Even Cancun is designated as ‘Level 2′ by the State Department, as are numerous Caribbean islands.
Icons like The Bahamas are battling PR nightmares with a newly issued security alert, and Jamaica is still recovering from Hurricane Melissa’s wrath.
More travelers are venturing deep into the Caribbean, where former no-name islands have transformed into trendy hotspots.
That’s the case for Saint Lucia, a phenomenal paradise I had the pleasure of visiting for the first time last year and was left blown away by its luxe resorts, staggering pitons that look even more impressive than the postcards, and blissful coves like Marigot Bay, where A-listers hide away in this hideaway.
Whether it be the undiscovered appeal, its welcoming locals, sensational black-sand shores, or weekend block parties, the fact is that more vacationers than ever are flocking to Saint Lucia, which had its best spring on record to kickstart the summer season.
Safety First — Even In The Caribbean
The Caribbean may conjure thoughts of sugar-white sand, turquoise waters, and ritzy resorts nestled along pristine coastline, but there are some definitive no-go zones speckled across the region.
Obviously, everyone knows by now such places as Haiti are far removed from being vacation-worthy, as are cities like Kingston and even certain pockets of the Dominican Republic’s sprawling capital Santo Domingo, but the good news is most islands are just as safe as any popular vacation spot can be when you use common sense.
Saint Lucia is not only backed by a ‘Level 1′ advisory designation from the State Department that hasn’t been touched since 2024, but travelers reportedly feel super safe here too.
Our Safety Index reflects a real-time score of 80/100, meaning it’s considered a safe escape:
For a little inside context, the aforementioned block party in Castries might have something to do with dragging the score down a notch.
The rum is practically overflowing, and in my experience, a few bad apples are quick to offer tourists every substance known to man, which can make the scene feel a little sketchy even when you’re still having a good time.
Worth The Trek: Mud Baths, Secret Beaches & Coconut Concoctions
We all know what draws travelers to Caribbean hotbeds like Punta Cana, but what draws people all the way to Saint Lucia, one of the southernmost islands before hitting Venezuela, is its one-of-one attractions without the crowds.
Take it from me — places like Marigot Bay should top travelers’ 2026 wishlist for its serene harbor and authentic charm, with its rustic rum bars serving drinks in coconut shells and vibrant swimmable waters without the soundtrack of cheesy poolside DJs leading water aerobics classes.
Then there are other unique locales like Soufrière, where you can slather yourself in volcanic mud at Sulphur Springs before rinsing off in warm mineral water like you just hacked a Caribbean spa day without the triple-digit resort rates.
According to Flight Connections, there are currently 8 nonstop routes from U.S. airports, and despite being groggy from my red-eye, Saint Lucia is one of the few places I would do it all over again (with a Red Bull, of course):
Atlanta (ATL) — Delta
Boston (BOS) — JetBlue
Charlotte (CLT) — American Airlines
Chicago (ORD) — United Airlines
Miami (MIA) — American Airlines
New York City (JFK) — American Airlines and JetBlue
Newark (EWR) — United Airlines
Philadelphia (PHL) — American Airlines
One Of My All-Time Favorite Resorts
It doesn’t take a lot to impress me — give me a swim-up bar, no crying children, and hard water pressure after a day spent under the sun, and I’m generally a happy customer.
That said, Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa was one for the books with its pristine cove, above-water restaurant, and walk-in jacuzzi a few steps from my bedroom to take in fiery sunsets and even cap off the day with a room-service beer.
Feeling so secluded and way less crowded than Punta Cana and Cancun, it was the ultimate place to unwind by day and an even better place to turn up by night if you want to join in on the block party action.
Better yet, the resort is spread across 30 acres of tropical gardens, so even with 9 restaurants, 6 bars, and nightly entertainment, it still feels more tucked away than a mega-resort trying to be everything to everyone and failing…
We can all name one, but I’ll keep my yapper shut.
Secrets isn’t the only option either — it’s just the one I can personally speak to.
There are numerous luxury stays, both all-inclusive and boutique escapes, such as:
Sam, our Senior Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 44 countries and written over 1500 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
Deer Valley’s new terrain expansion is one of the most ambitious projects in modern skiing. The resort plans to nearly double its skiable terrain while maintaining the industry-leading standards it’s known for. We spent an extended trip in early 2026 skiing the new footprint alongside Deer Valley representatives and Olympic skier Fuzz Feddersen to see how it all came together.
