WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS IN PARK CITY, UTAH

WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS IN PARK CITY, UTAH - by Visit Park City

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.

Dec 12, 2017

(Article by Visit Park City) Park City is filled with cheer during the holiday season! Explore the many ways you, your family, and friends can celebrate:

PARK CITY HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR SING-A-LONG!

December 14, 15, 16, 17, 7:30 PM at Egyptian Theatre An annual holiday variety show at the Egyptian Theatre, the Park City Holiday Spectacular and Sing-A-Long! is a perfect way to get you and your family in the holiday spirit. The show features a choir-led sing-a-long with local talent. More information and tickets available on the Egyptian Theatre website.

SANTA COMES DOWN TOWN LIFT

December 16, 5:30 PM at Town Lift Plaza An annual holiday tradition in Park City, join the merriment as Santa and his magical sleigh come down Town Lift. It’s a sight to be seen and a fun way to celebrate with family, friends, as well as the community. Once Santa lands his sleigh, he will be available for photos by EpicMix.

KAMAS VALLEY CHRISTMAS CONCERT

December 16, 7:00 PM at Dejoria Center A free Christmas concert hosted at the Dejoria Center in Kamas, features the Wasatch Back Choir and Orchestra, Caribbean recording artist, Marj Desius, Shrink the Giant, and more. Doors open at 6:30 PM. All ages are welcome.

SNOWFEST

December 16-31 at Park City Mountain Park City Mountain’s 16-day winter festival, Snowfest, includes a variety of live music, village entertainment and other festivities daily. Explore specifics on Park City Mountain’s event calendar

SANTA CLAUS VISITS DEER VALLEY

December 24, 9:00 AM-1:30 PM at Deer Valley Resort Spend time Christmas Eve visiting with Santa Claus at Deer Valley Resort. Santa will visit with guests from 9:00-11:00 AM in the Snow Park Lodge area before heading to Silver Lake from 12:00-1:30 PM. Bring your camera along for a photo op!

TORCHLIGHT PARADE AT PARK CITY MOUNTAIN

December 24, 5:30 PM at Park City Base Area A 55-year-old tradition, the Christmas Eve Torchlight Parade returns to the slopes to help ignite the holiday spirit. Bring your friends and family for holiday music at the Park City Base Area at 5:30 PM, before the parade kicks off at 6:00 PM.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS DINNER SPECIALS

Choose from a variety of Park City area restaurants to celebrate the holidays with. From black-tie soirees to 4, 5, and 7-course prix-fixe menus, you will leave with a full heart and full stomach. Explore the full list of specials on the Park City Area Restaurant’s website

ROBERT RANDOLPH AND THE FAMILY BAND

December 28, 9:00 PM at O.P. Rockwell What better way to enjoy Christmas week than with a little Robert Randolph and the Family Band at O.P. Rockwell? Recently nominated for a 2018 Grammy Award for the Best Contemporary Blues Album, Robert Randolph and the Family Band is a show you don’t want to miss! Door opens at 8:00 PM and show starts at 9:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased in advance.

DEER VALLEY’S ANNUAL TORCHLIGHT PARADE

December 30, 6:00 PM at Deer Valley Resort Held on the resort’s Big Stick ski run on Bald Eagle Mountain, Deer Valley Resort’s annual Torchlight Parade is a don’t-miss Christmas Eve event. The parade begins at dusk, around 6:00 PM, with complimentary cookies and hot cider served in Snow Park Plaza.

PARK CITY MOUNTAIN’S NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION

December 31, 3:00-8:00 PM at Canyons Village Fireworks, fire pits, hot cocoa, and live music – we can’t think of a better way to kick off your New Year’s Eve celebrations. Held at Park City Mountain’s Canyons Village, the event is fun for all ages. Park at the Cabriolet Lot, or utilize Park City’s free transportation system.

