This post is primarily about our favorite place to ski, Park City Utah, the largest ski resort in the United States and in North America, and where to stay if you decide to go there. If you want to see more about other romantic places to ski in North America, please see our Best Places for Couples to Ski post, otherwise read on.
Contents
- 1 Park City, Utah — Our Favorite Ski Town in America
- 2 Our Favorite Place for Skiing – Park City
- 3 Christmas in Park City Utah
- 4 Lodging Reservations
- 5 Ski Tickets
- 6 Things to Do in Park City
- 7 When to Visit Park City
- 8 Final Thoughts
- 9 Other Places We Like for Skiing
- 10 Our Favorite Things to Pack for Skiing
Park City, Utah — Our Favorite Ski Town in America
Few ski destinations combine luxury, charm, and convenience quite like Park City, Utah. Just 35 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, this world-class ski town offers everything from five-star resorts and elegant lodges to family-friendly timeshares and cozy Main Street stays. Whether you’re here for fresh powder, fine dining, or the famous High West Distillery, Park City makes it easy to balance adventure and indulgence.
Cos and Robin grew up skiing in the northeast. Robin learned to ski in Maine and New Hampshire. Cos learned in the Catskills in New York, but preferred to ski more often in Vermont whenever he could. None of those places had very good snow. In fact, when they did get some good snow, it was usually wet and heavy or sheer ice with freezing temps. Cos still has problems with his right knee. It came from a partial tear in his ACL that happened over thirty years ago. It was the first time they had a decent snow fall at the mountain. He is feeling it may be time to finally get the knee fixed, or just stop skiing.
Both Cos and Robin experienced skiing once in their lives in the Alps. That was fun, but Europeans, Germans in particular, have no idea of what a queue is. As a result, you get stepped on and your skis get scraped. Where were the English skiers, who we thought understood queues, when you need them?
Our Favorite Place for Skiing – Park City
So, we have settled on skiing back in the USA in the West. Our favorite place is Park City, the best ski resort, for a number of reasons:
- First, the snow is light and the people who run the mountain know what they are doing.
- We are no longer able to ski at the expert level, (perhaps we never were), so we enjoy big open medium level terrain.
- Park City is fun. We usually book during the Sundance film festival, which means most people staying in the hotels are at the movies and not on the slopes.
- Park City is part of the EPIC ski program which includes Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckinridge, Telluride, Whistler and a lot of other great ski destinations.
- We own a 4-bedroom ski on/ski off timeshare unit during the Platinum period at the Canyons, enabling us to have family and friends join us. (Stay in touch, we will likely rent it once our legs no longer allow us to ski).
- The base at Park City is lower than many other mountains, which means less chance of high-altitude sickness.
- We found a service that will hold our skis and clothing, allowing us to travel with a lot less luggage. We have included a skiing packing list to remind you of the good to have/nice to have items. Some ski resorts are dressier than others. Take a look at some Pinterest pins where you plan to go for some ideas.
- Check out other fun things to do in Utah and also some great restaurants In Park City.
A Legendary Ski Destination
Park City isn’t just one of the best ski towns in America—it’s home to the largest resort in the United States and in North America. It was created when Vail Resorts combined Park City Mountain with Canyons Village. Add in the pristine slopes of Deer Valley Resort, known for its impeccably groomed runs and skier-only policy, and you’ll find terrain for every level, from wide beginner cruisers to expert glades and bowls.
Christmas in Park City Utah
Whether you come for the skiing, the sparkling lights, or simply the joy of a mountain holiday done right, Christmas in Park City Utah feels timeless—luxurious yet heartwarming, sophisticated yet cozy. It’s one of those rare places where you can celebrate the season surrounded by a snow globe stroll, style, and the spirit of the slopes. It is a true winter wonderland, with life-size snow globes, holiday markets, hot cocoa, live music, holiday cheer, and the magic of the season. For Christmas Eve and the New Year there this is the perfect place for a family ski trip, and to enjoy the spirit of the holiday season. At this special time of year, the local shops offer some of the best things for the Christmas Season. Downtown Park City with it’s light displays, live entertainment, Main Street Christmas trees and holiday decorations is a winter landscape. The 57th annual torchlight parade in Deer Valley with dazzling fireworks is a must-see event.
Lodging Reservations
There are a number of great places to stay in Park City. If you are planning to visit Park City, first thing to do is to get a good place to stay.
Luxury Hotels in Park City & Iconic Ski Lodges
If indulgence is your style, Park City delivers with fine luxury hotels in Park City:
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Stein Eriksen Lodge – A Forbes Five-Star luxury resort in Deer Valley, this alpine icon offers ski-in/ski-out access, a ski valet, award-winning dining, and a spa that’s pure après-ski bliss.
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St. Regis Deer Valley – Perched on the mountainside and accessed via a private funicular, this elegant resort defines mountain luxury with fireplaces, private balconies, and sweeping valley views.
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Pendry Park City – The crown jewel of Canyons Village, Pendry brings modern mountain sophistication with rooftop pools, artful design, and vibrant après-ski lounges.
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Montage Deer Valley – Another high-end luxury hotel in Deer Valley.
