Hello NewbieM and welcome to the sport! I have been skiing Alta since childhood and am a season passholder who also loves cross-country. As others have already mentioned, this season is very different from previous ones. At Alta, lodge access is restricted to those who are "actively eating" and from what I've seen usually involves long lines to be seated. That being said, once seated, the precautions being taken are admirable and we felt very safe the one time we ate with our daughter this season.
I would highly recommend parking and basing out of the Albion parking as it has access to the beginner runs, including a free rope tow "Town Lift," as well as the free lift to Snowpine with a very functional hill for learning to stop and turn, should you have a friend who is not your BF to teach you (unofficially, as any paid instruction is prohibited unless it's from Alta ski school)...
While there is a cross-country track at Albion that is sometimes groomed, it is advanced and challenging...certainly not the terrain I would want to cut my teeth on as a new X-country skier, not to mention the altitude. I would recommend checking out White Pine in Park City for lessons and clinics, as well as Mount Dell, or my favorite Round Valley also in Park City.
As for downhill, definitely invest in a lesson or two up front and then intermittently. I have many friends who instruct at Alta and would be happy to connect you with them, but I can say that the ski school there is excellent. We have had our daughter in ski school at Alta since she was 4 and she is now 10 and is rocking it.
Another option if you're just not in the mood to ski is snow shoeing or even just hiking the Summer Road from Albion for some fresh air and exercise.
Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the gorgeous mountains surrounding you at Alta! While the apres ski scene is certainly not the same, lots of us are bringing grills and tailgating at our vehicles, which is lots of fun when the weather permits it!