Silver Mountain Sports Club & Spa

Situated in the Wasatch mountains about twenty-five(ish) minutes outside of Park City, The Lodge at Blue Sky isn’t exactly a “lodge” at all. At least not since Auberge Resorts took over in 2019. Sure, there are working stables, wild elk roaming freely, even a horse refuge on property (and by property, we mean 3,500 acres of sweeps-you-off-your-feet serenity). You’ll also find things like a gorgeous spa built right into the surrounding landscape. Creekside Cabins and design-centric Earth Suites with marshmallowy beds, sliding glass doors, and firepits to huddle around with s’mores. There’s even a High West Distillery about five-minutes down the road. And then, of course, there are the activities: snowshoeing, skeet shooting, horse riding, fly fishing, heli-skiing, axe-throwing, whiskey sipping, and too many only-on-a-ranch activities to list here. The hardest decision you’ll have to make is whether to step foot off property or not.

In true Montage form, there is nothing understated about this palatial resort nestled in the Utah mountains. While the main event is obviously on the slopes, there's plenty for those who aren't inclined to strap on skis (or who want to recover from a yard sale on the mountain). The spa is great (if you do anything book in for the Tata Harper Floral Facial), there's a kid's club for little ones who are cold-averse, and there's snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and ice skating on the roster of activities. The hotel has a variety of dining options too, meaning you don't have to leave the property if you don't want to: Apex serves a hearty skier's brunch buffet daily (try the gluten-free banana bread), while Yama Suhi, overlooking the Empire lift, serves a solid mix of rolls and sashimi as well as sake flights. Downstairs, Daly's Pub has a rec-room feel with a dartboard, vintage arcade games, and even a bowling alley, plus a menu of shareable brick-oven pizzas that are sure to please. Plus, from 4pm to 5pm in the winter months, and 8pm to 9pm in the summer, the hotel offers gourmet marshmallows (cinnamon, anyone?) for roasting on the open fire pits. The resort is a great destination in warmer months, too.

Robert Redford bought the land that Sundance Resort sits on back in the 1960's, when he first started coming to Utah. Investors encouraged him to develop it by adding condominiums and rentals, but Redford insisted on keeping as much of the area pristine as possible, creating a community centered around creativity and conservation. Unsurprisingly, the aesthetic of the lodge here is reminiscent of the resort's namesake catalog, with wood-paneled walls, cozy flannel bedding, and working fireplaces—there are standard rooms available, but for longer trips, check into an apartment-like suite outfitted with a full kitchen. Staying here, you'll be right at the base of the property's namesake mountain, which, at only three chairs, is smaller than nearby Deer Valley, but intimate and unique in a very special way.

This ski-in-ski-out lodge is named for the famous Norwegian skier, who made his home in Park City for most of his life and served as a host here for many years. One of the most luxurious places to stay in town, it's known for excellent service—ski valets will whisk away your skis and serve hot apple cider at the end of a ski day, and there's a concierge on-hand to light the fireplace in your bedroom. We love the multi-room suites here for longer stays with a family, as they're outfitted with small kitchens for easy dinners and washer/dryers that come in handy for drying out frozen ski socks or long johns. Even if you're staying elsewhere, it's worth checking out the spa, which has a heated outdoor pool with stunning views of the Wasatch range.

While we couldn’t be bigger fans of the Montage Deer Valley, the St. Regis is a great option too, with tons of bells and whistles—from their signature butler service to a funicular that brings guests from the valet to the main lobby. Kids love the big swimming pool, and the fire pits on the terrace, where you can roast s’mores under the astonishingly starry sky. For parents, their impeccable service makes planning activities and getting around the town incredibly easy.

Tucked into the center of lower Main Street near the town lift, the charmingly refurbished Washington School House has twelve rooms, done up with reclaimed oak wood floors, all-white interiors, and vintage rugs—a welcome alternative to some of the splashier resorts in town. The overall vibe feels much more Parisian apartment than it does rustic alpine chalet. The complimentary breakfast is great (order the pancakes), while the heated pool and outdoor fire pit are big draws for après seekers.

