Park City is really its own little world in Utah. Being just a short drive from conservative Salt Lake City, it is a surprise that the community is so liberal. This is a tourist town with a variety of art and creativity. There are three major ski resorts, Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort.
For the first-time skier, this can be an uphill battle. A king bedroom, including a fireplace and jacuzzi with heated towels, is a nice place to start at the Chateaux at Silver Lake.
After settling in, lunch was served at Zoom, the restaurant owned by Robert Redford located at the foot of Main Street. Celebrities fight for a table yearly in the actor's establishment during the Sundance Film Festival, which brings stars and paparazzi to the town.
Getting suited up with the correct clothing and equipment was the next step in the process. Destination Sports employs helpful locals who can make uncomfortable boots a little cozier. Main Street is the home of many shops, such as the Silver Queen Fine Art Gallery. Learn about how this mining town with over 1200 miles of mines got its start at the Park City Historical Museum. The High West Distillery & Saloon not only had excellent food but whiskey flights to warm up the belly. Try the mac & cheese along with the short ribs then go on a private tour where you can learn about whiskey and rye from the test tube to vat. Be forewarned drink plenty of liquids to help with hydration in this dry climate after partaking in spirits.
The Deer Valley Resort makes a good snowy ground to learn how to ski. With a Jetsons-style conveyor belt to bring beginners to the top of the little hill, pizza and fries are servednot as a meal but as an exercise on how to hold your legs on skis. "Make a wedge" was a common phrase and the way to coast and stop or fly by as a fry. Take a break at The Royal Street Café, which makes a perfect place to snack after a long day with an instructor.
The Utah Olympic Park is not only a museum but an obstacle course with slides for Olympic hopefuls to train year round. For an extra $200 a professional driver will slide down with tourists to experience 5Gs of force on a bobsled ride.
The Seafood Buffet is a sight to behold with possibly the best scallops in the country served by yummy Brazilians. Twenty-three percent of the population in the city is Latino, with international students working on the lifts and restaurants from Chile to Argentina.
The Park City Mountain Resort proved more than a challenge, as my instructor had to shuttle me down the mountain by my ski poles! Every bone in my body cried out for relief, and there was an oasis with Amatsu Spa at the Sky Lodge. This luxury hotel offers some of the best views in town after a massage that an uptight or stressed out person will not soon forget.
The recently moved and reopened Shabu presented freestyle Asian cuisine with tableside cooking, the Wagyu beef hot rock and the firecracker shrimp. Funchop chopstick helpers provided guides for kids and myself into learning how to pick up Chinese cuisine. It seemed like the training wheels were following me everywhereeven off the slopes.
The Canyons Resort sports the first heated high speed lifts in North America and motorized gondolas at Red Pine. The time of year factors in with activities such as golf and balloon rides are part of the fun for the summer.
Although there are no specific LGBT areas, locals expressed that every walk of life is accepted in their town. With more than 100 restaurants and 20 bars in the city, there really is something for everyone.
For a quick start there are now free lift tickets with proof of a same day flight and free public transportation, a vacationer can be on the slopes in no time.
This is just the tip of the iceberg for adventure that awaits a traveler in unique Utah.
For more information on planning a trip with a mountain range of possibilities visit www.parkcityinfo.com .