Warm days and cool nights add to the magic of Park City and enjoying that time with your family is hands down the greatest gift. So, the Wife and I wanted to share a great article from Ski Utah on how to Spend 36 hours in SLC's Mountains as a Family - You have a total of 36 hours to spend in Salt Lake City mountains, so what are you going to do?! 36 hours isn’t a lot of time for a mountain adventure-loving family, but it is enough time to have a fantastic adventure. Here are a few things you can do with 36 hours in SLC when you like a little bit of adventure with the kiddos!

Hike the Wasatch National Forest - If you love the mountains, Wasatch National Forest is super close to Salt Lake City and offers HUNDREDS of hikes. Here are links to stories about our favorite trails:

• 5 Toddler Hikes to help your little ones love hiking
• Salt Lake's Top Hiking Trails in the Cottonwood Canyons
• Utah's Best Wildflower Hikes and Walks

Enjoy Resort Activities - When you don’t have a lot of time for mountain adventures, but still want to be close to nature, book a stay in the mountains and enjoy the activities there.

• Solitude Mountain Resort: During the summer months, you can take scenic chair lift rides, go hiking, biking, enjoy a game of disc golf, or visit culinary events. Stay at one of the many options that Solitude offers for lodging. Free yoga every Saturday and free concerts every Sunday in the Village.
• Brighton: There's no lack of scenic trails at Brighton. Visit lakes Catherine, Mary and Martha or take a simple stroll around Silver Lake with the family. Brighton serves food too, so grab a bite before heading back down the canyon.
• Alta Ski Area: There's no secret that the locals love to hike at Alta in the summer to enjoy the wildflowers and cool air. Park at Wildcat and take a $5/person shuttle up the Summer Road for easier access. Want a mountain retreat? Book a night at Alta Lodge or The Snowpine Lodge.
• Snowbird: the mecca for summer adventures. Purchase an activities pass for all day adventure and access to the ropes course, mountain coaster, climbing wall, alpine slide, Tram, Peruvian Chairlift and more.

Take a Scenic Drive- Sometimes, the best adventures are just getting in your car with an old school map and just driving. In fact, it's even more of an adventure if you get a little “lost.” This is especially fun with kids. Try it during the evening or early morning.

Here are a few drives to get lost on:

• Big Cottonwood Canyon - Head all the way to the top of Guardsman Pass. Here you'll find beautiful views down BCC and into Park City. Take a quick hike to Bloods Lake - very family friendly.
• Little Cottonwood Canyon - Park at the Wildcat base area of Alta Ski Area and opt for a quick hike around. Watch for moose and be careful where you step -- please don't damage the wildflowers!
• Mirror Lake Highway - Head east from Kamas through the national forest. It takes about an hour and a half each way. The temperatures are usually 10 - 20 degrees cooler than the valley and will often be below freezing at night, even in the summer months. So bring a jacket. You'll also want to stop at the Mirror Lake Diner for a farm fresh meal.
• Ogden Canyon - SR - 39 will take you to Pineview Reservoir. A great place for water-skiing, fishing, and paddle boarding.
• Provo Canyon - Make a stop at Sundance Mountain Resort. Grab a picnic lunch from The Deli, stretch your legs and jump back in the car to find the perfect picnic spot.

Camp in Big or Little Cottonwood Canyon- Both the Spruces Campground (Big Cottonwood) and Tanner's Flat and Albion Basin (Little Cottonwood) are excellent family camp spots. Book your sites early and bring the s'mores. There are endless activities surrounding these campsites and they provide a break from the valley heat. For help on sleeping comfortably outside with little ones, visit Brooke's story about, well, just that!

Looking for musical options in town, Park City Magazine shares A Music-Lover’s Guide to the Packed Summer Concert Scene. Not too long ago, live music was an occasional occurrence in Park City. Today, the town’s robust summer concert calendar means serious tunes virtually every day of the week. From 5,000-person mega shows at Deer Valley Resort’s amphitheater to bitty gigs in pocket parks, here’s our can’t-miss summer music list.

Deer Valley Concert Series @ Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater

June 30–September 7 deervalleyconcertseries.com

Pack your cheese and charcuterie, and head to the slopes for this big-name series. Now in its second season, the lineup ranges from Michael Franti & Spearhead to fan-favorite Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, plus British indie rockers Squeeze. BYO snacks and sips, or preorder a gourmet picnic.

Deer Valley Music Festival @ Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater

June 28–August 10 deervalleymusicfestival.org

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera flees the city for this annual, 19-show extravaganza. Settle in for tunes ranging from Disney classics to chamber music to pop paired with symphonic sound—everything from Kristen Chenoweth of Wicked fame and The Music of the Rolling Stones to a tribute to Aretha Franklin and the beloved Patriotic Celebration.

