Utah ski resort offers 30-year pass, with a catch

by Kraig Becker on

Utah ski resort The Canyons is offering skiers and snowboarders the chance to buy a season pass that is good for 30 years and can be loaned to friends and family. But, as in all things that seem too good to be true, there are a few caveats to the deal.

The passes are available for $5000 each, and eligible buyers are limited to buying just two. Unlike ski passes from other resorts, these can also be shared with friends and family on days and weekends that you’re not using them for yourself, which is unique in and of itself. So what’s the catch you ask? Well, in order to be eligible to take part in the deal, you have to own or purchase a condo at the Canyons, which will set you back a minimum of $675,000.

But for those that are in a position to take advantage of this deal, it really is a bargain. The $5000 pass breaks down to just $166 per year. That same pass would cost others $1099 a year, and because the pass can be loaned out to others, it is possible to make a little money on the side by renting it out for the weekend.

The Park City resort covers more than 3500 acres and spans eight mountain peaks, offering skiers and snowboarders plenty of winter fun. Averaging more than 355 inches of snow each year, the Canyons has earned itself a reputation as one of the top destinations in Utah for hitting the slopes.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, if you sell the condo, the pass goes with it.

Utah ski resort on the auction block

by Kraig Becker on

Do you struggle with what to get your favorite ski bum for Christmas each year? Have plenty of cash, but unsure what to buy? Then you’re in luck, as Utah ski resort Elk Meadows has gone on the Internet auction block, looking for a new owner. But you better have deep pockets, as the auction, which opened on Friday, has a minimum bid of $1 million.

Elk Meadows was originally designed to be an exclusive luxury ski and golf area, catering to an upscale clientele. But its location made it difficult to attract that crowd. While it is located in a very scenic area, with good ski runs and plenty of snow, it is more than four hours south of Salt Lake City, requiring visitors to bypass a number of other excellent options to hit the slopes. The resort closed its doors following the 2001-2002, averaging just 20,000 visitors per year.

The winner of the auction will likely get quite a bargain. Elk Meadows comes complete with six ski lifts, covering more than 1300 vertical feet. Reportedly, there are other pieces of infrastructure in place as well, but the company that is conducting the auction says that the resort will require a lot of work to get up and running again. Consider this investment property a “fixer-upper”.

The bid deadline has been extended to 6 PM Mountain Time on Monday, in order to allow more potential buyers to consider purchasing the property. As of this writing, the highest bid is $1,051,000, and it is unclear if there are other interested parties who may make a move to grab the resort on the cheap. If you’d like to make a bid of your own, head over to LFC.com and get your Christmas shopping started early.

Eat, drink and ski happy in Salt Lake this winter

by Tom Johansmeyer on

What’s the happiest place on Earth? Well, Disney claims that title, but here’s the problem: Utah does, too. If they were in different countries, no conflict would exist, but since they do, we have to sort this out.

A Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index recently released ranks Utah highest among all states in happiness. And, if that’s not enough, Men’s Fitness magazine ranked Salt Lake City fittest in America. So, the endorphins are firing, and Utah is thrilled. Want to get a little taste of this happiness?

The Gold Medial Podium Package celebrates Salt Lake’s Olympic legacy. Skiers and snowboarders can hit the slopes while taking advantage of some great deals. Book a four-night vacation by December 15, 2009 — including a Ski Salt Lake Super Pass — at any of the 22 participating hotels, and your fourth day on the slopes and your fourth night in the hotel are free.

Walking with the angels at Zion National Park

by Sean McLachlan on

If you’re afraid of heights, you’ve got to do this hike.

First, check out this amazing photograph. See that little strip of black in the upper right? That’s a two-lane highway. Dizzy? Good. Head on over to Zion National Park in Utah and go on the Angel’s Landing hike.

Zion is my personal favorite among the national parks, even beating out the breathtaking but rather touristy Grand Canyon. Readers over at Tripadvisor voted Zion number one of the Top Ten National Parks.

