Talking Travel

Park City, Utah sits in the heart of the Wasatch Mountains, a perennial favorite with vacationers from all over the world. Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort, and The Canyons, the three resorts in Park City, make the area a popular destination whether visitors are coming for the world famous Utah snow, or hiking and biking in the summer. Direct flights into Salt Lake City make the trip to Park City that much more tempting.

The town of Park City is a quick 45 minute drive from the Salt Lake City Airport, which makes it possible to fly into Utah in the morning, and finish the afternoon with some runs at one of the local resorts. The three mountains lie within ten miles of each other, making a visit to all of them in one trip an attainable goal. The summit for the Park City resorts are all around 10,000 feet, which means skiers have 3,000 vertical feet and nearly 9,000 acres between the three.

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Park City provides nearly limitless outdoor activities year round. The winter offers everything from cross country skiing and ice skating, to snowmobiling and sleigh rides. Summertime presents just as many options with hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing as just a few ways to enjoy nature.

Most people come to Park City for sports in one form or another, but for those after a different type of vacation, one of the local festivals is sure to please. There are festivals that occur in both summer and winter, which have become increasingly popular over the years. The most famous is the Sundance Film Festival, in which the film industry spends ten days in January to preview their movies. Summer festivals, such as the Kimball Arts Festival, take advantage of the pleasant summer temperatures and hold their festivities outside.

Visitors are drawn to Park City because of everything it has to offer, but many are unaware of the background that has made the area what it is today. In the late 1800s, mining led to a population boom, and lead, gold, and especially silver were found in large quantities. Today, the mining history can still be glimpsed throughout town; whether on Park City Mountain where the old Silver King Mine is a landmark or in Old Town with the picturesque refurbished miners’ homes.

There are all types of lodging options for visitors, including some of the miner’s homes, many of which can be rented on a nightly basis. Individually owned homes, town homes, and condos are available at nearly every price point and location throughout the area. For more traditional hotel lodging, there is a selection of chain hotels on the outskirts of town, boutique hotels right on Main Street, and everything in between.

Dining in Park City can be as difficult of a decision as choosing lodging. There are a multitude of restaurants, from multi-course Continental cuisine at Deer Valley to a barbecue eatery on Main Street. To make it more challenging, the resorts also offer on-mountain dining in a yurt, with transportation provided by a snow cat up the mountain.

Checking out the nightlife is a popular diversion while in town. There is a large selection of bars, pubs, and clubs lining Main Street, all a short walk from any of the restaurants. Musical and performing acts can also be found at different venues on Main Street.

Susan Mayloch is an resort destination writer who currently resides in Park City Utah. Susan recommends the following website for information on Park City Activities.

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