Park City, Utah, a venue of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and home to the "Greatest Snow on Earth" is also one of the most accessible ski resort towns in the country. Three ski areas call Park City home, including its namesake Park City Mountain Resort, as well as Deer Valley and The Canyons. Park City attracts visitors year round, and with direct flights coming into Salt Lake City airport daily, more people are discovering everything Park City has to offer.
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.
While skiing and snowboarding are the main draws for the area, they are far from being the only outdoor activities. Some popular winter pastimes include cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and sleigh rides, which become even more spectacular in the alpine setting. Outdoor enthusiasts can appreciate a summer visit as well, with mountain biking, hiking, and water sports all available in the area.
For those not inclined to mountain sports, there are world famous festivals hosted by Park City throughout the year. The most famous is the Sundance Film Festival, which showcases movies for ten days in January, during which the area becomes crowded with celebrities, their agents, and hangers-on hoping for a glimpse of the glitterati. The summer is filled with festivals on a smaller, but no less impressive scale, including the Park City Jazz Festival, and the Kimball Arts Festival.
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.
Lodging in Park City is one of the more difficult decisions with all of the choices available, including some of the historic miners' homes. Private homes, condominiums, and town homes provide a homely atmosphere for vacationers in the area. There are standard hotel options as well, including a range from well known chain hotels to high end boutiques.
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.
After a filling meal at one of Park City's restaurants, many choose to check out the nightlife, for which Park City is renowned. There are bars, pubs, and nightclubs lining Main Street, providing a variety of entertainment. Musical performances and other live entertainment can also be found throughout the year.
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.
While skiing and snowboarding are the main draws for the area, they are far from being the only outdoor activities. Some popular winter pastimes include cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and sleigh rides, which become even more spectacular in the alpine setting. Outdoor enthusiasts can appreciate a summer visit as well, with mountain biking, hiking, and water sports all available in the area.
For those not inclined to mountain sports, there are world famous festivals hosted by Park City throughout the year. The most famous is the Sundance Film Festival, which showcases movies for ten days in January, during which the area becomes crowded with celebrities, their agents, and hangers-on hoping for a glimpse of the glitterati. The summer is filled with festivals on a smaller, but no less impressive scale, including the Park City Jazz Festival, and the Kimball Arts Festival.
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.
Lodging in Park City is one of the more difficult decisions with all of the choices available, including some of the historic miners' homes. Private homes, condominiums, and town homes provide a homely atmosphere for vacationers in the area. There are standard hotel options as well, including a range from well known chain hotels to high end boutiques.
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.
After a filling meal at one of Park City's restaurants, many choose to check out the nightlife, for which Park City is renowned. There are bars, pubs, and nightclubs lining Main Street, providing a variety of entertainment. Musical performances and other live entertainment can also be found throughout the year.
About the Author:
Susan Mayloch is an resort destination journalist who lives in Park City Utah. Susan visits the local website for info on Park City Vacations.
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