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THE CANYONS RESORTUtah

T he Canyons Resort, nestled in the beautiful Wasatch mountains at

the edge of Park City, Utah is the perfect spot for your next family

ski vacation. With an average snowfall of nearly 30 feet per year,

the Canyons virtually guarantees endless terrain for every style and abili-

ty. Boasting $10 million of resort upgrades, it's a 3700-acre playground of

incredibly varied terrain with eight mountain peaks. Whether you choose

to tame the moguls on 9990, rip up the black diamonds on Apex Ridge,

or enjoy the peaceful backcountry experience of Dreamscape, the slopes

are rarely crowded, ideal for families, group skiers or snowboarders.

The Canyons Resort is a self-contained village of slopeside shops

and lodging. It offers three hotels: The Sundial Lodge, the Silverado

Lodge and its signature Grand Summit Hotel, a AAA Four Diamond

resort with an outdoor heated pool, gourmet dining, ski storage and an

easy ski in, ski out location.

All three offer hotel room and condo style lodging designed for fam-

ily travel.

After a long day on the slopes, the Grand Summit Health Club and

Spa offers a variety of massages, facials and body therapies to rejuve-

nate and revitalize. For families, the hotels provide licensed daycare

offering a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, including gondola

rides, sledding and access to the Canyon's ski and snowboard school.

Only three miles away is Park City, one of Americas great ski towns. Its

historic Main Street, with over 100 bars and restaurants, is a great place to

enjoy nightlife, dining, and shopping. In addition, the kids might want to try

the Tubing park or the ultimate adrenaline rush of the Olympic bobsled run.

The Canyons Resort is easily accessible from the east

coast with non-stop service from New York to Salt Lake

City, and it's only a short, 35 minute ride from the airport

to the resort.

You can actually leave on the early morning flight and

be on the slopes before noon. And with the Park City

Quick Start Program, you can show your boarding pass

at the lift ticket sales window and get a free same-day

lift pass. Also check into the Ski Free Packages fea-

tured on www.canyons.com. If you book one of the three

lodging properties, you'll get two ski-free passes along

with breakfast with every night of your stay. Now those

are great deals!

Hard-core skiers should check out The First Tracks pro-

gram. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, you can be the first

on the lifts and the first to make tracks hours before the

general public. You'll be floating through untouched pow-

der and groomers with just a handful of lucky skiers and

boarders. It's a skiers dream come true and includes breakfast (but

not your lift ticket) for only $59.

For a great slopeside experience, make the Canyons your next ski

destination. 866/604-4171; www.thecanyons.com.

VAIL PLAZA HOTEL & CLUBColorado

The Vail Plaza Hotel & Club is one of the newest additions to Vail Village, part

of the extensive redevelopment project happening in Vail, Colorado. Vail

Plaza Hotel & Club has fast become the new place to stay in Vail Village, with

its state of the art meeting facilities, lounge, restaurants and spa.

The sophisticated, Alpine-inspired lobby welcomes you in any season —

SLOPESIDE

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THE CANYONS RESORT

BY RICH SILVER

THE CANYONS RESORT

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151the travel book 2008

on the coldest winter day or after a summer bike ride. The hotel and its pri-

vate ski and boot storage is conveniently located just a few minutes walk

from the Vista Bahn lift, which accesses all of Vail's massive 5200 acres of

world class skiing. Not up for skiing today? Try dog sledding, snow-tubing,

snowshoeing, or horseback riding. Those who prefer the warm summer

months can enjoy golf, mountain biking, hiking, even hot air ballooning. The

hotel, situated in the center of the pedestrian Vail Village, is surrounded by

a seemingly endless array of shops, art galleries, restaurants, and nightlife.

After a long day of alpine play, relax in your sumptuous guest room fea-

turing warm, custom furnishings, Egyptian cotton sheets, and feather

down comforters. For those seeking further relaxation, a visit to the

Sorrento Spa for a massage or skin treatment does the trick. The hotel

also has a top-of-the-line fitness center, heated outdoor pool and hot tub,

along with two restaurants. Da Vinci offers Mediterranean-influenced cui-

sine; Galileo serves Italian-style bistro foods and is open for breakfast,

lunch, and dinner. Those wishing to enjoy all that Vail has to offer, relax

and rejuvenate, or meet for a business conference, will find all they need

at the new Vail Plaza Hotel & Club. Fractional ownership opportunities are

available. 877/888-1540; www.vailplazahotel.com.

SKI AUSTRIAST. ANTON AM ARLBERG “The Arlberg” is the name given to the five stunning, picturesque towns in

western Austria, and the 85 lifts and scores of ski runs that connect them.

St. Anton is the largest and the most famous, a true international skiing

destination. The scenic and exciting Tyrolean Pedestrian Village is the

model for many of the Austrian-style villages built at ski areas around the

world, except this is the real deal.

St. Anton boasts activities for all ages to enjoy year round, but of course

the most famous is skiing the Alps. There are countless options for abilities

from beginner to expert. For the really adventurous skier, there is the chal-

lenge of the famous Valluga. Otherwise, you can easily hire a guide in town

to accompany you as you ski from village to village, taking in the beauty of

the Austrian Tyrol. Be sure to visit the village of Lech, with its gentle skiing

and breathtaking views. St Anton is suited to the hard charging skier and

late night partier, whereas Lech caters to a refined clientele with its

fine European shopping and café lifestyle.

