Sipping Cocktails and Watching the Snow Fall in Park City, Utah

Getting there:

Park City is a close 45-minute drive from Salt Lake City (including SLC airport). I rented a car from the airport, but since it’s so close you could take an Uber instead, or even a shuttle. My rec is Utah Mountain Shuttle:

Park City’s main town is walkable, but if you’d like to get out and explore, or if you’re not staying in the main town, you can use the Park City trolley or take the bus. These options are easy and free.

Where to stay:

There are a handful of larger hotels and resorts close to Park City, if that’s your vibe. Deer Valley Resort is a great upscale option, as it is just a few minutes from old town. The Peaks Hotel is just down the hill and reasonably priced.

If you would prefer to stay in the center of town, your best bet is to rent a condo. We stayed at the Treasure Mountain Inn, which boasted a great location at the top of Main Street. It had a hot tub just outside our room and all the cozy features you’d expect during a weekend trip to the mountains. Just walking out of the hotel took our breath away, as every direction you look includes a beautiful mountain view.

What to do:

If you are visiting Park City in the winter, there are many resort options. The closest being Park City Mountain, which has the “Town Lift” that allows you to ski / board right from the bottom of Main or Park Street. Literally ski in / ski out. Also nearby are Deer Valley and Canyons Village, and then Solitude and Brighton are within an hour’s drive, weather and traffic permitting. Note that I do not recommend including Alta or Snowbird in the same winter visit, as they are farther away than they look. Save them for your next trip :)

There is a lot more to Park City than just being a home base for downhill skiing and snowboarding, though. Some other suggestions:

Get your blood pumping with a morning of hiking (try the Silver Lake trail), snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing or e-biking. Your crew could even visit the Utah Olympic Park for some bobsledding or Woodward Action Sports Park for a few jumps on the trampoline.

Shopping in Park City could easily fill an entire weekend. My favorite spot is Roark, which I can’t seem to enter without picking up my next winter jacket. Kemo Sabe is always busy customizing high-end cowboy hats. You could furnish your entire mountain home by popping into Arhaus Studio. I have even found some gems at the local thrift store CPCC, so it’s worth a quick stop, too.

Finally, you could take in a show at the Egyptian Theater, visit a local spa for a facial or massage or reserve a tour at the High West Distillery about 30 minutes from town.

Where to eat & drink:

The best place to go is High West Saloon. Our favorites for lunch or dinner were the shishito peppers, trout dip, pretzels, tacos, burgers and s’mores skillet. And our favorite drinks were the High West Lemonade, Dead Man’s Boots and the Old Fashioned.

Other great options include Fletcher’s for happy hour, dinner at Purple Sage (try the butternut squash raviolis and the bread pudding) or a quick taste of sashimi at Yuki Yama Sushi.

For brunch, our favorite was 5Seeds (try the pulled pork benedict), but we also thought The Bridge was very yummy and perfectly located. Finally, check out Pink Elephant for coffee, pastries and cookies.

Don’t forget...YOUR ID! Utah law requires you to show your ID to enter any bar (and many restaurants, too).

Also, if you are coming from Salt Lake City and need a great spot for lunch or dinner en route, check out Nico’s Restaurant for some delicious Mexican food. If you need to quench your thirst, visit Swig to enjoy the art of customized soda. I’m serious:)

Park City is a beautiful year-round destination, and can work well for all types of trips. The old town is historic, walkable and easy to fall in love with. Don’t miss the High West Saloon for drinks…but do remember your ID. Finally, Park City may be close to Salt Lake City, but if you plan to drive there in winter, I highly recommend you have a car with AWD or chains. I am happy to help you with the perfect itinerary, so please reach out to plan your next adventure to the mountains!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Park City. In need of further inspiration? Check out Becky Stein’s guide, Winter Sport Haven: Park City, Utah.