keathley

My wife and I are traveling to SLC at the end of Feb 2015 to see our son's concert at the Mormon Tabernacle. He is traveling with a school group and we are taking the opportunity to tie in a romantic vacation. We will be there for 4-5 days and were thinking it would be better to head out to Park City for a few days vice just staying in SLC the whole time. It looks like it is a 30-45 min drive to Park City but have no idea with February weather conditions if that is reasonable. For those that have been to both...would you recommend just staying in town? or staying in Park City. We are not really skiers but love good food, good wine and would love to find a romantic lodging where we can walk around and enjoy the local sites and culture and food.

Any suggestions on which way to head and where to stay (lodging)? One day we will be in SLC for our son's concert but the rest of the time we are flexible. Any other suggestions? Alta? Cottenwood Heights? is there a new area of SLC that is emerging as the new hip place? Sundance? Any advice would be appreciated.

cmcfong

I spent a week at the Hotel Park City and loved it. Very easy walk into tiwn, great restaurants, some shopping, plus a free transportation system! I highly recommend it!

Tabernash2

I'd choose Park City over SLC.

StantonHyde

It depends. Park City has great food and wine all along main street. SLC has great food too--Pago, Copper Onion etc. IMO,

I can walk Park City's main street for one day. They have an awesome bookstore. Lots of high end art galleries and clothing boutiques. SLC has several shopping districts and lots of art galleries in addition to some great museums, theater, dance etc. So there is more variety.

Hotels--if you want really romantic, awesomeness then yes--stay at Deer Valley. Or you could stay at the Grand America in SLC which is gorgeous. I also like the Hotel Monaco as it is a Kimpton Hotel.

So food is close to even, with an edge going to Park City. Lodging would to go PC (along with the prices!). Stuff to do--SLC. So maybe you stay in PC but then drive down to SLC during the day?

I will say I HATE driving Parleys Canyon between SLC and PC. People fly along that bobsled run of a road. Add in the big trucks and any snow or ice and I am just glad not to be on it. Granted, people do it every.day. as part of their work commute. I probably do it 1-2 times a month.

fmpden

At the end of Feb the area will be over run with skiers which tend to pack the bars and restaurants in the later PM and evening. Park City is relatively small so in my opinion is that it could get real boring after two days especially since you are not interested in skiing. Deer Valley would be more relaxing and romantic but a bit more expensive.

Have not spent any time in SLC, so I cannot make a good recommendation between the two but have the spent the first week of March in Park City for many years.

PS - As predicted, someone has returned.

fmpden

Looks like StantonHype and I were composing at the same time. I like his/her assessment and it matches my view of Park City and I would go with Stanton.

tomfuller

There is also light rail service from Sandy into downtown SLC. http://www.rideuta.com/
It depends on whether you want to rent a car or use public transit.

Dayle

Omg Tom I would never recommend to anyone to stay in Sandy! Only if they were coming to ski Little Cottonwood and could not afford lodging in the canyon at Alta or Snowbird. I used to live in Sany in the early 80s.

I don't think you would get bored in Park City for only 3 or 4 days even if you don't ski. Things to do
Hot air balloon
Snowshoe
Art galleries, spas, more gourmet dining than you could get to in a month
Utah Olympic Park, ride the bobsled, see the athletes train, or catch an International level competition for free!
Olympic size ice rink
Concerts, plays at the Egyptian and the Eccles Center
Dog sledding or sleigh rides
Tubing
Swanner Nature Preserve and Eco Center tours
Winter mountain biking!

I live in Park City and drive down to work inSalt Lake every day. No big deal. I do have a real 4x4 but rarely have to use it. People who do the drive up and down I80 daily drive slowly and carefully on snowy roads. The rest of the time they drive about the same as those on I15!

Sundance is one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world IMO, but you would be bored there after half a day if not skiing.

1 or 2 nts in Slc would be enough, then 3 nts in Park City would make a very nice visit.

Dayle

Drive time between downtown SlC and Park City is 30 minutes with dry roads.

Dayle

Oh there is more,
The Park City Film Series on Fri Sat & sun nts brings in excellent films most chosen from The Sundance Film Festival. The Kimball Art center is another important spot along with the small but interesting Park City Museum on Main St.

Yes Park City proper is small compared to Vail and we are trying to keep it that way! It's not going to be easy....

Dayle

Romantic lodging : check out Stein's or maybe the Washington Schoolhouse Inn. Hotel Park City is also very good. There are also many nice condo properties to choose from.

Glad you enjoyed it cmcfong! Hope the week wasn't too rainy for your hiking.

fmpden

Dayle, don't think you have to worry about PC looking like Vail. A better comparison would be Breckenridge except for the mountain. Both old mining towns with lots of Victorian buildings. Shopping area about the same and has a similar feel when walking the streets. One nice things is that my Colorado season pass is now accepted at Park City. Unfortunately my old ski group that skied many years at Park City broke up three years ago.

InSandy

I'd split it. Have a couple days in SLC and a couple in Park City. They both have plenty to keep your interest for that long. Why stay in one place and commute? Just enjoy the city for two-three days and then move to park city for a few days.

StantonHyde

Dayle--Rolling on the floor at the idea of staying in Sandy as a tourist destination

I think the idea of splitting the stay is a good one. You could certainly go up to Sundance to have dinner in the Tree Room, which is gorgeous!!!!

And be sure to tour the distillery in Park City--I hear the restaurant is good too!

You are braver on the drive aspect--yes, it is like I-15 but the curves, the downhill--the bobsled run! Gives me the jeebies every time. (wimp ;-) )

keathley

thanks everyone for the great suggestions. we look forward to going and will probably take the suggestion of staying in Park City for a few nights with SLC on either end of the trip. Any food / bar suggestion sin Park CIty that are a must or local favorites?

Dayle

Keathley,

If you use the search box above and put in Park City, you will get a bunch of old threads with tons of restaurant and activities info.

Have fun!