7 Things to Do In Santa Fe this Valentine’s Day
The City Different is steeped in beauty and mystique-the perfect place for a romantic Valentine’s Day rendezvous. Take your special someone to try a special something with our list of romantic Valentine’s Day activities in Santa Fe. These thoughtful gestures will go a lot further than grocery store candy when it comes to impressing your date.
Something to Drink
- Gruet Winery
Dabble in a bit of viticulture and sample the sophisticated romance of these local vintages. A flight of blanc de noirs, blanc de blanc, demi-sec, and rosé wines will introduce interest and elegance into your date that will linger long after you leave the tasting room.
- Tonic
Lower the lights and strike up the band for drinks and jazz at Tonic, an evocative lounge serving up creative cocktails and smooth sounds on a nightly basis. Marinated in Jazz Age style, this local bar will leave you intoxicated with more than just the expertly-mixed liquor.
- Kakawa Chocolate House
Chocolate is love. Sample three millennia of cacao concoctions with drinking elixirs that range from pre-colombian brews to 21st-century inventions. You don’t have to stick around in the cafe to get the most out of Kakawa. Take the history of chocolate along with a box of truffles or a bag of mendiants.
Something to Do
- Restaurant Walking Tour
True romance is a journey. So is this walking tour of Santa Fe’s vibrant dining scene. Guided by the experts at the Santa Fe School of Cooking, each of these three tours will carry culinary explorers to four destinations that include highlights in both traditional and innovative dining experiences. You’ll take in plenty of local flavor both on the plate and on the street.
- Santa Fe Film Festival
Enjoying a movie together is a staple of couple time. Why not enjoy dozens of great regional, national, and global films together-plus panels and parties-at the Santa Fe Film Festival? There’s more than enough to keep you busy for the entire duration of the festival, especially with a rich selection of films sure to tickle the fancy of even the most discerning cinephile.
Something to Think About
- Ten Thousand Waves
As if a Japanese onsen had been carefully relocated to the deserts of the American Southwest, Ten Thousand Waves offers a traditional spa experience for deep relaxation and deepening romance. This mountain spa is heavy on the water features, including a variety of tubs, pools, waterfalls, and more-perfecting for soaking your troubles away. - Upaya Zen Center
Mindfulness enhances emotional health, including romantic relationships. Explore the tranquility of Zen Buddhism at a functional monastery that provides daily meditations, retreats, residencies, and more services to seekers of peace and enlightenment. Bring your partner and forge a deeper connection to yourselves and each other through meditation.
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A Day on Park City Main Street
Main Street is the heart of Park City. And what a heart it is! Even if you’re here for the world-class skiing at any of our three exciting ski areas, you haven’t truly experienced Park City until you’ve spent some time on Main Street. You could spend an entire day in Park City without leaving Main Street and have an amazing time. In fact, we’d like to help you do just that! Read on to discover just how exciting a day on Park City Main Street can be!
The Morning
Some say the day begins at 12:01 a.m. Others will tell you the day begins when the alarm goes off. For most of us, the day truly begins with a warm cup in our hands. The best place to get that first fix of the day is right at the bottom of Park City Main Street.
Atticus Coffee & Teahouse brews up fresh libations for all your morning needs, whether that is a carefully selected tea blend or a healthy shot of caffeine. They also serve a selection of breakfast plates that will further bolster your a.m. energy levels. Browse the shelves for a good book while you sip away the sleepies, there are thousands to choose from.
Two Flavors of Sightseeing
With your stomach sufficiently stuffed, it might be a good time to do a little walking. Fortunately, there are some beautiful spots to explore in the vicinity of Main Street. While you could take a lazy loop of the downtown strip, we suggest going a little bit further afield.
There is a charming loop of the Union Pacific Rail Trail that parallels the street alongside Silver Creek. It even passes by one of Park City’s iconic oddities: the Shoe Tree. An offering of footwear is not compulsory, but it is a tradition with a long history.
After your hike, why not enjoy another kind of walk? The late morning hours are the perfect time to take a gallery stroll. No matter your taste in art, there is a gallery on Main Street for you. Nature photography, oil painting, pop art, bronze sculpture, modern mixed-media-it’s all here. If you are a dedicated patron of the arts, it could easily take you until dinner to visit every gallery on Park City Main Street.
