“But we have our swimsuits in the carrrrrr! Please mom, please…??”

It seemed like it wasn’t just our table the cries were coming from. The same plea could be heard up and down the table-lined deck at Deer Valley Grocery~Cafě as all of the young-uns pled with their parental units for a dip in the Deer Valley lakes.

It was Sunday and we were all hungry after staying up too late and having too much fun at Saturday night’s Deer Valley summer concert series. We had planned on making a weekend of it, a little get away from the heat of downtown Salt Lake, and stayed the night at Powder Run, just a short walk from the concert and a quick jaunt to breakfast the next morning at Grocery~Cafě. In all honesty, my weekend pretty much centered around our having Sunday breakfast at Grocery~Cafě, because I mean, have you seen the menu?

As always, sitting on the shaded deck by the lake eating scrumptious breakfast food was just what the doctor ordered.

Chilaquiles, lox and bagels (Ahhh! the Everything Bagel, is, well, everything!) and 2-egg breakfast panini sandwiches were all welcomed with hot coffee and the warmth of the Sunday sun and just the right gift of a breeze.

And that’s when the requests began. “But dad, we’re done. I need to get wet. (Me too!) We can go down and paddle board while you guys eat breakfast!”

There were several families out on the lake and a few daredevils practicing yoga stances on their heads while balancing on their boards in the water. It was all too enticing to even think of saying no.

It was Sunday, a nothing-on-the-agenda-day. Let’s cap off the weekend with a little impromptu adventure.

The girls were measured by the fine instructor at Park City SUP (Standup Paddleboarding) who gave them the ins and outs of the equipment (all top-notch, naturally) and rules of the water.

After the quick lesson they hopped on their Pau Hana board and were on their way for an hour of uninterrupted parental relaxation, gabbing and sipping coffee in the deck chairs on the grassy beach.

While most of the other paddlers were concentrating on staying on TOP of the board, these girls (of course) had to do it their way, launching themselves off, and then back onto their board as only the young and agile can do. And probably those yoga paddle boarders, too.

I have to say, it was the perfect Sunday.

I’d love to know for my next weekend staycation planning, what’s your idea of a perfect Deer Valley Sunday?

Summer rentals available daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Deer Valley Pebble Beach location. (adjacent to the Deer Valley Grocery~Cafè deck)

1375 Deer Valley Drive SOUTH
Park City UT, 84060

$20 per hour rental fee, includes board, paddle and PFD* (personal floatation device).

For more information, visit Park City SUP.

Heidi Larsen is the creator of foodiecrush.com, the blog and online magazine featuring family friendly recipes and inspiring photography. She also photographs Deer Valley Resort’s food and fine dining when not enjoying quality time on the ski hill with her husband and 11 year old daughter. See more of what she’s crushing on at Facebook and Instagram.