Summer Guide to the Good Life in Park City

Park City, Utah could be the mountain-high sister city of San Diego. There is something for everyone amongst the painted canyons, sprawling mountain ranges, and flower-filled valleys. It’s an adventure seeker's paradise, boasts several nationally acclaimed hotel resorts, and caters to kids. The packed beaches in town may be called Ski Beaches, but the vibe is decidedly Leucadian, no matter what the thermometer says. It’s not hard to find an açai bowl or bee pollen smoothie if that’s your schtick, and for those who want something a little harder, the many local breweries are as easy to find as a jaunt down the 101.

Park City has a solid reputation as a jet setter must in the winter, but if the thought of battling with tourists for a summer spot on your beloved hometown beach drives you mad, consider becoming a tourist yourself and take a short flight to Park City. You may be so busy ziplining, slip-and-sliding, and horseback riding while sipping on green juice and IPAs that you might even forget that you left San Diego.  

St. Regis Deer Valley

The St. Regis Deer Valley is perhaps the most posh hotel in the Park City area. It has earned a AAA Five Diamond rating and is one of the closest hotels to the Deer Valley Ski Resort base. Although the snow is gone in the summer, the slope-side views, private ski beach, and split-level infinity pool make up for the loss. Butler service is available in all suites, and if you bring the whole family, daily activities run throughout the summer. The Remède Park City Spa is on-property, so you can spoil yourself without going far.

This summer, the St. Regis Deer Valley presents the Big Stars Bright Nights Concert Series in conjunction with Deer Valley Resort. Some of this year's headliners include Mike Posner (Aug 7), Trace Adkins (Aug 25), and Jewel (Sept 3). The concert is one of many events being held at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater next door at the Deer Valley Resort. Tickets are now available for the Bright Stars Bright Nights Concert Series.  

Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater is also the spot for many other concerts as part of the Deer Valley Music Festival. Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater (as well as St. Mary’s Church in Deer Valley) will host concerts all summer long with VIP and general field seating available. VIP packages are available and can include VIP parking, pre-concert gourmet dinner at Deer Valley Resort, premium reserved seating, and access to the intermission reception. If sitting in the grass is more your fancy, just bring a blanket and let Deer Valley Resort do all the heavy lifting. Don’t worry about preparing and packing a picnic; you can order a Deer Valley Gourmet Picnic Basket. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan options are available along with children’s single-serve picnic bags. 

A unique and kid-friendly concert coming to Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater on July 29th is DreamWorks Animation in Concert, featuring characters and music from Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Puss in Boots, and Mr. Peabody & Sherman.  

Black Diamond Lodge

Tucked along the base of the slopes, Black Diamond Lodge is the epitome of ski-in, ski-out. The steps leading to the rooms are closer than the actual main lodge (Snow Park Lodge) of Deer Valley Resort. But since it’s summer, the hot tub and BBQ grill that comes standard on every patio or balcony is a nice way to enjoy the almost daily music concerts happening right outside the back door. Each room is one to four bedrooms and the hotel features a high-end fitness center, dedicated concierge, children’s game room, and steam room.

Black Diamond Lodge is the perfect size for a family reunion or a chance to reconnect with the kids and disconnect from the gadgets. But sometimes, everyone wants a little bit of their own downtime. Deer Valley Summer Adventure Camp is based out of the Children's Center at Snow Park Lodge. Surrounded by incredible mountains with hiking trails, hillside playgrounds, and duck ponds, this state-licensed center provides a separate 'home base' for each age group. The center has built-in nooks for entertainment and performances, a rock climbing wall, and a full supply of craft projects, games, puzzles, videos, and books to complement outdoor activities. Summer Adventure Camp is open from June through August.

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the nearby Guided Mountain Bike Tours led by professionally trained coaches around the many trails of Deer Valley Resort. For those who just can’t live without their Stand Paddleboard, Deer Valley Resort's Snow Park ponds are an incredible place to SUP. With little wind, no boats, and no waves, people of all ages and abilities can try their skills on a SUP board.

Canyons Grand Summit Hotel

Grand Summit Hotel wins the best ease of use award for being so close to all the action. It sits at the base of Canyons Ski Resort and is managed by the resort, making it easy to get into lessons, daycare, camps, or get lift tickets because everything is right on the property. It is the nearest hotel to the Red Pine Gondola, which runs during the summer whisking vacationers up to explore the sprawling mountain range.

