Page 28 - DreamScapes Magazine | Fall/Winter 2022

PROMOTIONAL HIGHLIGHT
THE EDGE of LUXURY
BY ADAM BISBY
The northern end of Utah’s Heber Valley combines luxury, beauty and adventure like nowhere else on Earth
When admired from the summit of Deer Valley ski resort, the many luxuries of the Park City area—upscale hotels, gourmet restaurants, opulent spas and more—adorn the valley below like jewels in a crown. Just out of sight to the south, however, lies a region that combines luxury, beauty and adventure like nowhere else on Earth.
Anchored by the charming Swiss-themed town of Midway, the northern end of the picturesque Heber Valley is known as “the Edge.” As well as being minutes from the Deer Valley, Sundance and Park City mountain resorts, all of which are renowned among skiers, mountain bikers and hikers the world over, the Edge is strewn with luxurious experiences visitors won’t find anywhere else.
In the heart of the Midway lies the Homestead Crater, a geothermal hot spring that puts other après-ski soaks to shame. As if the interior of the 17-metre-high beehive-shaped rock dome isn’t eye-catching enough, a natural cleft in the limestone roof admits a shaft of sunlight that illuminates the 35-degree C waters in spectacular fashion.
As well as having calcium and other healthy minerals absorbed into their skin, bathers can enhance the therapeutic experience with a paddleboard yoga session, or by donning snorkel or scuba gear to explore the soothing depths of the 20-metre-deep pool.
Following a sublime soak, many visitors head to one of 30-plus local restaurants offering unforgettable culinary experiences. A Creekside Yurt Dinner from Wilderness Access Outfitters involves hiking or snowshoeing through a starlit forest to a private tented hut in Wasatch Mountain State Park, where a decadent four-course meal is served beside a crackling wood fire.
For a more traditional dining experience, the Lakehouse at Deer Creek offers superb views across its namesake reservoir and locally focused cuisine from celebrated chef Tamara Stanger, who recently starred on Food Network’s “Chopped” cooking show.
Moving from snowy forests to oversized snow globes, downtown Midway’s charmingly rustic Café Galleria serves sinfully delicious wood-fired pizzas and other gourmet Italian fare in heated “Alpenglobes,” private dining shelters where the Sugarplum Fairy would feel right at home.
In winter, evenings become more magical with visits to the Midway Ice Castles. This awe-inspiring collection of ice caves, frozen waterfalls, maze-like tunnels and ice slides is built from thousands of hand-placed icicles, creating a crystalline wonderland where imaginations run wild. DS
TRAVEL PLANNER
For more travel information about Heber Valley, Utah visit gohebervalley.com
i
PHOTOS: HEBER VALLEY TOURISM/ADAM BARKER | HEBER VALLEY TOURISM | HEBER VALLEY TOURISM | HEBER VALLEY TOURISM | HEBER VALLEY TOURISM
28 DREAMSCAPES FALL/WINTER 2022