#TravelTuesday: Finding Summer Fun in Park City, Utah

by Doug Flatt on July 27, 2021 in Travels,
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In about the same time it takes to drive from Austin to Dallas, you can jump on a direct flight and be in Park City, Utah. It’s only a two-hour flight to Salt Lake City and then a quick 45-minute drive to Park City. Even for a long weekend, Park City is a great option for Texans to get relief from the sweltering heat.

Enjoy a leisurely chairlift ride up Silver Lake Express from the base and then board Sterling Express at mid-mountain to access Bald Mountain. At the top, stretch your legs and explore one of the many hiking trails that wander through Deer Valley. Or simply enjoy the fresh, alpine air at the top before re-boarding the chairlift for your ride back down. Photo courtesy Park City Chamber/Bureau

Hiding in Plain Sight

The Provo River and the Weber River are two popular tailwater destinations for fly fishing out of Park City. It’s a short drive out of the city to reach prime fishing spots. We fished the Weber River and in many of the fishing spots you wouldn’t know the river was flowing literally steps from the highway.  Much of the river runs through private property, but with the help of Park City Fly Fishing Guides, you’ll find the right honey holes. Travis and Jeremy are experienced guides that know how to work with first timers and skilled fly anglers.

Park City is a unique blend of the old and new. 64 of Park City’s buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, many of which are located along the town’s Main Street (pictured), and more than 1,200 miles of tunnels wind through the surrounding mountains, remnants of the mining era.
Photo courtesy Park City Chamber/Bureau

Embracing History

The Mine Trap at Escape Room Park City is fun for all ages, paying blood-pumping homage to Park City’s rich mining history using actual mining equipment and history. This is a great family experience since there are clues for everyone in the family to discover and solve. Make sure and arrive 10-15 minutes early so you can sign waivers and have the full 70 minutes to escape.

Experience the thrill of the summer bobsled ride at the Utah Olympic Park. Photo courtesy Visit Park City

Play Like an Olympian

Any trip to Park City should include a visit to the Utah Olympic Park. Housing a sliding track for bobsled, six nordic ski jumps and the 2002 Winter Games museum, the Olympic Park also offers ziplines, tubing the ski jump hill, alpine slide and ropes courses. Every summer, aerial skiing athletes come to Park City to hone their skills at the triple jump and training pool. But you don’t have to be an aerial athlete to feel the exhilaration of jumping off a ski ramp.  Strap on skis and try it out yourself. It may sound intimidating, but if you know how to downhill ski, you have the skills to take on the ski jump!

2021 Aerials summer training at Utah Olympic Park. Photo courtesy @usskiteam

Olympic Tip: Make sure and follow three-time Olympian Ashley Caldwell, World Cup winner Justin Schoenefeld and double World Champion medalist Chris Lillis. You might see them competing in the first mixed team aerial event at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.  

Future Olympians

Park City’s Olympic days are not done as they were picked by the U.S. Olympic Committee in 2018 to be the next American city to host a winter Olympics. It just hasn’t been determined if they will bid for the 2030 or 2034 Olympics. Park City is the home of the United States Ski Association so it’s already a training and administrative hub for skiing, snowboarding and aerial Olympians with a state-of-the-art training facility so athletes can prepare during the summers. Park City is also home to the latest training facility in the Woodward family of facilities.  This facility can help locals and visitors alike hone their skills and easily progress their skills and add new tricks in a safe environment.  Unlike other Woodward facilities, Park City has an lift-accessed downhill mountain biking park behind its main facility.  

A mountain bike catches air from a stump ramp at the Woodward Mountain Park. Photo courtesy Woodward Park City

Where to stay

Nestled next to Silver Lake Village at Deer Valley Ski Resort, the Stein Eriksen Lodge is one of the premier lodges in Park City. In the summertime, the Stein transforms into a downhill mountain bike destination. The Sterling Express Lift and Silver Lake Express are an easy coast on your bike from the Stein.

Nestled in the alpine serenity of Deer Valley, Stein Eriksen Lodge is an authentic European ski lodge inspired by the Olympic legend and his Norwegian heritage. Courtesy photo

Fuel Up

Freshie’s Lobster Co. Maine fresh lobster arrives within 24 hours of being caught, and you will think you got beamed to an East Coast lobster stand. You can’t go wrong with local favorite lobster rolls or lobster sliders.

Grappa Nestled on Main Street, this upscale, rustic Italian restaurant will not disappoint and the patio offers the perfect mountain atmosphere for evening dining.

Sitting at the top of Park City’s Historic Main Street, enjoy summer outdoor dining on the restaurant’s expansive decks. Courtesy photo

Windy Ridge Cafe A favorite among locals, the Country Breakfast is a great choice as is the Turkey Bacon Avocado Sandwich.

Billy Blanco’s If you’re craving Mexican food on your trip, this is a place that will remind you of your favorite Mexican food joint back home. If you’re into cars, this is also a place for you as there are classic cars mounted throughout the dining area.

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Ziplining at Utah Olympic Park on a blue sky day. Photo courtesy Park City Chamber/Bureau

Cover photo courtesy Deer Valley Resort

Doug Flatt is the publisher of Texas Lifestyle Magazine. When not running small businesses you can find him on a mountain bike or a body of water with a fly rod in hand.