Along with skiing, the region offers skating, sleigh riding, hiking

and lots of après ski enjoyment long into the night. The most famous

watering spot is the Mooserwirt, located on the way down the moun-

tain. Skiing after a stop at the Moosewirt is an adventure in itself.

There are countless lodging options, from two to five-star, to

fit everyone's taste and budget. Breakfast and dinner are typi-

cally included. The Karl Schranz Hotel St. Anton am Arlberg

offers a homey Austrian experience, while the Post Hotel

(www.hotel-post.co.at) is located right in town. The region has

a wide array of restaurants, from traditional to more contem-

porary European fare. Lunch at the Balmalp Ski Hutte atop the

Kriegerhorn lift in Lech is not to be missed. What a spectacu-

lar setting!

With it's easy access — non-stop service from New York on Swiss

International Airlines —

and just 2 and 1/2 hours

from Zurich airport via

shuttle service, (www.arl-

bergexpress.com) the Arlberg is a

wonderful choice for a great

European ski vacation. For furtherinformation, visit: www.stantona-marlberg.com.

VAIL PLAZA HOTEL & CLUB

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152 the travel book 2008

SLOPESIDEWHAT’S NEW AT ASPEN/SNOWMASS by Paula Koffsky

Aspen, Colorado, a skier's Mecca and a vacationer's paradise. Made up of

four ski mountains: Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and

Buttermilk, Aspen/Snowmass is one of Colorado's premier ski destinations.

For the 2008-2009 season, skiers will be further wowed with Aspen Skiing

Company's infusion of $35 million worth of improvements. Snowmass will

sport a new detachable quad chairlift to keep you comfortable on your way

to the summit. The new Sheer Bliss chair lift will service 700 acres of some

of the best terrain in the Big Burn area. The new lift can carry up to 2,000

people per hour and takes riders 2,212 vertical feet, both further and faster

than the old Sheer Bliss chair. Aspen Highlands, known as the “local's moun-

tain” and home to the challenging Highland Bowl, has added additional acres

of skiing and riding in the Deep Temerity area of the mountain. At Buttermilk,

home to the ESPN Winter X Games, a new Olympic-size, 22-foot halfpipe will

be up and running. The new halfpipe, four feet higher than before, will send

skiers and riders further skyward. Gnarley! At Aspen Mountain, a new and

improved Gondola Plaza will make it easier to load the gondola.

Snowmass, the mountain for a perfect family vacation, has undergone

a renaissance in the last two years with the development of the base vil-

lage. This grand revitalization includes 64,000 square feet of new shops

and restaurants, a community aquatic center, a 246-unit hotel, and two

new luxury residences, the Little Nell Residences at Snowmass and the

Viceroy Resort Residences at Snowmass. The epicenter of the new village

is the Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center, a 25,000-square-foot center

with ski and snowboard check-in, rental and retail shops and a family

après entertainment all under one roof. Snowmass has it all, including the

Village Express six-pack lift, the new Elk Camp Meadows learning area

and Meadows lift, Elk Camp Gondola and the Sky Cab Gondola.

Aspen, home to the famous Aspen Music Festival, the Aspen Institute,

the picturesque Maroon Bells, and unbeatable nightlife, just keeps get-

ting better and better. Aspen Skiing Company: 800/525-6200;www.aspensnowmass.com.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBERLifts begin running on

November 27, 2008 when

Snowmass and Aspen

Mountain open, with all four

open for the season on

December 13, 2008. Aspen

Highlands and Buttermilk will

close on April 5, 2009, while

Snowmass and Aspen Mountain will close on April 12, 2009. The Aspen

Winternational FIS Alpine World Cup takes place on Aspen Mountain,

November 28-29. 2008. The ESPN Winter X Games 13 will bring the

most extreme snowsports athletes to Buttermilk, January 22-25, 2009.

ASPEN SPORTS ASPEN·SNOWMASSNo need to fly with all your gear; Aspen

Sports will take care of your rental equipment needs. Skiers and boarders can

make advanced equipment reservations online at Rentskis.com/aspensports

and equipment will be waiting at one of their seven convenient locations

throughout Aspen and Snowmass. Benefits of reserving equipment on line

include: up to 20% off rental packages and kids 12 and under rent free with

every renting adult (except on black out dates). Customers may also use the

computer sign-in process at one of the shops to rent equipment. Repeat cus-

tomers are able to retrieve their equipment details from previous trips, so that

a certain boot, ski, or snowboard can be easily duplicated. Along with profes-

sional and friendly service, all of the shops use the Snowell ski tuning system,

the same system that the U.S. and Austrian ski teams use in the World Cup.

Aspen Sports offers a Gold Club option, the ultimate in convenience and

deluxe rental service. Skiers can reserve their equipment in advance through

the RentSkis Gold Club option on the website. Gold Club guests are guaran-

teed a specific brand and model of ski or snowboard. Equipment will be pre-

set and waiting for your arrival in the special Gold holding area of the desig-

nated Aspen Sports rental location. If you are bringing your own boots, you will

be directed to a dedicated station, where your equipment will be adjusted.

Complimentary overnight equipment storage is also included with the Gold

Club service. Rentskis.com.

Snowmass ResourcesSnowmass Mall (slopeside) 970/923-6111

Outlet at Snowmass Center 970/923-3566

Aspen ResourcesGondola Plaza 970/925-1360

Cooper Avenue Mall 970/925-6331

St. Regis Hotel 970/925-6332

Sky Hotel 970/925-6333

Hyatt Hotel 970/429-9100

W

TREEHOUSE, SNOWMASS

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