Nestled in the Wasatch Mountains and just a 40-minute drive from the Salt Lake City Airport, Park City is known for its skiing and snowboarding opportunities at the famous Park City Mountain Resort, as well as its extensive network of hiking and biking trails in the summer. The city also boasts a vibrant cultural scene, with the Sundance Film Festival drawing visitors from all over the world each year.
Park City had its beginnings as a mining town, dating from the late 1800s. Main Street is lined with charming shops, art galleries, and restaurants, many of which are housed in restored Victorian-era buildings. This provides visitors with a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the history of Park City. The dining options are also varied, with everything from casual cafes and pubs to fine-dining restaurants. The High West Distillery & Saloon is the world’s only ski-in distillery.
Olympic Park offers groups a variety of activities and experiences related to winter sports. The park was built for the 2002 Winter Olympics and offers the opportunity for groups to ride on the bobsled and skeleton tracks, spend some time tubing, ski on the extensive cross-country Nordic ski trails, and in the summer tour the ski jumping facilities and zip-line over the park to take it all in from a bird’s eye view.
In addition to skiing and outdoor activities, Park City also offers a variety of cultural experiences, such as the Kimball Art Center and the Egyptian Theatre, both of which host exhibitions and performances throughout the year. Park City’s most well-known event is the Sundance Film Festival, an annual independent film festival that takes place each January/February. It was founded by Robert Redford in 1978 and is considered one of the most prestigious and important film festivals in the world. (Sundance Resort is an hour’s drive away from downtown Park City.)
To serve as a home base while in this iconic mountain town, there are a number of luxury hotels. They range in size from the 12-room Washington School House Hotel, a LHW member, to the 220-room Montage Deer Valley. The new Pendry Park City, Hotel Park City (Autograph Collection), The Lodge at Blue Sky and Goldener Hirsch (both Auberge properties), Stein Eriksen, St. Regis Deer Valley and the Waldorf Astoria fill out a great collection of Park City options.
The natural beauty of the area, the historic atmosphere of the mountain ski town and the recreational and cultural opportunities, all in a location so close to a major US airport, make this a destination that checks a lot of boxes for those planning incentive travel. Be sure to check it out if it is not a spot you are familiar with.
Thanks to our DMC partner in Park City: RMC DMC