There’s Snow Reason to Not Go to Park City

The Greatest Snow on Earth

Park City has a very special place in our hearts. For those of you who live in South Florida, you understand when people say the largest mountain in the area is garbage hill. Needless to say, Floridians don’t have access to ski resorts. Even living in New York for a decade, I never had the chance to try it.

When I was 28, my husband (who was my boyfriend at the time) took me on a trip to the mountains. He spent his entire life on a pair of skis, and as a very competitive person, I somehow thought I would be able to match up with him. That was not the case.  I was a hot mess on the slopes the whole time because, apparently, I had a small fear of heights. After a few days out there, I started to gain momentum, and I was enjoying myself.

Take-Two

The next year, we headed out west to Park City, Utah. We went during Spring Break, so it was a different experience than going in the heart of winter. It wasn’t too cold, yet there was fresh powder, beautiful and sunny. Apres-ski included outdoor live music and beer, and though a fire was nearby, it wasn’t needed to defrost your toes. After those trips with my husband, I always knew that I would want my kids to ski, and to learn at a young age – this way to save them the trouble that I had.

Fast forward a few years, and we were still keeping that tradition alive. We took our kids to Park City for the first time when they were 7 and 3 years old. Park City was such a great location for a skiing family. It’s not too far from Salt Lake City airport, and the altitude is not too high, so no one had any reactions to the elevation change. Plus, there are plenty of activities for the family to do, and there are many restaurants to choose from.

Where to stay

Each winter, my family and my twin sister’s family would rent a place together as we are all very close. We’ve done both hotels and condos in Park City and the Canyons, so it just depends on your group size. If you are traveling with another family, I would recommend a condo through Airbnb/Vrbo as it is the more cost-effective and flexible route.

I recommend staying as close to the mountain as possible because putting your ski/snowboard equipment into a shuttle or rented vehicle just tacks on time when heading out in the morning. The places listed below are some of our favorites, and these are all in Park City. If you prefer, you can also stay in Deer Valley, a short ride away. Remember that Deer Valley does not allow snowboarders, so if you have one in your group, you would want to steer clear.

• Resort Plaza
• Shadow Ridge
• Silver King
• Snowflower
• Temptation
• The Lodge at Mountain Village
• Waldorf Astoria Park City

Photo by Waldorf Park City

Fun Fact: HaveUHeard that Canyons, Park City, and Deer Valley are all owned by Vail Resorts in Colorado?

What if You Don’t Ski?

After many years of being a decent skier, I had an incident where I tore my ACL, and I could not gather the courage or bravery to get back up. My sister could never get the hang of skiing, so lucky for me, I have an off-the-mountain buddy.

Though we might not be spending the trip “shredding the gnar,” as the kids would call it, we’ve had so much fun taking up adventures of our own.

Snowshoeing: This was a great time! We booked with All Seasons Adventures, and they provided all the equipment and offered a guide if we wanted one.

Shopping: Main Street has a variety of shops and restaurants. Naturally, a great place to spend the day!

Spa Day: We decided to be fancy one day and get a massage at The Spa at Hotel Park City. I recommend booking in advance because massages are quite popular (especially for those who have been using their muscles on the mountain all day).

Tubing: We took the whole family one day after the ski lifts closed over to go tubing at Woodward Park  (formerly Gorgoza Park). Each session is about two hours, and it’s so much fun! Such a treat for the whole family – adults included. They sell snacks and beverages on-site, so if you wanted some liquid courage, you could find some.

Whiskey Distillery: Ever seen High West Whiskey in the grocery stores? Turns out it is from Park City. We went to High West Distillery Saloon for lunch. The food is amazing. Their drinks are incredible, and I was never a whiskey person before this visit. Now, I always keep a bottle on my bar cart because some nights call for an Old Fashioned, right?

Photo by High West Distillery

Park City Pro Tip: If you happen to be in Park City on Christmas Eve, head to the mountain’s base to watch as Santa, and his helpers ski down with lights! The Payday Lift has the best views to watch and usually has the Christmas tree up there too.

Where to Eat

Since we usually rent a condo in Park City, we typically only dine out for lunch and dinner. Those on the mountains grab a quick bite at any location at the base of the mountain or mid-mountain. Everything is quite good, but they are just looking for some time to warm up.

As for dinner, Main Street is home to some great restaurants! I recommend making reservations somewhat ahead of time since the winter season can be quite busy. Some of the places I have loved are listed below. Three of them, Chimayo, Grappa, and Wahso, are part of the Bill White Restaurant Group.

• Chimayo
• Grappa Italian Restaurant
• High West Saloon
• Riverhorse on Main
• Tupelo Park City
• Wahso
• Wasatch Brewery – Definitely check out their beers. This was a favorite of my husband.

Photo by Chimayo 

Fun Fact: Did you know Park City is home to the Sundance Film Festival? It occurs every year from late January to early February.

For over 15 years, Park City felt like our winter home. There have been times when a lot of the snow is man-made, but the resort did its best to keep at least half of the runs open. Most of the time, conditions were amazing, or that’s what my skiing family told me. They say, “it really is some of the greatest snow on Earth.”

Additional Information

Traveling with friends can be complicated, especially during a long trip. So too can vacation with your adult kids. But we had an open, honest dialogue and determined we were compatible. Here are my suggestions for the top 10 travel item recommendations. And, we all know how chaotic traveling is today. I’m sharing tips for Dealing with Chaotic  Air Travel.

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