Park City, Utah Imagine waking up on the East Coast, and making tracks in deep Utah powder by noon. This is no dream, this is the reality of a Park City ski trip. Even better, your first ski day is free with a Quick Start voucher from the Park City Chamber, you can be catching freshies at Deer Valley, The Canyons or Park City Mountain all afternoon.

Park City Mountain Resort was second on our three resort tour, after we'd done Deer Valley for two days. In fact, Deer Valley abuts Park City, which borders The Canyons – but ducking the rope is a no-no.

Park City’s ski area emanates from downtown, making it a popular choice. The US Ski and Snowboard teams train on the front side (this is where Shaun White flies like a tomato in the superpipe), but there is plenty more to explore among seven peaks. Park City is the busiest area (no ticket sale limits or snowboard restrictions here) but with 4 high speed-six pack lifts, Park City makes a case for spreading people out over the 3,300 acres and 9 bowls of terrain. We dispersed for the hardcore terrain of Jupiter Bowl, and found steep and deep chutes off this remote double chair to 10,026’. Then we tapped into McConkey’s for more double black delights.

After a morning of high elevation excitement, we took it down a notch and discovered “The Motherlode”, a pleasant pocket of well-spaced aspens and perfectly-pitched runs like Fool’s Gold and Glory Hole. PCMR hearkens back to 1963 when skiers would ride the 3-mile underground mine shafts from town to access the slopes. I preferred the fresh air and sunshine on the chairlifts. Today Park City is owned by Powdr, the resort company that scooped up Killington and Pico last year from ASC, and also owns Bachelor in Oregon and Ski Las Vegas.

Park City stays open till 7:30pm for twilight skiing and riding, but with such a fantastic town at the base, I found après ski took precedence.

Strolling by western boutiques and saloon-inspired eateries in Park City’s Old Town, it’s easy to picture the 1868 Frontier town. But I cannot imagine Main Street during Sundance, when 60,000 Hollywood heroes and wannabes descend for the 2nd largest film festival in the world. Tip: the ski slopes are empty during Sundance Film Festival’s parties and premiers in late January.

Lodging in Park City is plentiful from condos to full-service ski hotels. A call to the Park City Chamber can help steer you to the best deals depending on your preference. Its fun to explore this funky town, which hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics, and now seems to sport a culinary competition on every corner.  We had a fantastic dinner at Fin, a swank seafood restaurant in the new art-deco Sky Lodge. Next door is Zoom, Robert Redford’s place if you are into star memorabilia. Non-skiers could have serious fun in Park City, shopping, touring the historic silver mining spots, and meeting their ski friends for a slopeside lunch.

A Park City ski vacation is perfect if you want variety in your vertical, since you can ski Deer Valley and The Canyons, both just a short shuttle bus ride, during your week out west.

Skiers that want to ski waist-deep Utah pow, trademarked “the greatest snow earth,” should make their way to Park City - one fun town, three world-class resorts, all within a half hour airplane touchdown. By skiing on your arrival and departure day – you can hit all three: Deer Valley, Park City and The Canyons.

View Photos of Park City, Deer Valley and the Canyons

Deer Valley | The Canyons | Solitude | Snowbird