NATURAL DISNEYLAND
The fantasy world of Disneyland is promoted as the amusement park where everyone wants to go. But try some of the real world amusement parks---no lines, no sticky cotton candy, no squalling kids---just adventure in the natural world.
Of course, we are talking about ski resorts, many of which have become a four-season destination for vacations, complete with rides, lift-served mountain biking, horseback riding and more. Some resorts are especially good right now, when unusual amounts of snowfall still allow diehards the joy of snowriding, along with more traditional spring activities down at the base of the mountains.
For example, Mammoth Mountain, in the Sierra Nevadas of California, has just extended its season, with lifts running from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. At the same time, just minutes away from the lifts, the Sierra Star Golf Course is in, to coin a phrase, full swing. Ride the boards in the morning, while the snow is still firm, then change into golf clothes and ride the greens.
Another four-season resort that's an excellent natural amusement park is Snowbird, just outside Salt Lake City in Little Cottonwood Canyon. It offers an array of activities for the adventurous as well as for families.
Snowbird is probably the only place in America where you can walk through a mountain. A lift at the bottom takes you up scenic ride to the Peruvian Tunnel, a 600 foot long hole through the mountain to the Mineral Basin bowl on the other side. The tunnel is a true experience. The "Shotcrete" concrete covering over the rock walls looks exactly like the fantasy mountain interiors found on so many Disneyland rides, but this one is real. When you get through the light at the end of the tunnel you are in a huge basin, totally isolated from the outside world, with two lifts as the only sign of civilization.
Snowbird has also extended its ski/snowboard season, with fresh powder still falling and great conditions all the way to the base, but soon the snow will melt and by July, there will be an exuberance of bright wildflowers in Mineral Basin, which is famous for having the best show of wildflowers anywhere in the state, with an easily hike-able or mountain bike-able experience of unusual natural terrain and bird song. Hawks and eagles fly overhead.
Take the lift at the bottom to the top of Mineral Basin, which is just feet from the top of the famous Snowbird tram. There you can rent a horse and go riding, or sign up for an ATV tour; a bit more noisy than a horse, but a bit more exciting for those who have never been on an ATV.
For those more into the amusement park experience, there are a multitude of rides at the base area, which may be why Snowbird's P. R. director, Laura Schaffer, says, "Summer's kind of exploded here in the past few years."
There is the bungee trampoline, always surrounded by spectators who love watching someone try not to heave their lunch as they do a series of flips some 30 feet in the air. The smooth alpine slide has a double track to allow bragging-rights-racing. There is a mechanical bull, a zip rider, and two climbing walls. Climbers are safely attached to a rope in case they fall, and the high walls (one is 120 feet high) also have such technical routes that climbing contests are held several times during the summer season. There are also a gaggle of inflatable rides for the younger set.
But always in the background are the summer green slopes of Snowbird. Schaffer says, "we feel that it gives families the opportunity to stay outside, without being surrounded by screaming commercialism."
An all day activity pass that includes all the rides, including a round-trip tram ride to the top of the mountain, is $32, a lot less expensive than Disneyland. One chairlift or tram ride is $12. A three hour horseback ride or all day ATV Tour is $94. Or, vacationers may choose to spend the day on the large plaza, people watching and listening to live music.
There are a variety of restaurants for a wide range of budgets all around the base area, from the outdoor barbecue or snack shop to the sit-down restaurant with glass walls on the plaza, to gourmet dining at the Cliff Lodge.
Though there is still ten feet of snow covering the top of the mountain, Schaffer says the resort is still hoping to open the rides by the middle of June. "We'll be able to get the tram open for sightseeing by then, at least," she adds.
Even in summer, destination snow resorts offer direct transportation from airports to the slopes, whether Utah, California, Colorado or other states, often with greatly reduced lodging rates. For those looking to vacation in a natural setting, with much of the excitement of Disneyland, a ski resort can't be beat.