With wraparound views of the Empire Express chairlift at the base of Deer Valley Mountain, Burgers & Bourbon is the kind of place that hits the spot after a day on the slopes. Burgers are obviously the thing to order; there are thirteen types on the menu, ranging from a wild turkey burger served with green goddess dressing to blackened ahi tuna with Asian slaw. (Since you’re going for it, you might as well order the trio of fries.) They deliver on the bourbon as well: There are over 200 types of bourbons and whiskeys, or you can opt for the local flight, three kinds of whiskey from local favorite High West Distillery.

Chef Arturo Flores cut his teeth working for beloved local restaurateur Bill White before joining the team at Chimayo over a decade ago. Chimayo has become something of an institution in town, and Flores and his team keep things exciting by using seasonal ingredients and riffing on classic Southwestern cuisine. Of particular note: the guacamole Azteca, served with snow crab, stuffed avocado and roasted vegetables and Tierra + Mar fajitas, a happy mix of kobe steak, jumbo shrimp, and pico de gallo. The overall aesthetic feels equally transforming—there’s Mexican tile flooring, washed brick walls, and woven throw pillows throughout the space. When it comes to cocktails, just ask your server to keep the house’s signature Chimayo Margarita coming.

Eating Establishment holds the distinction of being the oldest restaurant in town (it first opened in 1972); consequently, the vibe is a little more low-key than some of the other restaurants on Main Street, with a cozy fireplace in the back and a diner-style menu that serves breakfast all day long. When new ownership bought the place last year, they upgraded it with a new bar (which serves excellent cocktails), so it's a good après spot, too. Any time of day, the classic order is the Miner's Dawn Skillet: a mix of potatoes, onions, and cheese, topped with over-easy eggs, which has been on the menu since the '70s. As the restaurant's official saying goes: They're not good because they're old, they're old because they're good.

Upper mountain's Empire Canyon Lodge serves dinner Wednesday through Saturday until early April. It's a hearty, four-course, set-price menu—cheese, cured meats, stews, roasted leg of lamb, Swiss dishes like rösti potatoes—served from their stone fireplaces. You also have the option of adding some outdoor adventure to your dinner: with a snowshoe trek before, or you can arrange for a horse-drawn sleigh ride there.

In local son John Murcko's latest project, you'll find a high-ceilinged, industrial space where the center of the action is the open kitchen—and a dining room that is separated from the kitchen by a wall of vintage-schoolhouse-style windows. Over an open flame, Murcko cooks up everything from grilled oysters and ember-roasted cauliflower to pecan-grilled scallops with pea risotto. The frequently-changing menu sources its ingredients from local purveyors like Beehive Cheese, Bear Lake Beef, and Slide Ridge Honey. There’s an intimate 8-seat private room, dubbed the Chef’s Library, which is full of Murcko's favorite cookbooks, just to the right of the kitchen. (He may even pop his head in and say hi while you're dining.) Inquire about the beautiful, reclaimed wooden dining tables and your server will likely tell you they were hand-hewn by Chef himself at his cabin in Southern Utah. Cap off the night with a Smoke Show (High West Rendezvous Rye, charred blood orange, bitters, and rosemary) cocktail at the Nickel Bar downstairs.

The best thing about this cozy Italian spot is their sweet little patio, which is best experienced in the summer, under the twinkle lights they string between the building and the surrounding trees. The menu is classic Italian—hearty meat dishes and generous pastas that are blessedly filling after a long day of hiking or biking. In winter months, the fondue (why not?) and grappa's homemade wild mushroom soup are satisfyingly warm, as is the candlelit dining room.

