Park City was originally an old mining town, and the area still maintains a frontier feel. Shops, restaurants, lodges, art galleries and lively nightspots are housed in Victorian-style buildings. But the area, with three resorts, is best-known for skiing, and it hosted skiing competitions during the 2002 Olympic Games.
Deer Valley is a somewhat exclusive ski area with high standards for service and luxurious amenities and, accordingly, was the site of the Olympic slalom, mogul and aerial events. Lift-ticket sales are limited, creating uncrowded conditions on the slopes. The resort includes 88 runs on four mountains, with terrain suitable for beginners, intermediate skiers and experts. Snowboarding is not permitted.
The Park City Mountain Resort has attracted skiers to its incredibly diverse slopes since 1945. There are 100 runs, including four open bowls, mogul runs and night skiing on the longest lighted run in the area. Snowboarders will find ample facilities, including the resort's half-pipe, where Olympic events took place.
The Canyons is one of Utah's newer resorts (some of the slopes formerly made up the now-defunct Park West and Wolf Mountain resorts). It's a massive complex: 134 runs and 15 lifts on eight mountains. Snowboarding is permitted.
Daredevils might want to try ski jumping (lessons available) at the Utah Winter Sports Park near Park City. Visitors also can enjoy snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, hot-air ballooning, sleigh rides and ice skating. The area is popular with both singles and families, and is a good spot for visitors who don't ski or who don't want to ski every day. The most famous nonskiing event in town is the Sundance Film Festival, held in January. (Despite the festival's name, it's not actually held in Sundance, the resort area south of Park City.) 27 mi/43 km east of Salt Lake City.