Ski-In, Ski-Out Resorts & Lodges
For true ski convenience, stay where you can click in and go:
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Deer Valley offers the best collection of ski-in/ski-out lodges in the West—ideal for couples and families seeking ease and elegance.
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Canyons Village properties like Pendry, Hyatt Centric Park City, and Waldorf Astoria Park City combine luxury with a ski-out hotel, quick gondola access.
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Park City Mountain Village has more relaxed options like Marriott’s Mountainside and The Lodge at Mountain Village, perfect for families or timeshare owners.
Families love Park City for its easy access, walkable villages, and full-service condos. Some of our favorite family-friendly timeshares include:
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Marriott’s Summit Watch (right on Main Street)
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Marriott’s Mountainside (steps from the lift)
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Westgate Park City Resort & Spa (Canyons Village, excellent for kids)
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Hilton Grand Vacation Sunrise Lodge (Canyons Village, Where we own a four-bedroom)
Each offers multiple bedrooms, kitchens, and ski valet service, making them a home-away-from-home for weeklong stays.
House Rentals
If you are planning on renting a house for a week or more, we recommend using VRBO. Click here to find your dream vacation rental on VRBO.
Ski Tickets
If the price of skiing and lift tickets in particular is a concern to you, then you might want to know about the Epic Pass. This is a pre-season offer from Vail Resorts that can make skiing on the Park City Resort quite affordable. It is not available at Deer Valley, but allows you access to all of the Park City Resort. However, depending on the package that you purchase, you may be restricted from skiing on certain holidays, such as Christmas in Park City, Utah. These days you may need to make reservations to ski. this started in 2020 when we were dealing with COVID,
If you are only going to ski for a few days, then you should buy tickets directly at Park City Mountain Resort. If you are planning on skiing for a longer period of time, we recommend looking into the Epic Pass. This is a season-type pass that allows you to ski at almost any ski Resort that is owned by Vail Resorts.
Things to Do in Park City
In addition to skiing, there is no limit to the different things you can do in Park City including the historic downtown,
Main Street Magic
At the heart of Park City lies Historic Main Street, where 19th-century mining charm meets upscale mountain chic. Here, in Park City’s historic main street, you’ll find boutique hotels, such as Washington School House Hotel, Treasure Mountain Inn, and Park Hotel, all within walking distance of art galleries, ski lifts, restaurants, and après-ski hotspots. Don’t miss High West Distillery, the only ski-in distillery in the world—perfect for a whiskey tasting after a day on the slopes.
Utah Olympic Park
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Hosted: Park City was one of the main venues for the 2002 Winter Olympics, officially held in Salt Lake City, Utah (February 8–24, 2002).
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Events at Deer Valley Resort included freestyle skiing and alpine slalom.
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Park City Mountain Resort hosted snowboarding and giant slalom.
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The nearby Utah Olympic Park (just outside town) hosted ski jumping, bobsled, luge, and skeleton.
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Many of these facilities remain active training centers today.
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Returning: The Winter Olympics are expected to return to Utah in 2034.
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has named Salt Lake City–Park City as the “preferred host” for the 2034 Winter Games, with final confirmation anticipated in mid-2025.
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Venues in Park City and Deer Valley will again play major roles if the bid is finalized.
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Dining & Après-Ski
Beyond the slopes, Park City is a culinary destination in its own right. Try Riverhorse on Main for fine dining, Handle for modern American cuisine, and Fletcher’s or Tupelo for warm mountain ambiance. Our favorite is the Italian restaurant, Grappa. Then unwind at High West Saloon, sip champagne slope-side at St. Regis’ après deck, or cozy up by the fire with fondue at Stein Eriksen Lodge.
When to Visit Park City
Ski season typically runs late November through mid-April, with the best snow from mid-December to early March. January brings the buzz of the Sundance Film Festival, while spring offers bluebird days and fewer crowds.2026 will be the last year for the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, so make your plans now.
For a summer twist, Park City transforms into a hiking, biking, and festival haven, with luxury resorts offering off-season rates.
Final Thoughts
Whether you crave five-star pampering, slope-side convenience, or Main Street charm, Park City blends all the best elements of a great ski town—easy access, world-class skiing, and a stylish mountain culture that feels both authentic and elevated.
It’s no wonder Park City remains our favorite place to ski in the U.S.—a destination where every stay feels like a perfect balance of adventure and indulgence.
Other Places We Like for Skiing
We are not just limited to skiing at Park City. Because we have the EPIC ski pass, we can ski in many of the Colorado locations (Vail, Beaver Creek and Breckinridge in particular), as well as Whistler and many other locations. Cos has skied Vail and Breckinridge and loves them both. The only issue with Breck is the height, you are up at 9000 feet. Both Cos and Robin are considering another trip up to Canada and to try Whistler. Oh, Canada! Here are some quick photos from Cos’s last trip to Breck. They get plenty of snow there; and at his and Robin’s last trip to Vail, they know how to celebrate Christmas there.
Our Favorite Things to Pack for Skiing
Packing for skiing can be a challenge, especially if you are planning to bring your skiing equipment. In addition, for those of us living in a warm weather climate, gathering and packing all that cold-weather clothing can also be a challenge. We have developed a skiing packing checklist that should help you with the packing challenge. Just click on the button below and download the checklist.
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