Park City Main Street Restaurants
Assuming you don’t dedicate the rest of your visit to artistic edification, you’ll probably want lunch at some point in the early afternoon. You can head back down to the bottom of Main for a trip to Harvest, often considered to be Park City’s finest lunch spot. Or you can opt for a sandwich at local favorite The Back Door Delicatessen. Those looking for a quick-and-cheap bite will be well served by funky catch-all spot Davanza’s, located right behind Main. Those are just a couple of options, though. There are dozens of places for a tasty lunch situated along the whole length of Main.
Park City Main Street Shops
The afternoon is also a great time to do some shopping. We’ve already mentioned that Park City Main Street is swimming in restaurants and galleries, but it is also stuffed with shops. While there are some chain stores on the street, the best stuff is in the local boutiques. You might just walk away with some hand-forged kitchen knives, unique leather goods, or a variety of other unusual treasures. You’re spoiled for choice, no matter what it is you’re after.
The Afternoon
After lunch, why not squeeze in just a little more art appreciation? Park City is home to two works of street art by acclaimed graffiti guru Banksy. They’re both located on Main Street. Feel free to read more about them.
More Park City Main Street Restaurants
Once you’ve shopped, it’s time to drop into dinner. The breadth of outstanding cuisine at your disposal is staggering. Just in terms of Sushi, you’re already looking at an embarrassment of options. With choices like Handle, Riverhorse on Main, and Cafe Terigo in the mix, dinnertime decisions can get tough.
Evening Entertainment
Regardless of your choice, we suggest dropping in at High West for a drink after your meal. A real home-town highlight, this distillery and saloon is located just behind Park City Main Street. Opened in 2006, it has been delighting patrons with a selection of award-winning whiskeys as the first legal still in Utah since 1870.
Right about now, your show at the Egyptian Theater should probably be seating. Head back up the hill and take in some culture. This distinctive theater is home to a range of live shows and is a featured film venue for the Sundance Film Festival. You probably won’t see it during your visit, but the old Egyptian stage door (currently in storage) is graced with yet another Banksy.
After the final encore, your day is wrapping up. You can go the extra mile and try one of the nightlife spots along Park City Main Street, or you can head back to your accommodations to rest and recuperate from your active Main Street day.
Park City Vacation Rentals on Main Street Tips:
Staying on Main Street in Park City – Private Vacation Rentals
You don’t have to leave Main Street to rest, either. All Seasons Resort Lodging offers a selection of Park City vacation rentals on or adjacent to Main Street. Whether you want ski-in/ski-out luxury, a private hot tub on a balcony overlooking downtown, or the peace of a private hideaway perched above the hustle and bustle, we have you covered.
Skiing on Main Street
First-time visitors are often surprised that you can ski right off and onto Main Street. The aptly named Town Lift chair lift carries skiers directly to Park City Mountain from the plaza at the bottom of Main Street. Once you’ve had your fill of powder, you can ski right back down onto Park City Main Street from the resort. How convenient!
Getting Around – the Park City Bus System
You may have noticed that our sample itinerary calls for a lot of schlepping up and down Main Street. That could wear you out pretty quick. Fortunately, Park City has you covered! A charming trolley rolls tirelessly up and down Main Street every 15 minutes. It is entirely free, and you can basically hop on or off anywhere you want. Just wave at the man behind the wheel or stand next to a trolley stop and you’ll be on your way to any destination on the street!
In addition, the trolley swings by the downtown transit hub, from which you can link up with city buses headed to destinations all over town.
Where to Park on Main Street?
Parking on Main Street can be tight. It is a top-rated destination, drawing visitors from far and wide-many of whom arrive in their own vehicles. Pair parking is available along the road, but good luck nabbing a spot, especially during the winter. If you are daring and don’t intend to park overnight, you can try a couple of the paid lots behind Main Street on Swede Alley. The China Bridge garage is the largest of these facilities, but it still fills up quickly.
