Park City - Introduction
Park City is a lively town with a large ski area and a great base for visiting a the major ski areas of Park City, Canyons and Deer Valley. This part of the world snow cover is never an issue – the snow dumps here are always heavy with nearby Snowbird receiving over 40ft annually. It is also very light and dry “the greatest snow on earth” they say and it would be extremely hard to dispute this claim. Park City is a happening party town despite being in Mormon Utah there is no problem enjoying the lively apres-ski scene. The 3,300 acres at Park City provide a great choice of skiing for all levels but it only gets better. The immaculately groomed slopes of Deer Valley a short free bus ride away as are the 3,650 acres of the Canyons – Utah’s largest ski area. Within an hour’s ride on the local transfer service are Snowbird and Solitude. All can be skied on the Utah International Passport.
Skiing
The skiing in Park City is truly wonderful, and when coupled with the other main resorts of Deer Valley, The Canyons, Snowbird and Alta, it makes an unbeatable playground. Park City itself has over 100km of piste served by 14 lifts. The great mix of blues, red and black runs makes this a great choice for all types of skier.
Snowboarding
The CIA terrain park is one of the best in the USA, with 12 rails, tabletops, kickers, jibs and a half-pipe with a huge sound system. The Canyons also has six natural half-pipes on the mountain, with natural kickers keeping boarders and new-school riders happy for hours. Don’t forget that both Deer Valley and Alta still do not allow Snowbaorders on the mountain.
Ski Schools
Ski and snowboard school try to keep classes down to 5 in a class in order to provide a high level of tuition. Women only clinics are available with video reviews and wine after skiing. The children’s ski school teaches from age 3 upwards and includes lunch and games, plus there is daycare in the Grand Summit Hotel.
Eating Out
There’s not much choice on the hill, but the Lookout Cabin has big sundecks and an open grill. Red Pine Lodge does snacks, Duggie’s Place on Dreamscape does hearty burgers in a laid-back vibe. The rustically refined Cabin in the Grand Summit Hotel has the most expensive menu in The Canyons with high-quality seafood and steaks, but for a casual bite, Smokey’s Smoke House is a good bet. A large selection of restaurants in Park City itself including Hungry Moose and Wasatch Brew Pub.
Bars and clubs
Doc’s in the Grand Summit is the place to relax with an après-ski beer. After dinner, the Cabin has some fine whiskies and cigars; Smokey’s Smoke House has a few decent bars for the younger crowd. For those requiring real party action, head to Park City – buses run up until midnight.
Off the slopes
The adventures desk in the Grand Summit Hotel has a list of activities, including fly-fishing, dog-sledding, and bobsled (the 2002 Olympic track). If you need pampering, try a facial or massage at the Grand Summit Hotel’s spa, or splash out on designer bargains at the Retail outlet.