We recently returned from a family trip to Deer Valley, Utah, where we celebrated our fifteenth wedding anniversary with Fitz in tow. The weather was chilly and we spent most of our time together in front of the fireplace, although we did brave the frigid temperatures for some wintry hikes.

More than anything, it was great to get away from home for a few days to celebrate our relationship. As of this 2025, we’ve been together for 21 years; three years of dating, three years of engagement, and fifteen years of marriage. It is hard to believe, at times, that it has been so long. We continue to grow together and become the best versions of ourselves, driven by a shared love and sense of belonging.

Bookings

Hotels

• One Executive Suite for four nights at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley for 297.00USD, inclusive of taxes and after credits, through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts

December 15, 2025

We started our road trip around 0830 and stopped to charge our car several times on the way to Deer Valley. As usual, Fitz enjoyed the drive and snuggled into his bed between stops.

Our first stop was St. George, Utah, where we walked from the charger to a nearby Beans & Brews for coffee before heading back to the car and chowing down on some cold chicken that we brought with us.

Our next stop was Beaver, Utah, which Fitz famously remembers as the horse-exchange charging station from a previous trip to Park City. We walked him around the small parking lot before spending some time in the sun while our car continued to charge.

Our final stop was in Nephi where Angela and I swapped driving duties so I could deal with valet when we arrived at the hotel. At this point, it was starting to get cold so we all bundled up.

We arrived at our hotel in the early evening. The desk agent was very friendly and gave us a rundown of the property and the amenities available. Unfortunately, the hotel does not offer self-parking options, which makes it hard for us with Fitz because he gets protective of the car.

Our room was large and well-appointed with comfortable furnishings, tons of space, and a special welcome for Fitz, which I really appreciated. Guest services also put together a nice display on our bed wishing us a happy anniversary.

I took Fitz on an exploratory walk of the property as we searched for the dog run. It is very nice that there is a dedicated dog area located close to the front entrance.

When we returned to the room, I turned the fireplace on and Fitz assumed the position we would find him in throughout our stay.

After arrival, we used our Fine Hotels & Resorts credit for room service. We each had a burger and split a large Caesar salad. The salad had an excellent flavor and the burgers were quite tasty.

December 16

We dined in the restaurant every morning of our stay as breakfast was included as part of our rate. Unfortunately, we could not dine on the patio with Fitz accompanying us, so we had to take turns eating and watching him. Every day, one of us would head to the restaurant while the other stayed in the room and then we’d swap halfway through.

The a la carte options were quite good, and we were fortunate enough to be able to order from the restaurant’s menu for three of our four breakfasts. On the fourth morning, the buffet opened in preparation for peak-season.

On the first morning, I opted for the breakfast burger while Angela chose to have a breakfast burrito. The coffee was a little weak, but the food was quite tasty.

After breakfast, we loaded up the car and drove to the Provo River Walk. It was quite muddy and Fitz definitely engaged all-paw-drive during our two-plus-mile hike. While we started out cold, we definitely warmed up as we trudged along.

After our hike, we headed to Ritual Chocolate where we treated ourselves to a delicious cookie, some relatively mediocre coffee, and two different flavors of drinking chocolate.

When we returned to the hotel, we worked out in the well-appointed gym. We took the same type of swapping approach as we did during breakfast so that someone would be with Fitz in the room.

For dinner, we headed to Matilda for absolutely delicious appetizers and pizzas. We ordered the sourdough flatbread starter with meatballs, a Caesar salad, and a sausage pizza. Everything we tried tasted great. I would definitely recommend the restaurant to anyone in the area.

Afterwards, we stopped at the fancy grocery store in the same parking lot to pick up some snacks for the next couple of days and some locally produced goods to take home with us. We returned to the hotel and spent a little bit of time relaxing by the fire pits in the courtyard before heading to bed.

December 17

Unlike in Carlsbad, California, Fitz had no problems sleeping through the night in Deer Valley. After taking him out in the morning, I headed to breakfast while Angela stayed with him. We then swapped per usual. Angela ordered the breakfast hash, which she said was amazing. I went with the avocado toast which was only OK.

The hotel hosts a hot chocolate experience daily. It requires booking in advance and, when I initially asked, there were no openings. Apparently a bunch of cancellations happened overnight and we were able to confirm an appointment same day. Before our indulgence, we all headed to the gym together. We decided it was OK to bring Fitz with us as he simply stayed in his stroller and there was no one else present.

We brought Fitz with us to the hot chocolate experience, but it turned out to be a little stressful. While things started well, Fitz got startled by a large dog and subsequently barked and growled. I had to take him outside to calm him down before returning to our table. We are still working on getting him used to remaining calm in situations like this, even in his thirteenth year.

Eventually we got to enjoy our single pastry and single cup of hot chocolate. To be quite frank, it was a fun experience but not a very high-value one. They don’t even leave the pot of hot chocolate with you and the tasting costs 25.00USD per person.

We ate dinner in the room and watched Fallout while enjoying a rejuvenating face mask and then played some games before heading to bed. Fitz, of course, tucked himself in by the fireplace.

December 18

I ordered the steak and eggs for breakfast and they were absolutely incredible. I definitely should have been ordering them every day.

After I was finished, Angela and I swapped places and I took Fitz to sit in the courtyard with me. He enjoyed it for a little while, but eventually started shivering so much that I had to take him inside.

We all piled into the car and drove to Prospector Park. From there, we walked on a paved trail all the way to Main Street. Fitz was able to walk more than half of the trail and was pushed in his stroller for the rest.

Before we returned to the car, we stopped at Urban Sailor Coffee which occupies the storefront that previously played host to Ritual Chocolate. Unfortunately, the drinks weren’t very good and we definitely wouldn’t return.

We headed back to the hotel and played games for a couple of hours.

For our anniversary, we decided to go to Firewood on Main for dinner. We made sure to match like any good married couple.

After parking in a garage on Main Street, we walked Fitz around for a little bit before stowing him in the car. Thank goodness for Dog Mode.

We were still a little early for our reservation, so Angela and I walked around and took a few photos before dinner.

We opted for the prix fixe menu at Firewood and every course was fantastic. Dishes included grilled oyster, beef tartare, quail and agnolotti, vegetables, elk loin, and a chocolate truffle flight. I think this is likely the best set menu I’ve ever tasted. If you’re in the area, we definitely recommend a visit to Firewood on Main.

With our bellies full and our hearts happy, we returned to the hotel where Fitz had one more evening in front of the fire.

December 19

Our last morning’s breakfast consisted of an underwhelming buffet. We checked out and left at 0930, stopped for Starbucks on the way out of Heber City, and stopped to charge at Nephi, Beaver, Cedar City, and Moapa on the way home.

In Moapa, we ate an early dinner at Chile Poblano Mexican Grill which served us incredible burritos and tacos. We will definitely stop again if we are heading to or from Utah in the future.

An hour later, we arrived home from a delightful anniversary trip. While not the most exciting thing we’ve ever done for our anniversary, it was just what we needed at the end of 2025.