Tucked high in the Wasatch Mountains of Park City, Utah, Deer Valley Resort is consistently ranked as one of the best ski resorts in North America. From the friendly staff to perfectly groomed slopes and gourmet cuisine, the world-class experience keeps guests coming back year after year.

And skiing Deer Valley® isn’t just for grown ups; the resort prides itself in catering to kids with kiddo-friendly ski trails and delicious food (that children actually want to eat). Don’t believe us? Let the kids speak for themselves. Here, Deer Valley shredders ranging in age from 9 to 16 tell us what they love best about this Park City, Utah, gem.

The Terrain

Each year, an average of 300 inches of snow blankets Deer Valley’s six mountains, creating a winter wonderland with skiable terrain for little skiers of every stripe. Sixteen-year-old skier Emma loves that Deer Valley’s terrain is welcoming to all: “It’s such a great place for kids because of the wide diversity of its terrain,” she says. “Kids can build their skills on easier hills before progressing to more advanced slopes.”

Start the little ones off right with a lesson at Deer Valley’s Children’s Ski School where small group lessons and fun activities keep them engaged. Once they have the basics down and are ready to venture out, grab aChildren’s Adventure Map and take them to pint-sized trails ready for exploration.

“I love skiing through all of the special kids’ areas at Deer Valley like Bucky’s Backyard, Ruby’s Roost, and Candyland,” says 9-year-old Bailey, who sings her way down the tree trails because she’s so happy to be skiing.

The 14 children’s trails feature curving tree terrain, banked turns to teach kids speed control, and a tiny cabin hidden in the woods.

When your kids move beyond the Children’s Adventure Map trails, don’t worry too much about them getting lost, “It’s a big mountain, but super easy to find your way around,” says 12-year-old Maddie, who’s been skiing Deer Valley since she was just 20 months old. “My favorite times at Deer Valley are skiing the powder and the trees with my friends.”

For 10-year-old speedster, Dylan, Deer Valley’s signature groomed runs off Bald Mountain are a favorite, “When it’s sunny, I like to ski on Nabob. They groom that trail really well, and it’s super wide.”

Rated as a blue ski run, Nabob offers panoramic views of Park City from the top with tree islands on the way down to keep it interesting for kids and adults alike.

On powder days, Dylan recommends taking laps on the Sultan Express chairlift, “You can ski in the Perseverance Bowl where it’s wide open, or head into the trees.

Whether your mini-me loves racing down tree trails or skiing fresh powder bowls, they’ll love Deer Valley, “Whether you’ve grown up here or are a guest, Deer Valley feels like your backyard,” says 13-year-old Stefan.

The Food

At Deer Valley, dining is an integral part of every ski day. Whether your family’s craving a quick skier’s lunch or a more leisurely feast—one thing’s for certain—kids love the food at Deer Valley as much as the adults do. Thanks to a diverse lineup of dishes, picky and adventurous eaters can find satisfying meals to fuel their ski day.

For a convenient, on-hill lunch break, Silver Lake Lodge is the place to be, “You can get to almost every part of the mountain from there, and I love the hot dogs. There’s a sit-down restaurant if you need a long break, a pizza station, and tacos,” says Stefan.

Sixteen-year-old Emma loves warming up with Silver Lake Lodge’s hot soups, either a Vietnamese bowl of pho from Bald Mountain Pho or a bowl of the legendary Deer Valley Turkey Chili.

For other littles, break time is all about sweets. “I love the Deer Valley cookies because they are the size of my head,” says 12-year-old Camden.

Available in chocolate chip, double chocolate, snickerdoodle, and oatmeal raisin, you can find the huge cookies at any Deer Valley lodge, but the on-mountain cabins are kids’ favorite places for ski breaks. Stop at Snowshoe Tommy’s at the top of Bald Mountain andCushing’s Cabin at the top of Flagstaff Mountain and warm up with a creamy cup of housemade hot chocolate paired with a cookie.

Whether your tiny tots or teens are all about the terrain, or totally focused on the delicious food, they’re sure to love the experience at Deer Valley Resort. Bring them along on your next Park City vacation to learn why kids like Camden are saying, “I love the entire mountain. I wish I could ski every day.”

Originally written by RootsRated Media for Deer Valley.