Idaho Ski Trip -- Day #6

After getting in bed after midnight last night, we slept in until about 8:30, which was necessary and nice.  We got ready quickly, had breakfast (cereal, strawberry yogurt, an orange, an oat-bran muffin, milk, and cranberry juice), and headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon to ski at Solitude.  We had skied there about nine years ago; it's always fun to return to a familiar spot.  For most of the day, we had glorious sunshine, no wind, and temperatures higher than anything so far on the trip (upper 20s to lower 30s).  For the final hour or so, we did have clouds and substantial winds because a storm is moving in, but to have the weather we've had for four days of skiing is phenomenal!  The snow was pretty nice except for being thin in multiple places.  That created an adventure in skiing down some runs -- we had to weave around rocks and grass, but it made us pay attention!  My favorite run was Woodlawn, a black, one of the longest at Solitude.  It started with some moguls and steeps, then narrowed into a lovely spruce-filled canyon traverse.  It was so long and lovely.  I wish we could have done it more than once!  Lunch was at the Roundhouse Restaurant (yes, same name as the one at Sun Valley), a scrumptious chicken pot pie and a shared oatmeal-raisin cookie.  We skied until the 4:00 closing, loaded up, and headed back down to our hotel.  After showering, we headed into downtown Salt Lake City to admire the capital building and Mormon temple.  Supper was at Cucina Toscana, a very upscale fine-dining Italian restaurant.  We've never eaten at a place quite this unique!  For starters, they asked us what kind of water we wanted (tap or sparkling).  Their staff, all native Italians, were constantly around to refill cups, clear dishes, and take excellent care of us.  I had the ravioli toscana, spinach- and ricotta-filled ravioli in a butter-sage-tomato sauce.  It was delicious.  For dessert, after the complimentary hot chocolate and biscotti, we shared a few flavors of gelato (lemon, chocolate, pistachio) and a chocolate panna cotta (an eggless, fluffy mousse-type dessert).  I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for authentic, amazing Italian fare in Salt Lake City...but it is a splurge (financial- and food-wise), so make sure you've earned it!  We really loved it.

Woodlawn, my favorite trail at Solitude

A picture of our WHOLE family after lunch

Solitude -- I love this sign!

~Anna