Deer Valley Mogul Freestyle ski World Cup.

We have never been to any skiing event or Deer Valley before, so this was the perfect opportunity to experience both. We arrived early and were glad that we did. Parking was insanely full, so most people had to park really far away or take the bus in from Park City. 

Most people arrived for the finals, but getting there before the qualifiers gave us a chance to meet the teams. They were all really friendly and seemed as excited to be there as we were. We didn't realize how young some of these athletes are until we saw them up close. One of the female competitors is only 15 years old. 

We were able to get a spot in the front right against the fence. We met one of the athlete's family and quickly made friends with them. Having someone to cheer for made it even more fun. All of the athletes would give us five as they would ski by to talk with their coaches and get down to the lift. Seeing these incredible competitors flying down the mountain, bouncing between the moguls at 40 miles per hour, and pulling off amazing jumps makes you appreciate how talented they really are. 

It was really cold, especially when we would get sprayed with snow as they stopped at the bottom of the hill, so we are glad we brought hand warmers. After the presentation of the awards, we got to see a fireworks show that they set off the top of the mountain. We are definitely going again.

Activity rating 0-10

Kid fun: 10
Difficulty: 0
Cost: $0

Midway Ice Catles

The Ice Castles are a must see winter attraction in Utah. Last time we went, we went too early in the season to see them at their full size. They are continually growing the size of the castles, so the best time to see them is around the end of January or beginning of February.
These backlit ice sculptures look like something you would find growing inside Carlsbad Caverns. There is a fountain, tunnels, slot... canyons, and this year they built ice slides.

We all had a blast, but boy was it cold. Night time is the best time to visit to see the castles lit up, but the temperature is regularly in the low 20s so dress accordingly. Good snow boots are probably the most important thing to wear since you are going to be in ankle deep snow in a lot of places. Parking is really busy and full, so give yourself at least an extra 15 minutes before your scheduled time to make sure you can park and get to the entrance.
Activity rating 0-10
Kid fun: 10
Difficulty: 0
Cost: see pricing at www.icecastles.com (buy online for cheapest prices and a guaranteed entrance)