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION WITH BADFEATHER

December 31, 9:00 PM at O.P. Rockwell Join Badfeather, a five-piece local band from Salt Lake City, as they help kick off the New Year at O.P. Rockwell. Badfeather blends classic rock with soul, funk, and a little country-folk boogie. Show starts at 9:00 PM and tickets may be purchased in advance.

BLACK & WHITE MASQUERADE

December 31, 8:00 PM at Park City Live Ring in the New Year with Park City Live’s Black & White Masquerade. An annual event, this year’s bash features DJ Ross One from New York City. Party kicks off at 8:00 PM and tickets may be purchased in advance.

Tags: Park City, Christmas, Holidays
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A Foodie's Guide to Historic Park City - By Jenny Willden

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.

Sep 04, 2017

A Foodie's Guide to Historic Park City by Jenny Willden

Nestled between two world-class ski resorts high above Salt Lake City, the former mining town of Park City is best known for its Olympic history and Sundance Film Festival. In recent years, however, the town has also earned itself a fine reputation as a year-round cuisine hot spot. Historic Main Street is the epicenter of this fun, foodie culture, and whether you’re craving the town’s best avocado toast, a rib-eye steak, or just a handcrafted cocktail, you’ll find it here.

Eye Openers

Get your buzz on at Pink Elephant Coffee, a locally owned café tucked above Prospect, a hip clothing boutique on Historic Main Street. The husband-wife team roasts all the coffee beans and makes perfect pourover brews. If you’re thirsting for something cooler, try a cold-pressed juice from Land Juicery, which shares Pink Elephant’s space.

When you need more than a cup of joe to kickstart your day, head to family-run favorite*[Atticus Coffee and Teahous*e](http://www.atticustea.com) on Lower Main Street for healthy breakfast favorites. Try a Buddha Bowl, chai-infused oatmeal with dried fruits, caramelized walnuts, cinnamon, and honey drizzle paired with a housemade tea latte.

A block off Main Street, newcomerHarvest specializes in trendy, healthy favorites, like paleo banana bread and smashed avocado toast. For an alternative to coffee, try their steaming Golden Mylk, a fusion of turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, and coconut milk.

Burgers and BBQ

For Park City’s best burger, head straight to No Name Saloon for a world famous buffalo burger. This local haunt is easily Park City’s most popular bar and the year-round heated patio is the best spot for people watching on Main Street.

Firewood is one of Main Street’s hottest new restaurants—literally. Everything’s cooked on open-flame grills with chef-selected wood like cedar and cherry to enhance the flavors. Whether you have a hankerin’ for Kobe rib eye, wild salmon, or smoked pork chops, you’ll find it at Firewood, paired with seasonally changing sides and vegetables. Guests can watch their dinner being prepared through windows separating the chic dining area from the kitchen. After dining, venture downstairs to the Nickel Bar for a handcrafted cocktail made with local liquor.

Budget Bests

When you’re looking to save money or feed a crowd, there’s no better place thanDavanza’s on Park Avenue. Opened in 1979, the 1,400 square-foot space packs in people seeking hearty street-style tacos and thin crust pizzas topped with homemade marinara sauce. Enjoy patio views of Park City’s beautiful mountains or inside seating amidst vintage beer cans.

Find no-fuss, authentic Mexican cuisine atBlue Iguana, at the top of Main in the heart of Historic Park City. Try the enchiladas smothered with their famous mole served with unlimited chips and fresh salsa.

Quick and Easy

For on-the-go dining, head toRiverhorse Provisions, a grocery café that’s the baby sister of Riverhorse on Main, one of Park City’s oldest and most venerated restaurants. Whether you’re heading on a hike or to an outdoor concert, Riverhorse Provisions at the top of Main is the place to pick up summer salads, veggie wraps, and gourmet grocery goods.

