Spring break skiing is a venerated tradition among many families and college students—even couples see it as the perfect time to hit the slopes in spring’s balmier conditions. Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, is well poised for such a getaway, with lots of on-site lodging and easy access from the Salt Lake City airport. And, of course, it comes with famous Utah-grade snow and lots and lots of delicious places to eat. So grab your sunscreen and hold onto your hats: Here’s a quick and dirty guide to getting spring break perfectly right.

Step One: Stop What You’re Doing and Book Now

When it comes to spring skiing, the sooner you book, the better. You can get in on some excellent lodging and dining packages that soften the price tag of your getaway. By booking early, you can snatch up discounts and ensure you’ll snag a spot in the resort’s beloved ski school for all the learners in your group. The ski school is impressively staffed, yet due to its excellent reputation for churning out happy, skilled skiers, it tends to book up during busy times.

Step Two: Plan a Fantastic Time

Phew. You snagged your room package—congrats. Now you can do a little research and hit up the resort concierge for recommendations and reservations. They enjoy helping guests customize their trips to make the whole group happy—whether that’s helping to snag tickets to a concert at a Main Street hotspot or hooking up some extra home-baked cookies for the kiddos.

Leave lots of wiggle room in your schedule for relaxing in the hot tub or playing board games in front of the fireplace, but do plan a few key things that are best done with reservations. Lunches tend to be casual and on-the-go at one of the many mid-mountain and base-area eateries. If it’s a balmy sunny day, hit up the deck at the Snow Park Lodge or Silver Lake Lodge and bask in the sunshine.

These deck areas are also perfect for après-ski fun, where adults can laze on "the beach" chairs outside Silver Lake and kids can play in the snow or snack on food from inside. For a more upscale open-air après, ride the funicular up to the St. Regis Hotel, whose luxe patio bar boasts gorgeous fire-pits and sweeping views of both of the area’s ski resorts.

There are tons of kid-friendly activities available during spring break—you can book a dog-sledding ride, go tubing outside the Montage Hotel, hit up Park City’s skating rink, or go eat gourmet candy apples on Main Street. If you’re missing your pets at home, or have animal lovers in your crew, make the 10-minute drive to the Nuzzles & Co. Pet Rescue Adoption Center. This colorful, happy place is a wonderful spot to sip cocoa and play with rescue cats, kittens, puppies, and dogs who love cuddling with visitors.

Step Three: Enjoy Your Mountain Time

You’re here for the mountain first and foremost, so enjoy long cruiser days around the resort. It’s the perfect way to de-stress and bond with family and friends. (It’s hard to be cranky on a chairlift.) Spring weather can go either way—you could hit a nice storm cycle and enjoy winter’s last batch of powder days, or you could land amid primo spring skiing conditions and schuss perfect morning corduroy and afternoon corn. So be sure to check the local weather forecast before you pack.

If you’re lucky enough to snag some spring powder, experiment with darting off-piste and really savoring every soft turn. (Beginners, never fear: you can book a ski lesson with the specific intention of getting more stable in powder.)

And if springtime shows its true colors, hit the slopes first thing in the morning to fly around on the resort’s impeccable corduroy groomers. They take pride in buffing out every run to buttery-smooth perfection, so your ski edges have something absolutely divine to dig into as you lean into turns.

Whatever the weather, leave your phone in your pocket, enjoy lift-ride conversation with friends old and new, and bask under the Wasatch mountain sky.

Originally written by RootsRated for Deer Valley.

Featured image provided by Deer Valley Resort