We suggest utilizing a park and ride or grabbing a rideshare instead of attempting to stuff your car into the cramped downtown lots. If you are staying right on Main or up at Park City Mountain’s base area, you won’t need a car at all! Step out your door or ski down onto Park City Main Street instead.
Related Reading–Parking in Park City: Where to Park at Park City Mountain, Main Street, and More
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Trailriffic times await!
It is true: Park City has some of the best snow on the planet. But that isn’t what we’re going to discuss today. We won’t even talk about the world-class events and festivals that call this little mountain retreat home. Instead, we are here to shed some light on the unsung hero of outdoor features: Park City trails.
A few years back, we spoke with one of the most prominent figures behind these beautiful journeys, executive director of the Mountain Trails Foundation Charlie Sturgis. You can read our interview here. Founded in 1992 with only a few hand-cut trails-all on private land-this member-driven non-profit now maintains over 400 miles of continuous non-motorized trails in and around the Park City area, making our Winter’s Favorite Town home to one of America’s most extensive trail systems.
With so many amazing paths and scenic vistas to explore, choosing the “right trail” can be daunting task. Luckily, our in-house trail masters have called out a few of our favorites in Thaynes Canyon for you to discover! So gear up and let’s start with one of the most famous trails in the network: Armstrong Trail.
Needless to say, this labor of love is clearly enjoyed by hikers, bikers, and trail riders from all walks of life.
How to Access Armstrong Trailhead
A local favorite, Armstrong is a 3.8-mile-long trail classified as intermediate in difficulty. Access to the trail is gained by way of a 0.1-mile walk on Silver Star Access, which also opens into Dawns, Spiro, and Silver Spur. Once on Armstrong, travelers can connect directly to Dawns and Mid-Mountain. Dawns is a comfortable 1.8-mile trek back down to Silver Star Access with additional outlets to Spiro and Silver Spur, while Mid-Mountain (a challenging 23-mile point-to-point behemoth) connects hikers and bikers to dozens of other trails throughout the Wasatch Back.
During the summer, the trail is awash in the colors of delicate Utah wildflowers, including Indian Paintbrush, Thistle, Black-Eyed Susans, and Columbines-to name a few. In the fall, the trail blazes with the fiery leaves of the quaking aspen, making Armstrong a favorite among photographers and “leaf peepers.” Regardless of the season, Armstrong loops in and around scrub oak and evergreen forests, passing the sleepy landmarks of old mining relics along the way.
Tips
Come one come all! Armstrong is highly popular with two and four legged locals (expect to share the trail with dogs and even horses just as excited to share be outside as you!). Since Park City is designated a Gold Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), you can also expect to see a fair share of bikers. However, Armstrong restricts mountain bikers to uphill travel only. Keep an ear open and remember trail hierarchy: horses, hikers and bikers.
Pro tip: Approach the edges of clearings carefully. You may catch a glimpse of mule deer, which frequently graze on the open ground of bare ski runs.
Tips for Alternative Routes
Looking for an easier alternative on the way back down? Dawns is a good way to return to Silver Star Access and is less than 2 miles long. Looking for a scenic vista? Take Spiro and zig-zag behind Park City Mountain Resort for views of the base and parts of downtown Park City. Adventurous souls can continue up Armstrong to access Mid-Mountain for a plethora of trail offerings and additional challenges that will leave even seasoned challengers breathless.
If you are hankering to get out and enjoy those fall colors, book a Park City vacation rental direct through us, and then hop on a trail and let the area’s best features unfold before your eyes as you explore.
Mountain Trails Interactive Map
Downtown
There’s always something exciting going on near Park City Mountain, Historic Main Street, and Prospector Square.
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Summer may be over for now, but America’s Finest City is gearing up for a fun-filled fall.
Staying from September through November? Congratulations! You’ve chosen a magical time to visit San Diego. Take a peek at some upcoming events on the fall Calendar. From large festivals with broad appeal to niche events seemingly tailored to your tastes, San Diego does not disappoint.
Fall Events
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Woodward Park City is a the nation’s first all-in-one action sports and ski resort. Set to feature both indoor and outdoor action sports, people of all ages can play, learn, and train at the fully integrated campus. Woodward Park City is built to encourage intuitive growth and progresion in 10 sports including snowboarding and skiing, mountain biking, indoor and outdoor facilities for skateboarding, BMX, scooter, parkour, and cheer. Everyone is welcome!
