I'll be the first to admit that spending the winter holiday season in Park City, Utah sounded a little nutty to me the first time it was brought up. My first thought was "Brrr that's cold," it averages somewhere in the mid twenties! That's Fahrenheit folks, it is chilly! But when I saw the ski resorts and the list of events the city has to offer over the holidays I was intrigued enough that I actually agreed to go. That's saying something because for me vacations, especially in the winter, usually means the beach.
While I thought the trip itself was my gift the real gift was that as much of the family as could manage came for the holiday as well! To make things really special and still maintain some space a string of four condos were rented out so we had the freedom to do as we pleased, within reason of course. We all look forward to "feast day" in which we spend the day cooking for each other and doing some serious eating.
As it isn't easy to get over twenty people together every year, in 1994 we agreed this would be something we did every three years and we've stuck to it! We stay close to the skiing and due to some fresh ideas we created a great set of family traditions. We have the "Family Ski Challenge" in which we have trophies that are rotated to the winning family and individuals along with braggiing rights! Of course we don't really compete (At least we say we don't), but we love having our names engraved on the "Victory Cup" and manage to laugh when it winds up on the "Golden Toilet" award. Sure it's silly but we love it and it has become a great tradition.
When we're lucky and it times out correctly in January (And we always try to be sure it does) the gals take a spa day for some pampering while the guys go bobsledding. Then we meet up after lunch and get decked out like movie stars (Or at least movie stars on a budget), and head to the Sundance Film Festival! We practice our best "No pictures please" just in case we get mistaken for stars. We never have, but if we do we're ready! This is the highlight for us and usually marks the last few days of our holiday together so we do it to the nines and have a photgrapher come take a professional portrait for us!
What makes our Park City holiday so special is we all find things there we love and can do together that no place else offers over the holidays, or at any time for that fact. We laugh, love, and argue but we always come back because Park City doesn't just feel like our "holiday home" it is our holiday home! Well, it is every three years at least. This is a place where you can build your family traditions, enjoy an intimate holiday meal or hit a five-star restaurant, whatever you choose you can do here. Go once and you'll again. Just to be safe though if you see a really big lady in a toxic green ski suit heading towards you at the bottom of the slope move fast, it's me and I don't know how to stop! Me plowing into you is not a tradition either of us wants.
This Park City family memory was brought to you by Amanda Fox.