Romantic Getaway at Deer Valley Resort

When it comes to romantic getaways with fantastic accommodations and restaurants, Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah has it all. Thanks to Deer Valley Resort for helping me to share this vacation recap with you.

When your 15th wedding anniversary rolls around, there's only one thing to do. Celebrate in style! That's exactly what my husband, Steve, and I did last weekend when we took a drive up to Park City and stayed at Deer Valley Resort. We were only there for two days and one night but, from the inspiring food to the gorgeous accommodations and endless list of activities, we could easily have stayed for a week.

Deer Valley Resort is well-known for its pristine ski slopes and attentive service during the winter season, but it's off-season activities and dining options are hidden jewels tucked into this mountain oasis.

When we arrived in Park City, a scenic 30 minute drive from Salt Lake City, the leaves were just on the verge of busting into autumn colors. The temperature was in the mid-70s and I was in heaven!

We had a couple of hours to kill before check-in time, so we stopped in at the High West Distillery & Saloon, which sits just off of Main Street in Park City. I had eaten here once before and knew I had to go back to sample more things from the menu. Not only is High West the world’s only ski-in distillery and gastro-saloon and the winner of several awards for their whiskeys and vodka, but there food is off-the-charts.

Steve and I shared the Short Rib Ancho Chili Tacos and the High West Beef & Bison Burger (oh yeah, and the whiskey lemonade...a must-try!), and we have a list of other items we want to try next time, such as the Charcuterie Plate and the Three-Bean Bourbon Chili.

We stumbled out the door with very full bellies and walked straight into the weekly Park Silly Sunday Market. Food and artisan vendors line the bottom section of Main Street, selling their unique wares. It's a great place to find one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends (or yourself!)

We drove up the road to Deer Valley Resort to check into our one-bedroom condo at the lodges, a collection of gorgeous, wood-beamed accommodations at the base of the ski resort.

I want to move into this adorable place we found along the way to Deer Valley!

We stayed at the Silver Baron Lodge, which overlooks the ponds and the surrounding mountains. It was everything we could have hoped for. Truthfully, if there wasn't so much to do in Park City, I would have been tempted to stay nestled inside of our condo for the whole trip!

A comfy leather couch, a rock-lined fireplace and a big screen TV with surround sound made for a very inviting living area. Each room in the lodge includes a hot tub on the deck and the condos come with beautiful, well-stocked kitchens that would be perfect for cooking up a fondue feast on a chilly night.

And I can't even begin to tell you how comfortable and cozy the bed was. It was a chore to rip myself out of it in the morning!

Steve had run a marathon the day before and, understandably his legs were a tad sore, so we didn't take advantage of the hiking or mountain biking trails. But the area is rich with trails for all levels of hiking and biking. Take the chairlifts to the top to enjoy the views, then walk or ride down, or explore some of the trails further down the mountain.

Then again, if you just want to relax and eat, Deer Valley has more dining options than you could ever hope for. Our dinner reservation was at Deer Valley's new restaurant, The Brass Tag. This was the second time I had dined there and both experiences were fantastic. The restaurant is tucked away in one of the lodges and it serves everything straight from a wood-fire oven. But true to Deer Valley's innovative dining, there isn't a single pizza on the menu.

We started with the Whole Wheat Port Salut Naan and the Oven Fired Chimichurri Chips (a house favorite). Both were savory delights and, honestly, I can't imagine eating at The Brass Tag without ordering those two appetizers. We then moved on to the Spinach Salad with Caramelized Pineapple, the Brick Oven Shrimp Skillet (the white wine tarragon version is my favorite) and a side of the Crispy Herbed Potatoes.

This is us before dessert...very full, but with a hankering for a sweet or two.

We couldn't resist trying the Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie with vanilla gelato and the Peach Thyme Cobbler for dessert. As full as we were, we somehow managed to polish off every morsel of those desserts. We couldn't help ourselves.

The next morning, we strolled by the ponds and across to the Deer Valley Grocery-Cafe. The cafe deck looks out onto the ponds and across to the lodges and mountains beyond. Believe it or not, we were actually hungry by the time we got there. A good night's sleep and that mountain air will do that to you!

We both dove into the Southwestern Breakfast Wrap and enjoyed our breakfast as we watched locals walk their dogs and paddle board on the ponds. Peaceful and relaxing. It was the perfect way to end our mini-vacation.

It was a night and celebration to remember, and I highly recommend Deer Valley Resort for a romantic getaway in any season. Be sure to check out their site for more details on accommodations, things to do, spa services and dining options.

Disclosure: Deer Valley Resort kindly provided us with accommodations and our meal at The Brass Tag. All opinions are my own.