How to Play
Athletes of all ages and abilities will be able to play through all-access passes, day sessions, lift tickets, drop-in sessions, day camps, lessons, monthly membership, and special events.
Monthly memberships can be purchased now at the introductory rate of $100 per month.
“Woodward Park City is for all athletes from families and never-evers to pros,” says Shaydar Edelmann, Woodward Park City general manager. “Our progression-based facilities enable visitors of all skill levels to learn and achieve their goals in a dedicated environment.”
What will it look like?
Design renderings and a sneak peak flyover show what we have to look forward to this winter!
Tubing
Gather up the family or a group of friends for the longest landes and the best tubing in Utah! The Gorgoza tubing hill is now Woodward Park City and includes a new magic carpet and even more lanes for tubing. When you’re ready to try something new, try tubing!
Location and Where to Stay
Woodward Park City is located in Park City, Utah and it’s just 27 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport. Find your new home away from home for your next trip to Park City. We offer Park City lodging located throughout Park City and accommodate individuals and groups alike!
More Information
To learn more and stay updated on construction progress, visit woodwardparkcity.com.
Photos and video courtesy of Woodward Park City.
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The Scoop on San Diego Bike Sharing
The last few months have seen an unprecedented explosion of brightly-colored bicycles and electric scooters strewn across the streets and sidewalks of every corner of the San Diego-sometimes literally. You’ll see them along the beach in front of Capri by the Sea, propped near a tree in La Jolla, or on a sidewalk in the Gaslamp Quarter. What does this influx of freestanding vehicles portend? How do they work? And what are the downsides?
A Bit of History
While dockless bicycle and scooter rentals are a new phenomenon here in the States, it started several years ago as an experiment by the Peking University cycling club. They quickly started adding bikes to a shared rental pool, accessed via app, which allowed users to pick up, use, and leave a ride in a convenient manner. Eventually, the experiment became a company, called ofo, in 2015. More campuses, bikes, users, and cities across China were soon included in the exciting new movement, and, in 2017, the craze burst the boundaries of Chinese exclusivity to take in other destinations, including Singapore, Cambridge, Seattle, and Sydney. The expansion isn’t over. New cities regularly join forces to roll out ofo service in crowded urban centers and tourist destinations.
It all started in China. Photo courtesy of ofo.
Breakout innovations quickly spawn competitors, copycats, and successors, however, and ofo is hardly the only name in the game. In San Diego alone there are at least four dockless sharing services already, including Limebike, Mobike, Bird, and ofo, all of which are squeezing previously-operating docked bike service Discover Bikes (formerly DecoBike) out of the market through additional convenience. Nationwide and internationally, there are dozens of companies in fierce competition for market share in an emerging trade. Not everyone is a winner. At least three Chinese firms have folded in recent months, and no one is sure how the whole endeavor will shake out in the long run. But-for the time being, at least-dockless bike-sharing is a big deal in San Diego.
How it Works
The premise of dockless bike-sharing is relatively straightforward: you need to go somewhere and would like to use a bicycle to get there. These services provide bicycles. If you want to ride one, you need to download the app corresponding to the bike you would like to use. Create a profile, input your credit card information, and scan the bike’s code. Once verified, the bike’s lock opens, and you are free to ride. Go wherever you want to go for as long as you want with your new bicycle. To conclude your temporary ownership, simply end your ride either on the app or by sliding the bike’s lock back into place, and you are done. Your credit card is charged for the time you spent behind the handlebars, and the bike is ready for a new rider to come along and claim it from wherever you left it using the bike’s unique GPS locator.
Phone, meet bike. Photo courtesy of Mobike
The Bad
This is new territory. While a small group of eco-conscious communities already experiment with docked bike-sharing services-including San Diego and Park City-the dockless version is a fresh idea. To a certain extent, that makes the entire enterprise a sort of wild west. Companies, users, and cities are all just coming to terms with what a laissez faire system of vehicular lending will end up looking like. There will be growing pains as everyone involved feels out the boundaries and grinds off the rough edges of an exciting development in transportation technology.
