Thursday, August 13, 2009

Park City Utah Is One Of The Most Popular Ski Towns In The United States

By Susan Mayloch

Park City, Utah sits in the heart of the Wasatch Mountains, a perennial favorite with vacationers from all over the world. Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort, and The Canyons, the three resorts in Park City, make the area a popular destination whether visitors are coming for the world famous Utah snow, or hiking and biking in the summer. Direct flights into Salt Lake City make the trip to Park City that much more tempting.

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.

For those not inclined to mountain sports, there are world famous festivals hosted by Park City throughout the year. The most famous is the Sundance Film Festival, which showcases movies for ten days in January, during which the area becomes crowded with celebrities, their agents, and hangers-on hoping for a glimpse of the glitterati. The summer is filled with festivals on a smaller, but no less impressive scale, including the Park City Jazz Festival, and the Kimball Arts Festival.

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.

Dining in Park City can be as difficult of a decision as choosing lodging. There are a multitude of restaurants, from multi-course Continental cuisine at Deer Valley to a barbecue eatery on Main Street. To make it more challenging, the resorts also offer on-mountain dining in a yurt, with transportation provided by a snow cat up the mountain.

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.

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