By Mimi Slawoff, Los Angeles TravelingMom -- While Utah’s mountain resorts would have liked a bigger snowfall this winter, there’s still plenty of the fluffy white stuff blanketing the slopes to finish out the ski season in style.

 

In fact, now is a great time to enjoy spring skiing conditions as well as a host of festive activities and events, including Easter egg hunts, free concerts and demos to test out next year’s skis.

 

On a recent four-night girls getaway ski trip to Utah, we were lucky to ski bluebird days in Park City and carve tracks on fresh powder after a snowfall at Alta (one of the snowiest places on earth, averaging 551 inches of snow annually).

 

 

This charming town, steeped in a rich mining history, is a fun (year-round) destination whether you’re traveling with family or friends. For this girls trip (without kids), we stayed in a luxury five-bedroom vacation rental house (perfect for families, too!) in Deer Crest, overlooking the back side of  Deer Valley. Right on queue we saw two deer on our drive to the house. The house was booked through Resorts West rentals (90 percent are ski in/ski out), which includes daily housekeeping and luxury amenities (like home theaters).

 

The most convenient feature of our stay was getting our rental ski gear through Ski Butlers, a rental service that brings skis, boots, poles and helmets directly to you. So from the comfort of our house, we tried on premium gear that fit like a glove. Where were Ski Butlers when my kids were little?

 

 

Our first day we skied at Deer Valley, where each of us took a ski lesson to sharpen our skills with one of the resort’s veteran instructors. Many instructors (like mine) have been teaching kids and adults to ski and improve their skills for about 30 years. And if you like your instructor, you can hire him or her to meet you at any Utah ski resort, so you’re not starting over with someone new each time.

 

 

Later in the afternoon, we went to Utah Olympic Park, featuring bobsled rides and a ski museum showcasing exhibits about the 2002 Winter Olympics that took place in Utah. After a 30-minute orientation about bobsled riding, we donned helmets and gloves for a thrilling ride down the track, still used as a training center for athletes. Each bobsled holds one professional pilot and three passengers. In less than a mile (just a portion of the professional track), the bobsled rips through10 curves at speeds up to 65 mph (about 3 g-forces)! I was glad to sit in the third seat (passengers in seat two experience a more mild ride while those in seat four feel the full force of the ride).

 

 

We skied with a mountain guide who showed us the site of a gondola that is being built to connect this resort with Canyons Resort, making it the largest ski resort in the U.S. By next ski season, guests will be able to access both resorts (owned by Vail Resorts) within just minutes.

 

If you’re in town in April, check out Snowasis, a week-long festival featuring outdoor events, scavenger hunts, live music, racing, carnival activities, movie nights and more. The Annual Easter Celebration and Hunt for the Golden Egg takes place from 9 a.m. to noon April 5.

 

 

In contrast to Park City, which has numerous après-ski options for dining and nightlife, Alta is a secluded ski area in the Wasatch Mountains. The mountain is for skiers only and ski in/ski out accommodations are classic ski lodges. I stayed at the Rustler Lodge in a no-frills room but sporting a luxury bed and balcony overlooking the slopes. I really enjoy these kind of lodges where I can step into my boots and ski out of the lodge, then return later in the day for complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and a Jacuzzi or swim in the outdoor pool. The Rustler Lodge (which includes breakfast and dinner in the daily rate) is a very congenial lodge for couples, families and friends.

 

While the steep mountain can look intimidating from the base, there’s a nicely balanced mix of terrain for beginner, intermediate and expert skiers. It’s a beautiful mountain to ski (and among my favorites). It snowed during our stay, and while that made for low visibility in the morning, by afternoon blue sky was peeking through the clouds as we skied on creamy fresh powder.

 

Spring festivities here start April 3 with the Alta Gala, featuring lodging specials, après ski events, live music, Alta Earth Day, Demo Day and more. On April 5, there’s a 10 a.m. mass at Our Lady of the Snows, followed by an 11 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt for toddlers and kids through age 12. Meet in front of Alta Java at the Albion Base.

 

On our last night in Utah, we stayed at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, just a five-minute drive from the airport. Massages at the spa facility followed by a tapas dinner at the nearby Finca restaurant capped off a perfect girls getaway in Utah.