When you hear Park City, you think of the Sundance Film Festival and the Olympic Games, but it’s not just celebrities who frequent the Utah destination.
With its growing international airport, developing reputation as a tech hub, and pandemic-fueled real estate boom, northern Utah is seeing significant economic growth and becoming a global travel destination. And now an increased number of available flights to Salt Lake City makes getting there easier than ever. While Park City is appealing year-round, it’s most popular in winter, when its world-famous ski resorts are open for business.
Consider this multi-faceted mountain town for a cozy, family-friendly, luxurious getaway.
Powdery Paradise
The small town of about 8,400 residents takes its skiing seriously — and with some of “the greatest snow on Earth” (as Utah’s tourism tagline boasts), it continues to appeal to visitors who want to hit the slopes. Park City Mountain Resort has 7,300 acres of skiable terrain and 41 lifts, making it the largest ski resort in the U.S. Nearby Deer Valley brings that number to just over 9,000 acres. The Mayflower Mountain expansion to the ski-only Deer Valley Resort, which is currently underway and expected to have its first phase completed for the 2025–26 ski season, will bring that up to 13,000 skiable acres. This expansion extends to après-ski experiences and is one of the most extensive projects of its kind in U.S. history.
Besides quality snow and ski options, convenience sets Park City apart — like the easy drive from the airport or the skiing accommodations at lodgings. It all lends a luxury experience to your stay. The five-star Stein Eriksen Lodge is a ski-in/ski-out property with its own lift, as well as valet and professional boot-fitters. And skiing isn’t the only cold-weather activity Park City offers. Visitors can try snowshoeing (book a guided tour at Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter), snow tubing, fat biking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding, snowmobiling, ice skating (indoors and outdoors), and sledding. Even hiking is still available in winter. Utah Olympic Park, where the 2002 Games were held, offers guided bobsled experiences on the track used at the Games.
Magical Memories
There’s a storybook quality to Park City with its beauty and hospitality that’ll have kids feeling like main characters. Think horse-drawn sleigh rides through the mountains of Deer Valley Ski Resort, complete with cocoa and blankets to snuggle under. Or a custom, one-hour private dogsledding ride past private mountain ranches. Or tubing sessions at Woodward Park City, with its lighted lanes of varying lengths for different ages and experience levels.
And while the little ones will love those activities, they’re designed with parents in mind as well. At 30 minutes, those horse-drawn sleigh rides are the perfect length to accommodate toddlers’ schedules. It can pick you up right from the Stein Eriksen Lodge and deposit you at a restaurant for the evening.
Ski and snowboard lessons offered at Park City Mountain Resort don’t leave anyone out. Even toddlers can partake in the fun with private or group sessions.
Powerful Pampering
Park City doesn’t only appeal to adrenaline junkies. Those looking for a more laid-back vacation will find plenty to do — or not to do! Sit on your private hotel balcony gazing at the mountains and meditating. Take a soul-affirming hike on the approachable Ontario Trail, or spend time in one of the town’s highly rated spas. Treat dehydrated skin with an après-ski facial at The Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge. Get a stress relief massage at The St. Regis Deer Valley. Or try a sound and energy therapy treatment, using vibrations and melodies from Utah-made bowls, at Spa Montage Deer Valley.
Want to try paddleboard yoga in crystal-clear waters inside of a 55-foot-tall rock formation crater in a geothermal hot spring? Park City Yoga Adventures offers this unique activity at Homestead Crater in Midway, an easy half-hour drive from Park City. After a spa and meditation day, continue on the self-care circuit with a nourishing meal. For a relaxed setting with spectacular views, get a window seat at Silver Star Café and feast on farm-to-table cooking while taking in an acoustic dinner show. Bonus: You may overhear a Hollywood power player’s tales of the trade or spot some under-the-radar celebs while you’re at it.
Retail Wonderland
Leave room in your luggage for the inevitable shopping spree. Allow ample time to explore historic Main Street with its one-of-a-kind art galleries and boutiques selling quality clothing, jewelry, home décor, souvenirs, and more. Boho is back, and the Southwestern styles found at stores like JW Bennett, Kemo Sabe, Burns Cowboy Shop, and Overland Sheepskin Co. — think cowboy boots and hats, alpaca, leather, silver jewelry — will have you achieving that Sienna Miller at Glastonbury look in no time. For elevated après attire in this fabulous setting, Gorsuch is a must. Support Utah designers and pick up stylish, curated finds at The Collective Park City. For books with a local flair (think film and spirituality), other thoughtful gifts, and yummy smoothies, coffee, and tea (warm up with a golden chai latte), go to the colorful, bustling Atticus Coffee & Teahouse.
While ambling the historic district with its more than 200 businesses, stop to admire the Banksy artworks or take a photo with Franz the Bear, a popular sculpture. Pop into the Park City Museum to learn about the area’s mining and ski history. Enjoy a cocktail crafted from small-batch whiskey or vodka at High West Distillery, a ski-in saloon that was the first legally licensed distillery in Utah. Hungry? Indulge in osso bucco, eggplant Parmesan, or grapes and gorgonzola salad at Italian favorite Grappa for dinner — just be sure to make a reservation in advance.
How to Get There
Fly into the sleek Salt Lake City International Airport, which may be the nicest U.S. airport you’ve ever seen. There are regular direct flights from Dulles International, Reagan National, and Baltimore-Washington International airports. For maximum luxury and convenience, have a car booked to take you to Park City, which is about 30 miles away. Many hotels will handle that for you, if requested in advance.
Where to Stay
The Stein Eriksen Lodge offers plush accommodations (including suites with hot tubs, and adjoining rooms for families), attention to detail and service, a luxurious spa, and sporting and transportation conveniences. The lodge’s restaurant, Glitretind Restaurant, with its seasonal menus, local produce, wine pairings, and Deer Valley Resort views, provides some of the town’s best dining. Plus, Alpenglobes can be booked for a memorable outdoor dining experience. And you’re bound to find a wine you like from its wine cellar of more than 20,000 bottles valued at over $2.6 million. It’s worth booking a private wine tasting or seminar in advance; on-staff sommeliers are friendly and patient.
Feature image courtesy Park City Chamber & Visitors Bureau
This story originally ran in our December issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
