As the largest ski resort in the USA, Park City has no shortage of family fun – both on & off the slopes.
Park City Mountain Resort in Utah is one for the record books. Since building a gondola to connect Park City to Canyons Resort in 2015, the mega resort now offers the most skiable terrain in the USA. A quick trip simply won’t do it justice; plan to spend a few days here to truly experience everything. Park City is a destination ski resort.
What to do on the slopes in Park City?
If you’re looking for action, you’ll find it on the slopes at Park City Mountain Resort. With a whopping 7,300 skiable acres, more than 300 trails, and 41 lifts, you literally can’t see it all in one day (or maybe even two days). There are also eight terrain parks, six half pipes, one super pipe, and even one mini pipe. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced skier, there are plenty of trails on both sides of the mountain. I found it best to concentrate on the Canyons side on one day and the Park City side on another day. Then, you can pick your favorite for the rest of your stay. And since you can’t ski it all in one day, Park City offers evening skiing, too! The PayDay and First Time Express Lifts on the Park City side are both open until 6 p.m.
KidTripster Tip: Park City is a Vail Resort, so if you’re a Epic Season Pass holder, it’s valid here.
Park City offers ski and snowboard lessons for children and adults at both the Park City and Canyons base areas. There are private and group lessons for both half- and full-days. Cost: Varies. Or if you just want some help navigating this massive area, opt for the Peak to Peak Guided Experience. A guide will take your group (age 15 and up) on a personalized journey around the resort and help you tackle Utah’s unique terrain. Cost: $209/person/full day.
KidTripster Tip: Private lessons at Park City Mountain Resort are pricey. You’re better off opting for a group class.
For those too young to ski, daycare is available inside the Grand Summit Hotel at the Canyons base area. The Little Adventures Children’s Center accepts kids (age 6 weeks to 6 years) for half or full day. Half-day cost: $105-$100; Full-day cost: $135-$140. We opted to have our daughter take a one-hour private ski lesson while at daycare. For an extra $135, a teacher will get them from the daycare, fit them with rental gear, and then take them out for a lesson. They’ll even let you know where they’ll be, in case you want to swing by and see how they’re doing.
What to do off the slopes in Park City?
Family fun is found in both Park City and Canyons.
All ages can enjoy the outdoor ice skating rink at the Park City base area. Admission cost: $9; Rental cost: $7. If you prefer the air, take your vacation to new heights on the two-person Flying Eagle Zip. Cost: Youth $7; Adult $9. Or you can take in beautiful scenery on the Alpine Coaster as you navigate through 4,000 feet of curves. Cost: Youth $10; Adult $25.
KidTripster Tip: Want to ride both attractions? Choose the combo ticket to save some money.
Want something a little more low-key? Hop on a scenic sleigh ride with Snowed Inn Sleigh Company up the mountain to a rustic cabin for a western-style meal. There’s also entertainment before heading back down to the base. If you don’t want dinner, you can opt for just the scenic sleigh ride. Cost: Youth $54; Adult $89.
You also can do a scenic sleigh ride from the Canyons base area, but there’s no dinner option. These rides are only available Thursdays through Saturdays. Cost: Youth $25; Adult $25.
Also from the Canyons base area, you can explore Park City via snowmobile with Red Pine Adventures. The teenagers in your family will love this adventure, but they must have a driver’s license to drive the snowmobiles. Cost: $199, plus $40 for an extra passenger.
KidTripster Tip: Snowmobiling may not be the best activity for kids who can’t drive. It gets pretty cold on the back of a snowmobile.
There are also snowshoeing tours that leave from Canyons and include a guide, snowshoes, poles, and gondola ticket. It’s only available for those 14 years and older. Cost: $80.
KidTripster Tip: Look around the base areas or in your hotel lobby for a calendar of events during your stay. We found out about free s’mores, a special après-ski party just for kids complete with arts and crafts, plus free concerts. There are free family activities at both bases.
