I love Grand Targhee, but it isn't for everyone. If it is for you, you'll love it and try to convince every friend to visit. I'm a 40 year old East Coast banker, I travel a lot on business & stay at some swanky places. I have been skiing since age 3 and consider myself advanced or expert. Grand Targhee is a place that time forgot. Super friendly staff, no lift lines, 500 inches of snow. But, no fur coats, no fancy food, a little less attention to detail. For me, the simplicity outweighs the lack of luxury. Grand Targhee is an escape from my reality, with great skiing and fun. One can slow it down a gear in GT. I went 4 weeks ago with my 7 year old daughter. She proclaimed it the best hotel in the world (the Sioux Lodge) because she fed the birds on the balcony and had a bunk bed (ironic, we stayed at the St. Regis in NYC 9 months earlier, what a laugh). We ran across the snowy parking lot in swim suits and bath robes to hit the hot tub, later we ate pasta in a simple little deli, and walked only 50 yards from our room to the ski school and lift the next day. Wonderful for kids. She adores Grand Targhee and is begging to return. I have already planned a return trip in 2009 with my other, younger daughter, and wife. The Sioux Lodge is old and will be torn down when they redevelop in a few years. Although old, it was clean and functional. The kid area (North Pole, Otter Slide, Eyeball Forest, are so stimulating). The ski school is affordable and very very good. Then - last weekend I returned with 8 of my buddies for a guys weekend. We did the Snow Cat powder skiing. Wonderful. I may have had the best day skiing in my life on the snow cat. 14 inches of fresh powder, great terrain, trees, glades, steeps, bowls. Wonderful. This boys trip is supposed to rotate each year to a new locale, but for 2009 everyone wants to return. A compliment in itself. Zero Apres Ski. Zero night life unless you bring your own (cards and interesting buddies help). You want sushi and dance clubs go to Colorado or Jackson. You want to chill and ski your buns off, try Grand Targhee. Terrain is not extreme. Best suited for a beginner, moderate skiier, or a more mellow black diamond skier. For experts you'll only be impressed if there is a powder day, you are on the snow cat, or have your kids with you. In an age of traffic, crowds, high pricing and "noise" this is a gem.








