When envisioning Park City Utah, the usual mental image that emerges is that of a winter ski destination. And while Park City certainly boasts three of the finest ski resorts in the country, there is a litany of other activities that you can engage in during your Park City winter vacation. Whether you’re looking for a break from skiing or trying to engage the non-skier in your group, the town and its surroundings have plenty of alternatives for your consideration.
Perhaps your sore legs call for a day of rest from serious athletic activity. An unforgettable way to stay in touch with the great outdoors is through snowmobiling. Ride across pristine fields and up rugged peaks that access unbelievable panoramas of the Rocky Mountains, and get a serious adrenaline rush while you’re at it. Touring companies like Red Pine Adventures and Snowmobile Adventures at Thousand Peaks are good places to get your snowmobiling adventure up and running. Another non-skiing activity that keeps you on the mountain (or hill) is the tubing park at Gorgoza. Located approximately ten minutes from downtown Park City, Gorgoza Tubing Park offers several runs where patrons can participate in some serious tubing action. Feel free to continue the fun until after dark, as most of the lanes are lighted.

You’re probably familiar with Salt Lake City as the venue for the 2002 Winter Olympics, but what you might not realize is that many of the events took place in Park City, Utah. The Olympic Park offers a glimpse into the history of the Olympics and the specifics of the competitions in Park City, as well as the official bobsled track where you can create your own Olympic-style memories. An alternative similar to the bobsled run is the Alpine Coaster at Park City Mountain Resort. Watch your family and friends fly down the mountain as you race around the perimeter of the resort center. Don’t forget to wear your winter gear! And while you’re at the PCMR base area, don’t overlook the ice rink, situated right behind the Marriott Mountainside. Flanked by shops and restaurants, the ice rink is a great way to break up a morning or afternoon outing.

Most people who visit winter ski destinations dream of taking a romantic sleigh ride beneath the stars at some point during their travels. Companies like Boulder Mountain Ranch and Snowed Inn Sleigh Company offer family sleigh rides in addition to more intimate outings, and most touring outfitters have dinner and sleigh ride combination packages. And after viewing the tranquil mountainside at night, why not explore the terrain under the beautiful bluebird sky on a pair of snowshoes? Sign up for a guided tour at places like Swaner EcoCenter or Mountain Vista Touring, or rent a pair of snowshoes and strike out on your own on one of the 100+ miles of trails encircling Park City.

For the hardcore outdoorsman/woman, a taste of the untracked backcountry may be the only way to quench your thirst on a ski vacation. Enter Powder Cat and Heli-skiing. Companies like Park City Powder Cats and Wasatch Powderbird Guides will whisk you away on a truly unforgettable skiing experience in the backcountry. Launch out of the helicopter on turn after turn of fresh, unblemished powder, and leave all of your worries behind you. We’ll keep our fingers crossed with you for classic Utah snow conditions.

One of the busiest weeks of the year in Park City occurs in the second half of January, when the Sundance Film Festival comes to town. The ten-day festival is a film-lover’s dream, with hundreds of movies and documentaries screening before captive audiences across Park City. If you intend to visit Park City during the festival, be sure to secure your lodging early, as places fill up fast. The Sundance Institute offers a central reservations website that helps match guests with current lodging vacancies. You can purchase your tickets in advance or score same-day performances at will call. The one certainty about Sundance is that nothing is certain-so enjoy the people watching, movies, mountains, and general mayhem that arrives with the festival!

Finally, a ski vacation is incomplete without a post-mountain cold beverage. Kick back at one of the slope side après ski lounges and watch your fellow riders beeline down the mountain, or head into town to wine and dine at one of the multitude of lively bars and restaurants waiting for your business.

The typical seven-day ski trip offers just enough time to scratch the surface of the endless array of winter activities available in Park City. Perhaps you’ll have to move here to experience all of them.