Park City, a former silver mining town at the foot of Utah’s Wasatch Range, has serious Hollywood cred — plus it’s America’s most accessible mountain playground (the Salt Lake City International Airport is 35 minutes away).
The movie industry discovered Park City back in 1981, when Robert Redford first hosted a then-unknown film festival to support independent filmmakers. But everyone’s welcome to experience this intoxicating mix of sport and art, available all winter long.
Best of all, you can get in, hit all the top sights and get out of town in 72 hours, no problem. Hop an early morning flight to Salt Lake City International Airport and you can be skiing or shredding within an hour or two of landing.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: Ski, Shop and Dine
Depending on what time of year you’re visiting, you can spend your first day on skis or shopping the boutiques downtown. No matter which adventure you end up choosing, kick your day off with a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich to go at Five5eeds.
Skiers on the hunt for gear should make a stop into Jans for the latest helmets and goggles by Shred, designed in collaboration with and tested by Park City’s own Olympic champ Ted Ligety.
Another option is to work with Ski Butlers, experts that come to your pad, discuss your skills and style and take your measurements to deliver the optimal performance package right to your door. No matter how you source your equipment, spend the morning and afternoon hitting the slopes.
If you’re visiting during the summer — or if skiing just doesn’t sound like the way you want to spend your first day — hit the galleries on Main Street.
There are too many independent art spaces to count, but Julie Nester Gallery, Main Street Gallery and Gallery Mar are standouts, and depending on your visit timing, you may be able to catch the monthly Last Friday Gallery Stroll. For lunch, it’s kimchi ramen and spider rolls at Yuki Yama Sushi on Main Street.
For those in the market for some après-ski duds, continue the shopping excursion at Prospect, which merges function and fashion (think: sturdy Timberland Earthkeeper hikers and cozy Sorel boots), followed by Mary Jane’s for trendy women’s clothing and accessories.
Relax and freshen up back at the hotel, then rock your new gear over dinner at 710 Bodega, a modern Spanish-style tapas restaurant. From Spanish tortilla to steamed clams and calamari, order a bunch of plates to share and you won’t be disappointed.
Saturday: Cruise the Canyons
On Saturday, it’s time to head out for a day of skiing. Set an early alarm to hit the powder as soon as it opens. Make it easy and set the Hotel Park City as your home base, an award-winning hotel with access to thousands of acres of slopes. If you’re visiting during the summer months, you can take on 18 holes at the hotel’s world-class golf course.
By the time the slopes start to fill, you’ll be a couple hours into a powder day and sliding into breakfast and Bloody Marys at the nearby Squatters Roadhouse Grill, a brew pub with some killer omelets.
If you’re looking to get away from the crowd altogether, Little Cottonwood Canyon has a helipad from which Powderbird will whisk you into more than 500 inches of backcountry powder. Your day off-piste includes six runs and lunch on the slopes — and once you’re wiped, they’ll whisk you right back to town for an evening of recovery in the hotel hot tub.
Dinner tonight is at chic bistro Courchevel — there’s no better way to take the chill off a winter evening than with moules frites and slow-roasted duck in a cozy restaurant in the capable hands of a French chef.
Sunday: Board (or Ski) Until Quit ‘N Time
Leave your skis at the hotel and spend your last morning at Utah Olympic Park. This winter sports park was built for the 2002 Winter Olympics and features the very runs for the skeleton, bobsled, ski jumping, luge and Nordic events.
The best way to experience the park is with a guided tour of the facilities, which are offered three times a day — reserve yours ahead of time, as they book up quickly.
From here, it’s time to indulge in Park City’s après-ski scene one last time — you’re going to need your skis (or snowboard) for the next activity.
The Town Lift picks you up on Main Street, where you can ski or board down the Quit ‘N Time trail right into the James Beard Award-winning saloon High West Distillery, which produces killer bourbon, rye and vodka on-site, pairing it with rib-sticking comfort food.
Take a tour of the distillery and don’t miss ordering a “Quit ‘N Time,” a hot cocktail featuring the house-made double rye and spiced lemonade.
Reflect on your powder-filled weekend at the Alf Engen Ski Museum, which looks back at the history of winter sports. A particular highlight is the collection of ski fashions spanning 30 years — including iconic throwback looks that’ll make you wonder why the ’80s haven’t made it back to the slopes.
Keep the approach to dinner hyperlocal and grab a seat at No Name Saloon, a favorite among celebs, locals and travelers for its craft suds, burgers (including meatless options) and fish and chips.
Related Articles
