RHYTHM ON WHEELS: DEER VALLEY BECOMES A DESTINATION FOR MOUNTAIN BIKERS

As the mountains turn from white to green, Deer Valley Resort reopens its doors and lifts to guests looking to experience summer play available day and night on its mountains. From the rush of a mountain bike descent through the trees or an exhilarating hike along a ridge top to lunch served all fresco and open air evening concerts, Deer Valley offers an unparalleled alpine escape. New this season, guests can relish in summer season longer, as Deer Valley has extended its summer operations to include weekends after Labor Day through Sunday, September 20, 2015, conditions permitting.

Summer 2015 mountainside activities promise to provide an even higher level of enjoyment as Deer Valley Resort embarks on its largest-ever summer investment to modernize and update its existing mountain biking/hiking trail inventory. Deer Valley Resort enlisted world-renowned bike resort development company, Gravity Logic, to conduct a feasibility analysis of the current mountain bike/hike trail system and provide improvement recommendations. Select recommendations provided by Gravity Logic will occur throughout the 2015 summer season, beginning in June and finishing in mid-August.

“Gravity Logic is known for having designed and built some of the planet’s most well-known, most-ridden and time-tested trails,” said Steve Graff, mountain bike manager for Deer Valley Resort. “We are excited to work with one of the most prominent designers in the world to create an even greater resort trail system that has more mass appeal for novice to expert bikers.”

One of the scheduled improvements includes a two- to three-mile downhill mountain bike intermediate “flow” trail. This trail will be machine excavated and in-sloped with berms, rollers and jumps. To date, the majority of Deer Valley’s trails have been hand-built. The trail will be approximately four feet wide, as opposed to Deer Valley’s mostly single track trails, and will lead from the top of Bald Mountain to Silver Lake.

“Deer Valley Resort has an expansive network of mountain biking and hiking trails and the resort is already a favorite summertime destination for mountain bikers and hikers said Rob Cocquyt, owner/director of Gravity Logic. “Our goal is to work closely with Deer Valley’s in-house team to enhance what is already in place to elevate the experience for riders/hikers of all ages, skills and interests.”

In addition to trail work with Gravity Logic, Deer Valley and Mountain Trails Foundation have partnered to create an extension of the Mid-mountain trail. The trail will lead from Silver Lake to the Deer Crest trail, eliminating the climb from Silver Lake to the top of Bald Eagle and circumnavigating Bald Eagle.

“For outdoor, nature, relaxation and music enthusiasts, Deer Valley Resort truly has it all,” said Bob Wheaton, president and general manager of Deer Valley Resort. “Summers at the resort offer guests the unique opportunity to try new outdoor activities, challenge themselves physically, discover an appreciation for nature, create lasting family memories and rejuvenate the senses—all experienced in generally mild, pleasant temperatures.”

Summer operations at the resort run seven days a week from June 19 through Labor Day, September 7, 2015, then weekends only through September 20, 2015, weather and conditions permitting. Lift-served mountain biking/hiking and scenic rides are offered from the Silver Lake Express chairlift at Snow Park, the mid-mountain Sterling Express chairlift and the Ruby Express chairlift at Empire Canyon. Summer chairlifts operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (conditions permitting) and ample parking is available at Snow Park Lodge. The resort website provides detailed information on mountain biking and hiking/scenic ride lift ticket rates, as well as information on bike rentals, clinics and tours.

For evening play, Deer Valley Resort brings in an exciting lineup of celebrated singers/songwriters/musicians to entertain guests at open-air, mountainside concerts. To compliment any evening concert, Deer Valley features Gourmet Picnic Baskets or Bags filled with delicious epicurean items from Deer Valley’s kitchens, with options for children’s single bags, gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian meals.

The summer calendar of events features a complete line-up of outdoor concerts at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater and mountain bike races. Beyond the resort, the Park City surrounding area provides a wide variety of activities, such as golf, river tubing and rafting, boating, horseback riding, ATV adventures, shopping, dining, theaters and historical museums and tours.

With Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations serving not only as property manager but also as the booking agency, guests have access to the largest selection of accommodations with the best service and availability, in the Deer Valley area. Deer Valley’s expert Vacation Planners are available to help guests book and plan outings and adventures tailored to their individual needs.

When the fun and excitement of summertime activities leave the body famished, Deer Valley now offers four delicious options for refueling. For Deer Valley guests and visitors looking to grab a quick bite or more, the new Silver Lake Snack Shack will now be open daily during the summer season. Located in the Silver Lake Ski Corral at mid-mountain, the shack offers wrap sandwiches, picnic snacks, beverages, beer, desserts and ice cream sandwiches. The shack is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 19 through September 7, 2015, then September 12, 13, 19 and 20, 2015.

Royal Street Café offers a casual atmosphere with scenic deck dining and creative American and international cuisine the entire family can enjoy. Royal Street Café serves creative appetizers, salads and specialties such as a fresh Dungeness crab tower with avocado and sauces of wasabi, ginger-soy and sweet chili, tuna tartare with wild arugula, truffle oil and lemon salad and of course, the famed maple bacon, barbeque bison burger. You’ll also find an equally exciting children’s menu, fine wines, beer and refreshing cocktails. Open for lunch daily June 19, through Labor Day, September 7, 2015, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Royal Street Café is located mid-mountain at Silver Lake Lodge adjacent to Deer Valley’s Silver Lake Express chairlift.

Enjoy the view and mountain air while dining lakeside on the outdoor deck at Deer Valley Grocery~Café serving fresh roasted coffee and espresso drinks, salads made with local seasonal ingredients, panini sandwiches, creative appetizer and entrée specials, freshly baked breads, desserts, cakes and other items. A selection of gourmet grocery items, house prepared take-away entrées as well as wine, beer, liquor and seasonal cocktails are available for purchase. Deer Valley Grocery~Café, located in the Deer Valley Plaza building in the Snow Park area, is open daily 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (With extended evening hours until 8:30 p.m. June 19, through Labor Day, September 7, 2015.) Please call 435-615-2400 for to-go orders.

The Brass Tag restaurant, located in the Lodges at Deer Valley, is open daily from 4 to 9 p.m. and serves their full dinner menu from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The menu features Deer Valley-inspired brick oven cuisine including fresh seafood skillets, seared meats, oven roasted fresh fish, locally sourced produce, seasonal flatbreads and specialty sides. A full bar, beer and wine are also available.

For Deer Valley’s younger guests, ranging in age from 2 months to 12 years, the resort’s Summer Adventure Camp offers creative activities that ensure campers have fun while learning and connecting with nature. Based out of the Children’s Center at Snow Park Lodge and running Monday through Friday June 8 through August 19, 2015 (no camp on July 3 or 24), Summer Adventure Camp features hiking, hillside playgrounds, indoor entertainment and performances, a bouldering rock-climbing wall and a full supply of craft projects, games, puzzles and more.

Deer Valley’s convenient location, just 36 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, affords guests more time to enjoy their alpine retreat. Guests leaving either coast in the morning can be settled at the resort by early afternoon, ready for outdoor play or comfortable relaxation.

For more information on Deer Valley’s summer mountain biking, hiking, scenic chairlift rides, outdoor concerts and dining operations, please visit the resort website.

While technically the only things you can’t ski without are two planks and a hill, it’s also true that the sport is far more enjoyable when accompanied by boot-warming ski concierges, 24-hour room service, hot-spring-style whirlpools and après-ski massages at a lavish spa. These are just a few of the amenities that put North America’s three Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star ski resorts head and shoulders above other mountain properties. For the most luxurious downhill getaway anywhere, head to one of these elite ski-in/ski-out hotels that top our list of the continent’s best.

View the full list of official 2015 Forbes Travel Guide Star Ratings here.