Take a look at this gallery and you’ll see why. Zion is nestled within a network of towering canyon walls of Navajo Sandstone that turn an infinite number of shades of red, brown, and gold as the sun rises and sets. Their shadows and the streams and rivers at the bottom create lush valley floors with a variety of wildflowers and animal life. The main visitor area has most creature comforts, with a luxury hotel and campgrounds with fantastic views. From there you can head off into a maze of side canyons and hike to your heart’s content. It’s one of the best places in the country to go cayoneering.

The most popular and nerve-wracking hike is Angel’s Landing. It starts not far from the main visitor area and climbs a ridge up, up, up, growing ever narrower until sheer cliffs fall away on either side of a thin sliver of rock. Don’t worry, there’s a chain to hold onto in case you get unsteady. In fact, with the rock being pretty slippery even when dry, it’s a good idea to hang onto the chain in any case. There have been a number of fatalities on this hike, but if you’re careful you will be in no danger.

I’m scared of heights. When I was in college I took up rock climbing to get rid of my fear, but weekends spent scaling the cliffs of the Catalina Mountains near Tucson didn’t cure me. All they did was make me able to control my fear. Now I can go up to any height with steady hands and a sure step, while inside I’m screeching like a schoolgirl. My inner schoolgirl was screeching pretty loud on this hike! But what a reward at the end. When you reach the top you’re 1,208 ft. (368 m) above Zion Canyon with the river making a hairpin turn below you. You feel like you’re literally on top of the world and the clean breeze blowing a bit too hard against you fills your lungs and makes you feel truly alive. Nothing like acrophobia to add a little extra zing to a hike!

More sedate hikes into the remote side canyons will be rewarded with quiet trails as well as glimpses of rare animal life like Golden Eagles and cougars. Steams cascade down little waterfalls and you’ll find lush, peaceful grottoes sheltered from the desert sun. These side canyons are good places to go bird watching and there are even some decent rock climbing routes in case you still want to prove you’re not afraid of a sickeningly long space of air beneath you.

Zion National Park is an easy road trip from Southern California and much of the Southwest, but even if you’re living in Maine it’s worth the drive to see one of the country’s truly great National Parks.

%Gallery-77777%

Abercrombie & Kent vacation clubs: try before you buy

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Let the tough timeshare and vacation club market work to your advantage this year. Upscale travel firm Abercrombie & Kent’s Residence Club is offering two-year trial memberships starting at $18,700 a year for 15 nights – that’s a tad under $1,250 a night. The residences tend to be around 4,000 square feet and have four bedrooms. A&K suggests that you can “even travel with the extended family,” but I’m sure I could find other uses for the extra space (I’m not a fan of traveling with a lot of people, regardless of connection).

Okay, so it’s basically a decent amount of cash for access to some great properties in places like the Turks & Caicos and Deer Valley, Utah. The details, however, make the difference. A&K takes care of airport pickup, grocery shopping before you hit the ground and the other prep activities that could slip your mind when you’re worried about catching planes and disappearing from the “real” world for a few days or weeks. The Global Experience Manager will take care of all this for you, including any unique needs or interests you may have – from a behind-the-scenes private tour of the South Carolina Aquarium’s Turtle Hospital to skiing withOlympic athletes in Sun Valley, Idaho.

“This two-year trial offer is designed for those considering a second home or who simply want an extended opportunity to experience club life before making a long-term commitment,” says Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club President Scott Wiseman. “Families can enjoy the privacy of a spacious home in their choice of popular resort destinations for much less than the cost of comparable hotel suites. Club membership is an affordable, maintenance-free alternative for those thinking about buying a second home.”

Under this trail program, you can play without having to drop any cash up front. Instead, you pay the normal dues with a 10 percent premium. If you join later, A&K will credit it to your capital contribution. Fifteen-, 30- and 45-night programs are available, so you can choose your level of decadence. If you choose, you can exchange your nights for credit toward other A&K travel, like a cruise in the Galapagos or an African safari.

This is a pretty wild deal – a chance to date a vacation club before marrying it.