Divine Desserts

When you’re craving something sweet, visit award-winning American eatery, Handle for Park City’s best desserts. From creamy caramel pudding in a jar to rhubarb pie with brown sugar ice cream, this inventive eatery concocts incredible seasonal sweets, and one dish just isn’t enough.

For daytime desires, grab funky-flavored tiny donuts atPeace Love and Little Donuts on Lower Main Street. Choose from classics like glazed and sugared, or go wild with maple bacon, salted chocolate, and raspberry lemonade flavors.

For all the taste of camping without sleeping outside, head to High West Distillery and Saloonfor a gourmet s'more. Made for sharing, this giant treat starts with a molasses graham cracker stacked with a melted homemade marshmallow, and topped with dark chocolate from Salt Lake's Millcreek Cacao Roasters.

Late Night Libations

Now that you have food in your belly, it’s time to hit the town at Park City’s best bars. Start with a charcuterie plate and the "Official Wine of Apres" atOld Town Cellars, a tasting room that blends grapes from popular wine regions to create its own private label blends.

Next, visit the historic garage turned gastro distillery,High West Distillery and Saloon, for western mountain cuisine and cocktails made with their award-winning bourbons, ryes, and vodkas. Try the spiked High West Lemonade, which partners lemonade spiced with cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and cloves spiked with vodka or bourbon and fresh mint. For an authentically Irish experience high in Utah’s mountains, stop byFlanagans Irish Bar on Main for a pint of Guinness or an Irish whiskey. A true local haunt, Flanagan’s cottage pub feel is a cozy place to gather with friends new and old.

Whether you’re looking to drink or dine, a stroll along Park City’s Historic Main Street is the perfect complement to whatever cuisine fills your belly. Great food, mountain air, and friendly locals add up to an experience that has helped earned Park City the well-deserved reputation as one of the best destinations in Utah.

Originally written for Utah Office of Tourism.

Tags: Park City, Food
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Park City named one of the 'most stunning' mountain locations in the nation - Deseret News

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.

Aug 02, 2017

Scott Cramer - Dusk View of Park City Glowing. Scenic village from above with cool blue dusk light and glowing warm lights. Dusk View of Park City Glowing

Oyster.com, a hotel and travel information website, just ranked the “most stunning” mountain travel spots across the country.

And Park City made the list.

The list showed off popular and “stunning mountain destinations” that aren’t near major cities.

Rather, the list displays places travelers will need to visit on their own.

“Not all of us have the pleasure of living in major U.S. cities like Seattle, Denver, and Los Angeles, where mountain views are a part of the daily routine,” the list’s description reads. “Most of us will have to travel to get our fill of these scenic natural creations, which were formed as a result of Earth's tectonic plates smashing together.”

The list doesn’t include a numbered ranking.

Park City sits toward the middle of the list. Oyster.com celebrates the city’s proximity to the Salt Lake City International Airport and “its legendary powder skiing.”

“While you're in town, head for Main Street, which is lined with 19th-century buildings that were built during the silver mining boom. Park City residents also support the arts with indoor and outdoor music venues, while the town hosts the Sundance Film Festival each January,” the Park City description reads.

Tullruide, Colorado, also made the list as an alternative mountain destination to Denver.

The list also includes spots such as Yosemite, California; Taos, New Mexico; and Stowe, Vermont.

Travel and Leisure previously gave Park City the No. 1 spot for top mountain towns.

The survey results were based off reader responses, which answered questions about travelers’ favorite spots. Readers were also asked to rank locations on affordability, restaurants and public parks.

Readers most enjoyed the city’s galleries, restaurants and theaters.

Park City ranked ahead of Taos and Asheville on that list.

“When the local mines closed, Park City, Utah, turned its ambitions above ground — to its 7,000 acres of Olympic-level ski terrain — helping it transition into one of the country’s premier resort destinations, and this year’s favorite mountain town,” according to Travel and Leisure.

In unrelated rankings, Park City also topped a USA Today list for its s’mores.

