Planning Your Family Getaway to Deer Valley

Published July 19, 2023
By: Nick and Laura Como

School is out and it’s time to plan your family summer getaway to the mountains. When the snow melts there is no shortage of things to do and see at Deer Valley for children of all ages. Here is a break down the options to venture out the same way skiers rate difficulty, so matching the right adventure with each family’s goals is simple.

GREEN CIRCLE

Adventure Camp: Treat your little ones to Deer Valley’s Summer Adventure Camp. Campers will discover a mountain of fun and wonders through adult-supervised and age-appropriate activities like sports, nature studies, scavenger hunts, art, and community projects with our state-licensed counselors. To check for seasonal availability, please call 435-645-6648 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or email skierservices@deervalley.com.

Sing-a-long at a concert. The Deer Valley Music Festival offers a family-appropriate environment—the ratio of kids to adults dancing is often in favor of the children! Some highlights, backed by The Utah Symphony, include the music of John Williams (July 29) and Queen (August 3), offer a new way to hear old classics. Bring a blanket or chairs, pre-order a gourmet picnic bag, or grab a meal from the Grab & Go, and dance the evening away as a family!

Learn a new skill. Bring the whole family to The Deer Valley Creative Academy for hands-on experiences from culinary classes to painting or building floral arrangements. The planned events vary, so check the calendar and descriptions should the class align with your travel dates and make sense for your children’s ages. Available now.

Music and a Meal at Deer Valley Café. Adjacent to The Ponds, and located in the Deer Valley Plaza building, is one of the better-kept local secret spots to grab a bite to eat. Enjoy favorites such as the Turkey Chili and fresh-baked cookies, along with a full breakfast and lunch menu that includes soups, salads, sandwiches, and more. Live entertainment is scheduled every weekend on the patio all summer—a great way to cap or begin a day on the water or trails.

BLUE SQUARE

Standup paddleboarding. The aforementioned Ponds at Deer Valley are ideal for paddleboarding with the whole family and are among the first bodies of water in the high country to “melt out” in spring. The shore is always in sight, plus water temperatures are balmy compared to other nearby bodies of water currently full of record snowmelt. The friendly confines of these interconnected waterways are absent of motorized (read: fast-moving) craft, offering a relaxed place to learn to paddle. Seasoned SUP’ers will find fun tracing the shoreline in both directions for a solid day on the water. Lessons and rentals are available.

Hiking. Miles of trails in Park City await the tread of your boots if the family is up for a bit of a walk. A number of trails begin at Silver Lake Village, while higher elevation options beckon atop Bald Mountain, accessed via Sterling Express Lift. Grab a trail map and look for routes such as Ontario Canyon, Red Cloud, and Silver Lake. Each clock in around two miles, but does have a fair amount of elevation gain that can test little legs. A scenic chairlift ride can cut this in half and makes for a fun twist to a traditional hike.

Pool Day. The Silver Baron Lodge, Stag Lodge and Lodges at Deer Valley boast exceptional family-friendly pools that create lasting memories. At the Silver Baron Lodge, families can indulge in the serene ambiance of their pool area, complete with spacious seating areas, luxurious loungers, and a water slide. The kids will have a blast splashing around in the pool, while parents can unwind in the adjacent hot tub or relax poolside, while relishing in the stunning mountain views that serve as a picturesque backdrop. Book the Family Mountain Activities Package and get 15% off your stay and resort credits. These credits can be used towards activities, including bike lessons, rentals, retail, and dining.

BLACK DIAMOND

Mountain Biking for the Big Kids. Mix the weather of hiking with the gravitational thrill of skiing and you have…mountain biking! Like the latter, there are beginner options to learn this new way of exploring the resort. Deer Valley has created several introductory trails, such as Secret to Success, Holy Roller, and—new this season—Ripple, as a fantastic entry to the sport. There is also a skills bike park at Silver Lake to test your balance on before riding up the lifts and testing gravity on the way back down.

Rent full suspension bikes from Deer Valley to smooth out the small bumps and rollers on these wide paths, and consider taking a lesson with one of the resort’s professional coaches who help smooth out the learning curve for new mountain bikers.