There is something special about coming home.
As our plane crossed over the Great Salt Lake and the white salt flats stretched out beneath us, I felt that familiar excitement that always comes with returning to Utah. Then, just as I had hoped, the Wasatch Mountains came into view. No matter how many years pass, the first glimpse of those mountains still feels like home.
We only had three full days to enjoy family, good food, and everything we love about Utah in the winter. It would be a quick trip, but sometimes those are the ones that leave the biggest memories.
Returning Home
Instead of staying with family like we usually do, we rented a cozy Airbnb in Lehi. It gave us our own space while still making it easy for family to stop by and spend time together.
As luck would have it, we were staying just down the road from the famous Lehi Roller Mills. Movie fans may recognize it from the 1984 classic Footloose, where Kevin Bacon famously dances through the mill. Every time I see it, I can’t help but think of that scene. They’ve remade Footloose, and there’s even talk of another remake, but for me, nothing will ever top the original. Maybe it’s the music, maybe it’s the dancing, or maybe it’s just a little bit of nostalgia.
Sometimes coming home isn’t just about seeing family—it’s about revisiting the places that have quietly become part of your own story.
Sharing Utah With My Family
One of my favorite parts of returning to Utah is watching Tessa experience places that have meant so much to us over the years.
Brad had packed his skis with plans of spending as much time as possible on the slopes. Mother Nature certainly cooperated, delivering several days of fresh powder. Unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea. Traffic backed up for miles into the canyon, turning what should have been a quick drive into quite the test of patience.
Eventually he made it to Solitude Mountain Resort for a day on the mountain, and according to him, every minute of waiting was worth it. Utah proudly calls its snow “The Greatest Snow on Earth,” and after a fresh snowfall, it’s easy to understand why.
Brad had also hoped this would be the trip where Tessa took her first official ski lesson. With the resorts so crowded, they improvised instead, spending an afternoon at a snowy park in the canyon where he taught her some of the basics. Watching the two of them together made me smile. I have a feeling I may have to learn to ski too if she ends up loving it as much as her dad does.
A Winter Wonderland at the Ice Castles
One of the highlights of our trip was visiting the Ice Castles in Midway.
I’ve visited several times over the years, and every winter they somehow manage to create something completely different. Massive walls of ice, winding tunnels, frozen archways, and sparkling passageways make it feel like stepping inside a fairy tale.
Tessa immediately made a beeline for one of the ice tunnels and somehow convinced Grandpa to follow her. He looked a little skeptical about fitting through the winding passageway, but thankfully he emerged on the other side with a smile.
Afterward we explored the ice slides, wandered through glowing corridors, and admired the incredible craftsmanship that went into every frozen wall. Standing there surrounded by towers of ice, I couldn’t help but laugh and think maybe Superman and Elsa were onto something with their icy fortresses after all.
There is something wonderfully magical about fully embracing winter instead of simply waiting for it to end.
When the Trip Took an Unexpected Turn
After several wonderful days together, it was time to head home.
Brad stayed behind for a few more days of skiing while Tessa and I caught an early morning flight back to Tennessee. As I was getting dressed before leaving for the airport, a sharp pain suddenly hit my shoulder blade. I assumed I had simply slept wrong and figured it would work itself out.
Instead, it only became worse.
By the time we made it through airport security, the pain had spread across my side and down my arm. The flight home felt endless. Every movement hurt.
When we landed, I loaded our luggage into the car and started driving home, hoping I could just make it back to the house. Instead, the pain became so intense that I found myself crying as I drove. Rather than heading home, I pulled into my doctor’s office.
After multiple appointments, tests, and scans over the next two days, the doctors determined that severe muscle spasms had pinched several nerves. It would take time for everything to calm down, but thankfully it wasn’t anything more serious.
Looking back, I remember how quickly everyone stepped in to help. My doctor made time for me in an already packed schedule. A coworker drove me to additional appointments. Brad changed his flight so he could come home early. And Tessa, in the sweet way only a child can, did everything she could think of to help me feel better.
Sometimes the hardest moments remind you just how loved you are.
Just when we thought the trip was finally over, one more surprise was waiting for us.
After nearly six months of delays, paperwork, canceled plans, and waiting, Tessa’s passport had finally arrived.
It felt like the perfect ending.
We had spent a few days returning to the place that will always feel like home, making new memories with family while revisiting old ones. We laughed, played in the snow, explored castles made of ice, and even collected an unexpected misadventure along the way.
Then, as one journey came to an end, another was quietly beginning. With passport finally in hand, we could start dreaming about where our next adventure would take us.
Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years, it’s that the best adventures don’t always go according to plan—but somehow they become the stories we treasure most.
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Thanks for coming along on this winter visit to Utah. May your snow be powder and your ice be magical.
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