Palm trees to powder before lunch

My mission...

Traveling from palm trees and 90% humidity to Utah powder turns before lunch. The destination: Snowbasin Resort, one of three spectacular mountains in the Ogden area a short drive north of Salt Lake City.

The great thing about Salt Lake City is that there are 87 cities with non-stop flights to Salt Lake City International Airport. Travel + Leisure recently named Salt Lake City International Airport the BEST Airport in the U.S., based upon the fewest delays in the country.

This means there’s a good chance you could take off from someplace like Orlando, as I did, and be on the slopes before lunchtime. Utah resorts landed the top 8 spots in SKI magazine's 2015 Access Rankings. Why? Because ten resorts are just an hour’s drive from the airport!

This is why I decided to make this video. I wanted to show travelers how quickly they could be on the slopes at Ogden Area resorts (Cherry Peak, Powder Mountain, and Snowbasin). I began my day early, boarding a 6:05am Delta Air Lines flight. 

It didn’t take long till I dozed and soon found we were close to landing. Once on the ground at roughly 9:30, I headed to baggage claim and was in the car no more than 20 minutes after landing. My sweetie had coffee and breakfast sandwiches packed, but you could just as easily grab road food in one of the airport concessions. They’re actually good!

On the way we stopped for gas and I changed into ski clothes before getting too far up in the mountains. Even with the stops, we were pulling into Snowbasin by 11:00am. Mission accomplished!

A few tips for planning a quick powder escape:

• For the best airfare, book mid-week at least two weeks in advance.
• Pre-buy your lift tickets online. Bonus, many resorts give a discount when you buy in advance.
• Pack your ski clothes in a handy spot and change en route without checking into your room.
• Pack pocket snacks before leaving home.
• Make transportation arrangements in advance.
• Looking for more ski vacation tips? Read my collection of Ski Vacation Resources.

What’s the fastest transition you’ve made from traveling to skiing/riding? Any tips to add?

See you on the slopes!