Find fresh mountain air and pillowy pistes in Park City, Utah
Park City started life as a silver mining town before it began attracting skiers in the early 1960s. In those days it was a truly amateur operation that made use of old mining machinery, employing trains and mining elevators to transport skiers to the top of the mountain. Fast forward 60 years, and Park City is America’s largest and most beloved ski destination, boasting 300 runs that will challenge and thrill even the most seasoned skiers.
Despite being one of the country’s top winter destinations, Park City is pretty glorious in summer, too. After the thaw, hundreds of hiking and biking trails thread the mountain, giving it all-season appeal for those who love the outdoors. Park City is also a superb base from which to explore the abundant natural beauty of Utah.
On top of its striking landscape, Park City also boasts a historic downtown full of farm-to-table dining options, cozy bars, and live entertainment that give it a cosmopolitan feel. Visit in January during Sundance Film Festival and you’ll see just how glamorous this old mining town can get.
There are currently no quarantine regulations for visitors going to, or coming back from, Utah. However, state officials are requesting that tourists travel as responsibly as possible, including adhering to social distancing guidance and wearing a mask when appropriate – even while outdoors.
Where to Stay
Club Wyndham Park City
At Club Wyndham Park City, an elegant lodge-style resort, access to the mountain is right on your doorstep thanks to a convenient on-site lift. After a satisfying ski session, relax in a ubiquitous outdoor hot tub before gathering round the roaring fire pit for an après ski tipple or two. Back in your suite, a private balcony provides unobstructed views of the sunset.
Sunrise Lodge by Hilton
“Rustic elevated” is the best way to describe the aesthetic of Sunrise Lodge by Hilton Grand Vacations. Wood beams and stone fireplaces give the impression of a traditional mountain retreat, while sleek, modern furniture lends an upscale edge. Rent your ski or snowboard on-site and hit the slopes from your front door.
WorldMark Park City
The suites at WorldMark Park City sleep up to 10 guests comfortably, making it a great option for that long-overdue reunion with your favorite people. When you and your group aren’t out shredding, commandeer the on-site movie theater or pile into the hot tub to decompress before cooking up a hearty meal back in your spacious suite.
Marriott’s MountainSide
As the name suggests, Marriott’s MountainSide occupies a stellar location at the foot of the slopes. After a day on the piste and a drink or two at High Mountain Distillery, a ski-in saloon, glide right into the resort and soak your bones at the steaming-hot outdoor pool. Back in your suite, a cozy lounge with a fireplace is conducive to a contented evening indoors.
What Not to Miss
The perfect winter day in Park City, Utah, is as clear and calm as an unshaken snowglobe; ideal conditions for gliding down fluffy slopes and cradling après ski-beverages on a sun-trap patio.
With 300 ski runs to choose from, navigating your way down the mountain can be overwhelming. We recommend beginners ease in with the appropriately named First Time, before graduating to Home Run, a fairly gentle but very long (3.5 miles) slope that will take you back to base. If you’re more of an intermediate skier, try the scenic Another World or Harmony runs. Consider yourself advanced on a pair of skis? McConkey’s Bowl, Funnel Cloud, and Condor Woods will be more your speed.
Best Places to Get An Authentic Meal
Photo courtesy of @rimerawbar
In Park City, an authentic meal means two things: it’s satiating enough to refuel you after shooting down the slopes all day, and it’s probably washed down with something boozy. Après culture is, of course, big here, and a few spots have become absolute classics.
The perennially popular High West Distillery & Saloon fills up fast once the chairlifts stop spinning, and is one of the best places to get a craft cocktail and elevated comfort food in this town. At the fancy end of the spectrum, you’d be hard pushed to beat the Waldorf Astoria, which just opened an igloo dining experience for social distancing. Prefer a raucous dive bar vibe? Then head to No Name Saloon, home of a famous buffalo burger and equally famous heated rooftop with views of Main Street. Finally, an unexpected gem that’s particular to Park City is RIME, the world’s only slopeside raw bar. You can get everything from oysters to lobster rolls here, all shipped in fresh each morning and served with champagne.
Best Locally-Owned Shops
Historic Main street has been the main shopping thoroughfare in Park City since the days merchants set up shop here to serve the miners. Nowadays, of course, it’s lined with lovely boutiques owned and run by locals.
This being the American West, it would be wrong not to at least pop into Burns 1876 for a browse. This western outfitter has been making quality cowboy attire for 100 years, and sells some of the best boots in the biz. Continuing the theme, The Collective Park City is a stylish “mountain lifestyle” boutique run by an ex-fashion buyer, specializing in fashion, home items, and gifts with a Utah aesthetic. For items designed for the outdoors, try KÜHL, an independent clothing store with a passion for making durable, practical, fashionable mens and womenswear.
Best-Kept Secret
In 2002, Park City hosted the Olympic Winter Games, and the facility still functions as a training ground for athletes in 2020. Thanks to the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, a non-profit that supports the spirit of the games by inspiring healthy lifestyles, visitors are able to visit and participate in some of the sports. Glide around the 400-meter ice oval that holds more Olympic World Records than any other rink. Or, even more thrillingly, book the Winter Bobsled Experience, where a professional pilot will take you and two other passengers hurtling down the original 2002 course.
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