20 Best Things to Do in Park City, Utah, According to Locals

Ski Deer Valley Resort with a champion.

Park City is home to two world-class resorts. In addition to its eponymous mountain, there’s also Deer Valley, with it’s 2,000 acres of skiable terrain. Here, you can strap on your boots and take some turns alongside an actual Olympic athlete. The experience doesn’t come cheap, though. A full day with one of the six local legends will set you back $2,800.

Pack the ultimate picnic.

As co-founder of Tupelo — one of Park City’s top farm-to-table dining concepts — Maggie Alvarez knows a thing or two about sourcing great grub. But she doesn’t only want to be inside to enjoy it. On especially beautiful days, she likes to take her food into an alpine setting to set up the ideal mountain picnic. And there are plenty of places across town to grab the sort of on-the-go fare she needs for the job.

“We like to do daytime dates, so we will grab an amazing sandwich at Chop Shop or Big Dipper, and then take it with us for a hike,” she says. “We have been exploring the trails at Wasatch Mountain State Park a lot this summer; they’re easy to access and [offer a] high scenic reward, especially if you don’t have a ton of time.”

Go blow some glass.

Renowned bartender Xania V. Woodman mixes up an array of creative cocktails at not one, but two locations across town — Sip & Stir and Handle. When she’s not busy behind the bar, she likes to get behind the torch at Red Flower Studios. “They offer glass-blowing [sessions] for individuals and groups that let you take home a truly unique souvenir: your own mouth-blown bauble or ornament,” says Woodman. “And let me tell you, the sheer sense of accomplishment that comes from going from zero to hero with a new skill is such a high.”

Toast to your artsy accomplishment with a pint of local craft beer.

“It doesn't hurt that you can then celebrate your sweet victory with a sour beer next door at Offset Bier,” adds Woodman. The popular hangout also specializes in dark lagers and hoppy IPAs. Menus change with the season, but the house ale, DOPO, is a perennial standby on draft. 

Come Along on T+L’s Top U.S. Adventures

Partake in inclusive winter sports.

For people with disabilities, skiing remains a daunting task at many resorts across the country. Thankfully, that’s not the case in Park City, which is home to the National Ability Center (NAC). It’s a nonprofit organization that provides adaptive recreation and outdoor adventures to individuals with disabilities, and it just opened a new, state-of-the-art facility focusing on inclusive winter sport access for visitors with cognitive, physical, and developmental disabilities.

Have dinner in a yurt on top of a mountain.

Ever wanted to enjoy chef-driven cuisine in an opulent tent, 10,000 feet above sea level? The Viking Yurt offers an unforgettable evening just for you and your loved ones. The experience begins promptly at 5:45 p.m. with a 25-minute sleigh ride up to the pinnacle of Park City. You’re welcomed into the yurt with a mug of glogg as you settle in for a 3.5-hour dining adventure. Dinners start at $280 per person, including tax and gratuity, and must be reserved in advance.

Take a shot from the world's longest shot ski.

If you’re hankering for something a bit stronger, High West has you covered. The huge saloon with its own stillhouse — and a pronounced Old West vibe — opened along Main Street back in 2007. As its whiskey became increasingly fashionable across the country, the brand moved most of its production to a distillery up the road in Wanship, which is now open to the public for tours. But this original location remains home to a boisterous bar and restaurant. Every October, it hosts the World’s Longest Shot Ski event. To set the most recent record, the bar lined up 528 skis, end to end, serving 1,340 people a communal shot of spirit.

Discover the area's (haunted) history.

If it’s a different sort of spirit you’re seeking, check out Park City Ghost Tours, which heads out every night starting at 7 p.m. in the winter and 8 p.m. in the summer. “As a mining camp-cum-boomtown that nearly became a ghost town, Park City takes its history seriously,” says Woodman. “The Park City Museum delivers with not only a high-quality Main Street exhibition that can take multiple visits to soak in (don’t miss the basement jail), but also organized hikes to historic places, lectures, and local cemetery tours.”

Refuel at the best new restaurants in town.

“The newest hot spot on Main Street is Pine Cone Ridge,” according to Woodman. “It has an inviting bar, an adventurous craft cocktail menu, and a bar menu with prices that are somewhat gentler than the dining room. You'll find me there, taking up space at the bar, enjoying a dry Manhattan paired alongside crab cakes Louis.”

Escape from Main Sreet.

Located along the lower section of Main Street, Escape Room Park City offers four original experiences, including a Mine Trap with a distinctively Western feel. They can be booked for up to 10 players, starting at $39 per person. It’s a great afternoon out for families.