Tags: Park City
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2017 SUMMER CONCERT ROUND UP by Emma Prysunka

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.

May 31, 2017

2017 SUMMER CONCERT ROUND UP by Emma Prysunka

While Park City is often recognized as a world-class winter resort destination, summers here are truly magical. Perfect temperatures, 400+ miles of easy-access trails, outdoor deck dining galore, and let us not forget the plethora of live music and outdoor concert venues. Park City and Summit County’s live music scene is booming, and includes something for every budget (some are FREE!) and every taste.

DEER VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL - SUMMER HOME OF THE UTAH SYMPHONY/UTAH OPERA (USUO) When: Throughout the summer, starting in July Where: Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater/various locations throughout Park City The Deer Valley Music Festival is the summer home to the Utah Symphony/Utah Opera. Enjoy a unique variety of classical, chamber, and pops music at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at Deer Valley Resort. Where else can you see Patti Austin performing the songs of Ella Fitzgerald alongside the Utah Symphony? Deer Valley offers a variety of delicious concessions during these performances, or, if you’d rather, you may bring your own picnic basket and your favorite beverages into the venue. Explore the full summer 2017 lineup. Deer Valley Summer Concert Symphony

ST. REGIS BIG STARS BRIGHT NIGHTS, A PROGRAM OF THE PARK CITY INSTITUTE When: Throughout the summer, starting July Where: Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater Live performances by your favorite stars and crisp mountain air with a beautiful Park City backdrop – what could be better? This year’s Big Stars Bright Nights concert series features artists like Aloe Blacc, X Ambassadors, Melissa Etheridge and Kellie Pickler. All shows take place at Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, where seating ranges from assigned lawn chairs close to the stage, to lawn seating where it is BYOB – bring your own blanket (and beer!). Picnic baskets and outside beverages are allowed. Buy your tickets here.

CANYONS VILLAGE FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES When: Saturday evenings, starting in July Where: Canyons Village, Park City Mountain Resort Grab your dancing shoes, your family, and a blanket for these summertime concerts at Canyons Village, hosted by Park City Mountain Resort. The stage, located on the hill just above Canyons Village base area, allows for scenic views of the resort area and Snyderville Basin. This concert series highlights musical acts from across the U.S., and they always get the crowd moving. Picnics are welcome. Canyons Village Summer Concert ^{Photo credit: Park City Mountain Resort}

GRAND VALLEY BANK COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES AT DEER VALLEY RESORT When: Wednesday evenings, starting in June Where: Deer Valley Resort’s Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater This free concert series, held at the picturesque Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at Deer Valley Resort, is a consistent favorite among locals and visitors alike. Grab a picnic, your favorite beverages, and a blanket, and allow an array of local and visiting musicians serenade you as you take in the beautiful Park City sunsets. The temperature cools off once the sun sets behind the mountains, so don’t forget a few warm layers.

DEJORIA CENTER SUMMER CONCERT SERIES When: Thursday evenings, starting in June Where: Dejoria Center, Kamas A new addition to the list of Summit County music venues, Dejoria Center is located about 15 minutes from Park City in Kamas, UT and will offer free outdoor concerts every Thursday evening. Enjoy live music on the patio, accompanied by a beautiful backdrop of both the Uinta and Wasatch mountain ranges, before grabbing a bite to eat at the recently opened State Road Tavern or Bar Josephine. Dejoria Center will host a variety of other live entertainment throughout the summer, including their "First Friday" concert series. High Star Ranch

SILVER STAR CAFE When: Throughout the summer, starting in May Where: Silver Star Café, 1825 Three Kings Drive Located just off the beaten path, Silver Star Café is a rustic, cozy café, with delicious food, wine, beer and cocktails, accompanied by a beautiful outdoor seating area and a variety of live music offerings throughout the summer. Enjoy views of the Uinta Mountains, the Park City Golf Course, and Park City Mountain Resort as you listen to talented local musicians throughout the summer. Their 2017 summer lineup is something to get excited about! Silver-Star-Cafe ^{Photo credit: Silver Star Cafe}

