Top 7 Reasons to Make Park City Your Lifestyle Destination

Close your eyes, and imagine yourself cozying up by the crackling fire in the lobby of the Montage, sipping on a decadent mug of Hot Chocolate, and listening to the soft melody of a piano. Or even racing down Jupiter Bowl at record speed as flakes of crystallized breath fly past you. You’re smiling, aren’t you? I knew it! Even just writing this has me wistfully longing for Park City at Wintertime. Park City is already known to be the home of a World-Class Ski resort, however, it was only this year that Park City claims the title of the Nation’s largest ski resort as the two resorts Park City and Canyons combine set right alongside Deer Valley. I’m about to let you in on a little secret though, Park City’s got something that is just as good as its winter ski resorts, if not better: Summer. I know what you’re thinking: WHAT?! But it’s true. The resorts of Park City do not only rule the winter months of the year but thrive on the sun-warmed heat of summertime. Trading your skis/snowboard for a pair of hiking boots or a mountain bike will have you converted to the forest of aspens and pines. This leads me to my next reason…

Extreme: Already notorious for Park City's unlimited supply of mountain trails, it’s no secret that Park City is home to some of the best skiing in the world. Whether attached to a pair of skis, or loyal to a snowboard, there is no place quite like a park city when you want to feel the snow fly against your cheeks, and the cold air brush against your hair as you take on mountain after mountain. Besides skiing that would make any professional proud, these very same trails offer just as much adrenaline in the summer when participants trade their skis/snowboard for their mountain bikes.

Whatever source of adventure you’re after, I guarantee your hunger will be satisfied in the heart-racing athletics Park City offers.

Casual Active: Being bored is not an option in Park City. It’s just not. Nestled in the comfort and adventure of an infinite amount of trails, you can instantly lose yourself in all its glory (though I promise, it really isn’t that easy to get lost.)  Park City just wouldn’t be Park City, without its addicting hiking trails and awe-inspiring starry nights.  I can’t imagine a day where I didn’t want to go boating on the Jordanelle, or Mountain Biking up Iron Mountain. Whether the trees glitter with snow or rustle with a vibrant green, the intoxicating smell of firewood and pine will coz you out of any home to explore. Park City is the ultimate active community, and almost everyone you meet will be a Ski bunny or a Yogi. With fitness studios lining every crevice of Oldtown and Redstone, and everyone’s backyard allowing instant access into a taste of nature, it’s impossible NOT to be outside. Alongside a mountain made for mountain biking and ski slopes, Park City offers a range of activities outside of the extreme involving snowshoeing through a glittering aroma, hiking through awe-inspiring views, sledding through mountains of powder, and much more.

I get it, the outdoors isn’t everyone’s thing. Perfectly understandable. Not everyone needs to be a die heard mountaineer be a Park City local, however, and even if you are, there’s gotta be a day every so often where something is beckoning you to be entertained. Let me introduce you to one of my personal favorite Park City aspects of life: The Arts. I have a challenge for you, take a walk down Main Street, and tell me how many galleries you can find. I’ll give you a hint: there’s so many even I have lost count. Besides the infinite amount of Art galleries to explore, the Art festival pops up every summer, attracting artists and onlookers from every part of the world. The Egyptian Theatre satisfies the craving for entertainment and is another aspect of Main Street that elevates the excitement Park City has to offer.

There has to be some time in your life where you have heard this word. Maybe it was in the credits of that new movie you can’t stop watching, or it may even be from the lips of your friend as they insistently rave over where Hugh Jackman was that one weekend a while back. Well, you’re not the only one. Sundance is one of the largest events of the entire year at Park City, serving as a magnetic for well over 50,000 enthusiastic movie-goers per year. Taking over the entire town, the Sundance Film Festival dominates the parties dotting Main street and the films showing all across town, showcasing up and coming talent. Musical performances and heart-racing celebrity spotting are enough to intoxicate anyone with the vibrancy that Sundance at Park City offers.

Let’s be honest… food is a big deal, and what’s the point of going/living somewhere, if you constantly find yourself craving cuisine local to another place entirely? Lucky for you, that’s certainly not a problem. Some of the best food I’ve had is found in the well-lit restaurants and welcoming cafés of Park City, constructing a palate of flavors enough to make your tastebuds tingle with enthusiasm. Whether it’s one of the restaurants on Main Street, serving some of the most delectable dishes known to man, or a hidden local favorite that soon will become your go-to spot, there’s a dish for everyone to enjoy regardless of picky preferences. Imagine yourself savoring in the delight of a dish at Park City’s number one restaurant, Riverhorse, on the main street where every bite satisfies the craving you never knew you had, and can only be satisfied by their menu. Or even take a trip back in time to the old west found in High West Distillery where cowboy boots and tastebud alarming food invites every onlooker into the history of Utah. Just like my dear Virginia Woolf said: "One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well."

Smart lady, that Woolf. She knows what she’s talking about.

In September of 2014 Vail completed its purchase of Park City Mountain Resort and merged Canyons with PCMR to make the largest ski resort in the Americas. The 2002 Olympics brought an amazing awareness catalyst to Park City but the Vail acquisitions brought a balance sheet catalyst which has spurred growth in infrastructure, an upgrade in shopping and dining, and other services that will continue to propel development in the market. These enhancements have had a significant impact on real estate and the overall experience of Park City. The key question one should ask is, “Is Vail Resorts done with their acquisitions and investment in the region?”. From my background and experience, I would without question say NO!

Where in the world can you fly into an international airport and within an hour be on the slopes skiing fresh powder? This is a very unique situation for global outdoor enthusiasts. The SLC International Airport is in the midst of an almost $2 billion dollar renovation and expansion. This redevelopment will increase the airport's capacity by 130%, upgrade old and obsolete facilities, and better equip it for the hub airport it has become. In addition, the new facility will have six international gates that will better support the continued increase of international visitors. Airport upgrades and expansions have a significant impact on local economies and this won't be any different, especially for Park City.