The seasonally driven menu and lively atmosphere are two of the biggest draws to this unassuming spot, located in a strip mall just a block off the action on Main Street. Chef Briar Handly (formerly of Talisker on Main) serves up fresh twists on American classics in the form of shareable plates with ingredients sourced from neighboring Colorado, Idaho, and of course, Utah. An easy-to-navigate menu is divided into four parts: bites, cold, hot, and hearty. Crowd pleasers include the Rattlesnake cocktail, buffalo-style cauliflower (their brilliant, veggie-based take on wings), and smoked trout sausage, based on a recipe from Handly’s grandmother. Regulars wax poetic about the Caramel Budino with Chex toppings—they’re not wrong. Photographs courtesy of Kerri Fukui for cityhomeCOLLECTIVE

One of the more upscale spots in town, Riverhorse is great for a special occasion, white-tablecloth kind of meal: The old-school menu features a few cuts of steak, local rainbow trout, scallops, and vegetable-heavy side dishes that change with the season. The second-floor patio overlooks Main Street and makes a great hangout come warm summer evenings. (The cocktail list is wonderful, too.) They've also got pleasant, blessedly subtle live music most nights year-round.

This casual go-to does cozy food with mid-mountain views. Part of Silver Lake Lodge, it's below Bald Mountain—in the winter, you can watch skiers coming down the slope for lunch; in summer, it's mountain bikers. On a warm day, you'll find people sprawled out picnic-style on the field in front of the restaurant, or playing some lawn games (cornhole, anyone?). There's usually a bit of a wait for a table, but the superb people-watching is an easy way to pass the time.

Situated down the road from Main Street (and, fortunately, far enough away from its chaos), Windy Ridge feels like a true local's place. They bill themselves as a destination for comfort food, and the menu has plenty of fried favorites like popcorn shrimp and onion rings, plus hearty post-ski dishes like meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, and roasted chicken with mashed potatoes; their southwest corn chowder is famous. Good to know: They do prepared dinners for families of four, which can be clutch when you're renting, or if you have your own place.

Yukiyama flies their fish in fresh, so everything behind their quaint sushi bar is just as good as what you'd find on the coast. That said, the menu is also rounded out with warming udon and ramen, plus some Korean dishes, like a bibimbap-style rice bowl and a Kimchee ramen, which are just what the doctor ordered after a cold day on the mountain. The sake menu is excellent, too.

Located right in town, 350 Main has been a Park City dinner spot for more than two decades. They are big on local ingredients, and even draw a bit from their own urban garden. Notable on the main menu: the gluten-free fried chicken with apple jam, buttermilk mashed potatoes, kale, and carrots. The bar here has a separate tapas-only menu if you aren't looking for a full meal. Also of note: 350 Main has a few different substantial private dining options, including a fireside terrace space and an interior dining room that can seat up to fifty-five.

Tucked between the base of Ruby and Empire Express lifts at the edge of the Montage, the bright yellow façade makes it awfully hard to miss this spot. Ski shop Gorsuch outfitted the interiors of the Veuve-stocked yurt with faux fur throws, antler chandeliers, and buffalo-plaid overstuffed chairs. They’re only open for a few hours mid-day, making it the perfect stop if you’re calling it a day early or looking for a spot to hang out before après is in full swing.

This good-vibes café is family run with a literary bent—you can exchange or drop off used books for credit, or just browse the eclectic shelves as you re-fuel. They have a full-on tea menu, serving everything from the essential matcha latte, to several different chai variations (turmeric, masala-spiced, pumpkin with the option of espresso), to tea lattes with hemp/almond milk. There is, of course, coffee, too; and Atticus serves salads and wraps, made-to-order until 3pm, as well as smoothies.

Open since 1997, El Chubasco excels at uncomplicated, no-frills, really, really good Mexican good. You order at the counter—all the basics you'd want are on offer—and grab a seat in their small interior space or on the outdoor patio (season/weather-dependent). Also a good to-go option, and El Chubasco caters, too.

New kid on the block Five5eeds is totally in line with the Aussie café culture that's sweeping NYC and SF these days. Settle in for a nourishing plate of Moroccan shakshouka or the PC superfood grain salad (wild rice, quinoa, farro, BBQ charred corn, chai-soaked goji berries, and arugula). For the littles, there's a special menu featuring a mini stack of hotcakes and fruit. Currently they're open for breakfast and lunch.

This sweet little restaurant is nestled at the base of Main Street, with a lovely bar for coffee and pastries, plus bar-stool-height tables for those who want to stay a little longer. The menu is full of super-fresh, (mostly) healthy breakfast and lunch items, like a breakfast buddha bowl with eggs and pumpkin puree, paleo banana bread with honeyed ricotta, and salmon and quinoa salad, and there's a full espresso bar serving fair-trade-roasted beans. It's the perfect place to stop in for breakfast en route to the mountain.