Just down the road from the resort, you can explore Park City’s Olympic history at Utah Olympic Park. It’s free to tour the Alf Engen Ski Museum and the Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum. My daughter and I had a blast; it’s so interactive. She loved to sit in the bobsled and practice her long jumps! For the older ones, (ages 16+) you can try out bobsledding on the actual 2002 Olympic track where a professional pilot will take you on a once-in-a-lifetime ride! Cost: $175/rider; make reservations ahead of time. There also are three outdoor ropes courses – beginner, intermediate, advanced. Cost: $15-$20.
Hop in the car, and you’ll be at the White Pine Touring Nordic Center within minutes. Here you can rent cross-country skis to explore more than 12 miles of groomed trails, plus lessons, tours, and rentals. Lesson cost: $50/person; Tour cost: starts at $175/person, plus $75 for each additional person. Or try fat biking in the snow!
Honestly, one of the best activities in Park City is shopping along Main Street. You’ll find unique gifts from local boutiques, plus locally-owned restaurants and ice cream shops. The free in-town bus will drop you nearby; there’s also ample public parking.
Where to eat in Park City?
The Farm is one of the newest restaurants. Situated in Canyons Village, it’s the winner of numerous awards for its unique, fresh, and sustainably-sourced food. We loved the Farm Cheese appetizer. And I could actually enjoy it because the waiters gave our toddler an Etch A Sketch to play with! She was occupied for a full 30 minutes. Brilliant!
At the Park City base, check out Legends Bar and Grill for lunch or dinner. The portions are decent size. We noshed on garlic-ginger crispy cauliflower and the charcuterie plate, and it was more than enough for me. My husband loved the mahi mahi sandwich.
On the mountain, take in epic views at Cloud Dine or Summit House. Both serve up classic sandwiches, pizzas, and chili to warm you up. The Red Pine Lodge offers grab-and-go breakfast options for those wanting to get on the mountain early, plus lunch.
In the town of Park City, you can’t go wrong with local favorite Davanza’s (690 Park Avenue). It serves salads, burgers, tacos, subs, and pizza by the slice; the slice was big enough for my daughter and I to share. You often find skiers taking lunch breaks here, as it’s easily accessible from the Town Lift.
While walking around Main Street, we literally followed our noses to Peace, Love and Little Donuts (738 Main Street). Inside we were greeted by more than two dozen donut options. The cinnamon roll donut was divine, as was my daughter’s sprinkle donut; I really wish that I could have eaten them all!
Where to stay in Park City?
Since each base used to be its own separate resort, both Park City and Canyons have multiple lodging options, plus activities and dining to meet your needs.
We stayed at the Canyons base area and loved that we were right in the middle of après ski events like free concerts and s’mores by the fire. The Sundial Lodge is within walking distance to the slopes for easy access in the morning and for those wanting a break in the middle of the day. It has a hot tub, outdoor heated pool, and ski valet. The Silverado Lodge is a little farther down the road but has a free shuttle to take you back and forth to the slopes, plus an outdoor heated pool, hot tub, and fitness center. Rates start around $200/night for lodging in the Canyons base area.
KidTripster Tip: There’s a ski/snowboard school at both bases, but if you’ll be dropping kids off at daycare, it’s best to stay in Canyons Village for easier access.
The Park City base area also has numerous lodging options ranging from hotel-style rooms to multi-bedroom condos with fully-equipped kitchens. Marriott Mountainside is popular with families, because it’s ski-in/ski-out and has an outdoor pool and indoor activity center, complete with pool tables, shuffleboard, and movie theater with popcorn. Rates start around $175/night.
KidTripster Tip: There’s a free town bus that takes you to the Park City base area, Canyons base area, plus Main Street and beyond. You can grab a timetable just about anywhere including your hotel lobby.
Getting to Park City
Park City is about 35 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport. If you don’t want to rent a car, Park City Transportation offers shuttle service for around $40/person.
Award-winning journalist Amy Sward lives in Colorado but loves to take road trips with her husband and daughter to discover new ski areas.
This writer received a complimentary stay and some activities for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions expressed are solely her own.
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