Three years ago, if you would have told me I would be spending my two-year anniversary in Utah, I would have called you crazy. I had never been to the mountains and had spent most of my vacations on the beach. But Utah has since pleasantly surprised me. My husband’s family has a house near Park City, and every time we make the journey to Park City, I enjoy it more and more.
Cool Places to Eat and Drink
501 on Main – This was our first stop in Park City. We fueled up with lunch here before taking our first hike of the trip. I ate a salad and bison chili, and Kevin had a hamburger and fries. But what made this restaurant shine was the location and two-story balcony that sat at the center of Main Street. So gorgeous and quaint!
Ghidotti’s – Although not on Main Street, Ghidotti’s sits in the Kimball Junction, a larger shopping area with a beautiful mountain backdrop. Ghidotti’s house-makes its pasta and has a divine balsamic dipping sauce for the bread. I ordered the pappardelle with bolognese, and it was topped with mascarpone and parmesan…so good!
High West Distillery – I have been here in winter and summer because the ambiance is so fun. Although the drinks are pricey, they are delicious and worth at least one stop on a trip! We savored a cocktail in the saloon with wooden floors and a western vibe after our last hike.
Grappa – We ate at Grappa on our last night in Park City to celebrate our two-year anniversary, and luckily, it was on a Monday! At Grappa over the summer, they offer local’s night specials with discounted appetizers, entrees, and drinks. Our server was so nice, and the ambiance was perfect: three stories of indoor and outdoor tea lights next to a bubbling fountain overlooking Main Street. I ordered house-made spaghetti with spicy meatballs and arrabbiata sauce, and the sauce with the bread hinted of balsamic and rosemary. The server topped off our evening with a free chocolate and hazelnut dessert. Definitely a night to remember!
Fun Things To Do
Park City Ski Resort – Park City has an abundance of ski slopes in the winter and a bustling Adventure Park over the summer. The park has an Alpine Coaster, Alpine Slide, and Zip Lines that kids and adults alike enjoy at a pretty penny. I am not one for adrenaline; but my husband loves a rush, so he rode the alpine coaster. And he said that it was fast and fun as it zipped through the mountainside trees. I much more enjoyed the hike called Jenni’s Trail that started in Park City, except for the part where we got lost at the end…but we rode the ski lift back down to the resort after 6 miles, and the respite of the slow descent held glorious views.
Lackawaxen and Bloods Lake Loop – We drove a little farther to reach this hike, but the drive was magnificent as it wound along mountainsides. On this hike, we stomped through snow and found a beautiful mountain lake. The air was crisp but not cold. The hike usually forms a loop around two lakes, but the snow prevented us from finding the path past Bloods Lake to continue the journey. This hike was easier and more leisurely, but no less breathtaking.
Deer Valley Ski Resort – The skiing at Deer Valley is just as beautiful as Park City. Over the summer, though, it is much less crowded, as Deer Valley did not have the bells and whistles of the Park City resort. It did, however, have a few ski lifts going for mountain bikers and hikers. We hiked the Silver Lake/Ontario Loop on our last day, and this was our favorite all-around hike of the trip. We reached 9,400 feet, the very top of the mountain, and we earned a 360-degree view of Utah. Absolutely mind-blowing.
All in all, Park City holds a special place in my heart. Even though I am no expert skier, as I have only skied twice in my entire life, I do love the beautiful views, perhaps even more so over the summer. Hiking and eating and relaxing made for a romantic and picturesque anniversary getaway. I know you will enjoy Park City as much as we did!
