Leocadia blog

Travel Postcard: 48 hours in Park City, Utah

PARK CITY, Utah (Reuters Life!) – Park City ski resort in Utah is the access spot for some of America's best skiing with three major ski resorts all alongside each other -- Deer Valley, Park City and The Canyons.

The mountain town of Park City, just a 45 minute drive from the Salt Lake City airport, has ample hotels and lodges, family-friendly skiing and snowboarding and a variety of restaurants, bars and shops.

And if you should happen to be here during the Sundance Film Festival, the town's other big attraction that takes place once a year, the slopes will be less crowded as the Hollywood set mostly stays off the mountain and in the cinema.

FRIDAY

5 p.m. - Before dinner head over to Empire Canyon Lodge and take a horse-drawn sleigh ride or an adventurous trek on snowshoes.

7 p.m. - Dine at Fireside Dining in the heart of Deer Valley to enjoy Swiss raclette cheese served with cured Italian and dessert fondues.

9 p.m. - The night is still young. Walk the main street of Park City, pop into any of the bars, including Flanagan's Irish Pub, and try a Black and Tan while striking up a friendly conversation with a local. Or if celebrities at Sundance are more your speed, try and sneak into the various VIP spots, such as Bing Bar, which hosts nightly events.

SATURDAY

9 a.m. - Ski at the Park City resort. Take the town lift right off Main Street. Few ski resorts can boast a chair right off the main street. The chair is slow but scenic as you slide right up through thick trees.

10 a.m. - After starting with an easy green Home Run to Claim Jumper, head to the Bonanza chair. Follow the morning sun and head over to Pioneer lift and ski or snowboard on the Cornstock run.

11 a.m. - Stop at the Summit Restaurant for a quick coffee before skiing down to take a peek at the Viking Yurt, a quaint Norwegian style restaurant that has been voted one of the most romantic places in the United States.

11:30 a.m. - Ski or snowboard some of the SilverLode chair runs. Get some courage up and try the black diamond run of Lost Prospector, which is a single black.

1 p.m. - Get back to the blue run and get the thighs burning down Hidden Splendor down to Snow Hut restaurant for a healthy soup and sandwich.

2 p.m. - Head back up SilverLode and down Home Run for a short time to McConkey's chair for a spectacular view. Adventurous boarders and skiers can hike from here to access Jupiter Peak at 3,047 meters (9,998 ft), the highest point on the mountain where you can drop into some wide-open bowls.

3 p.m. - After taking a few more runs, take the lift back upnd wind your way down Tycoon.

4. p.m. - Slowly make your way down the edge of the resort down Tycoon and Payday and all the way to the bottom of Town Lift down the Quit N Time run. Make sure your legs are still alive after a big first day.

5 p.m. - At the bottom of Quittin' Time ski run and next to the Town Lift head to the High Way West Distillery and Saloon. It is Utah's first distillery since the 1870's, and is claimed to be the only ski-in gastro-distillery in the world. Try some small plates of the nouveau western fare and their own small-batch, mountain-crafted, award-winning whiskeys and vodkas. Watch your alcohol intake because with the mountain altitude, one drink feels like three.

8 p.m. - After a hot tub to relax the aching muscles, head to lively Easy Street Restaurant Brasserie & Bar which serves steak and seafood in a buzzing atmosphere and cozy fireplaces.

10 p.m. - Head to Mulligans, one of the best-loved bars in Park City.

SUNDAY

9 a.m. - Ski Deer Valley today. Restricted to skiers, Deer Valley is often voted the best resort in the United States for its friendly staff, amenities and limited people on the mountain. Start at Snow Park Lodge and take the Carpenter Express Ski lift.

1 a.m. - Go up from Sterling lift for a view at the top of Bald Mountain, and then head to Snowshoe Tommy's for a well-deserved break. Try an espresso, hot chocolate or coffee and some quick snacks.

12 p.m. - There are many green, blue and black runs to suit all ski types. If you have little ones they will love the set up jumps off the side of the groomed slopes and through the trees. Take the Stein's run to the Sultan chair.

1 p.m. - Head down Nabob over to the Quincy lift. Take the Hawkeye run and go up the Northside Express lift and ski down to the Empire Canyon Grill for a selection of gourmet grill meats, pizza, soup, chilies, paninis.

3 p.m. - After a few more runs down Empire, take the Ruby Express for an easy ski all the way back to Snow Park Lodge down Homeward Bound and Success. The best way to end a full weekend's skiing.

(Editing by Patricia Reaney)