Text by Terry Ward
Images by Deer Valley Resort
Within less than an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City, Utah’s indisputable mountain town queens, Park City and neighboring Deer Valley, promise year-round exploration opportunities and authentic Western fun alongside stellar dining, shopping, and cultural entertainment.
Park City is the largest ski and snowboard resort in the United States, where more than 40 lifts connect over 330 trails across 7,300 skiable acres. Just two miles away, Deer Valley offers up over 100 Wasatch Mountain trails. It skews even more luxe, and nearly a third of the trails here are groomed, hitting that sweet spot for beginner and intermediate level skiers. For the 2025/2026 ski season, Deer Valley will add an additional 2,900 acres of skiable terrain.
But this part of Utah beckons for not only for winter adventures, but also for year-round escapes, in the form of hiking, mountain biking, e-biking, freshwater swimming holes, and a whole lot more. And with all the strollable delights of a classic Western mountain town along Park City’s Historic Main Street, you could easily spend your days restaurant-hopping and shopping in the fresh air, too.
For a stay with slope style and a true sense of place, the ski-in/ski-out The St. Regis Deer Valley beckons for après-indulging with a heated mountainside pool and new restaurant, La Stellina, which opened during the summer of 2024 on the first floor of the Snow Park Residences. Chef Matt Harris (also of another local favorite, Tupelo Park City) hit the road throughout Italy and tapped the country’s home cooks for generations of knowledge to create La Stellina’s menu. Warm up with incredible homemade pastas like the pappardelle Bolognese and classics, too, like the bone-in pork chop saltimbocca wrapped in prosciutto.
Park City’s historic Main Street plays out like a moveable feast. For a romantic meal, head to the Italian country farmhouse-inspired setting (think rough-hewn beams and terrazzo tiles) or grab a seat on the pretty outdoor patio at Grappa. At the top of Main Street, it’s a favorite for generous charcuterie plates and classics like calamari fritti.
Fire-cooked wagyu beef and sizzling elk loin are served up in the cozy ambiance of Firewood.
And just off Main Street, Handle taps the region’s seasonal bounty in dishes that range from stone fruit with labneh, to mushroom Bolognese and bison short ribs.
Put the bow on another excellent Park City evening with the speakeasy surrounds of craft distillery, Alpine Distilling, where a range of botanical spirits conjure the woods, berries, fruits and roots of Utah’s distinct mountain terroir.
Once the lifts stop spinning for the day, après vibes permeate through Park City. The High West Saloon–at the base of Park City’s Town Lift and said to be the world’s only ski-in gastro-distillery–crafts divine gin, bourbon, and rye cocktails, and has hearty Niman Ranch schnitzels and cast-iron trout on the menu.
If you’d rather sip directly from the source, the High West Distillery, in Wanship, about 25 minutes north, offers distillery tours and tastings. It’s perched at roughly 7,000 feet in the Wasatch Range on the grounds of Blue Sky Ranch.
Deer Valley’s dining options skew lower-key but also offer something for everyone. Grab a table on the deck overlooking the mountains of Deer Valley for a casual lunch at Deer Valley Café, a market/restaurant that has a great range of gluten-free and vegetarian offerings, as well as a cult-favorite turkey chili that makes for an ideal takeaway meal.
Or make your way to the Silver Lake Lodge, mid-mountain, where Royal Street Café usually has elk chili on the menu and does a mean burger.
For shopping, Park City’s the place to be, whether you’re looking for a special piece of artwork or something to bring a little Western flair to your wardrobe.
In the historic Main Street district, galleries like Meyer Gallery within the building of an erstwhile bank, and Gallery MAR, draw collectors from around the globe. Create PC is a more casual collective with pop-up exhibits showcasing works by local artists from across Summit County. Mark your calendar for the last Friday night of the month, when a gallery stroll will take you to about 15 galleries.
In the winter, the biggest cultural event in Park City is, of course, the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival every January, which plays here as well as at venues in Salt Lake City and Sundance Resort. You can also catch indie screenings during the Park City Film Series, at the Art House Cinema. That single-screen, non-profit theater specializes in independent, foreign language, and documentary films in the historic Jim Santy Auditorium.
The Utah Symphony and Utah Opera decamp from Salt Lake City to the mountains during the summer months, when the Deer Valley Music Festival comes to town with twice-weekly performances. And the Latino Arts Festival in June celebrates cultures from such countries as Perú, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina through music, film, food and more.
Departing the spectacular vistas and adventures in Park City and Deer Valley is never easy. But when you’re ready to take some western mountain vibes home with you, you have options.
Snag the perfect pair of handcrafted boots or a custom hat at Park City’s Main Street outpost of famed Aspen, Colorado boutique, Kemo Sabe.
Or opt for a Park City original at Burns Cowboy Shop, where cowboy culture gets distilled to its essence. The family-owned western business has been a landmark along Main Street and passed down through generations since its founding in 1876.
This is where Kevin Costner was outfitted for his character John Dutton in the drama series Yellowstone. You can pick up a hat inspired by that character and browse bolo ties, turquoise and silver jewelry, western buckle belts, and all kinds of other accouterments conjuring Utah’s mountain and western life.
They’re sure to remind you or someone you love of the Wasatch range and spirit long after you’ve left this storied place.