NEWPARK AMPHITHEATER When: Thursday evenings, June through August Where: Newpark Town Center (Kimball Junction) Located in the Kimball Junction area of Park City, Newpark Town Center’s Amphitheater sits between restaurants, shopping, and with Swaner Nature Preserve serving as a most perfect backdrop. This free venue is incredibly family friendly, and offers a great space and environment for children to play. The lineup for this free concert series features acts from all over the U.S. Bring a cooler with your favorite local beer and some snacks, or grab a bite at one of the many restaurants in the Newpark area after the show.

WOODENSHOE PARK IN PEOA When: Friday evenings, starting in June Where: Woodenshoe Park, Peoa Peoa, UT is a small town, located just outside of Park City in Summit County and its outdoor concert venue, located in Woodenshoe Park, plays a large role in the vibrancy and sense of community created within the town. Every Friday night throughout the summer, members of the Peoa community and greater Summit County join together for an evening of BBQing and dancing along to live music among family, friends, and neighbors.

Wait-- there is more! Check out Mountain Town Music’s website for a complete schedule of Park City summer concerts, some of which include:

Park Silly Sunday Farmers’ Market: Every Sunday, starting June 4, during Park Silly Farmers’ Market, stages are set up along Historic Main Street and feature local musicians
During Savor the Summit, June 17, Historic Main Street
Billy Blanco’s at Quarry Village: Every Sunday at 4:00 PM, starting in June

Tags: Park City, Summer, Concerts
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NEW RESTAURANTS IN PARK CITY, UTAH by Visit Park City

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.

Apr 11, 2017

NEW RESTAURANTS IN PARK CITY, UTAH

by Visit Park City

Park City’s food scene continues to evolve and grow, adding a different spice to a town once known for being a mecca specifically for outdoor enthusiasts. With its variety of flavors, Park City’s restaurants truly have something for everyone – regardless of taste. In addition to a long list of new eateries, some of the Park City favorites have redone their spaces and menus as well.

FIREWOOD ON MAIN Firewood brings unique and interesting flavors to Park City’s Historic Main Street, as it is committed to serving a menu cooked entirely by firewood. The menu’s bold flavors pair well with the restaurant’s luxurious and rich, yet welcoming environment. Firewood opened in mid-December of 2016 and serves dinner from 5:30-9:30 PM Sunday-Thursday, and from 5:30-10:00 PM Friday and Saturday.

FIVE5EEDS After opening its doors in December of 2016, Five5eeds has kept with its motto of Great Food. Serious Coffee. The café utilizes seasonal and local ingredients to create delicious, Australian-inspired dishes, and an exceptional restaurant environment. A delicious option for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or a quick treat, Five5eeds is open seven days a week from 7:30 AM-3:00 PM.

FRESHIES LOBSTER CO. Fresh Maine lobster… in Utah? Freshies Lobster Co. promises its customers lobster that arrives from the Maine shore to the Utah store in 24 hours. Freshies was established in 2009 with a food truck that they set up at the Park Silly Sunday Market and area farmers markets, and in December 2016 opened a café on Prospector Drive. The café menu not only features their classic lobster rolls, but has soups, salads, and sandwiches, too! Open Monday-Saturday from 11:00 AM-8:00 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM, you can now satisfy your craving for an authentic Maine lobster roll seven days a week.

HARVEST CAFÉ A quaint café located near the bottom of Historic Main Street, Harvest’s menu includes Australian-inspired breakfast, lunch, and tasty coffee. Harvest Café opened its doors in mid-November 2016 with fresh, simple decor, and fantastic natural light. The eatery prides itself on serving food and drinks that provide big tastes and flavors, while using seasonal ingredients and creativity. Open from 8:00 AM-3:00 PM, seven days a week, Harvest Café is a must-stop for breakfast, brunch, or lunch.

