Looking for a fun and easy getaway in Utah? My family loves Zermatt Resort in Midway, Utah.
Midway is located less than an hour from Salt Lake City, and about 20 minutes from Orem or Park City. It's one of Utah's most charming small towns, nestled in the Wasatch Mountains. There are a lot of fun things to do here.
Zermatt is a Swiss-inspired luxury resort that works for a romantic getaway or family reunion in all seasons. Zermatt first hosted my family on a winter weekend of tubing, sleigh riding and skating in 2015. Last summer, we returned to Zermatt for my husband's family reunion because it was comfortable, affordable, and fun for our large group, ranging in age from 10-75.
Here are my top tips for planning a trip to Zermatt Resort in Midway, Utah.
Rooms
Zermatt has a wide variety of rooms in several buildings to accommodate families of all sizes. On our first trip, the four of us shared a single hotel room. It was the honeymoon suite, so it was especially lovely. Had I known in advance we'd get that room, I would have left the kids at home with Grandma!
Zermatt also has condos with full kitchens, living areas and up to 3 bedrooms. These Chateau Villas are what I booked for the family reunion. Our two-bedroom condos had beds for up to 8 people, and most of us were able to share and save money. Family members who wanted more privacy booked their own rooms.
There is more than one way to book at room at Zermatt. The first is to call the resort or book directly through Zermatt's website at www.zermattresort.com. The second is to book through a private owner. Some of the condos are privately owned and available to rent on sites like Booking.com or VRBO.com. My extended family used both ways for our reunion. Zermatt was helpful in getting us all in the same building.
Pools
Zermatt has indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs. The February weekend we were there was an unseasonably warm 65 degrees (F), and my family tried both the indoor and outdoor pools. There is a swim-through lane connecting one to the other, and my children thought that was really fun.
The indoor hot tub is large, and has a waterfall! There is comfortable seating and lounge chairs both indoor and outdoors, where I watched the kids play and caught up on some reading.
Dining
The Zermatt Resort has two on-site restaurants and a bakery/cafe. We tried the cafe, Bakerei and Eis for breakfast one morning and found a tempting assortment of pastries, breakfast sandwiches, bagels, yogurt parfait and oatmeal. Come back at lunch time for soups, sandwiches and gelato.
We also enjoyed the decadent Sunday brunch at Z's Steak and Chop Haus. There, we enjoyed a fantastic buffet with a fruit crepe and omelette bar, cold salmon, local and imported cheeses, fresh fruit, hot eggs, sausages and bacon, and beautiful baskets of muffins, scones and croissants from Bakerei and Eis.
More Things to Do
In addition to the pools, the Zermatt offers a nice variety of amenities and activities. Many are complimentary. Amenities include:
- Carousel for kids
- European-inspired spa
- Large fitness room, with dry sauna and steam room
- Valet parking
- Free self-parking
- Shuttle service to Park City, and anywhere within 5 miles
- Coffee and hot cider in lobby
- Meeting rooms
- Board games
- Pool table
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Shuffleboard
The carousel is open during warm weather months. Just ask the front desk to send someone over if you'd like a ride. Even though my kids (ages 14 and 11) are a little old for it now, they still had fun and didn't say no when the attendant asked if they wanted a second ride.
With its abundant amenities, charming ambience, and proximity to a wide variety of activities, it's not surprising that the Zermatt Resort is a popular year-round destination for romantic getaways, family vacations and outdoor adventure in Utah. We recommend Zermatt for families.
Disclosure: Our first stay at Zermatt Resort was complimentary for the purpose of review. We returned at our own expense with 20+ extended family. All opinions are my own.
Jamie
Hi Allison; we will be coming to SLC the last weekend in January with an almost 2 year old. Any suggestions on fun stuff to do/see? We are from Michigan so already have lots on full access to snow activities so looking for something different! Looking for place to stay too that has full kitchen/living space that is cozy but also reasonably priced!! Any help is greatly appreciated:)
Allison
Hi Jamie! Here are a few activity ideas that are unique to Utah… Temple Square (obviously). Hogle Zoo is near downtown, and I really like visiting in the winter. The big cats and polar bears are cold-loving and they are at their most active. The Natural History Museum of Utah is near Hogle Zoo. You’ll see a lot of dinosaur fossils found in Utah, plus other exhibits specific to our unique geography and culture. Look into the SLC Connect Pass to bundle admissions on these attractions. It’s SLC’s version of CityPASS or Go Card.
The Winter Olympics are coming up in Korea and SLC is a former Olympic city. You can find Olympic venues all over and skate or ski on the same ice and snow. We love visiting Utah Olympic Park in Park City. It has two free museums and lots of fun things to do and see. You can skate at the Olympic Oval in Kearns or the Ogden Ice Sheet where ice events were held. You can see the torch at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus near downtown SLC.
You can see the Great Salt Lake. Antelope Island State Park will be open. The lake is quite low, but it’s still interesting and you’re likely to see bison on Antelope Island too.
We are headed to the opening of the Midway Ice Castles this weekend, and that’s a fun and unique experience if you’re willing to do a little driving. The Homestead Crater is on the same property. It’s the only warm-water SCUBA destination in the continental USA. You can swim and soak in the naturally heated mineral waters too. Details on these and lots of other ideas can be found on my Utah page: https://tipsforfamilytrips.com/road-trips/things-to-do-in-utah/
We have stayed at the Extended Stay America in Sandy and liked it. It’s a budget hotel chain with full kitchens. I like the Homewood Suites brand, which has living space and a full kitchen in every room. I would also look for vacation homes. I’m sorry that I can’t recommend a specific one, but here are our tips for picking a good one: https://tipsforfamilytrips.com/travel-tips/10-tips-to-find-vacation-rental-homes/. If you have any more questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]. 🙂