Right next to the Town Lift in Park City, High West is billed as the world’s first and only ski-in/ski-out gastro-distillery. Warm up at the bar (it’s made of reclaimed wood from a 1904 Salt Lake bridge) and order their chicken pot pie and a barrel-aged Manhattan. If you’re feeling extra-indulgent, the mac-and-cheese—made with smoked cheddar, jalapeno, and bacon—is well worth it, as is the sweet potato gratin. For a quick lesson in how small-batch spirits are made, including a look at their 250-gallon copper sill, free tours are given daily at 11:30am, 1pm, and 2:30pm. Slightly further afield (but worth the trek) in Wanship, High West's new distillery and tasting room offers tours, whiskey tastings, and a small, Western-inflected menu for snacking.

If you're staying with friends on your trip, consider this ground zero for hostess gifts. They source the highest-quality olive oil from producers in Australia, Europe, California, and North Africa, plus plenty of balsamic vinegars to complement the selection. You'll also find other giftable items, like soap, candles, and kitchen accessories.

This notoriously rowdy spot is the oldest, and arguably the most popular bar in town. Their rooftop is an excellent place to grab a beer with a view during the day, though it stays open well into the wee hours. This is also an excellent place to watch a game.

O’Shucks Bar & Grill is exactly what it looks like: It’s a no-fuss dive bar, where you can get cheap beer and play Big Buck Hunter in the back. While the dark, brick-lined space itself is certainly nothing to write home about, it’s a great antidote to the rest of Park City—this is the kind of place where the ski instructors hang out, and you can unwind with a game of shuffleboard, pinball, or pool.

You wouldn’t think to make a quick stop at a strip mall in Kimball Junction on your way back out to SLC, but trust us: This beats anything you’ll find at the airport, and it’s a welcome respite from all the heavy (albeit delicious) food you’ll have encountered in town. Look for avocado toast served with a poached egg and chili flakes; grain bowls, and hearty vegetable soups, as well as Brussel sprouts, sweet potato hash, roasted cauliflower, and spicy kimchi slaw—all of which are great to share with a group. There’s kombucha from Salt Lake City maker Mamachari on tap, too.

This shop on Main Street has a surprisingly forward-thinking buy for a resort town, but owner/buyer Katie’s style fits in seamlessly at any of Park City’s casual bars and restaurants. Expect to find shelves stocked with Frame denim, Rag & Bone sweaters, and Sundry loungewear (perfect for fireside après), plus picks from See by Chloe and ALC.

Down to the chalkboards with quotes from famous authors and the resident cats that hang out in different parts of the store, Dolly's is a small-town bookstore straight out of central casting. They've been in business for more than thirty years on the same cute corner of Main Street. P.S. The kids section is great.

Locals and best friends from grade school, Blair Isleib and Kristen Doyon, had stints in the New York and LA fashion worlds before they moved home to Park City to start their families and go into business for themselves. Their surprisingly big boutique (don't forget to go upstairs) has a lot of merchandise across a healthy range of price points—you'll find practical mountain gear, like cashmere turtlenecks, floral patterned ski socks, and Sorel boots, alongside more trend-focused pieces, like velvet bomber jackets and long-sleeved bodysuits, that will work just as well back at home.

Even non-skiers are familiar with Gorsuch's ubiquitous catalog, which has become synonymous with a glittery, European-inspired mountain aesthetic (although founders David and Renie Gorsuch, who met at the 1960 Olympics, are Colorado-based Americans). Sure, some of the merchandise skews a little over-the-top, but you can always count on them to stock all of the classic luxury ski apparel brands, like Bogner, Moncler, and Frauenschuh. As for the fur-hooded jackets and Dale of Norway sweaters—when in Rome, right? (P.S.: Just a few doors up 333 Main Street, there's a Gorsuch ski shop, should you decide to upgrade your gear while you're in town.)