One of the primary headaches for consumers comes through the diversity of offerings. Monopolies are bad, across the board, and no one should advocate for less competition. But it can be a bit irritating-even overwhelming-to need four or more apps installed at all times, each with your credit card details, just to make sure that you can use the nearest bike or scooter. This is a quibble, but it could impact adoption rates overall.
I just told you to wear a helmet! Photo courtesy of Limebike.
Additionally-though it seems silly to say-many Americans just aren’t all that accustomed to bicycling. Sure, you see plenty of diehards in Lycra rolling around the streets of your community, but they represent such a tiny fraction of the populace. The average consumer/commuter might be reticent to expand their transportation options to include whatever bikes may be laying around.
Those who do jump on the new trend may experience a period of… growing pains. A poor understanding of cycling traffic laws and a lack of skill and confidence while operating unfamiliar equipment on a shared motorway can be a deadly combination. Many dockless bike-sharing enthusiasts don’t exactly stick to safety gear regulations, either. Uncommon, indeed, is the user who carries around a bike helmet just for their rented bike ride.
The Ugly
Dockless bike-sharing has a people problem. Sometimes, people really, really suck. From mountains of used bikes piled inopportunely on sidewalks, parking lots, and private property to trashed cycles lying in drainage ditches, in the bay, up trees, and over streetlights, the careless jerks are kind of ruining it for everyone.
None of these services are particularly quick to remove bikes left blocking receiving bays, handicap access, thoroughfares, or entryways. And, without existing regulations and statutes on the books, there isn’t anyone to enforce any order on these seemingly-but-not-actually abandoned. Complaints are not uncommon regarding eyesores and inconveniences created by riders who finish their journey in the wrong spot.
What is a guy supposed to do with so many bikes? Image courtesy of Kevin Frayer.
Then there are those who just want to watch the world-or at least the bike-burn. Abused, stranded, or otherwise misused bicycles cost companies money, decrease supply, and annoy the general populace. Service Gobee.bike had to pull out of France after the majority of their inventory was destroyed by vandals, and Chinese firm Wukong Bikes went belly-up after 90% of their stock was lost, destroyed, or stolen. Only time will tell if the very notion of sharing bicycles and scooters will survive in the face of humanity’s worst traits.
Only the Beginning
Where are we going? Nobody knows. Photo courtesy of Limebike.
Regardless of the future success, failure, or implosion of this nascent industry, it is currently an active and fascinating front in the discussion surrounding our changing lives in the face of accelerating technology and social capitalism. Whether you regularly grab a Limebike for your errands or you just shake your head at the pile of ofos and Mobikes outside your favorite coffee shop, this is only the beginning of San Diego’s adventure in sharing bicycles and scooters. Keep an eye out and make sure your voice is heard as public debate and government action develop.
Disclaimer: All Seasons Resort Lodging is not affiliated with any docked or dockless bike or scooter sharing system.
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The time has come to bid adieu to the holiday season, and, with it, the sugary vices we all love so much. We suggest that anyone who has forsworn sweets for the new year may want to look away from this blog post-lest ye be tempted beyond that which ye can bear. Park City is a veritable smorgasbord of heavenly (or devilish?) delights that deserve proper recognition. Consider your waistline warned…
Java Cow / I Love Moo
Savor ice cream so luscious you’ll go for seconds and thirds. Made from all natural, locally sourced ingredients, these frozen dairy delights are available at Java Cow on Historic Main Street and its sister store-I Love Moo-in Kimball Junction. Also known for their cheeky and whimsical decor, hot cocoa, and other bakery treats.
Suss Cookie Company
Perfect for the cookie connoisseur, these sumptuous sweets have caught the eye-and the taste buds-of the nation. This includes recent recognition as the best cookies in the state of Utah. It may seem basic, but the chocolate chip comes highly recommended. The Suss Cookie Company has perfected this classic standby. While there are no brick-and-mortar shops around just yet, you can sample their wares at The Market during your grocery run.
