This is an odd one for me…traveling TO a wintry place in the winter?! Very much against-brand for me. Strangely enough, sometimes I get the itch for that crisp, fresh air, wearing a hat and mittens, and cozying up by a fire. It gets chilly here in Arizona in winter, but it’s just not the same. So a couple of years ago, my husband and I made a quick trip up to Park City, UT over the New Year weekend. I’m not a downhill skier (super weird since I grew up in one of the snowiest places in the US!), so this 2-day itinerary does not include any skiing. You could certainly substitute our Apres-ski day for an actual ski day, or add a third day to hit the slopes! And while this trip was just my husband and me, you could definitely take kids along and skip the Apres-ski portions of the itinerary. Snuggle up with a warm blanket, and enjoy this post!
This post contains affiliate links. When you book using one of these links, I get a small commission without any cost to you. Thank you!
Here is a sample itinerary based on our 2-day visit to Park City in January:
DAY 1: SNOWSHOE TOUR AND DINNER IN A LOG CABIN
To get to Park City, your best option is to fly in to Salt Lake City (SLC), rent a car, and drive the 45 minutes up to Park City. Try not to get a rear-wheel drive car if you’re there in winter! We flew in that morning and grabbed lunch at a sandwich shop along the way. We had booked a half-day Snowshoe and Sledding Tour like this one through Viator (check their app for the latest on guided tours and reserve in advance), and it was during COVID so it ended up being a private tour! Our driver met us downtown, and then drove us up in to the mountain to start our snowshoe trek. All of the equipment was provided, which was great. We snowshoed up and all around the mountain for several miles (such a great workout if you haven’t tried it before), while hearing about the history of the area. We stopped several times for photos and to soak in the views, and then took sleds back down the mountain to where the van was parked. I’d highly recommend a tour like this with or without kids…we had such a fun time!
Normally I would recommend staying right in Park City (definitely if you are skiing), but since we were not skiing and it was the uber-busy (a.k.a. expensive) holiday season, we decided to stay in Salt Lake City. We stayed at the AC Marriott right in the heart of downtown SLC, just a 40 minute drive from Park City. We spent a third day exploring SLC, and then flew home that evening.
After our outdoor adventure, we headed back toward SLC, but a little off the beaten path in to the forest for dinner in a fabulous, yet cozy log cabin called Log Haven. This time of year, it was completely blanketed in snow, with twinkling white lights, and is the type of place where the wooden floor squeaks when you step through the restaurant. The food is excellent, and after dinner you can walk across the road to a big, icy waterfall and snap a few pictures. It was so good, we made the trip back the next time we were in the area with kids…totally worth the drive!
DAY 2: GONDOLAS AND APRES SKI DAY
Since we were staying in downtown SLC, we grabbed breakfast at Eva’s Bakery right near our hotel. Wow, such a delicious meal! It’s very popular, so make sure you have time to wait for a table. We have gone there three times in two trips to SLC…it’s that good.
If you’re traveling to Park City to ski (which most people are), then you’ll be busy with that. But if you’re more of a winter sports “enthusiast” like me, Apres-ski can be a lot of fun too. Also perfect for parents who might not want to ski all day with the kids; you can stay close by experiencing Apres-ski, and then meet up with the kids when they need you. There are two main ski resorts in Park City: Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain. Since we were on Park City Mountain on Day 1, we decided to spend time in Deer Valley on our second day. We started at the St. Regis. There’s a big parking lot near the resort, then a short walk up a hill, and then a brief (but steep!) gondola ride that takes you in to the hotel. There was an outdoor bar area (just walk-up service and basic bar food though) with stunning views of the mountain and ski runs, and fire pits all around. It was super busy that day, but after a short wait we found a couple of chairs to sit back, relax, and enjoy some bubbly and the views.
After an hour or so outside, we got a table inside at Brasserie 7452, where we had some appetizers and drinks. It’s a beautiful space with large windows looking out over the mountain, and the food did not disappoint! We headed back down to Main Street to walk around a bit and check out the shops, and then did one more stop at the Waldorf Astoria near Park City Mountain for dessert. If you’ve read my other posts, you’ll know about my love for exploring fancy hotels (that I can’t afford to stay at!) via their grounds, lobbies, and restaurants. I just love the feel of the rustic, lodge-y hotels in ski resort towns.
That rounded out our quick two days in Park City over the holiday weekend…time to get back to work so we can pay for our next vacation!
Utah is such a beautiful state, especially when the mountains are covered in snow. Helpful hotel and restaurant recommendations.
Thank you Sheila! Yes…Utah is beautiful anytime of the year!