Park City Mercantile is one of those stores that wouldn’t look out of place on say, Abbot Kinney in Venice, but it gets it right as a kind of modern-day general store in Park City, too. The light-wooden shelves are overflowing with Farmhouse pottery, cozy Faribault woolen blankets, soaps from Juniper Ridge, Tanner Goods leather bracelets, and Coyuchi linens. All of the dry goods come from locally sourced vendors, like Pink Elephant Coffee Roasters. (Meanwhile, Land Juicery is just a few doors up, so you can sip pressed green juice while you shop.)

A skate shop in a ski town doesn’t sound so novel but Prospect is far from run-of-the-mill. Here, you’ll find an interesting high-low edit: Socks by Stance (there’s some for ladies too), hoodies from WeSc, slick Nixon watches. Tucked into the back corner is Billy's Barber Shop, an Orange Country import, that features an antique barber chair and traditional lather machine to boot. Swing by to clean up with a hot shave (or haircut if you've gone full-on mountain man) before dinner on Main. Upstairs, there are pressed juices and elixirs by Land Juicery, as well as coffee from Pink Elephant.

Owner Melissa Barry knows that mountain home design needn’t be limited to Pendleton blankets, buffalo plaid, and faux-fur throws. Here, her more modern take includes an airier palette (French mid-century arm chairs and Notte bed linens). Don't worry, you'll still find a few tasteful nods to alpine living: a coffee table must-have The Stylish Life: Skiing, hair-on-hide throw pillows, and a hard-carved wooden stag head. Barry's edit feels tasteful, not gimmicky. Upstairs doubles as a showroom for larger interior design projects.

This local bowling alley, with its original ball returns and pin machines, is a bit of a time-warp—and it’s awesome. The same family has run Holiday Lanes since 1964, and they’re known for their classic malt, which they make using hand-mixing machines from the 60's. We recommend the burgers and fries, too, which are almost as much of a draw as the bowling.

The experts at Jans can pretty much get you through any mountain adventure—in the winter, they focus on the three major ski groups: alpine, nordic, and backcountry. In the summer, book them for fly fishing—they make the sport fun for first-timers, and have access to locals-only spots where you’ll have the best chance of catching something.

Every August, Utah’s longest continually operating festival heads to town, taking over blocks-long Main Street and checking the requisite food, art, and music boxes along with it. Over the course of three days, some 225 jury-selected artists across categories like drawing, photography, and woodworking head to town to show off their wares. For the artists, it’s the opportunity to go home with a “Best in Show” award, and for the visitors, it marks the chance to discover and take home works from up-and-coming artists from across the country. (Proceeds from the festival allow the Kimball Arts Center to provide free year-round exhibitions, tours, and gallery talks for its patrons.) Local food trucks like Bruges Waffle Bus and Black’s Sliders decamp throughout the festival blocks, and there’s a rotating roster of live music acts.

Located in the heart of Park City on Main Street, this cultural hub brings big-name acts to the alpine village. In the summer, the Big Stars, Bright Nights series, held in Deer Valley’s Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at the base of the resort, is a huge crowd-pleaser. (Past seasons included Willie Nelson, Esperanza Spalding, and Mike Posner.) Throughout the year, the performing arts center hosts a varied roster from the likes of Alan Cumming, the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, and New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, for a series of performances and intimate-yet-engaging talks.

Sure, snowmobiling is kind of an athletic cop-out—but if you’re going to do it while you’re in Park City, this is the place. Summit Meadows Adventures offers guided tours (for groups, or just you) in Browns Canyon where you can explore 7,000 acres with spectacular views of the the Wasatch Mountains. They also offer complimentary transportation from Park City (it’s just ten minutes from Main Street), plus helmets.

When the snow finally melts for the summer, Park City turns the base of their mountain (including the bottom-most runs) into a playspace for littles, with zip lines, a ropes course, a summer tubing track, rock climbing wall, mini-rollercoasters, and a temporary playground, plus ample areas to sit out in the sun and watch. It's also home base for gondola rides, mountain bike trails, and some great hiking.