Windy Ridge Bakery
Home to baked goods of all shapes and sizes, Windy Ridge Bakery is known for treats both savory and sweet, pre-prepared meals, and seasonal specialties. Every single item is handmade with love-9,000 ft above sea level. The croissants are a local favorite, and likely to sell out early each day! Widely loved, Windy Ridge is the place to go for a celebratory treat to cap off your ski vacation.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Craving a rich toffee? Hankering for a candy-adorned caramel apple? Look no further than Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. This home-grown chocolate chain holds court in the middle of Main Street with all the attendant authentic charm. Peanut butter buckets-a supersized take on a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup-are a standout in a roster of excellence. The only way to select your own favorite is to pay them a visit-or several!
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Once you have your Park City vacation rental booked and you’ve arrived safely, you need to know how to get around. Park City is a sprawling town arranged north to south around Highway 224, which branches off from the east-west I-80 interstate just below the mountain summit. There are four general areas to town, called Kimball Junction, Snyderville, Old Town, and Deer Valley. Each of the four areas is almost a self-contained town of its own, with a unique character and distinct features.
Kimball Junction
Kimball Junction is the home of the popular Tanger Outlets.
Kimball Junction is the cluster of commercial parks and neighborhoods right off the freeway. This is also the newest part of town, a lot of which sprung up around the same time as the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Games. There is still new, ongoing construction of hip, attractive homes and businesses, and this is the home of almost all the chain businesses in town. If you need a Walmart or a Best Buy, you’ll find them here. You will also find shopping options at Tanger Outlets, and most of the lodging in this area is in the form of condominium complexes.
Snyderville
Snyderville has some fantastic cross-country terrain.
Snyderville is located a few minutes south of Kimball Junction and is home to the Canyons Village base area of Park City Mountain. Most activity in this area is based around the Canyons Village Plaza, an open space at the base of the slopes surrounded by shops and restaurants. Most lodging here is found in large hotel or lodge properties, though there are some home or condo complexes a bit further down the hill. Synderville is lighter on options than either Kimball Junction or Old Town when it comes to restaurants, shops, bars, etc. That said, it is only a 5-10 minute drive to get to either of these commercials hubs if you desire a wider selection.
Old Town
The glowing heart of Park City.
Old Town is the heart of Park City. Home to Historic Main Street, this converted mining town is now a vibrant little community filled with brightly-painted homes, fantastic restaurants, and cute shops. Park City Mountain is located here, and there is a great diversity of entertainment venues and potential activities. Old Town is filled with every conceivable lodging choice, from cozy homes and convenient downtown condos to large lodges and sprawling hotels.
Deer Valley
Majesty and tranquility pervade Deer Valley.
Deer Valley is tucked back behind Old Town, up in the hills above the downtown area. Beautiful and secluded Deer Valley Resort lives here, along with towering mansions and beautiful private homes. Winding and delicate mountain roads lead to lofty neighborhoods in the clouds with exquisite vistas. High-end hotels and a few condo options dot the landscape. There are dining options, but guests in Deer Valley often migrate to Old Town for additional choices.
Getting Around Town
Take a ride on the bus. Seriously-these are great buses.
Being such a decentralized town with huge seasonal population swings and limited infrastructure, Park City presents some unique transportation difficulties and innovative transit solutions. Highway 224-the major thoroughfare connecting almost all of Park City-quickly bogs down during peak seasonal traffic, especially in winter driving conditions or during major events. The drive gets even more complicated when parking is thrown in the mix. Park City is an old town, and was definitely not built with 21st-century vehicular logistics in mind. There is very little parking outside the resort lots and other private parking structures. There is no way to park on Main Street during the Sundance Film Festival. It just isn’t going to happen.
But there are solutions. Notably, Park City has a fantastic free public transportation system. Tidy, efficient, buses convey visitors to and from attractions, transit hubs, and many lodging properties. To call it a bus route does the transit system a disservice. It is a wonderful way to get around town. The routes are simple, have plenty of stops and connections, and are real time savers. If your experience with public transit consists of dingy, plodding journeys on grimy buses, you are in for a pleasant surprise here. During fairer weather, the city’s electric-assisted bike program offers an additional choice for getting around town. Easy and scenic, the bikes are the perfect choice for someone looking for a more fresh-air experience.
