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Fine Dining in the Sky at Arizona Snowbowl

Not that you have ever daydreamed of downing more than a Gatorade and granola bar onboard a gondola, but you might now. Arizona Snowbowl has reinvented the ride (at least for the summer) so you can experience fine dining in the sky. The event masters have blended gourmet cuisine, fine wines, and breathtaking views of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff and given a reason to fire their pistons.

This a one-of-a-kind culinary experience hosted aboard the Arizona Gondola debuted August 24, 2025, with Flagstaff’s acclaimed Shift Kitchen and Oeno Wine Lounge. They delivered a five-course tasting menu paired with curated wines, all served at 11,500 feet above the stunning San Francisco Peaks.

Transformed gondola cabins provided an intimate alpine restaurant, complete with custom-built tables. Guests savored each course during an 18-minute gondola lap, enjoying new dishes, wine pairings, and panoramic sunset views with every rotation. The 90-minute experience showcased a meticulously crafted menu featuring seasonal ingredients and regional flavors. Each course was paired with a complementary wine.

The evening’s menu:

Banh Mi Spring Rolls: Housemade chicken pâté, smoked duck breast, lemongrass pickled vegetables, jalapeño, and fresh herbs, paired with Tarland Zero Brut Nature Champagne.
Lamb Meat Skewers: Filipino meat candy sauce with toasted chiles, paired with Los Milics Jule’s Vermentino 2024.
Smoked Gouda and Potato Pierogi: Garlic dill sauce and crispy soppressata, paired with Los Milics Ita’s Rosé 2023.
Campfire-Roasted Bison: Served with farm vegetables and accompaniments, paired with Los Milics Renato’s Red 2022.
Scotchmallow Tart: Honey marshmallow, caramel, and nut brittle, paired with Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Port.

Gourmet Dining In A Bucket

“We’re truly grateful for Shift Kitchen and Oeno Wine Lounge creating a dynamic menu that paired their passion for culinary excellence with our unique setting,” said Angie Grubb, Marketing Manager at Arizona Snowbowl. “We look forward to collaborating with other talented local restaurants to bring more unforgettable dining experiences aboard the Arizona Gondola.

You may have missed the August event but Satchmo’s BBQ and Mother Road Brewing will pair up for the next Shift Your Viewpoint Dinner on September 28, 2025. This upcoming event promises another unforgettable evening of elevated cuisine, craft brews, and stunning views. Tickets will be available on Arizona Snowbowl’s event page but if you’re like us you’ll be forwarding this post to your local ski area in the hopes they copy this innovative dining experience! Whether you’re a foodie, an outdoor enthusiast, or simply seeking a unique experience, riding a gondola for dinner rather than TO dinner is a must-try.

Where is Snowbowl?

Arizona Snowbowl is located in the heart of Flagstaff, Arizona; a little bustling college town known for year-round outdoor play. The Shift Your Viewpoint Dinner adds a new dimension to the resort’s offerings, combining adventure with fine dining.

Outdoor Retailer Summer 2025 Hits Salt Lake City: Top Gear, Sustainability & Trends Unveiled

Jill Adler Leave a comment

crowd inside Salt Palace for the Outdoor Retailer Show

We’ll start by saying that the Outdoor Retailer Show will never be what it used to be in its heyday- before leaving Salt Lake City for Denver. But we can’t dwell on the past can we?

There have been quite a few tweaks made to this ‘new’ Outdoor Retailer Summer 2025 convention that takes place June 18-20 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. First off, the most awesomest day of the year- OR Demo Day- is not just “Industry Day”. A day of back-to-back panels and seminars instead of a fun day on the water demoing kayaks and paddle boards. Boo.

But with how shrunk the convention scene has gotten, what can you do? So now, the $1.2 trillion outdoor industry has matured and seemingly mellowed. This summer’s event will help connect nearly 300 brands and a few thousand retail buyers, media and guests.

