Taking the Kids: Deer Valley, where guests say 'no snowboarders!'

In fact, that pure skiing experience -- and the fact that this mountain never gets too crowded because only 7,500 skiers are permitted a day-- is what brings guests here, mountain officials say. And if there are riders in the group -- like my nephew, Chris, it's easy to shuttle over to either Park City Mountain Resort or The Canyons. This year, with Vail Resorts' now running the Canyons and PCMR, riders and skiers can use their lift tickets at either place. (Save up to 25 percent with Wyndham Vacation Rentals Snowed In deal, as long as you book by Dec 2.) There is a free public bus system and our Deer Valley condo offers amazing shuttle service to the other mountains, the base of Deer Valley (a two-minute ride) and into Park City for shopping or dinner. There's plenty to do for the nonskiers in our group.

The downside: We can't all be together on this mountain. But I admit I don't mind foregoing a little family togetherness to experience Deer Valley. (Plus we're trying on some new skis that were delivered -- and will be picked up -- directly from our condo from Skis on the Run, which makes it so much easier that visiting a big rental center.)

Mya Frantti, who oversees the children's program at Deer Valley, thinks it is easier for kids -- especially the little ones -- to learn to ski without snowboarders on the mountain. And if the kids want to learn to snowboard, Deer Valley can send them with a private instructor over to The Canyons or Park City Mountain Resort.

She notes that despite the hefty price -- more than $500 for a half-day -- 60 percent of the resort's private lessons are taught to children -- 210 lessons a day. Eighty percent of the lessons taught at the resort are for children, she adds -- more than 35,000 a season, as many as 1,000 kids a day during a busy week like Christmas or Presidents' Week.

Parents say they love this ski school because the classes are small -- just two kids to one instructor for 4-year-olds, one child to instructor for 3-year-olds, four kids five and six to an instructor and just six kids seven to 12 per instructor. And while ski school certainly isn't cheap (more than $200, including lifts, lessons and lunch for kids) the program here is no more expensive than at other resorts.

Kids love all the little runs through the trees -- Enchanted Forest, Oompa Loompa Land, Bucky's Frontyard, among them. "I love the bumps in those runs," said Jane Clements.

Parents also like the healthy eats at ski school -- think grilled chicken fingers, veggie couscous and baked potatoes, instead of the usual kiddie fare. And the ski school can accommodate all dietary requests -- the whole place is nut free, for example.

Those in the know (including private ski instructors) opt to ski over for the skier's buffet at Stein Eriksen Lodge, a real treat and worth $35 for adults ($19 for kids). Think freshly carved turkey, seared halibut, made-to-order salads, cured meats and shellfish, followed by everything from s'mores bread pudding, fruit tarts, freshly made cookies, creme Brule, and more.

You're getting all that exercise, after all. Treat yourself to a pain au chocolat mid-morning, homemade stew or freshly made pasta for lunch or for dinner, one of my favorites in Ski Country -- the Empire Fireside Dining Experience, which offers different courses cooked and served over four giant separate fireplaces -- from Swiss raclette (kids, the chefs have told me, are often more ready to dig into the sometimes unfamiliar cheese than their parents) to lamb cooked over the fire, and for dessert there are three different kinds of fondue (dark chocolate, milk chocolate and caramel, with every variety of things to dip, from fruit slices to meringues).

We'll work it off tomorrow -- hopefully. More fondue, please!

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