Just 30 minutes up the canyon from Salt Lake City, Deer Valley is a skier’s paradise.  Perfectly groomed trails, limited crowds, delicious food, lots of amenities and an excellent ski school, it’s a great place to splurge on a family ski trip.

Their Children’s Ski School is top notch and their private lesson staff is an added bonus. Note that Deer Valley does not allow snowboarders, which some may appreciate or dislike.  Personally we love this.

There are lots of lodging options from hotel rooms and lodge rooms to condos and mountain homes.  Best lodging option is a mountain home rental with ski-in and ski-out access, but you have to be comfortable with the steep prices ($3K+/night).  But there are certainly more economical options.

And certainly if you are a double black diamond skiier, you might want to avoid this resort and save 30%, but for families with a range of skills, this is perfect.

We love Phil & Teds Traveller Travel Sleep Crib/Cot.  It makes spending the night away from home with your baby simple.

This ultralight travel crib weighs 5.5 lbs, sets up in a matter of minutes, and has its own travel bag with strap. There are mesh panels all four sides, and the two longer side panels unzip. On top, there’s a UV 80 protective mesh zipper cover .

The Traveller is small enough to be stashed in your trunk or even in some stroller baskets. Use it for babies and children under 3 years of age. Set up, the dimensions are 20? wide, 48? long and 28? high. Folded up size is 7? x 7? x 22?. $199 from their site.

The ancient civilizations of Central and South America with their man-made wonders such as Machu Picchu and Chichen Itza provide fascinating glimpses into the pre-Columbian past.  We love Yampu Latin America Tours who are a great resource to guide you to these and other historic sites.

The experienced tour operator (formerly known as Kontiki) has mapped out several new itineraries for 2009. Its Three New Wonders of the World trip, a 14-day journey, features explorations of Chichen Itza, the former Mayan capital in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula; the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu (above) in Peru; and the Christ the Redeemer Statue that looms over Rio de Janeiro.

We love their Culinary Tour of Peru, a gastronomic traveller’s delight. The nine-day adventure includes visits to a remote potato-growing village in the Andes; the salt pans, or salineras, of Maras; and a private cooking lesson in novoandino, a fusion of Peruvian and international cuisine.

They also offer an 8 day Jungle Survival trip, filled with swimming with pink dolphins, visiting native villages and canoeing along tranquil rivers or isolating into the wilderness and finding your own sources of food, water, shelter as well as learning how to construct transport means, weapons and fire. Fun for your Survivor fans.

Hedonist Artisan Chocolates are a sophisticated treat.

Unique combinations of creamy chocolate truffles and unexpected spiced ingredients creates an unforgettable, mouth-watering experience. Step outside the chocolate box and enjoy Coconut Curry, Lemon Pepper, Orange Chipotle, Peanut Butter Cayenne and Raspberry Wasabi. Prices range depending on the size of box you choose ($12 to $54).

The 20 piece box of Valentine Spice Truffle Collection (Coconut Curry, Lemon Pepper, Orange Chipotle, Peanut Butter Cayenne and Raspberry Wasabi) is a great way to sample the sinful delights.  $54.

Although my current holiday attire does not necessitate a scarf (sandy beaches, SPF  and cashmere are not a wonderful combination),  every woman can use one of Bajra’s luxurious and timeless accessories.

The Bajra Collection includes leather, suede, cashmere, silk and brocade with the use of rare fabrics such as Pineapple and Banana fibers.   We love the simple linen scarf above.  Pricing from $150 - $350.

Just get a Senz Storm umbrella! Hooray!  This modern wonder can withstand gale force winds of up to 70 mph – its patented aerodynamic construction and powerful frame prevents it from inverting… really!  It automatically finds the most comfortable position in the wind, much like a weather vane, while ribs in the frame help absorb forces against it, making it nearly indestructible.

We love the ingenious “eye-savers”, designed to protect your eyes from being poked out. This umbrella has it all, it just makes SENZ!

Available in black or red. $60 - $78 depending on size from Unica.