This four-day networking platform will showcase the freshest gear, tech, and trends, but with a focus on wellness, sustainability, and innovation. It makes perfect sense for the show to return to Utah not just because outdoor recreation brings in $9.5 billion to the state (up 18% since 2022) and supports over 71,000 jobs, but because Utah’s got the accessibility and beauty. SLC International is 10 minutes from downtown, there are tons of reasonably priced hotels and BnBs, rich national forests surround the city, all within an hour’s drive or less.

You may have not paid too much attention if you live in a big city but there’s been a huge surge in outdoor participation. Over 175 million people (57.3 percent of folks six and up) got outside in 2023! The Show continues to be open only to those in the industry but if you have any friends with badges, and you really want to see some cool things coming to market for 2026, see if they can get you in. (But don’t tell anyone you heard it here.)

This summer’s highlights include the New Product Showcase, where brands like BabyBjörn, Ocean Bottle, Coulee Coffee, and Aska Outdoors unveil products built for health, sustainability, and inclusivity. Gear like collapsible solar panels, ocean-friendly skincare, and more women-designed adventure apparel.

Check out outdoorretailer.com for a list of exhibitors and industry updates.

Outdoor News

Utah Ski Area Opening Dates

Jill Adler Leave a comment

Park City and the upper Wasatch range finally have snow! Utah ski area opening dates feel late even though it’s pretty much happening right on time. We’ve rarely had enough snow for decent skiing before Thanksgiving. Early is Halloween. Normal is now. Yet, for the first time- ever- Deer Valley moved their opening day up a week. Does that mean we’ve got a lot of snow? No, not at all; this one’s a headscratcher. Feel free to offer your explanation for this in the comment section.

I took a spin today at Canyons Resort and have to report that the experience was quite typical. High Meadow (the beginner area) and two intermediate runs, Kokopelli and Snowdancer. After five runs, the manmade was getting scraped off and we called it. The good news is that the weather forecasters are calling for 10-25 inches by Wednesday which would set up Utah resorts for a white Thanksgiving weekend and the ability to open up additional terrain.

Utah's ski area opening dates — *Mayflower side of Park City- photo courtesy Bonnie Maclaurin*

Sadly, a high pressure moves in for next weekend and possibly through the first week of December.

The moral? Don’t blow the confetti and horns just yet. Two seasons ago, those two or three early season, manmade, groomed trails, catering to thousands of hungry passholders became brown ribbons of death from exposed dirt and rocks that pretty much lasted through the Christmas holiday. Still, the ski stoke is running high in these parts now that the annual ski porn films have premiered, Park City has a white cap and most resorts have announced their “official” opening dates.

Utah’s Ski Area Opening Dates

Alta Ski Area

OPEN (Estimated close April 20, 2025)

Beaver Mountain

TBD

Brian Head Resort

OPEN (estimated close May 11, 2025)

Brighton Resort

OPEN (Estimated close May 18, 2025)

Cherry Peak Resort

TBD

Deer Valley Resort

November 30, 2024 (Estimated close April 28, 2025)

Eagle Point Resort

December 20, 2024 (estimated close April 3, 2025)

Nordic Valley

December 7, 2024

Park City Mountain

OPEN (estimated opening April 10, 2025)

Powder Mountain

December 6, 2024

Snowbasin Resort

November 29, 2024

Snowbird

November 28, 2024

Solitude Mountain Resort

OPEN

Sundance Mountain Resort

December 4, 2024

Woodward Park City

November 28, 2024

SKI UTAH PASSPORT – Prices Rise Nov. 30, 2024 so Buy Now!

The Ski Utah Passport program for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders is on sale now for $69. The pass is in its 26th year of offering three days at each of the 15 resorts in the state but there are some big changes this season. Every kiddo, no matter if they live in Utah or Australia will get THREE days of skiing- even the 6th graders- at each resort but nine resorts will black out: Dec. 26, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024 | Jan. 18-19, 2025 | Feb. 15-16, 2025. Six have no restrictions! Brian Head, Cherry Peak, Eagle Point, Nordic Valley, Snowbasin and Solitude Mountain Resort. For more information, check out 4th, 5th and 6th Grade Ski Utah Passport – Ski Utah.