Construction is still ongoing, and this season marked the worst snow year in Deer Valley’s history. Even so, we found the new terrain diverse and distinct, yet seamlessly integrated into the legacy Deer Valley experience.
This guide introduces the terrain, lifts, and base-area amenities in Deer Valley’s East Village so you can make the most of the Expanded Excellence initiative.
East Village: A Second Front Door
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
Deer Valley East Village is seamlessly connected on the slopes, but geographically separate from the main resort, and that separation works in its favor. Accessed via US-189, it bypasses Park City traffic entirely.
Yes, it’s still a work in progress. You’ll see active construction throughout the base area. But the core infrastructure is already in place, and it functions like a fully supported ski base. What’s here now works and what’s coming will only enhance it.
The East Village base area delivers the Deer Valley essentials: free parking, rental shop, ski valet, and East Village Restaurant, where a bowl of the resort’s signature chili tastes especially good on a cold afternoon.
Where to Stay in East Village (25/26 Season)
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
For the 25/26 season, the clear lodging choice is the newly completed Grand Hyatt. It offers a signature restaurant, on-site Ski Butlers rentals, a full spa, and shuttle service to Park City and Snow Park. There’s no ski-in/ski-out access yet, but a short shuttle brings you directly to the East Village base.
Additional hotels are expected to open for 26/27, which will further transform East Village into a true walkable ski hub.
We found the Grand Hyatt welcoming and highly functional, particularly with Ski Butlers on-site and a massive locker room that makes gearing up painless. Their High Hot Chocolate service, modeled after high tea but featuring locally processed cocoa, may become a new tradition for us. It’s indulgent enough to stand in for a light meal or serve as a sweet reset between Park City’s famously rich dinners.
The only logistical wrinkle is shuttle coverage. Service does not extend to Empire Canyon (Fireside Dining) or Silver Lake (Stein Eriksen Lodge, Mariposa), so a bit of planning is required. Still, between Snow Park (St. Regis, Cast & Cut) and downtown Park City, dining options are abundant. With new hotels opening next season, you may soon be able to walk to a different restaurant every night and still not try them all.
Snow Science: The Engine Behind the Expansion
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
Deer Valley’s reputation has always been built on snow quality, from immaculate corduroy to sophisticated snowmaking. The expansion continues that legacy in a serious way.
The new terrain draws most of its water from Jordanelle Reservoir. Roughly 80 miles of new snowmaking pipe now support more than 1,200 high-efficiency snow guns. The reservoir isn’t just scenic, it’s foundational.
What’s more impressive is the sustainability loop. Deer Valley is allocated just 1% of the reservoir’s available water. Through dedicated irrigation channels, approximately 80% of that allotment is returned by season’s end. Combined with an expanded grooming fleet, that system allowed the resort to open a record number of runs during a historically hot and dry winter.
If you’re wondering how the terrain skied so well in a lean year, this is your answer.
East Village Gondola: The Spine of the New Terrain
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
The 10-passenger high-speed East Village Gondola is one of the two primary lifts out of the base area. It’s a 15-minute, 3,000-vertical-foot ride to Park Peak (9,350’), with a mid-station at Big Dutch Peak (8,170’).
From Park Peak, you access some of Utah’s longest runs along with terrain served by Pinyon Express and the Vulcan Express / Revelator Express lifts.
Green Monster is the headline act: a 4.85-mile green descent between Park Peak and Baldy Mountain, nearly 40% longer than Park City Mountain’s Home Run. It weaves between two blues: Carbonite, which drops along the ridge, and Age of Reason, which follows the valley floor.
Deer Valley partnered with longtime Mountain Host Michael O’Malley to name the new terrain in ways that honor both local mining history and the resort’s evolving identity. “Green Monster” references a Wasatch County copper mine, though you’ll never convince me there isn’t a double entendre for the 37-foot-tall wall in Fenway Park that has foiled many home runs. Common sense tells us that “Age of Reason” is an homage to Thomas Paine, and I could imagine cruising down the exposed ridge would freeze you like the compound that imprisoned Han Solo. However, “Carbonite” is a nod to Park City’s silver mining legacy.
Names aside, the terrain progression is smart. Carbonite offers a manageable ridge experience before committing to Redemption Ridge. And if confidence wavers, Green Monster provides a bailout.
