either Homestead or Zermatt.

I recently stayed at the Park City Peaks Hotel in Park City, Utah. The Park City Peaks Hotel is the epitome of relaxation with a variety of features and benefits. The Peaks Hotel is often referred to as “The Best Deal in Park City”, and I would wholeheartedly agree with that statement. It is family owned and known for its friendly service and charming ambiance. It continues to provide a perfect setting for a relaxing stay.

My expectations for the Park City Peaks Hotel were definitely exceeded. My room was very nice, spacious, and made me feel right at home. In addition to a great room, the accommodations were also wonderful, including an excellent breakfast! The hotel is also just minutes away from Park City Main Street, as well as the ski resorts. The prime location was just one of many things I enjoyed about my stay.

Overall, the service was great, as were the amenities. Some of the amenities included: a heated indoor/outdoor swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna, restaurants, bar, and a lot of in-room extras such as Wi-Fi, an in-room safe, and a coffeemaker. I would definitely recommend this hotel to people that want a location away from the hustle and bustle of the city life at an affordable cost.

- Tyler Teran

Big Sky Apres Ski

I’ve experienced my share of après ski after a great day on the slopes. Including the Sky Hotel and J Bar in Aspen, the Corner Store in Park City, the Mangy Moose in Jackson Hole, and the Tram Deck at Snowbird. Tipping back well deserved beers, ordering ridiculously large nachos, and reliving that one perfect powder turn from the day is a staple of every ski trip. I have to say that no après ski scene comes close to Big Sky.

Lets start with the mountain itself. The 4,180 vertical drop of rolling terrain and 6 mile long runs provide endless skiing opportunities. The steeps will test your determination (lack of judgement) and the groomers will make everyone smile. So if at the end if the day you’re not ready for a hot tub then you did something wrong.

The après starts in the village. The open pit wood burning fires provide a unique place to sit down and enjoy your first drink. Grab a local Montana brew or signature cocktail from any of the bars in the village. It offers a truly real western feel unlike any other resort. Next, roll into Whiskey Jacks for an après snack and one of their many beers on tap. Seemed like this was the popular spot where lots of locals grab a drink after skiing. Don’t spend too long socializing because there’s one last stop.

Finally, and this is a must, head over to The Summit hot tub to relax in the alpen glow of the peak. This is the most amazing hot tub I’ve experienced. At first we thought it was their pool…but this enormous hot tub offers ‘pool side’ service with drinks, milk shakes, and food. It’s the only way to après!

I love to après everywhere I go. It’s part of the ski culture in every resort. Big Sky truly has something special that I hope everyone gets to experience. Now that I know how to après up in the mountains of Montana and I can’t wait until its time to make the annual trip again.

Spring Skiing Extended

While many skiers get depressed about their favorite resorts closing and the season ending–recent snow storms in both Colorado and Utah have raised spirits of ski aficionados all across the country.

It isn’t too late to book a ski vacation, in fact some of the best conditions may be yet to come. Colorado recently had over 30 inches of new snow with more on the way. Some predictions are calling for over 2 feet of new snow by the weekend starting April 19^th. While many Colorado ski resorts have closed for the season, both Winter Park and Aspen Highlands are still open for business. Copper, Vail and Breckenridge, all receiving in excess of a foot of lovely fresh snow are also opening for the weekend of April 19-21^st.

Or, if you want to experience some of the greatest, (and under-appreciated), snow on earth, opt to visit Utah. Both Alta and Snowbird are catering to ski lovers with Snowbird winning the die-hard race and staying open through May 12^th. They likely will open on weekends based on snow conditions so do something different and plan a ski vacation to Utah in June. Alta, while closed for skiing during the week, is giving skiers one last hurray by opening April 19-21^st and April 26^th-28^th.

If you aren’t ready to golf yet or give up dreams of powder, book a ski vacation today to Utah or Colorado.

Room#523

What type of ROOM: 1BR Penthouse

Sleeps 6ppl

Great ski in the Winter and amazing disc golf in the summer. This is a great resort with thrills and hills for all the seasons! I was able to take a trip to the Canyons and have to share that I was amazed at the spectacular views and what this pristine area has to offer if you decide a trip to the Utah area. Just as you come into the Park City area, the Canyons is the newest resort, aside of the already existing Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley. All three offer its own offerings to the guest! The Canyons is like its own little town within a town. During my stay, I was able to experience some disc golf as my trip was just before ski season and I couldn’t get over being at that elevation of 9900 Feet!!