RIVERHORSE PROVISIONS Riverhorse on Main, one of Park City’s fine dining favorites, recently opened its own provisions shop at the top of Historic Main Street. Since opening its doors at the end of December 2016, Riverhorse Provisions has impressed visitors and locals alike with its variety of artisan grocery products, dine-in, take out, and prepared meal options. “Accessible gourmet on Main,” available for breakfast, lunch, après-ski (and any of your other needs!) seven days a week from 7:30 AM-7:00 PM.

VERSANTE HEARTH + BAR Located in the newly remodeled Park City Peaks Hotel, Versante Hearth + Bar opened its doors in the beginning of January 2017. A great, casual addition to Park City’s culinary scene, Versante’s menu offers a variety of American and Italian-style favorites, including flatbread pizza, pasta, craft beer, and specialty cocktails – all at a great price point, too! Versante is open daily from 3:00 PM-12:00 AM, making it great option for après-ski.

RESTAURANT UPDATES: THE SPUR BAR AND GRILL An old Park City favorite with a brand new look, the Spur Bar and Grill recently renovated and expanded their space. A popular spot for live music and dancing, the Spur’s space (formerly accessible via an alleyway) now sits directly on Historic Main Street with an upstairs balcony and oversized windows that offer expansive views. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, and dancing, the Spur is a go-to option for visitors and locals alike. Open from 10:00 PM-1:00 AM daily.

EATING ESTABLISHMENT Eating Establishment, located at the top of Historic Main Street, revamped in the fall of 2016 and has a new look along with a new menu. Eating Establishment has been open since 1972, making it the oldest continuously open restaurant in Park City. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the new space features a cozy dining room, breakfast counter, and a brand new bar offering classic cocktails. Perhaps also notable – Eating Establishment is partially-owned by actor Ty Burrell, who plays dad of three on Modern Family. Open seven days a week from 8:00 AM-10:00 PM Friday-Sunday and 8:00 AM-3:00 PM, 5:00-10:00 PM Monday-Thursday.

Tags: Visit Park City, Food, Beverage
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5 Things Every East Coast Skier Should Know About West Coast Skiing

By Ramon Gomez, Jr.

Mar 22, 2017

By: Jordi Lippe-McGraw

Growing up I was privileged enough to take annual ski trips with my family. Our go-to spot was Killington, Vermont, and I have very fond memories of hitting the slopes with my dad, enjoying family meals by the fire, and taking a dip in the hot tub. But, aside the occasional side trip to upstate New York or Connecticut, this was the only skiing I ever knew. That was until I took my first West Coast ski trip to Park City, Utah.

After hearing about the record snow fall the area got this year (and the lack of snow New York got), I decided to book a quick three-day getaway to the famous resort area. My assumptions were it would be pretty much the same as east coast skiing, so I should know what to expect. Right? Boy, was I wrong.

Here are five things every east coast skier should know about west coast skiing.

1. The Snow Is Scientifically Proven To Be The Best

Utah’s license plates proudly display the saying, “The Greatest Snow on Earth.” In fact, it’s even trademarked. While many will argue that spots like Colorado have the best skiing conditions, a number of Utah scientists and meteorologists over the years have done their research and make a compelling argument for their state.

“The secret of Utah’s unique and wonderful powder is the structure of the individual snow crystals,” said William Alde, retired chief meteorologist for the National Weather Service’s Salt Lake City office. “Under cold, relatively dry conditions, light crystal-type snowflakes called dendrites are produced. These snowflakes are thin and symmetrical in shape, and they float down through the cold atmosphere, accumulating like fluffy down or powder on Utah mountains.”

I’m not a scientist, but what I can tell you is that the conditions on the mountain were considerably better than what I was used to back east. Instead of dodging ice patches, I was able to actually get that floating feeling described by the experts making for a smoother (less terrifying) run.

