For the second year in a row Ski Utah will be holding the Fat Flake Festival which is the “official” kick off for the 2008-09 season. It will take place Saturday, Nov. 15 from 5-9 p.m. at the Gallivan Center in downtown Salt Lake City. Hopefully there will be plenty of snow in the mountains as a number of resorts are scheduled to open shortly there after.

The festival will feature music by The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash, Cavedoll and Junior Giant. One of the highlights for attendees is the number of local Utah ski and snowboard athletes that will be signing autographs, many of them on free posters! Attending will be Julian Carr, Jamie Pierre, Rachael Burks, Jenn Berg, Stevie Bell and Ashley Battersby.

New this year is the first ever Ski Boot Race. Yes, you read that right. “Runners” wearing alpine ski boots will dash around the perimeter of the Gallivan Center in the quest for a new pair of Rossignol ski boots, not to mention the fame that is associated with the title of Utah’s “Fastest Ski Boot Racer” in both a men’s and women’s division.

Better start training. Some others are already training.

There are other contests like the vintage ski outfit contest and a number of events for those that attend.

Get all the details at Ski Utah’s website.

Did you know that a few days ago was the 70th anniversary of the start for Alta Ski Area? On October 19, 1938, the Forest Service issued the initial permit to construct a lift at Alta. That December Alta officially opened as a ski area with the first official day of skiing on January 15, 1939.

Since that opening day, Alta has gained a world wide reputation for deep powder skiing and amazing views that are only rivaled by resorts in Europe.

With its top elevation at 10,550′ and sitting up the famous Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta seems to get the Lion’s share of snow each year with annual totals generally topping 500″ (that’s nearly 42 FEET).

The layout of the resort is unique and often holds powder stashes that only those in the know or those curious enough to explore will find.

Alta Ski Area Lodging Options

Staying at Alta is great if you’re all about the skiing but it can be somewhat limiting if you’re planning on eating out or if you’re looking for something larger than a hotel room.

There are a number of Utah Vacation Homes lodging options near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon but here are two that I wanted to point out:

Oaks at Wasatch #7

The Oaks at Wasatch #7 (one of 7 unique properties at the Oaks that Utah Vacation Homes offers) is a very nice property just 15 minutes from Alta and close to some great dining locations.  You’re also only 20 minutes from Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon so this location is primo!  With 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, and 3200 square feet, this townhome sleeps 12.

Kings Hill #4

Kings HIll #4 is a nicely furnished 1700 square foot townhome that is also 15 minutes from Alta. The 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths will accommodate 8 comfortably, but adjacent units can be rented to accommodate large groups.

With snow on the way I hope to see you at Alta this winter!

At the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon sits Brighton Resort, one of the oldest ski resorts in the nation and home to some of the best terrain and most abundant snow Utah has to offer.

Started in 1936, Brighton still has a feel of community and “local” that attracts both the local and ski visitor alike. I made it up there for 4 days of skiing last winter and found powder stashes, glades, long groomers and even a few cliff drops with plenty room to turn. I’m looking forward to getting back there this winter.

What’s New this season at Brighton Resort?

This past summer, if we’re talking dollars spent, Brighton’s investment of a $6 million face-lift of Mt.Millicent is now completed with the new Milly day lodge.

• 100% of Brighton’s terrain is accessible by high speed Quads.
• Brighton receives over 500” of incredible Utah powder annually.
• Affordability and Terrain make Brighton Utah’s #1 family friendly resort.
• Brighton’s 3 terrain parks are perfect for both seasoned pros and first timers.

Lodging Options for Brighton

About 15 minutes from the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton Resort is easily accessible from many of Utah Vacation Homes’ properties. Even those that stay in Park City it’s only a 45 minute drive if roads are clear, an hour if it’s snowy.

Here are a couple of options if you’re going to be skiing and snowboarding Brighton this winter.

Canyon Racquet Club - there are 8 including Canyon Racquet Club 3a and 4b which was recently remodeled.

Bengal Park - Centrally located between Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons is Bengal Park, a 1300 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2 bath vacation condo that sleeps 9.

When you think of a ski vacation to Deer Valley what comes to mind?

The perfectly groomed slopes?  Blue skies and powder?  Deer Valley’s famous turkey chili?

When I think about the perfect ski vacation to Deer Valley I think about all of the above as part of the perfect day, with my day ending at an exquisite condo or townhome next to the slope…in a place like Little Belle #2.  Although not ski-in/ski-out, Little Belle is as close as you can get - within a peaceful 100 yard walk.

