This south Utah resort and its environs are a great destination for winter fun. Bring your whole family and you'll want to return in summer to visit the nearby national parks.

Located just an hour from Bryce Canyon, 90 minutes from Zion and a couple of miles from Cedar Breaks National Monument, Brian Head Resort (866/930-1010) is a laid back, family-oriented property which offers first-class alpine skiing and a host of winter and summer activities for all ages. It's a perfect recreational stop on your family's national park tour or trip to Las Vegas, which is only 2.5 hours away.

Snowsports Education for All Ages

At almost 10,000 feet, Brian Head's base is one of the highest in the West, and its 65 ski and snowboard trails collect an average of 425 inches of powdery snowfall each season. While the resort features plenty of expert terrain and some backcountry bowls accessible only by a Snow Cat tracked vehicle, Brian Head's focus is on beginner and intermediate terrain and ski and snowboarding education. Navajo Mountain has a dozen or so trails, and is devoted entirely to learning skiers and boarders. In fact Navajo Mountain has its own lodge, where amongst cafeterias and retail shops, the Winter Sports School and Kids Camp are found.

In 2007, Brian Head Resort erected two new chairlifts that connected Navajo Mountain to Giant Steps Mountain eliminating the need to drive from one mountain to the other. The newly adjoined mountains now give skiers and snowboarders access to nearly 35% more mountain terrain.

Kids Camp at Navajo Lodge welcomes 3-year-olds and 12 year-olds and everyone in between for on-mountain lessons, indoor meals and games, and a whole lot of fun. The "Tiny Tracks" program, for those ages 4-5, includes equipment, lift tickets, lessons, activities and lunch. Outside, kids are taught and encouraged in small groups, with lessons based entirely upon positive reinforcement. Inside, games are played, blocks are stacked and re-stacked, and although activity is preferred, movies are sometimes watched. The "Mountain Explorers" program for ages 6-12 is all about on-mountain fun (along with skill improvement) for every ability. Along with small-group instruction, instructors lead participants in races and on-slope games, and a supervised lunch. Again, all is included in the reasonable rates, but book ahead because at only $95 per child, these programs are very popular.

The state-licensed day care center at Navajo is centered around a low child-caregiver ratio. Well-trained staff engage with infants and toddlers and attend to special dietary needs in a safe, cozy environment from 9am to 4:45pm. Rates are $13/HR or $75 for a full day for kids 2½-years-old and up.

Brian Head Resort offers ski and snowboard instruction to teens and adults as well. I, in fact, can testify to the success of the Brian Head instructional staff in teaching this old dog a new trick. Being a lifelong skier, I had rejected "that wacky snowboarding thing" with a passion, until the folks at Brian Head convinced me to keep an open mind and give it a try. Sure enough, after just an hour or so, my instructor Dave Chappell (who you'll hear more about later) had me and a half-dozen other old-timers loving it. By the end of the lesson, I was converted (or at least real excited about my next boarding experience). My behind was a bit sore, but I guess that's par for the course, and it was certainly worth it. Adult Learn-to-Ski/Board packages include equipment and lift tickets, though prices vary. Private and small group lessons are offered as well, usually by appointment.

One on-mountain activity that's a favorite for kids of all ages (that means parents too) is Brian Head's famous vertical snow tubing park. It has a surface lift that whisks tubers to the top after each run, which prompts the staff to say, "It's all about fun, not effort." It's also all about speed, with plenty of room at the bottom to bring the rubber to a rest.

South Utah's Fine Lodging & Dining

Brian Head has many lodging areas, from condos at about $100 a night to a massive 3-story, 5-bedroom affair. This page lists all of the lodging options that the resort recommends, both in the town of Brian Head and in neighboring areas.

Cedar Breaks Lodge (888/282-3327) is a larger, slightly higher-end property that also welcomes families. In addition to its indoor pool and Jacuzzis, Cedar Breaks features three fine restaurants and a superb day spa. While I was hitting the slopes one morning, my fiancée had the pleasure of receiving the Cedar Breaks Signature Massage from one of the lodge's licensed therapists. She couldn't stop talking about it, in a very relaxed sort of way. The spa is furnished in minimalist southwestern décor, with soothing new-age music piped through each room at just the perfect, non-intrusive volume. The standard one-hour treatment costs $80, and a variety of other offerings, from a Deep Tissue workout to an Aromatherapy Wrap to a Reiki Tibetan healing session, all run about the same.

As mentioned, Cedar Breaks Lodge offers top-notch dining. In particular, the Double Black Diamond Steak House features a superb menu of Angus beef, fresh fish, poultry and unique pasta dishes. If you can catch this soup special, try the Green Chile Corn Soup.

Speaking of soup, just across the road at the Mountain View Bakery & Deli, a variety of homemade specialties are offered daily, in addition to gourmet pizzas, hot snacks and sandwiches. But save room after lunch for a piece of fresh pie: the 'Brian Berry,' baked with blackberries and raspberries, will have you wishing your bakery back home was up to par.

Though the youngest of the family tend to tire quickly with such activities, no one visiting Brian Head in winter must neglect to rent cross-country skis or snowshoes from Brianhead Sports in the village, and trek for a while in Cedar Breaks National Monument. Just a five-minute drive around the backside of the mountain, the area can be thought of as a smaller scale Bryce Canyon -- fantastic red rock protrusions jutting out from all sides of an expansive gorge. As with much of southern Utah, the scenery here is just breathtaking. Especially when there's heavy snowfall on the ground, skiing or snowshoeing is really the best way to view the area, even if you choose not to wander far from the road.

Details, Details

Before planning a family or business trip or reunion to Brian Head, you'll want to check out The Brian Head Chamber of Commerce (435/677-2810). This site offers a ton of information about this region of southern Utah.

Southern Utah Scenic Tours (888/404-8687) offers tours to some of the most stunning areas of this magnificent state. Areas visted include the Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon. The tours start in several major cities, including Las Vegas, and Cedar City, which is about an hour from Brian Head. If you customize the tour for your family with one of their knowledgable guides, you can end the tour anywhere you like. They offer history and facts on each town, valley and mountain pass you'll roll through along the way, making the trip fly by. My driver, Joe Comp, was perhaps the most pleasant and knowledgeable host that I encountered throughout my visit to Brian Head, and that says a lot.