2. Gourmet Meals Are The Norm At Ski Lodges

Whenever I would stop for a lunch break while on a family ski trip my options were typically a barely tolerable sandwich or lukewarm pizza. If I was lucky, a cup of instant hot chocolate would be an added treat. That is certainly not the case at any of the Park City resorts.

Over my three days in town, I skied Deer Valley, Canyons Village and Park City Mountain, all of which had some of the most delicious food ever. For lunch in Deer Valley, I enjoyed Artisan Fleur de Neige Flatbread with house made local sheep’s milk cheese at Royal Street Café. Back at Park City’s Cloud Dine on top of the mountain, a chef took about seven minutes to handcraft an Asian chicken salad and the hot chocolate was reminiscent of that from Angelina in Paris. Oh, and did I mention I never took my ski boots off?

The après ski situation was just as good, if not better. At the bottom of slope at Canyons Village a restaurant called The Farm served up a butternut squash cocktail and a macaroni-and-cheese version of spätzle complete with Oregon truffles. And The Mariposa at Silver Lake Lodge had a cheese plate consisting entirely of locally-made cheese by their in-house Belgium cheese maker.

I don’t know about you, but any place that will immediately reward my outdoor activities with delicious food has my vote.

3. The Hotel Rooms Are Basically Luxury Homes

While clearly I did not stay in every hotel in Park City, what I do know is I would happily call the one I did stay at home. The Hyatt Centric is one of the newer properties in the area having just been redone in the last year or so, but I expected to walk in and find a pretty standard hotel room. Again, I was sorely mistaken.

The room turned out to be a home with a kitchen I could do laps in (and I did), an upstairs loft (which I never ended up using), and had two bathrooms and two fireplaces (I used all of them). And it was decorated with little cozy hints of the area like a Utah-shaped pillow and pictures from local artists. It truly was a warm and homey place to come back to after a long day on the slopes.

Though I didn’t get to visit any other properties during my stay, I have heard from others who visited that places like the St. Regis, Montage Deer Valley, Stein Eriksen Lodge and the Waldorf Astoria are all luxurious in their own right.

4. It’s Not Miserably Cold On The Slopes

As a child and teen, I have vivid memories of my toes being completely numb after two runs on the slope. Most of my time was spent thawing out from the frigid temperatures and figuring just how many layers I needed so not even a centimeter of skin was showing. I feared it would be the same this time around as well. Again, I was wrong (sensing a theme yet?).

You know how being in the desert is often more tolerable than the tropics even if it’s hotter? It’s much easier to handle dry heat than it is wet. The same holds true for cold. Though the temperatures were below freezing and we did have to deal with some strong winds one day, I never once felt cold because the air was so dry. Yes, I had to use excessive amount of lotion and lip balm because of it, but not once did my toes go numb.

In fact, I was so comfortable, that I skied for the longest period of time ever in my whole life clocking in about five hours straight one day. Oh, but if you do get cold on the slopes, there’s a heated chairlift at the Canyons Village to warm you up between runs.

5. You Can Ski All Day Without Doing The Same Trail Twice

The scale of the mountains in Park City was something I was not prepared for. I am by no means a skiing aficionado and am intermediate level at best, so I’m happy sticking to the same green circle and blue square trails and doing them a few times. That was actually really my only option growing up and is likely why my ski days would end around lunch time (and the fact I couldn’t feel my feet by that point).

Out west, it feels like you are skiing across the state with the number of options of trails. While the trails were slightly more difficult than I was accustom to overall, I was amazed that after a few hours of skiing our guide would point where we started and it was miles away. Park City Mountain realized the extent of their property and even started to offer Peak To Peak Guided Ski Experiences where a ski instructor will take you on an all-day tour of the 7,300 acres. You can literally ski out of your hotel in the morning and on to the main street in Park City by evening without ever doing the same run twice.

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