I’ve always wanted to ski in Utah. Everyone raves about Park City, and it’s been on my travel bucket list forever. But now that I’m here, I’m starting to realize there are a lot more things to do in Park City in winter than just hit the slopes. So today I’m bringing you this advertising feature with Visit Park City to tell you about all the exciting seasonal experiences this place has to offer.
Park City, Utah
Just 40 minutes’ drive from Salt Lake City International Airport, Park City is known for its ski resorts and historic charm. It’s easy to get here from London, as there’s a direct flight on Delta from Heathrow to Salt Lake City.
Add to that the fact that the drive from the airport is mostly on highways, and it’s one of the most easily accessible North American ski resorts. And once you’re here, all public transport is free. If you don’t want to drive, you’re in luck.
That’s even more true with a lot of the lodging being ski-in, ski-out. I’m staying with my press group at Fairway Springs through Park City Lodging, a company that provides accommodation and vacation services in the area.
The townhouse they’ve put us up in is gorgeous, complete with elegant mountain decor and views across the valley below.
It’s also a short walk from the gondola at Park City Mountain, making it easy to get on the slopes without needing a car.
Things to Do in Park City in Winter
Once settled in, I discover there’s no shortage of things to do in Park City in winter. This is not least because this place is known for its world-class skiing.
But there’s a lot more to entertain beyond the slopes, and even non-skiers can easily fill their days here. From mountain cuisine to outlet shopping, historic houses to relaxing spas, Park City has a lot going for it.
1. Ski at Park City Mountain Resort
First on my list of things to do in Park City in winter is go skiing at Park City Mountain Resort. Once called Treasure Mountain, this used to be silver mining territory.
Today it’s one of the largest ski areas in North America. Park City Mountain Resort has a great variety of terrain and slopes for all ski levels.
It’s spread across a vast area, meaning it’s easy to ski a variety of runs without having to retrace one’s tracks.
I pick up skis from Aloha Ski and Snowboard in Canyons Village, and as soon as I hit the slopes I can tell I’m in for a treat.
My group spends a morning covering as much ground as we can, fanning out to ski everything from fun blue cruisers to expert black diamond runs. There’s a lot of good tree skiing here, too.
And that’s to say nothing of the views, which are spectacular when the sun comes out.
2. Ski at Deer Valley Resort
Right next door, another of the best things to do in Park City in winter is ski at Deer Valley Resort. Just a few minutes’ drive from Park City, it borders Park City Mountain and has more ski-in, ski-out properties than I’ve ever seen.
Deer Valley Resort has a more intimate feel than Park City Mountain Resort, but the slopes are every bit as good. It’s ski-only, too, which is a bonus for some.
I’m a fan of the great groomed slopes, non-existent lift lines, and stunning views across the reservoir below.
I also love the lunch at Royal Street Cafe in the Silver Lake Lodge. Everything from the Dungeness Crab Tower with ginger soy sauce to the ahi tuna tacos hits the spot after a morning of skiing.
3. Explore Historic Park City in Winter
Beyond skiing, one of the most popular things to do is explore Park City. This historic silver mining town is packed with 19th-century buildings and has an authenticity rarely found in American ski areas.
Main Street alone has 47 buildings on the national historic register, and the streets around it are dotted with colorful cabins covered in snow.
I walk up and down Prospect Avenue and Park Avenue, my camera capturing the pretty houses as I go.
4. Eat and Drink in Park City, Utah
There’s more on and around Main Street than heritage architecture, too. Park City has a great food and drink scene, and a lot of the best restaurants and bars are in this area.
I have delicious meals at places like High West Saloon, which boasts of being the world’s only ski-in, ski-out distillery (another benefit of skiing in Park City is that you can ski right into Main Street).
I also go for drinks at bars like The Spur, which has a roof terrace and a soundtrack that features everything I love about classic rock.
And I can’t help popping into the No Name Saloon, one of Park City’s most famous bars. This place is known for its lively atmosphere and quirky decor.
In the mornings I have breakfast at places like Harvest and Five5eeds, local cafes that have everything from good coffee to inventive egg dishes.
And there are more good meals nearby. From dinners at Silver Star Cafe and Twisted Fern to lunches at Yuta and Atticus, I eat well everywhere I go in Park City.
I even have an Alpine-inspired meal at Goldener Hirsch in Deer Valley that comes complete with cheese fondue.
