If you love winter, Utah is the place to be. The state gets more than 500 inches of snowfall annually, making it an ideal winter destination for people who love to ski, snowboard, or snowshoe.
Whether you've recently decided to build a custom home in Utah or are remodeling your home and want a little getaway, check out these fun winter activities across the state.
1. Crystal Hot Springs
Looking for a way to relax this winter? Head to Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville. It's been a popular resort since the beginning of the 20th century, offering you a chance to soak in warm, mineral water. Mineral water is thought to provide special benefits, such as improving the skin and helping ease soreness in the muscles.
Although the name is Crystal Hot Springs, the resort actually has two springs, one hot and one cold. When the two mix together, the temperature is just right for relaxing in. The pool is open every day in the winter.
2. Snowbird
Snowbird is a ski resort located about 45 minutes from Salt Lake City. If you love to ski or snowboard, you need to spend at least one weekend this winter at Snowbird. You can check the Snowbird Mountain Report before booking to see what snow conditions will be like for your visit. The report lists current conditions, how many lifts are open, and the road conditions.
In addition to snowy activities, Snowbird is home to The Cliff Spa, where you can relax and unwind with a massage or facial. The resort also has world-class dining options.
3. Millcreek Canyon
Enjoy breathtaking mountain views by hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing to Millcreek Canyon. The Canyon is located a few minutes from Salt Lake City but feels like it's hours away. A highlight of the area is the big yurt, which is open only in the winter and can only be accessed by snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or with a fat-tire bike. You can book a stay at the yurt, but demand is high, so the earlier you make a reservation, the better.
4. Sundance Mountain Resort
When you hear the word "Sundance," you might think of the Film Festival, which starts near the end of January each year. There's also Sundance Mountain Resort, which Conde Nast Traveler called the second-best ski resort in the U.S. for 2021. Winter activities at the resort include a zipline adventure course and skiing. There are also highly rated places to eat and drink, such as the Owl Bar. The Owl Bar was once the stomping grounds for Butch Cassidy. It moved from Wyoming to Utah and is an accurate restoration of the original 1890s bar.
5. Deer Valley Resort
Deer Valley Resort is the place to go if you want a fancy wintertime getaway. It's a ski-only resort known for its immaculate ski runs and ski valet program. To create a more relaxing experience for skiers, the resort limits the number of people on the slopes at any time, meaning it can reach capacity during peak times. Deer Valley is an ideal resort to visit if you're new to skiing, as it also offers ski lessons with award-winning instruction.
6. Natural History Museum of Utah
While Utah is the place to be for outdoor activities, sometimes you just want to be inside, where it's warm. The Natural History Museum of Utah has established itself as one of the best science museums in the country. It has a collection of more than 1.6 million objects and a variety of educational programs.
The museum is open seven days a week and is in the heart of Salt Lake City.
7. Homestead Crater
Utah is known as the Beehive State, so it should be little surprise that a fun winter activity finds you soaking in a geothermal spring underneath a beehive-shaped crater. The Homestead Crater is at the Homestead Resort in Midway, Utah. It took thousands of years of the crater to form, a result of melting snow sinking into the earth. If you'd rather not soak or swim in the crater's hot spring, you can pass the time touring the inside of the crater.
8. Ice Castle
Midway is also home to an Ice Castle, located in the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center. An ice castle is a structure built from ice. The ice is lit up by LEDs, creating a magical feel. Inside the castle, you can crawl through ice tunnels, get lost in a maze, or slide down icy slopes. There are also caverns with thousands of hand-placed icicles above them.
9. Powder Ridge Village
Powder Mountain is one of the biggest ski areas in the country, with more than 8,000 acres of terrain. Powder Ridge Village offers condominium rentals that provide you with ski-in, ski-out access to Powder Mountain. If you need a break from the slopes, Powder Ridge Village is located near a petting zoo and a working cattle and horse ranch.
10. Snow Tubing
Skiing has its perks, but sometimes, you want to take things easy. For Utahans, taking it easy often means swapping a pair of skis for a tube. Snow tubing is a popular winter recreation across the state. There are plenty of hills that are perfect for snow tubing (or sledding, if that's more your thing).
Brian Head Ski Resort and Soldier Hollow both have lanes reserved for tubing. Soldier Hollow boasts of having the longest lanes in the state, at 1,200 feet. So when you want to sit back and relax, try sliding down a mountain on a tube, not on skis.
If you love your winter getaway in Utah, you might decide that you want to call Utah County home. Now can be the perfect time to build a custom home. 10X Builders specializes in custom home builds and remodels in Utah County. Contact us today to get started on the plans for your new home.