Kids will love that summer camp comes with a side of mom and dad; Little Adventures Children’s Center inside Grand Summit Hotel welcomes kids 6 weeks to 12 years to its full-day, week-long summer camps. Each week of camp has a different theme, and the camps are split into two groups: ages 6-12 and 5 and under. Camp activities include nature hikes, swimming, Zip Tours, arts & crafts, gondola rides, indoor & outdoor games, and field trips for the older kids, while the younger tots get a similar experience sans the big weekly field trip. The hotel's outdoor pool and three spas are the perfect place to unwind, while just inside the pool deck is the Canyons Resort Spa and Health Club for some true R and R.  

While the kids are busy at summer camp, the adults (and brave teenagers) can try the nearby world-famous Canyons Mountain Bike Park. For a little fun off the beaten path, Canyons Resort boasts a mid-mountain 18-hole alpine disc golf course that is free with the purchase of a daily gondola pass. The front nine holes are accessed by riding the High Meadow lift and playing downhill to the back nine that surround Red Pine Lodge. What’s frisbee speak for "fore?" Canyons Resort also has an outdoor amphitheater and summer concert, so the hills will be alive with the sound of music on this side of Park City too.

Mountain Valley RV Resort

Brand new and gorgeous, Mountain Valley RV Resort definitely puts the glam in glamping. Those willing to make the 9+ hour drive up from San Diego will be rewarded handsomely. Situated just south of Park City in Heber Valley, Mountain Valley RV Resort not only offers RV sites and tent sites for the camping purebreds, but they also offer cabins for those who like to travel lightly. Big rig sites are available for those who want to party like a rock star in the postcard-perfect Heber Valley. On-site amenities include pickle ball, shuffleboard, bocce ball, basketball, and a playground. There’s a heated pool, game room, and outdoor fireplace to make the days feel like summer should…and that's just at the campground. Leave the camping luxury of Mountain Valley RV to explore the valley just below Park City and fall in love with the ease of summer.  

Nearby Heber Valley Railroad offers so many types of excursions, that it’s almost impossible not to find one too good to miss. They all start out at Heber City Depot on one of their vintage trains. The Raft 'n Rails excursion starts off at Heber City Depot on a vintage steam locomotive, then whisks you along a scenic journey to the top of Provo Canyon where experienced guides will steer you through the Provo River's gentle, class 1 rapids along a breathtaking Utah canyon. A shuttle will transfer you back to the depot; this excursion is suitable for 2 years and up, but make sure to check out the murder mystery ride, dinner rides, and zip line adventures if your party is a little older.

Not far from Heber City is Jordanelle State Park. Hiking, biking, fly fishing, swimming, and picnicking alongside the Jordanelle Reservoir are popular summer activities. Jet skis, pontoon boats, and speed boats with all watercraft toys are legal on the Jordanelle Reservoir and can be rented lakeside by Jordanelle Rentals.  

The Caledonian

The Caledonian is located on downtown Main Street in the heart of Park City’s famous historic district. A favorite place to stay during the Sundance Film Festival given its close proximity to many of the viewing venues. Summer in downtown Park City doesn’t disappoint. The Kimball Art Center hosts The Park City Kimball Arts Festival. The Arts Festival is the largest fundraiser of the year; judges hand-select submissions from all over the country to be entered into the competition. In 2015, the Kimball Art Center had the highest number of artist applications to date with over 990. The Arts Festival includes live music, a kids' hands-on art area, as well as a farm-to-table tasting section. The tasting section will feature small hand-crafted food producers from Utah who diligently source their raw materials and create high-quality award-winning products.

A visit to nearby Atticus Teahouse, Coffee, and Books is a requisite Park City must. Try the Honey Bee Protein or the Cha Cha Chia for a nutrient-dense pick-me-up while perusing the walls of new and used books.

Summer in Park City wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Park Silly Sunday Market, held Sundays 10 am–5 pm, June 5th–September 18th. The Park Silly Sunday Market is an open-air market and street festival with ever-changing vendors. Featuring unique and eclectic local and regional arts and crafts, music and performance art, antiques, imports and one-of-a-kind finds, delicious gourmet foods, and farmers market fruits and vegetables, it is not to be missed if you want to do like the locals!