Luckily, there was plenty to do

Montage Deer Valley - part 4

After checking out, I still had 5 hours to kill before my airport shuttle would pick me up.  Luckily, I found plenty to do around here.  Top on the list: making s'mores!

Just outside Apex restaurant and overlooking the Deer Valley slopes is a large fire pit. Every afternoon in the winter, resort guests gather around here to roast marshmallows, make s'mores, and socialize.  There's a tiny table completely set-up with delicious-flavored marshmallows and hot chocolate.  Everyone talks about this sheer delight.  Another must-do when you're in Montage Deer Valley.

Roasting marshmallows by the outdoor fire pit and making s'mores.

This little chap is a regular here. 

The outdoor fire pit overlooks the snow-laden slopes and offers a gorgeous view.
Frosty being there was a bonus!

It's just as cozy indoors.  Warm up by the fireplace in the Grand Hall and enjoy the quiet surroundings.  I could have easily fallen asleep on the sofa.

The large fireplace in the Grand Hall.

The Grand Hall

I kicked back in front of the cozy fireplace inside The Study.

SPA - tastic!

Montage Deer Valley - Part 3
Spa Montage
Deer Valley, Utah
Dec. 1 - 3, 2012

I wanted to bonk myself in the head for not bringing along a swimsuit. The spa's pool was so inviting. Just take a look at these.

The pool at Spa Montage in Deer Valley

This pool area overlooks the pristine mountain views surrounding Montage Deer Valley.

I did, however, spend some relaxation time in this peaceful sanctuary.  Apparently, this spa is the largest in Utah.  This scoop is just among the interesting facts pointed out by the spa attendant who gladly gave me a tour.

Spa Montage's Relaxation Room

The spa features stunning earthscapes by Michael Fatali.

The artwork here is hard to ignore.  The entire spa is donned with stunning landscape photography by Michael Fatali.  His collection of earthscapes is striking.  It definitely accomplishes his mission of sharing the beauty and power of the spirit of nature. You'll be mesmerized if you view the slideshow in his website.

The spa showcases Fatali's impressive artwork.
Artist Michael Fatali features incredible Southwest landscapes in his photography. 

Being in Deer Valley, going to the spa was probably the farthest thing on my mind.  I was consumed with engaging in various outdoor winter activities while I was here.  But Spa Montage was brilliant.  They left me a message in my room saying that I had a gift waiting at the spa.

I was excited to open the surprise gift. It included a sisal bath brush that is great for dry brushing.  Until then, I had not heard of dry brushing.

The gift bag included bath salts, body lotion, and a sisal brush.

The label on the package read:

"This traditional Japanese style bath brush is made with palm (sisal) fibers from plants that are hand-harvested and replanted each Fall in Kenya.  They provide a completely natural brush, effective for use on the whole body and contain no animal by-products.  Dry-brushing increases circulation, improves skin tone, encourages detoxification and sloughs away dead skin cells.

How to Dry Brush:  use quick brisk strokes, applying the pressure that is most comfortable to you.  Always brush upwards, towards your heart.  Finish with a warm bath or shower, ending with a cold rinse."

After some research, I found this article that tells you more about the benefits of dry brushing -- including reducing cellulite. (I love learning new things everyday!)

It was a great marketing move for the resort's spa to send me this gift bag.  It wasn't a ploy to make you purchase anything but rather to encourage you to visit their facility and be aware of their wellness products and services. Without hesitation, I took up the spa attendant's offer to show me around. That's how I learned so much about Spa Montage.

At the end of that long day, the bath salts and body lotion -- my gift items from the spa -- were put to good use.  The blended scent of lemon, verbena, and cedar is quite calming.  Soaking in the tub was a really good idea.  And after that relaxing bath, sinking into my soft pillows in my hotel bed was just as heavenly. I definitely MUST come back here.

See my previous posts:  Part 1 and Part 2.

Discovering Mountain Majesty

Montage Deer Valley - Part 2

Park City, Utah

Dec. 1 - 3, 2012

My first time to go snowshoeing. Woo-hoo!

When I found out that one of the winter activities offered in Montage Deer Valley is snowshoeing, I was thrilled! I have never tried that before and I was determined to experience it. Thankfully, I found several video tutorials available on YouTube. I was able to take a crash course online before my trip. I even learned tips on what to wear.

Tip #1: Wear layered clothing.  I wore a moisture-wicking long sleeve shirt -- the ideal first clothing layer. Then I threw on the snow jacket that I bought for a steal from Sports Authority.  It has a waterproof/breathable shell with a reversible fleece lining. Then of course I had thermals, ski pants, ski socks, gloves and all. 

I brought along my fanny pack too so I could bring a bottle of water and stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water is tip #2. 

I also remembered to prevent my socked feet from getting wet by protecting them with saran wrap. That's tip #3. I read about that a while ago and it's a very helpful tip especially when engaging in winter sports. ;-)

"If you can walk, you can snowshoe." I'm ready to go!

The view in front of me as I headed towards the snow-laden trail.

Being a guest in Montage Deer Valley gave me access to snowshoes. Compass Sports, the resort's sports center, has everything. The friendly staff member helped me strap them on. He even showed me how to easily take them off by myself -- just in case he wasn't readily available to help me out of my gear when I returned from my adventure. He then pointed to some recommended trails, handed me a map, and sent me on my merry way.

In no time, I was comfortable in these snowshoes.

