When I snow ski I want ski-in ski-out, staying in a resort at the base of the lifts so I can maximize vacation time. Utah's dry powder is world-famous - enthusiasts call it the "Greatest Snow on Earth." During recent years our resorts and facilities have matured and now offer world-class accommodations, including great dining, shopping and nightlife. There's not much better than spending a day skiing powder and then "coming home" to an exquisite room right at the resort - no need to drive miles, fight traffic and hunt for parking. Minutes after hopping off the lift you can be enjoying a gourmet meal or a soak in an outdoor hot tub. View our ski trip packages. Call our travel experts and let them customize a vacation for you: 1-888-881-1120

Flying Wakeboards & Footballs

Lake Powell is one of Utah’s most popular summer tourist destinations. It's hard to beat the silky-smooth water and radiant landscape found at Powell on a calm morning. I spent a few days there in mid-July and had a great time, as you can see from the photos that illustrate this newsletter.

There have been inaccurate news reports that the lake is closed because of low water levels. We’re getting calls from people wondering if you can still float a boat at Powell. You can! The lake is low but even at this level it is about 150 miles long and up to 300 feet deep. There's plenty of water for houseboating, wake boarding and fishing. And plenty of sandy beaches for camping.

The low water level has impacted launching at some ramps. See our Travel Headlines for the latest on conditions.

Powell is constantly changing and that makes each trip uniquely enjoyable. I go there often and no two trips are ever the same. For example, last fall the declining water revealed a water cave with a pot hole-type arch across the channel from the mouth of Lake Canyon. This June we explored further and the kids decided it was custom made for cliff jumping. (That activity carries considerable risk and we advise extreme caution.) The kids got the thrill of a lifetime when they dropped through the hole into deep, dark water.

I manned the camera – I don't jump off cliffs much now that I'm getting older and smarter. My favorite activity is fishing and this year is shaping up as one of the best ever. The smallmouth and stripped bass are in prime conditions, getting fatter by the day. Several conditions seem to be working together to turn Powell into one of America's best warmwater fisheries.

Mid and late summer are great times for fishing, wakeboarding and water skiing, and exploring Utah's high mountain regions like the Uintas, Boulder Mountain and Skyline Drive.

There's already talk of football on the airwaves and before long the school bells will be ringing and the footballs will be flying. Actually, fall is my favorite time to visit Powell. September and early October are prime months because the crowds are down, water temperatures are perfect, air temperatures aren't scorchingly hot and the fishing gets better by the day.

Houseboats are available for the fall season if you book now. Give us a call and we'll set you up: 1-888-881-1120.

It's now mid summer and, here at the office, we're already booking snow ski trips. There's been an amazing number of calls coming in from people wanting to be sure they get prime lodging at the resorts over the holidays. Last year Utah enjoyed one of its best ski seasons ever and this year may be even better. The resorts are in great shape and climatologists expect abundant snowfall this winter.

Better book soon if you want lodging near the slopes around Christmas and New Years: 1-888-881-1120.

— Dave Webb

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