Utah Vacation Homes recently added Little Belle #2 in the Silver Lake area of Deer Valley.  Silver Lake, the mid mountain village of Deer Valley, is a hard to beat location that truly makes you feel a world apart and this property that was remodeled in 2007 will make you feel right at home.

Aside from 3 bedrooms and 4.5 baths that easily accommodate 10 guests, this townhouse includes these ammenities:

Living Room at Little Belle

Master Bedroom of Little Belle #2

 –Check out Little Belle #2 and start to envision your next Deer Valley ski vacation.

Sarah Tuff Dunn in writing for ForbesTraveler.com described her first visit to Park City, Utah, by saying:

“I was struck by just how blue the sky was, and how dry the air, during a ski trip one March. I was used to soggy or icy conditions back East.

After I skied seemingly bottomless powder at nearby Deer Valley, the whole town of Park City (which looked like a candy village, thanks to all the different colors of the Victorian buildings) seemed like it was on some crazy high from the sun, the snow and the altitude.”

Check out the entire article on ForbesTraveler.com

Winter has made yet another foray into the mountains of Utah with a very strong wintry storm that passed through this past weekend.  Snow fell and accumulated in Park City and flurries of snow were seen in Salt Lake.  Ski season will be here sooner than later and deals on lodging properties are already showing up.

The sun is once again out today but it’s cold, very cold out there. Although some of this snow may melt, the added moisture to the mountains will help when additional snows come as they won’t be absorbed into the ground as quickly.

The forecast is calling for it to warm up a bit this week but autumn is definately here and winter is knocking at the door.

The Canyons Resort, which is near a number of our Utah Vacation Homes Park City based properties, posted a couple of shots showing the recent snow, including this one of their upper peak - 9990 where the snow was nearly 10″ deep.

First photo credit - The Canyons

Second photo credit - The Canyons/Summer Harbertson

Solitude Mountain Resort, located in Big Cottonwood Canyon just minutes from Utah Vacation Homes properties like Canyon Racquet Club(where we have 8 units to choose from) or just a few steps from The Crossings at Solitude, has been alive with fall colors as a lot of its lower mountain is covered with Aspen which are in full yellows and light greens right now.

One of my favorite things during the autumn colors is when the upper reaches of the mountains get that first few snow falls and it provides a brilliant white backdrop to the various colors.

As a cold storm passed through Utah this past weekend the familiar blanket of white was seen in the upper reaches of the Wasatch Mountains above Solitude Resort.

It’s quite likely that it’ll melt, but soon enough the winter snows will be here bringing in another ski season.  Keep checking Solitude’s mountain picture gallery for more like the ones here on this post.

If you happen to be coming to Utah this fall and early winter and you’re looking to mix up your evenings, you should consider checking out the Body Worlds 3 exibit which is now in downtown Salt Lake City at The Leonardo (located at the Library Square).

It opened on Sept 20 to the public and although all the advertising I’ve seen says that it’s a limited engagement, the Body Worlds website said that it’ll be here until January 11. But don’t let that lure you into procrastination. It is limited in the amount of tickets available so be sure to purchase tickets for Body World 3 in advance.

What is Body Worlds exactly?  From the website:

Body Worlds 3 is a first-of-its-kind exhibit where visitors learn about anatomy, physiology and health by viewing real human bodies. The bodies are preserved through plastination, which is a groundbreaking method for specimen preservation invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens in 1977.

BODY WORLDS 3 & the Story of the Heart features more than 200 authentic human specimens including whole body plastinates, organs, translucent body slices, and a special presentation on the heart.

But don’t take it from me or from what their website says.  One of the interesting aspects of The Leonardo is the community website where people who have visited the exhibit can record their impressions for The Leonardo to post on YouTube.  Here is one of those candid interviews from a boy who found it very fascinating.

If you do get to the exhibit, let us know your impressions by leaving a comment.

Unlike most towns, aside from Main Street and lower Park Avenue, old town Park City is void of sidewalks.

Built in a canyon with the majority of Old Town spread up the mountain side to the west that is the flank of Park City Mountain Resort, the challenge is how to get from cross street to cross street to make your way to and from Main Street where all the action is.

The answer is a number of stairs that leave Main Street or Park Avenue and climb the mountainside, stopping off at each cross street.  Each stairway has it’s own character, some being covered by trees, others adjacent to homes and other buildings.

Often times vacationers don’t know that these stairs exist and become frustrated with driving the few blocks to main street from properties like Upper Norfolk or perhaps Top of Main.

So when you come to Park City this winter or perhaps next summer, be sure to walk to main street and check out a few of the stairs that give a unique experience of seeing Park City.