Surprisingly, the temperature wasn’t freezing cold even with all that snow.  It was a clear day with no strong winds. The cool crisp air felt good on my face.  I pulled down my beanie to make sure my ears were covered. I was comfortable and ready to take on this winter activity.

I took a snapshot of myself before an uphill climb.

I was surrounded by towering trees and a sea of fresh powder. Serenity was my welcome companion.

Snowshoeing is really just hiking in the snow. The long uphill climb was exhausting. For a while I was just sucking air.  I had to keep a comfortable pace and took as many stops as I needed.  At one point, I stopped and looked around me. I was amazed with the incredible view. The silence that blanketed the woods…the stillness…was just heavenly.  I realized that the only tracks in the snow were those I created. I had the entire trail all to myself. I paused to close my eyes.  Then with outstretched arms, I took a deep breath to absorb everything about that moment. I was so grateful I had the chance to experience this alpine adventure.

Here's a short video clip of my experience. 

Montage Deer Valley resort looked just as wonderful from up the hill as it is up close.

So you might ask: "Why didn’t you ski in Deer Valley which is North America’s #1 ski resort?" Well, miss curious adventurer here always wants to try something new.  I’ve already tried skiing in the past.  On a bunny hill. LOL! I’m just not very good at it.  I think it has to do with my fear of heights and not having enough control.

Here's something totally random. When I got back to Compass Sports after snowshoeing, I noticed this bobsled display. The staff member explained to me that it is the exact replica of the "night train" which won gold in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Steve Holcomb, who is from Park City, led the four-man bobsled team in that competition. You guessed it right. I couldn't resist the photo opp. 

Riding the "night train" replica.  The four-man bobsled that won gold in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The full explanation is on the photo below.

Reaching the Summit

Montage Deer Valley - Part 1

Park City, Utah

Dec. 1 - 3, 2012

I was the last passenger to be dropped off by the airport shuttle. After the zig-zag drive up the Empire Canyon area, the magnificent resort gently revealed itself. There it was snuggled near the top of the mountain amid snow-covered fir trees. As I alighted the vehicle, warm and friendly faces welcomed me to Montage Deer Valley. This was my first time here but I already knew it was going to be a memorable stay.  Something about this place felt...magical. Maybe I'll run into Ricardo Montalban as Mr. Roarke. With his sidekick Tattoo.

I was impressed as soon as I walked in the lobby.  The front desk associate was already waiting to escort me to my luxurious room. Magical.

I loved my spacious bedroom -- lavish yet comfortable and truly an elegant home away from home. 

This was how my private patio looked after a snowy night.  I was on the ground floor and this led to the Grand Lawn.

I could live in this bathroom! Soaking tub, separate shower, heated floor, and plush bathrobes!  

I came here to attend the Digiday Brand Summit.  But I arrived way ahead of schedule so I arranged to visit Main Street while I could. I took the resort's complimentary Mercedes Benz shuttle to get there. It was fun meandering down the historic street and exploring the charming boutique shops. I found a few Christmas ornaments, little gifts, and souvenirs. I was glad I grabbed my hat and gloves because it showered during my leisurely stroll. 

The historic Main Street was all of 5 minutes away by shuttle.

Digiday's welcome reception that evening was followed by a networking of sorts. I met a lot of wonderful people.  Everyone was so nice.  (It's a magical place, remember?) My best bonding moment was over a game of bowling with a few other attendees:  Liz Philips, Matt Corey, and John Engler.

Daly's Pub has a mini bowling alley.
Photo courtesy of Montana Triplett (@montanatriplett on Twitter or mtinnyc on Instagram). 

I couldn't believe I bowled a turkey! Doing my victory dance, I cheered, "Yay! Three strikes in a row! I've never played this well before even when I was in a bowling league." 

"You were in a league?!!!"  My new-found friends were outraged.  I don't think I'll ever live that down. Good times!

The next morning while waiting for the Summit to begin, the tech-savvy attendees with their mobile devices snapped pictures of the snow-covered grounds. It was difficult to ignore.  Right outside the ballroom was a wide terrace overlooking the pristine mountains cloaked in white. It was a such a beautiful sight to see.

Montage Deer Valley's Grand Lawn after a night's worth of snowfall.

There were several conversation pieces throughout the resort.  One favorite subject of Instagram aficionados was the life-size gingerbread house.  It was even flanked by doghouses for the resident dogs Monty and Jonas.

This life-size gingerbread house was created using real ingredients.
Photo courtesy of Esty Gorman (@esty501 on Twitter and Instagram).

Check out his paws!  I met the lovable Monty, one of the resident Bernese Mountain Dogs in Montage Deer Valley.

The Digiday Brand Summit covered relevant topics and great content. (You can read Chas' recap here.) There were several notable speakers too.  I must say the Digiday team really did a great job.  Not only did they select the perfect venue, they thought of every detail such as including afternoon "play time" in the schedule.  So at the end of the day's summit activities, everyone was excited to go skiing. We were in skier's paradise after all.  I, however, decided I would go snowshoeing. You'll read more about that in my following story.

Sharing the stage with Nestle's Greg Samarge and moderator Giselle Abramovich, Digiday's Sr. Editor - Brands.
Panel discussion on Brand Presence in a Multi-Platform World.
Photo courtesy of Tony Winders (@tonywinders on Twitter).  

Photo Credits:
Thanks to Montana Triplett and Esty Gorman for allowing me to use their Instagram photos in this blog article.  Thanks to Tony Winders for the twitpic of our panel discussion.