You can log some serious miles on your Fitbit with Park City’s extensive network of scenic cross country trails set among the Uinta Mountains. (About 50 miles of which are totally groomed.) They also offer moonlight snowshoeing tours through Deer Valley Resort's Empire Pass for those who want a glimpse of alpine life after hours. White Pine can set you up with rentals for just about any excursion.

Located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Brighton & Solitude (which are separate mountains, though you can access them with one pass if you choose) feel a little less commercial and a little more local than their bigger counterparts in other areas of the Wasatch. It's true that you won't find the same masses of terrain, but you will find shorter lift lines—in fact, this can be a great place to come on a powder day, since you won't be battling for fresh turns with the rest of Utah. Brighton's on-mountain terrain isn't huge, but they've got a great terrain park and an open-bounds policy that makes it remarkably easy to cross over into the backcountry. Solitude has historically been a locals' secret for great powder, and a recent buyout by Deer Valley means big infrastructure upgrades are likely in the works.

Nestled in the Wasatch Mountain range, Deer Valley Resort consistently tops lists for its customer service. In skiing parlance, that translates to on-site ski valets to help you unload your gear, immaculately groomed slopes, and well-appointed lodges. (Stop for lunch at Royal Street Café at Silver Lake Lodge—it's far cry from the cafeteria-style dining you're used to mid-mountain.) What's nice about Deer Valley is there's a little something for everyone, making it a great mountain for families—there are easy cruisers like Bluebell and Lucky Jack, plus some solid steeps like Daly Bowl and Lady Morgan. Deer Valley is one of the last skiers-only holdouts, so like neighboring Alta, no snowboarders are permitted. Photos courtesy of Deer Valley Resort

The big news in Park City is that the town's namesake resort was purchased by Vail, which could be good or bad news depending on who you talk to. Vail already owned the formerly-named Canyons, Park City's northern sister, and the acquisition gave them the opportunity to install a brand-new, eight-person gondola connecting the two resorts from peak to peak and expanding the ski-able terrain to an (astonishing) combined 7,300 acres. Über-convenient for people staying near Main Street, you can actually access Park City from right downtown, making the entire town virtually ski-in, ski-out. A mountain this huge is guaranteed to have a wide range of terrain, but considering the unbelievable number of groomed runs, the sweet spot here is for intermediate skiers. Needless to say, it's also great for littles who've graduated from the magic carpet. Tip: If you're planning on multiple ski trips this year, consider investing in the Epic Pass, Vail Resorts' multi-mountain pass, which gives you unlimited access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Whistler-Blackcomb, and plenty more for a fixed price.

While Alta and Snowbird are distinct mountains (note that Alta isn't snowboard-friendly, while Snowbird is), the next-door-neighbors offer a joint pass called the Altabird, so it's fun to hit them both on the same day if you can. Alta is Utah's classic advanced-skier mountain, with some of the steepest terrain in the Wasatch—it's here that you'll find a lot of hardcore locals, in part because you can access plenty of backcountry via Catherine's Pass. Snowbird is famous for its aerial tram, which takes you all the way to the top of the mountain in one ride and has stunning views—like Alta, it's also home to some steeper, more advanced terrain than the other mountains in the area. Both of these mountains are excellent on a powder day, but you'll have to beat the locals to get any of the good stuff—expect them to be tracked out by 11am at the latest.

The Spa at Stein Eriksen Lodge is pretty large, spanning 23,000 square feet and housing sixteen treatment rooms, with separate men’s and women’s relaxation rooms, each of which have access to a sauna, steam room, and hot and cold plunge baths. In addition to a classic menu of top-notch massages and body treatments, couples can check into one of the spa’s treatment suites outfitted with private showers, tubs, and a fireplace.

The spa at the Montage is hands-down our favorite spot in the city—the design takes its cues from the surrounding mountains, so you’ll find a pool with spectacular views, and individual soaking tubs nestled next to the fire, plus the requisite sauna and treatment rooms.

At YMI, you’ll find yoga classes that are guaranteed to make you sweat, not just because the practice is Baptiste-inspired (a type of hot yoga), but because the flow is pretty challenging and aimed at helping you detox your body—and mind. All levels are welcome, and you can take the class in a 60-, 75-, or 90-minute form.