Getting around Main Street is a whole topic of its own. It is a busy place, there is a lot to see, and you are not going to want to drive there during ski season. In addition to the paucity of parking, Main Street is best experienced on foot. There are so many businesses with so many out-of-the-way nooks (including a pair of Banksy paintings) that you would simply miss in a car. Take in the atmosphere, stroll casually through the galleries, and follow your nose to any of more than 50 restaurants for a perfect meal. If you want to save yourself the elevation change and speed up your jaunt, you can hop on the Main Street trolley, which will get you anywhere on Main you want to go, including dozens of delicious restaurants.
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Welcome to Park City! Since this is your first visit, we want to make sure you have an ideal trip and a special experience while you are here in town. Park City is home to some of the fluffiest, most ideal powder in the whole world, and there is no experience quite like a Bluebird Day on our Wasatch slopes. To make sure you get the quintessential Park City experience the first time around we’ve compiled a guide full of insider tips.
Choosing Your Lodging
Historic Main Street.
The journey starts long before you pack your bags. Your Park City voyage begins the moment you pick a date and start looking for lodging. Getting the perfect accommodation lays the groundwork for an ideal Wasatch adventure. Lodging options can be roughly divided into three categories-hotels, condos, and homes. On one end, hotels tend toward smaller rooms with fewer features but generally offer comprehensive service, including housekeeping and concierge. Homes-on the other hand-are full-featured houses, but lack on-site hospitality services. Condominium offerings bridge the gap between these extremes. Many have features like full kitchens and in-room fireplaces and may have communal amenities.
Are you a couple that wants your bedroom refreshed each morning and plan to primarily dine out for every meal? Maybe the hotel experience is best. Do you want a home away from home, complete with home-cooked meals and lazy evenings in front of the fire? Try renting a house. Browse through our Park City vacation rentals and find the perfect spot for your ideal stay!
Location, Location, Location
Ski onto Main Street using Town Lift.
The location of your rental is also an important consideration. As a general rule of thumb, the closer you are to major attractions, the higher your nightly rate will be. Time is money, and a convenient location will save you a ton of time, for a price. In a town like Park City, the ski resorts are the biggest attraction in town. Properties near the slopes cost more-on the average-than those on the outskirts of town. But there are additional factors. Main Street is also a major attraction, and homes/hotels on or near the downtown area come at a premium. Staying a few minutes away in a neighborhood like Prospector Square or Kimball Junction will cut down your bill considerably, and adds a few minutes each way to your transit time. Ultimately, your valuation of price vs convenience will dictate your choice of location.
The biggest location premium in Park City is the prestigious ski-in/ski-out feature. When a property is labeled ski-in/ski-out, it technically means that you can leave and return to your rental with skis on your feet. The term is often stretched a bit to apply to any property with immediate access to the resort, even if you have to cross a parking lot or climb some stairs first. Supremely convenient, this feature is limited by geography. There are only so many buildings that can fit around the resorts, and the limited supply creates exceptional demand. As a result, any property that offers ski-in/ski-out as a feature is going to charge a higher rate than a comparable property just 100 yards away. If you don’t mind a short walk, you can save quite a bit by skipping out on ski-in/ski-out.
It also goes without saying that square footage costs money. The larger your potential accommodations, the larger the nightly rate will tend to be. Smaller lodging choices are more affordable, but the smaller size generally means there is less to do “at home.” If you and three friends are bunking in a studio, you aren’t going to be doing a lot in the evening in your room. There just isn’t enough space. If your family of five is relaxing in a large 3-bedroom home, your time in the house could be just as exciting and enjoyable as your time on the slopes. Interestingly, the increased impetus to go out and seek entertainment around town to keep yourself busy can more than make up the rate difference between a smaller and a larger property. Don’t end up paying more for less by accident.
Dinner: Burgers and Bourbon
Above the clouds and on the way.
In addition to your lodging, you need to think about how you are going to get to Park City. If you aren’t a local, driving is going to be an unavoidable part of your trip, and you will probably board a plane at some point if you live outside of Utah. Fortunately, Salt Lake City is home to a major international airport, which allows visitors to get within the relative neighborhood of Park City from nearly anywhere on earth. From there, the slopes are less than an hour away by car.