I just kept imagining the ski season and hitting the slopes at that elevation! Taking a 5 minute ride on the Red Pine Gondola and then hopping on the Saddleback express, I got up to that elevation and took in the peacefulness as I worked down the mountain capturing the Canyons! In the off season if you enjoy disc golf and you are looking for a great area, I highly recommend the Canyons — you will not be disappointed! Aside from taking in the outdoor ambiance I stayed at the Grand Summit which sits right at the base of the Red Pine Gondola and I know that this is a prime ski in / ski out spot in the winter.

You are feet from the gondola and the ski school. This posh property itself is located right at the heart of the action and offers it all to the traveler. It offers a full amenity spa to a fitness room, recreation room to 3 nice, hot Jacuzzis and heated pool! Also, the staff was extremely helpful with all my needs. I stayed in a 1BR Penthouse unit and had great mountain views. This property puts the charm into its décor and its offerings. I dined at the Red Tail Grill and took in their amazing cuisine – not bad for the price and the service was 5 star. This restaurant offers the guest a southwestern experience featuring bold dishes and a great tequila selection!! Mucho BUENO!

Whether you are looking for summer fun or winter action, don’t miss out on capturing the splender of the Canyons!

South Lake Tahoe

We headed off after work on a Thursday and were in Reno with enough energy to spend a few hours in the casino. The following morning we headed off to Heavenly Ski Resort. The drive was only about an hour from Reno to Lake Tahoe. Many people choose to stay in Reno and drive to Lake Tahoeduring their vacation, but personally, I prefer to wake up surrounded by the lake and the forest.

We chose to stay at the Aston Lakeland Village, which was located right on the lake with its own sand beach. The property was exactly what we were looking for and I can only imagine how beautiful it would be to visit during the summer. We stayed in unit 408 which had one bedroom, 1 full bath, 1 half bath, a full kitchen, and a loft. The unit could easily sleep 6.

Heavenly Ski Resort

By 11AM on Friday we were on the slopes of Heavenly. The resort was not crowded at all, which was surprising because it was Spring Break. The snow was a little slushy, but the conditions were exactly what we expected for spring. We were able to ride without jackets and didn’t even need gloves. It was AWESOME! Neither of us had ever been to Heavenly before this trip and we loved it. The terrain is great for beginners and intermediate skiers. You could easily access the entire mountain and there were very few lift lines.

Most of the crowds were hanging out at the multiple mid-mountain restaurant areas where DJ’s were playing Reggae music and everyone was dressed up for St. Patrick’s Day. There were plenty of places to sit on the deck with a beer throughout the day.

We spent two days riding at Heavenly and never felt bored. We even took a few runs on the Nevada side of the resort. At night we would head to the Casinos at Harrahs, Harveys, and Mont Bleu to try and make enough money to pay for the trip, which did actually happen. Yeah!

I highly recommend South Lake Tahoe and especially Heavenly Ski Resort!

East Peak Grill

View of Lake Tahoe from the top of Heavenly

The next morning we grabbed the complementary breakfast at Lakeside Village, caught the shuttle and headed to the gondola at Heavenly Village.  The gondola starts right in South Lake and takes you to Tamarack Lodge where you can choose which state to ski in!  Heavenly sits right on the border of California and Nevada, so you can ski two states in one day.  We opted to start in California, took the Tamarack Express lift up, and headed down the California Trail to the Sky Express.  We lapped the chair a few times hitting some great groomers over there (Ridge Run and High Five to name a few).  We also took the time to take in the sights.  From this side you have some great views of Lake Tahoe on a clear day, and we got a blue bird day.  We made our way down Skyline Trail over to the Dipper and Comet Express and skied the groomers and trees on this side until lunch.  After a quick bite, we headed to the Nevada side and skied the long runs over to the Stagecoach Express.  After a bit, we skied back to the gondola and made our way back to the condo to get ready to head out for the night.

View of Nevada from the top of Heavenly

After cleaning up, we grabbed the shuttle and headed over to the Nevada side of town to grab a bite to eat and try our luck at the tables.  One of the few places that you can ski in the morning and tempt Lady Luck at night!  All in all what a great day.

Shot of our group taken by the Epic Mix photographer

Marinated Winter Beet Salad

We started the meal with their signature drink the Golden Eagle.  This is their version of the classic margarita and they were spot on!  Out came the appetizers next.  The chef prepared a Marinated Winter Beet Salad, Birch Glazed Pork Ribs, and Chardonnay Steamed Pen Cove Mussels.  The beet salad was a great mix of pecans, beets, and goat cheese with a blood orange vinaigrette.  The pork ribs were tender and fell right off the bone.  The mussels melted in your mouth and the broth was really flavorful.  I had to stop dipping my bread into it or I was not going to be hungry for the main course!

