Insider’s Guide

BY JANE GENDRON

IT’S COOLER AT ALTITUDE—in every sense. Aside from perfect summertime temps, Park City delivers a trademark cool that translates into big grins, fist pumps, and maybe even some top-notch family bonding. Teens who are lucky enough to vacation or staycation in Park City this summer can zip, cruise, or meander through all manner of action and adventure. Here’s the lowdown on our teen-approved summertime favorites.

RESORT-SIDE ACTION Loosely speaking, Park City is home to four “resorts:” Woodward Park City, Utah Olympic Park, Park City Mountain, and Deer Valley Resort. These Mother Nature-graced, mountain playgrounds allow teens to go big or take a more laidback approach to adventure—with or without parents and/or siblings in tow.

Woodward Park City, packs huge fun into its 120-acre action sports campus. With an emphasis on sports progression, this highoctane resort seems tailormade for teens (and teens-at-heart), offering DIY as well as guided adrenaline-pumping action: lift-served mountain biking, BMX jumps, skateparks, and much more. The 66,000 square-foot indoor hub adds parkour, pump track, ramps, trampolines, and a 10,000 square-foot concrete park to the X Games-inspired mix. Reserve your session, clinic, or summer camp in advance as this place is hopping all year long.

Site of the 2002 Games for Nordic jumping, bobsled, skeleton, and luge events the Utah Olympic Park, is bubbling with activity all summer long. Whether your teen prefers buckling into a harness for high-flying fun, watching elite athletes flip and soar off the poolside training jumps, touring the interactive museums, or spending an evening at a drive-in movie (held in the parking lot), this place just oozes Olympic-inspired fun. Check out the Gold pass ($75) for three-and-a-half, action-packed hours of everything from extreme tubing and navigating ropes courses to ziplining and cruising the alpine slide.

For those seeking some downhill thrills, Park City Mountain’s, alpine slide and alpine coaster deliver some swooping entertainment. There’s also lift-served hiking and biking for some selfpropelled descents. With a carnival-esque feel, the resort’s Adventure Park (the Park City Village side) has everything from putt-putt golf to tasty food trucks. And at the Canyons side of the resort, golf is the main draw. Free live music is likely to return to the resort this summer as well. Deer Valley Resort, keeps it trails-focused with lift-served hiking and mountain biking as well as upscale dining, and—fingers crossed—a trio of outdoor music series this summer. The big attraction for thrill-seeking teens: stunning, Gravity Logic-designed downhill flow trails. Whether your teen prefers the beginner-friendly Holy Roller, the no-holds-barred (somewhat terrifying) expert Tsunami, or the still-white-knuckle-worthy, intermediate Tidal Wave is up to them, or you.

SPLASHABLE FUN With a handful of reservoirs—plus natural lakes— within easy striking distance, water play is always a go-to for a great way to savor school-free days. The biggest and closest, Jordanelle State Park, has beaches, campsites, fishing, boat rentals (waterskiing anyone?), and more. Rockport, Deer Creek, and Echo reservoirs have a variety of offerings (from archery to ziplines) and all kinds of watercraft activity. For more remote adventure, explore the nearby Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, home to more than 1,000 lakes and rock climbing, camping, fishing, and backpacking opportunities.

For a wee toe-dip, Pebble Beach, located near Deer Valley Grocery-Café, is a great little spot for an introduction to stand-up paddle-boarding, one-wheeling, or learning how to cast a fly-fishing line.

FREEWHEELING THRILLS With more than 400 miles of trails, there are plenty of mountain-bike-accessible thrills to be had throughout the greater Park City area including, but not limited to, the aforementioned resorts. Check out Mountain Trails Foundation, and Snyderville Basin Recreation, maps for the latest and greatest routes. For the skater/scooterloving set, City Park and Trailside Park both have concrete skate parks as well as fields, hoops, volleyball, and tennis facilities. For the BMX crowd and those working on their technical bike skills, Trailside’s Bike Park and the city’s Dirt Jump Park (adjacent to Creekside Park) have plenty of berms, jumps, flows, and bumps to navigate and grind.

Of course, just going for a cruise is always an option. A slew of well-marked, paved paths link most neighborhoods throughout Park City, which means rollerblading, scootering, pedaling, or e-biking (check out the bikeshare stalls, if you need e-wheels) are all fun ways to explore town.

GUIDES AND GREENS You can’t go wrong with an expert-led outing— whether you’re completely new to a sport or well-versed in its nuances. Check out White Pine Touring, for rock climbing, biking, and hiking. All Seasons Adventures, offers everything from fly fishing and horseback riding to trap shooting and mountain biking. For a Weber River expedition, Destination Sports, is the go-to outfitter for rafting, kayaking, and more.

If your teen favors manicured greens over untamed wilderness, tee up locally at Park City Golf Course, or Canyons Golf. Venture to neighboring Midway where Wasatch Golf, Homestead Golf Club, and Soldier Hollow, have a combined 90 holes of stunning, publicly accessible play. Homestead also has a natural hot spring-filled crater worthy of a dip. Of note: Be sure to check for discounted twilight and juniors tee times.

ARTS, EATS, SHOPPING, MUSIC, AND MORE For some creativity-hued, hands-on experiences, check out classes and studio sessions at the Kimball Art Center, The Paint Mixer, and Red Flower Studios. Or, see what imaginative wares artisans have dreamed up at the Park Silly Sunday Market, a weekly, eco-friendly Main Street gathering that has it all: eats, drinks, live entertainment, and stall-upon-stall of locally crafted wonders. Looking for another homegrown experience? Hop a free city bus to the Park City Farmer’s Market, held in the Silver King parking lot at the base of Park City Mountain resort, for a feast of fresh produce, baked goods, and more, every Wednesday.

Speaking of eats, for a teen-centric (yet, still adultenjoyable) dining experience, check out the 3,500 square-foot Champions Club (think Pac-Man, billiards, and more) at Stein Eriksen Lodge, steinlodge.com. Similarly swanky-meets-fun, Daly’s Pub & Rec at Montage Deer Valley, has teen-friendly games— including bowling—alongside family-friendly cuisine. Or, ditch the game room vibe for some casual, al fresco nibbles at Versante Hearth + Bar’s lawn, which has live music on Saturdays and Sundays.

Shopping options run the gamut, from chic local boutiques to big box bargains. Teens may gravitate toward the Outlets Park City, where they can score deals at brands like Under Armour and Nike. Of course, historic Old Town is always a colorful place to stroll,

shop, and pause for a treat (don’t miss the candy apples at Rocky Mountain Chocolate).

Thankfully, live music appears to be making a comeback this summer with nonprofit Mountain Town Music, leading the charge. Most of the MTM local concerts are free, outdoors, and just a teen-friendly bike ride away. And as pandemic-related protocols evolve, look for larger shows at venues like Deer Valley and Canyons.

Pro Tip: Lodging rates dip significantly in Park City’s shoulder seasons (April, May, September, October, and November) and summer accommodations are much more affordable than peak winter prices. If your dates are flexible, look for room-and-adventure packages at Deer Valley and Park City Mountain resorts as well as deals at even the swankiest hotels and property rentals throughout the area.

A FINAL WORD: For all high-altitude adventures—from hard-charging mountain biking to chilling on a grassy hillside for a concert—always remember sunscreen, water, and an extra layer or two.

VisitParkCity.com

Writer and editor, Jane Gendron, came to Utah “just for one summer” 23 years ago — and never left. Now, a dog, a husband, and three kids later, she feels downright lucky to call Park City home. When Jane isn’t hiking, biking or skiing, she writes for PR clients and publications, ranging from Fodor’s to Ski Utah.