My family loves to ski. We try to make it out west at least once a year to hit the slopes and escape the Florida heat. This year, we tried a new mountain. My friend E and her son invited my son and I to travel with them to Park City, Utah. She grew up in Salt Lake City, so Park City was where she learned to ski. We were lucky to travel with a Utah native who knew the super fun runs, downtown hot spots and yummy eateries. I always enjoy going to places I’ve never been, so this was a treat. We flew Delta non-stop to Salt Lake City. I loved the fact that the ski resort was only 25 miles from the airport. Typically, when skiing in Colorado, we have a 2-3 hour drive, so it was nice to get to our destination within a half hour.
We stayed at a friend’s condo, but there are so many accomodations to chose from. Park City Resort offers ski in, ski out and there are several rentable condos just steps from the lift. We purchased our lift tickets ahead of time and saved about $75. We rented our boots and skis from Jake’s Ski Rentals and they were great. Very helpful and steps away from the lift. For me, the first day on the slopes is always the hardest. Because I only ski once a year (and getting older), it takes a little while to get my legs working properly. Like riding a bike, you never really forget how to ski, but it’s nice to loosen up on a few green runs before heading down some blues. The views were breathtaking. The runs were fun and some were challenging. Luckily, mother natured dumped an enormous amount of snow a few days leading up the the trip. It snowed for the first 36 hours we were there, so conditions were phenomenal. After the snow stopped, the blue bird days that followed were perfect.
We made some great memories and laughed a lot. Traveling with friends is fun. Traveling to new places is fun!
We had dinner at Chimayo; a fabulous Mexican/Southwest restaurant on Main Street. I’m pretty sure we ordered at least 5 different items, all of which were wonderful. The house-made sangrias were superb! High West Distillery was also a neat bar/restaurant. They operate a full service distillery and restaurant in an old, rustic building. If you google Park City, High West is undoubtedly mentioned. E said the High West Maple Syrup was a must buy and she was right, it’s yum! No Name Bar had a cool vibe as well…a must-see if in town. Perfect view of the city at night from their roof-top bar. Lots of adorable stores, art galleries and boutiques downtown. We tried Five5eeds for breakfast one morning, but it got mixed reviews from the 4 of us. It was decent, but not a place I would try again.
On one of our ski days, we took the shuttle over to Deer Valley. This day was my FAVORITE. I loved the runs. The trees and winter backdrop were so beautiful. Lunch at The Stein Eriksen (a celebrity hot spot) was impressive where they served up the best grilled cheese and tomato soup I have ever had in my entire life. The boys enjoyed the buffet and had hundreds of items to chose from. Apres Ski was wonderful at the St Regis. A quick trolley ride up the mountain takes you to an amazing bar/restaurant with breathtaking views, great wine selections and delicious homemade hot chocolate.
On our last ski day, my son tried out the mountain coaster and zip line. He loved them both. After a week of skiing, the hot tub was a must each night. We made some great memories and laughed a lot. Traveling with friends is fun. Traveling to new places is fun! When it was time to head back to Florida, we headed back to Salt Lake and toured Temple Square. A beautiful area in the City rich with history. A great way to end the week. We headed back east exhausted, jet lagged and very grateful. Thank you, E & E for a super fun time!