Main and Farmer’s Market Stages @ Park Silly Sunday Market

Sundays, June 2–September 22 (except August 4–18) parksillysundaymarket.com

Cut loose on Main Street at this massive weekly event, featuring artisans, local eats, a beer and Bloody Mary garden, and a vast array of entertainers—from strolling opera singers to full-fledged bands. Tunes are performed on two stages: full bands on Main, and smaller, solo performances on the Farmers Market Stage near the Post Office.

Noches De Verano @ City Park

Monday evenings, June 3–July 1 mountaintownmusic.org

From salsa to mariachi to Mexican folk, experience a mini festival celebrating Latino culture at City Park on select summer Mondays. Get up and groove to the sounds of Gente X Norteña Band or sizzling Rumba Libre, or just chill in the quintessential old Park City ambience. Latino art and a taco truck round out the celebration.

Hops on the Hill @ Stein Eriksen Lodge

Tuesday evenings, July 9–August 27 steinlodge.com/hops.html

Craft brews and curated bites pair with live music at this midmountain Deer Valley alfresco series. For $20, get Chef Zane Holmquist’s sweet and savory nibbles partnered with $20 craft beer pairings, both served from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Stein’s outdoor deck. Listen to tunes, ranging from acoustic harmonies to sophisticated jazz, on the adjacent lawn for free; à la carte eats and drinks also available.

Music on the Patio @ Park City Library

Wednesdays at 11 a.m., June 19–August 28 mountaintownmusic.org

Whether you’re checking out books or looking for a midday break, the library’s patio is the place on Wednesdays. Grab a coffee at Lucky Ones and watch solo artists perform free, intimate concerts.

Grand Valley Bank Community Concert Series @ Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater

Wednesday evenings, June 19–August 21 mountaintownmusic.org

This free, family-friendly, community tradition is all about kicking back, catching up with friends, and taking in some solid tunes. Don’t miss popular acts, such as Muddpuddle (June 19), Pixie and The Partygrass Boys (July 10), and Jägertown (July 17), as well as a community jam session on August 21. Pack snacks and low chairs.

Grand Lawn @ DeJoria Center

Thursday evenings, June 27–August 1 (No show July 4) dejoriacenter.com

In nearby Kamas, find a hopping outdoor concert scene on the lawn. From blues bands and country duos to funky jazz and rock ’n’ roll, the diverse lineup suits the laid-back, country setting. Low chairs, snacks, and blankets welcome. No outside alcohol allowed. State Road Tavern open for dinner and drinks (concessions available, too).

Summer Concert Series @ Canyons Village

Thursdays and Saturdays at 6 p.m., July 6–August 29 parkcitymountain.com

Canyons Village is abuzz with surprisingly well-known artists at no ticket charge. Blitzen Trapper (August 3), Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band (August 15), The Motet (August 24), and many more rock the Canyons outdoor stage this season. Come early to hike or bike via the gondola, before the show begins.

Park City Limits @ Silver Star Café

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings thesilverstarcafe.com

Take in music with Uinta Mountain views at this petite patio series. The acoustic dinner shows feature acts like Triggers and Slips and Hot House West playing folk, jazz, blues, Americana, and bluegrass tunes paired with top-notch eats. No cover charge, but dinner reservations are recommended as space is limited.

Mountain Town Music @ Miner’s Plaza

Saturday afternoons, June 29–August 24 mountaintownmusic.org

Catch singer-songwriters, acoustic bands, and solo artists as they take the stage at this intimate pocket park on Historic Main Street.

Park City Institute’s Big Stars, Bright Nights @ The Eccles Center for the Performing Arts

July 7–August 24 parkcityinstitute.org

An outlier in this summer’s concert scene, this popular series (formerly at Deer Valley Resort) moves inside for the 2019 season, taking advantage of PCI’s year-round 1,200-seat performing arts center. The country-heavy lineup includes The Brothers Osborne (July 7), quintet The Punch Brothers (July 30), Taj Mahal Quartet with songwriter Marc Cohn and The Blind Boys of Alabama (August 13), pop-country group Gone West (August 16), and singer CAM (August 24). Theater-quality production, cushy seats, and no rainouts also mean no BYO drinks or eats.

Local goods to pack for your picnic

Alpine Distilling Summit Gin & Preserve Liqueur

Class up your picnic by mixing local Park City Summit Gin, Preserve Liqueur, soda water, and lemon for a fresh, simple cocktail. alpinedistilling.com

Ritual Chocolate Mid Mountain Blend

End your night on a sweet note with Park City’s own bean-to-bar chocolate, which boasts a not-too-intense flavor with fruity, earthy, and floral notes. ritualchocolate.com

Heber Valley Artisan Cheese

Localize your cheese plate with cheddar, Parmesan, Swiss, or curds made in Midway.

hebervalleyartisancheese.com

Deer Valley Picnic Bag

Preorder a bag to pick up at Deer Valley’s Snow Park amphitheater. From cheese plates to beet salads and homemade pastries, bags include all the fixin’s for a gourmet feast.

deervalley.com