Sundance is over, and you know what that means. It’s time to plan your next ski vacation to Park City, Utah. The stars have retreated back to their sun-kissed Hollywood paradises, leaving the slopes wide-open and “the high life” fully at your fingertips. Park City is not only one of North America’s preeminent haute ski meccas — late last year, it earned the recognition of operating North America’s largest ski resort after expanding and combining the existing Park City Mountain Resort with Canyons. It’s also a real estate haute spot: in 2015, the historic town ranked among the top five U.S. cities for listings over $1 million and ranked among the top 20 cities for home sales over $1 million, according to the fall 2015 report released by Coldwell Banker Previews International®/ NRT.
Photo by Chris Dodson/Flickr
There is little question as to why the classic mining town continues to attract elite group of serious skiers, snowboarders, snowbunnies and A-listers with its western charm, culinary delights and attractions, both on and off the slopes. There’s historic Main Street with its ever-growing collection of restaurants and bars, such as the ski-in distillery High West Distillery & Saloon and the seasonal tasting menu at Talisker on Main and the Canyons’ Bistro restaurant (the first and only certified kosher restaurant at a U.S. ski resort). There’s also two museums, ski jumps and new attractions such as zip lines, hiking trails, high ropes courses and the bobsled run. Not to mention, there are plenty of luxe resorts and world-class spas to relax and rejuvenate après–ski.
With so many choices in Park City now, how do you know which haute spots to hit? We asked Bruce Wallin, editorial director and luxury travel specialist for Robb Report, to give us the inside scoop to the rugged-yet-refined mountain escape.
Hotel: Montage Deer Valley. Set atop Empire Pass and tucked amongst the forested slopes of Deer Valley ski resort, this five-star resort offers unrivaled ski‐in/ski‐out access to one of America’s best ski resorts, the largest spa in Utah and a range of fine dining options.
Eating: J&G Grill in The St. Regis Deer Valley, where the elegant food by Jean-Georges Vongerichten continues to inspire. Adds Wallin: “The St. Regis also just opened a Champagne ice bar, Après, so you can now have drinks at the bar and then go over to J&G for dinner.”
To Do: “A perfect day in Park City is to go skiing at Deer Valley,” says Wallin. “And maybe make a side trip to the Alpine Coaster at Park City Mountain Resort, and then go back to Montage and have a pint at the pub and go bowling with my kids at the resort’s bowling alley.”
Luxe Tip: “My best advice for luxury travelers is to make use of the concierge,” says Wallin. “Too often, people fail to take advantage of these great local resources. The best luxury hotels have highly knowledgeable concierges who can point you toward experience you might otherwise never know about.”
