For those of you who are first-time visitors to Park City, you undoubtedly will be asking yourselves the question, “What should I be visiting, what should I be looking for”. To best answer that question, I am going to break this guide down into three parts.
First things first, you need to decide where you want to go. There are plenty of amazing places within a short driving distance from Park City and most people are aware of the amazing ski slopes that Park City has to offer.
However, some people do not realize just how much there is to do in Park City and the surrounding areas. I am going to break these areas down one by one, and then I’ll give you links to all the places that I will be talking about.
Table of Contents
1. Deer Valley
Deer Valley is a very small community (less than 10,000 people) and is extremely well situated only an hour’s drive from Park City. If you ever plan to go to Park City, Deer Valley is the place to stay. The nightlife is incredible, the locals are fantastic and there is so much to see and do there.
The ski area itself is very big and has some great ski runs. However, Deer Valley has fantastic hiking trails, numerous lakes for swimming, a huge swimming pool complex (and access to golf and spa facilities), a fitness center, children’s play areas, tennis courts, spas, a plethora of restaurants, and a vibrant nightlife.
Deer Valley also offers hiking opportunities that are just outside of Park City itself, for example, Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, the Peak Trail, and many more.
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2. Ogden
Ogden is the next city over from Park City. Ogden is less populated than Park City (around 200,000 people) but is bigger in terms of area. It has a bustling nightlife, a great place to go shopping with a number of high street names as well as lots of local boutique stores. It is also considered to be the liveliest place outside of Park City.
Ogden is quite close to Moab (where you can rent a mountain bike for downhill mountain biking) and 3 hour’s drive away from Las Vegas (where you can rent a Ford Mustang Convertible for a trip out in Nevada).
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3. Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is Utah’s capital city. It is the third-largest metropolitan area in the state. It is also the fastest-growing area in the state, its population has more than doubled in the last 20 years.
The city itself is quite young and has an edgy, youthful feel about it. It has many cool bars and clubs and there are some amazing art galleries to check out. It is also one of the best places for shopping. The most popular shopping areas are Fashion Place Mall, Gateway Mall, the Gateway Community & Event Center, and the Great Salt Lake.
There is a lot more to do in Salt Lake City, such as Symphony Hall, Orchestra Hall, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, the Salt Palace Convention Center, the Utah Shakespearean Festival, the Natural History Museum, the Eccles Center, the Arena Theatre, and the Salt Palace Convention Centre.
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4. Kamas
Kamas is a very beautiful area. The area itself is 45 minutes outside of Park City, making it a perfect day trip. Kamas is home to many of the horse-drawn wagon rides which are common in Park City. It is also home to the Outlaw’s Golf and Hot Springs. Kamas is also a perfect area to catch some of Utah’s beautiful sunsets.
If you want to go swimming, the nearest place to go is the New West Aquatic Center. It has indoor and outdoor pools, a lazy river, a sauna, and a hot tub. It’s the perfect place to spend a hot summer day.
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5. Moab
Moab is located 3 hours away from Park City, making it a popular day trip. It is the home of some fantastic mountain biking, and rock climbing opportunities. It also is a mecca for climbers.
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