by Susan Mayloch

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.

Very few ski areas can boast an afternoon on the mountain with a morning flight arrival, but with the Salt Lake airport a mere 45 minutes away from Park City, many visitors are able to take advantage of this claim. The Park City resorts are within 15 minutes of each other as well, which greatly increases the area to explore. The three mountains possess nearly 9,000 acres between them, which means more terrain than most could hope to venture to in one trip.

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.

Most people come to Park City for sports in one form or another, but for those after a different type of vacation, one of the local festivals is sure to please. There are festivals that occur in both summer and winter, which have become increasingly popular over the years. The most famous is the Sundance Film Festival, in which the film industry spends ten days in January to preview their movies. Summer festivals, such as the Kimball Arts Festival, take advantage of the pleasant summer temperatures and hold their festivities outside.

The history of Park City is not nearly as well known as its present, although it influences everything about it. Mining was the original draw for Park City in the 1800s, and silver, lead, and gold all came from the depths of its mountains. This history is evident through the area, from abandoned mines at the resorts to the historic miner’s homes.

There are all types of lodging options for visitors, including some of the miner’s homes, many of which can be rented on a nightly basis. Individually owned homes, town homes, and condos are available at nearly every price point and location throughout the area. For more traditional hotel lodging, there is a selection of chain hotels on the outskirts of town, boutique hotels right on Main Street, and everything in between.

There are nearly as many places to dine in Park City as there are to stay while in the area. Main Street features a large variety of cuisines from international to domestic in all different atmospheres. Fine dining can be found throughout Park City, but Deer Valley, in particular, has a plethora of award winning restaurants. For a more unique experience, the resorts all offer yurt dining, which provides diners with an on mountain meal that few experience.

Checking out the nightlife is a popular diversion while in town. There is a large selection of bars, pubs, and clubs lining Main Street, all a short walk from any of the restaurants. Musical and performing acts can also be found at different venues on Main Street.