5. Go Shopping in Park City in Winter
After consuming so many delicious meals, I burn off some calories enjoying another of the best things to do in Park City in winter: shopping.
Main Street is full of popular activewear shops like Lululemon and Patagonia. It also has sweet bookshops like Dolly’s Bookstore and lots of art galleries and independent boutiques.
Beyond Main Street, Park City is home to outlet shopping. From J.Crew to Abercrombie and Fitch, there are a lot of good shops with great deals.
6. Try Snowshoeing in Park City in Winter
Another way to burn off the calories is snowshoeing. One morning my group heads out to Blue Sky Ranch, a beautiful property near Park City, to do a guided snowshoeing tour through the hills.
There are 3,500 acres of land here, and miles of trails that are perfect for snowshoeing in the winter.
The walk with Levi, our guide, is a great way to see the area and get close to nature. We spot everything from a historic schoolhouse-turned-tavern to a giant moose in the distance as we tromp along the trails.
7. Get to the Spa in Park City
Afterwards, I get to experience one of my favorite things to do in Park City in winter. The Lodge at Blue Sky has invited me for a massage, and I spend an afternoon indulging in the luxurious hotel spa.
The massage itself is excellent, and I stay for the rest of the day to use the steam room and sauna.
I also take advantage of the relaxation room, which has panoramic views of the snow-covered hills outside. It’s so peaceful I don’t want to leave.
8. Make Your Own Gin
But there are more exciting things to do in Park City in winter, and I’m off to do one of them next. Alpine Distilling has invited my group in to make our own gin.
We do it at the Alpine Pie Bar, an intimate subterranean space under the 350 Main Brasserie on Main Street.
There’s a bit of confusion over our booking, but eventually we meet husband-and-wife team Rob and Sara Sergent, award-winning gin makers and our guides for the evening.
They teach us all about the different botanicals that go into gin, then let us loose to choose the ones we want to add to ours.
Once we’ve selected a mix, Sara sets to distilling it for us while Rob talks us through the process and teaches us more about the distillation process. At the end, we go home with bottles of our own gin.
It’s one of the most unique experiences I’ve had on my travels, and the gin is a great souvenir to take home.
9. Go Tubing in Park City
Back outside, one of the best things to do in Park City in winter is go tubing in the snow. We head to Woodward Park City, an action sports hub with everything from an indoor biking park with foam pits to outdoor ski runs with chair lifts.
Designed to help athletes of all levels build skills safely, it’s buzzing with kids of all ages.
My group tours the inside, then heads out to grab inner tubes and ride the magic carpet up a hill. From the top it’s a fun zip down the snow in our tubes.
We go once solo and once holding onto each other, and it leaves us smiling and laughing all the way home.
10. Check Out the Banksy Street Art
Back on Main Street, one of the most unique things to do in Park City in winter is see the Banksy street art.
The famous English artist came to the annual Sundance Film Festival here when his movie Exit Through the Gift Shop was screened in 2010. Lucky for Park City, he left behind some of his iconic work.
Three Banksy pieces can be seen just off Main Street. One is of a kneeling cameraman filming a flower he pulled from the ground. It’s on the side of a building at 402 Main Street.
Another is of an angel boy kneeling and praying. It’s on a parking garage wall at 537 Main Street.
The last is of a rat wearing 3D glasses. It was originally painted on the stage door of the famous Egyptian Theater, but has been moved into the alley on 4th Street between Park Avenue and Woodside Avenue following years in storage.
11. Go to the Sundance Film Festival
And speaking of Sundance, one of the most popular things to do in Park City in winter is attend the Sundance Film Festival. This annual event sees Park City come alive with A-list stars and incredible films.
It’s a great reason to visit Park City, and a good excuse to stay after and ski, snowshoe, shop, spa, eat, drink, and have all the other great experiences you can this season.
Things to Do in Park City, Utah in Winter
I hope you’ve found inspiration in this blog post and that if you visit Park City you’ll enjoy it as much as I have. I’ve been so impressed by how much there is to love about this place, and how easy it is to get to and around.
And now that I know about all the great things to do in Park City in winter, I’m itching to come back in summer and discover more.
Everyone I’ve met has told me I need to return to experience the warmer months here, and I can already tell I’ll enjoy visiting in summer as much as I have during ski season.
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