Ski News

Final Runs: Utah Ski Resorts Closing!

Jill Adler Leave a comment

traffic jam on 244 to park city winter 23/24

We’re coming into the homestretch for 2023/24 ski season! Season passes for 2024/25 went on sale a month ago while we were still arcing in the white room but, hey, what better time for folks to plunk down $1200-$2000 than when they are floating in euphoric winter bliss? So now that we are on the brink of Utah ski resorts closing, you need to make those last turns of the season count. Did you hit 30 days, 50 days, 100 days?

Sunday is your final chance to carve those last few slushy trails at Alta, Deer Valley and Canyons while Park City will keep a handful of lifts spinning until Monday (First Time, 3 Kings, Crescent, and Silverload). Park City began limiting their terrain a few weeks ago as seasonal workers headed home.

For those of you with an Ikon Pass, you’ll still be able to turn at Snowbasin Resort and Brighton until April 28, Solitude until May 6 and Snowbird until May 12. Brian Head Resort down south will close on Cinco de Mayo.

The 2023/2024 ski season in Utah has been nothing short of awesome. While it didn’t create the massive dumps that collapsed roofs and overwhelmed snowplow drivers like last season, and it started off miserably, Mother Nature blew in (eventually) to keep a consistent blanket of freshness on the slopes. Alta Ski Area received approximately 550 inches of snow, leading the pack with one of its strongest performances in a decade. Not far behind, Brighton Resort recorded over 500 inches, Snowbird tallied around 530 inches, and even Park City Mountain amassed a commendable 420 inches. Most of the state’s major water basins have reported snowpack figures ranging from 130% to 160% of the historical average.

Make the most of the dwindling ski days and then get ready for climbing and biking season! And make sure you plan ahead for next winter by buying those season ski passes while they’re still selling at “early bird” prices. Here are the links to save you time hunting them down individually-

Ikon Pass

In Utah- The Ikon Pass offers access to Snowbasin, Snowbird/Alta, Solitude, Deer Valley and Brighton. $969-1359

Epic Pass

Managed by Vail Resorts, in Utah, the Epic Pass offers skiing and riding at Park City and Canyons resorts. $731-982

Mountain Collective

The Mountain Collective offers a different take on ski passes, giving skiers access to 2 days at each participating resort (in Utah that’s Snowbird/Alta and Snowbasin), and then 50% off for each additional day. $605

Indy Pass

The Indy Pass is designed for independent and lesser-known ski resorts like Powder Mountain, Eagle Point and Beaver in Utah. If you’re looking for a more local or less crowded experience, this might be the pass for you. SOLD OUT for 24/25 but you can join their waitlist.

Power Pass

The Power Pass provides access to multiple resorts in the Southwest and beyond, including popular locations like Arizona Snowbowl and Purgatory Resort and Brian Head and Nordic Valley in Utah. $549-$749

Powder Alliance

With a qualifying season pass from a member resort, the Powder Alliance adds the ability to ski three days free at the other PA resorts (none in Utah). Free with your area season pass.

Ski News

Vail Resorts Buys Swiss Ski Area

Jill Adler Leave a comment

Guess we’re going to Europe next year! Vail Resorts just announced that they are making the moves on Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in Switzerland and those with certain Epic Passes (yay for employees!) will get to ski for free (we assume).
This second European acquisition is part of VR’s plan for world ski domination. Because the majority of skiers are in that part of the world, it only makes sense for the Colorado behemoth to tackle the massive Crans-Montana, a mere 2.5 hours away from their other ski spot, Andermatt-Sedrun. Not to mention that if the snow is bad in the U.S., they’ve got that part of the world to take up the financial slack.
You can reach CMMR from five different airports and by train. You’re two and a half hours from Geneva and less than four hours from Milan and Zurich. Just think of the Epic possibilities!

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