The Little Nell Tucked between downtown Aspen and Aspen Mountain, The Little Nell has been the epitome of Colorado chic since opening in 1989. Its current “Aspen modern” aesthetic—think cream, chocolate and blue palettes on leather chairs, velvet banquettes, recessed gas fireplaces and contemporary art—comes courtesy of celebrity (and part-time local) designer Holly Hunt, who reimagined the hotel’s guest rooms for its 20th anniversary. VIPs splurge on the Paepcke Suite; at 2,500 square feet, it’s the hotel’s largest, and the space is powered, right down to the heated marble flooring and walls, entirely by its own solar panels. Some of Aspen’s best dining options call the hotel home, from Five-Star Element 47 and its local, seasonal fare to après hot spot Ajax Tavern and its signature double cheeseburger with truffle fries. Four bars, including the Oasis, a pop-up champagne and caviar bar found somewhere (depending on the day) on Aspen Mountain each weekend, offer more options for warming up post-run. You’ll need it after a long day that begins with The Little Nell’s exclusive, complimentary First Tracks program, which gives hotel guests access to the mountain before the gondola opens to the public. Insider access is the norm here; the hotel will also arrange for you to join the mountain’s groomer snowcat or ski patrol sweep on their morning and evening missions. No possible perk goes unturned—The Little Nell is a place where even your four-legged sidekick gets his own personalized brass ID tag and puppy jet lag kit.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole Fresh off a room renovation in late 2014—the first major transformation since the hotel opened in 2003—Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole is as luxe as ever, with new in-room technology and locally inspired décor to boot. The 124 rooms and suites offer the best of both worlds; you’ll enjoy only-in-Wyoming perks such as Cache Creek Apothecary bath products in an alpine meadow scent, but also the Four Seasons amenities you know and love, including the recently introduced, customizable Four Seasons Beds. Lying on your perfectly firm mattress topper while streaming music from your smartphone to your room’s TV, you may be tempted to hibernate here—but you have a Four-Star spa, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and (only one mile away) Grand Teton National Park to explore. The hotel’s in-house ski-rental shop has everything you need for a day of downhill, cross-country or snowboarding, including a ski concierge to book your lessons or arrange an in-room boot fitting. Beyond the lifts (three chairlifts are accessible directly from Four Seasons), the resort provides access to an exhaustive list of winter activities, from heli-skiing to dog sledding to wildlife safaris, plus plenty of on-property allures. The hotel’s Westbank Grill and The Handle Bar, new two seasons ago, are both worthy restaurants for dinner. Westbank Grill’s roaring fire and mountain views are the perfect backdrop to its regional meat, game and fish dishes, while The Handle Bar serves elevated pub grub (Snake River Wagyu sirloin, cast-iron venison, salt-broiled bone marrow) in a mountain-modern space. Stop in for après to select a tipple from the extensive whiskey and beer menus, and toast to your Five-Star Jackson Hole vacation.

Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley Park City’s only Five-Star resort also holds the title of World’s Best Ski Hotel from the 2014 World Ski Awards held in Austria this winter. All of the accolades make sense the moment you arrive at the property, where a soaring chalet entrance and heated walkways lead to guest rooms that are individually decorated to reflect the lodge’s mountain spirit, with exposed beams and stone fireplaces (there are more than 145 hearths onsite). The hotel, named after Olympic gold medalist Stein Eriksen, who won the slalom competition in his hometown of Oslo in 1952, is as renowned for its service as for its mid-mountain location and amenities, which include Five-Star The Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge and Four-Star Glitretind Restaurant. At the latter, seasonal menus specialize in hearty local fare to fuel your adventures, so dig into succulent dishes such as roasted Utah lamb and Rocky Mountain elk. When it’s time to hit the slopes, Stein Eriksen’s ski valet service and ski locker room strip away the sport’s stresses; with boot warming, weather and trail conditions, and complimentary hot chocolate, you’ll stay toasty until you hop the adjacent Viking Lift. Non-skiers will find plenty to love here as well. In winter, horse-drawn sleigh rides depart nightly; come summer, fly-fishing, horseback riding and mountain biking are just a concierge call away. And though Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley feels like a tucked-away secret, you’re only five minutes from downtown Park City, reachable by the resort’s complimentary shuttle, of course.

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