Another thoughtful touch is Corduroy Lunch. Select freshly groomed terrain off the gondola’s mid-station remains roped until noon. Carving fresh tracks midday is a true afternoon delight.
Keetley Express: The Connector
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
Keetley Express is the other primary East Village lift and likely the fastest gateway back to legacy Deer Valley terrain. After the 1.25-mile ride up, a short ski down Road to Sultan brings you to Sultan Express.
Of course, you have to take Sultan up the mountain before you get back to skiing. That sets you up for over 5 continuous miles of green runs if you combine Homeward Bound with McHenry, or take a run on the classic black Stein’s Way. You could also use connectors to access the lower half of Green Monster or McHenry directly, or try the plethora of intermediate runs off Keetley Point.
Advanced skiers should keep Keetley on their radar as well. When conditions align, it’s a sneaky access point to Mayflower Bowl and its quiet pocket of expert terrain.
Aurora: Small but Essential
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Aurora is easy to underestimate. It’s only about 700 feet long and takes two minutes to ride, but it plays a crucial role.
It’s the return lift from McHenry, which connects directly to Silver Lake Lodge, and it services Keetley Point terrain. There’s also a confusing sign near the top of Aurora on Green Monster directing skiers left toward East Village. If you follow it, you’ll earn a short Aurora ride, and remember to hang right next time if you want to return directly to Keetley and the gondola.
These lifts rise from one of the steepest valleys in the Deer Valley footprint, so steep that lift towers had to be installed by helicopter.
Redemption Ridge is the signature descent, often described as Stein’s Way on steroids. At roughly twice the length of Stein’s, it drops 2,700 vertical feet over 2.5 miles. Once you commit, you’re in it, with steeper, more technical lines breaking off the ridgeline into the valley.
If that feels ambitious, start on Stein’s to calibrate. Carbonite also offers a similar exposed-ridge experience that’s much more forgiving. But If the snow is right and you can hang, Redemption could be your saving grace from the Bambi Basin blues.
Pinyon Express: High-Alpine Access for Everyone
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
Pinyon Express and Revelator both reach Park Peak, but their personalities diverge from there.
Pinyon serves a beginner-friendly zone on the north side of Park Peak, allowing newer skiers to experience high-mountain terrain without intimidation. Clipper stands out because it also connects the East Village Gondola back into legacy Deer Valley terrain, but there are multiple easy route options.
Because Pinyon sits right at the boundary between old and new terrain, it functions as a seamless crossover point. Novice skiers and ski classes can access this alpine playground from either side of the resort.
The Future of Deer Valley Is Already Underfoot
Photo Credit: Deer Valley Resort.
It would be easy to judge an expansion like this on acreage alone. Nearly doubling skiable terrain is headline material in any snow year, let alone the driest season in resort history. But what impressed us most wasn’t the scale; it was the intention.
Expanded Excellence doesn’t feel bolted on. It feels studied. Deliberate. The lift placements make sense. The terrain progression makes sense. Even the names tell a story. You can ski a 4.85-mile green down Green Monster, test your mettle on Redemption Ridge, duck into legacy terrain off Keetley, and end the day with corduroy that rivals anything Deer Valley has ever groomed, all without feeling like you’ve left the original footprint of the resort.
That’s no small feat.
Skiing with Olympic veteran Fuzz Feddersen gave us an insider’s lens, but even without that access, the throughline is obvious: Deer Valley isn’t chasing growth for growth’s sake. They’re building a second front door that will eventually feel as iconic as Snow Park or Silver Lake, and they’re doing it with the same snow science, guest service, and meticulous grooming that built their reputation in the first place.
East Village still hums with construction equipment. You’ll see cranes on the skyline and fresh dirt where hotels will soon rise. But beneath that temporary noise is something permanent: infrastructure that works, terrain that skis well in lean years, and a blueprint that positions Deer Valley for the next several decades.
If this was Expanded Excellence in the worst snow year on record, it’s hard to imagine what it will feel like in a banner winter.
One thing is certain: the future of Deer Valley isn’t coming. It’s already here!
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Disclosure: A big thank you to Deer Valley Resort for hosting us, setting up a fantastic itinerary, and usage of some of the images throughout (image credit in hover text ).
As always, the views and opinions expressed are entirely our own, and we only recommend brands and destinations that we 100% stand behind.
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Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. In a nutshell, we are a Huntsville-based Gen X couple sharing our stories of amazing adventures through activity-driven transformational and experiential travel.
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