The Open Road
Most people haven’t used one of these in a while.
If air travel is still too expensive, driving the whole way may be just the ticket. While it takes an order of magnitude longer to take a cross-country road trip, it generally works out to be an order of magnitude cheaper. As above, it is a cost vs convenience issue. A quick but expensive flight or a leisurely and affordable drive? Either way, you are going to arrive in Park City by car.
Utah drivers aren’t great. It was a big day when Utah drivers improved from the worst in the nation to the third worst. But you aren’t likely to spend a lot of time on the road once you arrive. Most people will approach Park City through Parley’s Canyon, a portion of I-80 that serves as the major interstate artery winding through the mountains east of Salt Lake City.
From the airport, “Parley’s” is a straight shot east across the city and into the hills. The canyon is winding, and winter conditions sometimes require the use of chains or snow tires to access town. Come prepared. The last thing you want is to spend the night in a hotel at the mouth of the canyon because you can’t get into the mountains. If you aren’t driving the whole way, a rental vehicle or an Uber/Lyft/taxi will be your best bet. If you are staying right downtown or very close to the resorts, you can safely skip the rental and go with the rideshare, otherwise you might prefer the freedom of your own wheels. Once you get transportation ironed out, then you have to figure out how to feed yourself in unfamiliar territory.
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Visitors who have taken a bus from either of Park City’s transit centers may have noticed instances of Park City’s most unique audiovisual projects-Art Pianos for All. More than a dozen functional pianos of various shapes and sizes have been collected, lovingly embellished, and installed in participating public spaces around Summit County.
A Piano in process of its transformation.
Building Art out of Music
Any Utah artist may submit a proposal to the Art Pianos for All project when a piano becomes available, detailing their vision for a new piece. Once approved, each artist gets several weeks to work at the site of their new installation, transforming a neglected piano from a forgotten instrument into a fantastical creative centerpiece gracing a bustling public space. These pianos can be found in libraries, community centers, and city halls around the county, where they inspire passersby and provoke ongoing discussion within their communities.
The project grew out of a Leadership Park City trip to Fort Collins, Colorado, where the director of Art Pianos for All and local photographer, Mark Maziarz saw pieces from a similar initiative on the streets and in public spaces. In 2012, Mark, with support from the Summit County and Park City Art Boards, decided to bring the concept of a large-scale public art project to Park City. Art Pianos for All aims to “create an attraction of an artist working on site and the result of an interactive public art installation to remain in the Summit County, Utah area,” according to the project’s request for proposal paperwork.
Building a Legacy
According to Mark, the largest single obstacle facing Art Pianos for All is scouting a suitable location willing to participate in the initiative. Park City is a fantastic four-season destination with a solid claim to the title of “Greatest Snow on Earth”. While that trademarked boast captures the fascination of powder hounds around the globe looking to ski the Wasatch, it bodes ill for the pianos themselves. The expansion and contraction caused by vacillating temperatures, the weathering of harsh winds, and the unwanted intrusion of moisture from the yearly snows can take a toll on the instruments-many of which are permanently installed in outdoor locations. The Dragon Piano, for instance, keeps court on the porch of the historic Miners Hospital, freely exposed to the buffetings of Mother Nature. Luckily, Mark and his team keep a watchful eye on the pianos health and conduct regular, yearly tunings to ensure the longevity of these hybrid functional/decorative pieces.
As of 2018, Art Pianos for All has placed 15 pianos within Summit County, all comfortably living out their days as community art installation pieces. Designs range from fiery dragons to placid hummingbirds on floral fields; there is a piano for all tastes somewhere in the county. Below, you can find an illustrative map of all pianos currently in and around Park City.
Dragon Piano at the Miners Hospital
Art Pianos for All serves as a testament to Park City’s enduring support of community wellness and cultural exploration through the arts. Whether you tickle the ivories or not, these pianos-with their outrageous and eye-catching designs-are more than enough to leave a lasting mark on your day every time you see them. Book a Park City vacation rental through us today and come see Art Pianos for All for yourself!
To learn more about Art Pianos for All please visit their Facebook page here.
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