Bangers and Mash with the Golden Eagle

Once we finished up with the apps, the wait staff brought out the main courses.  The chef prepared a Mesquite Grilled New York Steak, a Verlasso Salmon, and my favorite Bangers and Mash.  The steak was tender and juicy and the creamy mustard dressing went really well with it.  The salmon was a light entrée salad and was really bright and fresh.  The bangers and mash had fantastic pork sausage with a garlic potato puree and a smoked onion that really tied the whole plate together.

Delicious Dessert!

Finally, after I was sure that I could not eat anymore, out came dessert.  We were able to choose from a Chocolate Mousse Brownie, Lemon Cheesecake, and their version of a Baked Alaska.  I was able to try all three and just like everything else, they were fantastic.   If you are ever near by this place, I would highly recommend you stop by and grab a bite to eat.

Heavenly

1. There’s something cool about skiing across a border. Heavenly sits astride the border between Nevada and California and has a number of ski lifts on either side.

2. Casinos. Just north of Stateline Avenue in South Lake Tahoe is the Nevada boarder and  several large casinos for your enjoyment. The casinos offer a variety of games, sports, and entertainment. Check out the Blu nightclub at the Montbleu for theme nights.

3. Microbreweries. Both The Brewery At Lake Tahoe and the Stateline Brewery offer an excellent range of beers, as well as some tasty food. The Mahi Fish Tacos at the Stateline were especially awesome after a day on the slopes.

Kirkwood

4. Steep Slopes. Kirkwood is all about adventure and challenge. Take a ride up “The Wall” on chairlift # 10 and head into Wagon Wheel Bowl. Like the spokes in a wagon wheel, the ridges and gullies all feed back to the central point of the resort base.

5. Snow. The locals call it the K-Factor. Kirkwood sits in the perfect location and gets the area’s lightest, driest, and most plentiful snow. The area averages an incredible 600 inches per year, so you are likely to experience pristine snow conditions.

6. Isolation. Kirkwood is situated at the far end of the lake and doesn’t have any large towns nearby. Although it is only 35 miles from Heavenly, it doesn’t get a lot of skier traffic because there are so many popular resorts in the region. Everyone has heard of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, but few people know about Kirkwood. The end result is…… no lift lines!

Northstar

7. The Beautiful Village. Northstar is modeled after the alpine ski villages of Europe. It reminds me a lot of Beaver Creek, and also has an outdoor ice skating rink. Everything in the village is within a short walk of the ski lifts. One especially nice touch is that there is a special area where parents can sit on comfortable deck chairs (sipping a beverage) while watching their kids take their first ski lesson on a beginner slope in the village.

8. Proximity. I couldn’t believe it until we rode the shuttle back to the airport, but Northstar is only 45 minutes from Reno Tahoe International Airport. My stopwatch doesn’t lie. There are very few world-class resorts that are as accessible as Northstar.

9. The Powder. We struck it perfectly and arrived at the tail end of a 24 hour storm that dumped 17 inches of snow on Northstar. I was amazed at how great the skiing was. Keep it to yourself, but most people skiing at Northstar seem to stick to the groomers. If you like to ski powder, head out in the trees or basically anywhere off the piste and you can still find untracked runs late in the day.

Lake Tahoe

10. And last but definitely not least….The Lake!!! The Lake Tahoe region is a stunning area. An incredibly clear, blue lake surrounded by hundreds of mountains. What’s not to like?

Every spring, Crested Butte puts on an amazing concert series called FestEVOL. The event features live music, snow sports, lots of cool new, environmentally-friendly brands, and a focus on sustainability. This year the event featured critically acclaimed acts Twiddle, Mine Control, and main act, The Wailers. With great music, awesome people, and set in a beautiful town, FestEVOL is an awesome event that everyone should experience.

The Wailers at FestEVOL

Lodging in Crested Butte is diverse in options and price, offering affordable hostel accommodations, 5 star luxury hotels, and everything in between. Crested Butte also offers a wide variety of terrain from greens and blues to the extreme blacks and double blacks at the top of the mountain. With abundant snow, sunshine, wide open terrain, good vibes and no crowds, the good times are plenty in Crested Butte.