Park City, Utah

My most recent adventure takes me to Park City, Utah. After a very challenging and scary mountain drive, we arrived in a breathtaking area of Utah. Located at the base of Wasatch Mountains, Park City is home to two world-class ski resorts - Deer Valley and Park City Mountain. It was home to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and the complex is still located there. Locals consider Park City as "Mountainkind". "Mountainkind" is about embracing a way of life that celebrates each other while protecting the natural beauty of this place they call home.

There are plenty of things to do here. Skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, fishing, hiking, and golf. They are also known for their diverse festivals showcasing wonderful foods, wines, art, and music. We discovered Park City's historic Main Street area and loved exploring it. It is a nine-block stretch from the bottom that reaches 6,900 feet of elevation at the top. Thankfully, there is a free trolley that provides rides up and down the pretty steep grade because walking it truly took my breath away! The street is lined with stores offering a diverse shopping experience. It hosts art galleries, jewelry stores, ski and snowboard rental, all types of western wear, souvenir shops, clothing stores, and several restaurants and bars.

Two places stood out for me. First, we went into the Burns Cowboy Shop (no relation - Darn!). I felt like we walked into another time and that being a cowboy might be an incredible way of life. They had the best in quality western wear - from boots, to buckles, hats, jewelry, saddlery, and purses. You can actually host a private event in their store for such things as corporate events, bachelor parties, and any other type of celebration. Someone in the store told me that they actually supply some of the western wear for the popular TV series "Yellowstone" which I am a huge fan of. I was hoping that Rip and Beth might walk in the door at any time!

The second place was Hyde Fur and Shearling. They have a beautiful and eye-catching store. We learned that, "Hyde Luxury Apparel specializes in high end women's and men's wear, made with the highest quality materials, and crafted with exceptional care". I always love meeting new people and here is where I met Suzanne. As the saying goes, “There are people that are really good at sales, and then there are really good people that do sales”. Suzanne is definitely the latter. When she found out we were traveling through the countryside, she personally took our cell number and mapped out an entire trip through the mountains that took us to Midway, Cascade Springs, then on to Sundance and Bridal Falls. That was over the top service in my book. If you are ever in this area, please stop by and check out these stores.

We ate at several good restaurants but the one that I liked best was Butcher's Chop House and Bar which is located off 7th and Main street. It is a locally-owned restaurant that prides itself on great food and great service. They have a classic wood-paneled whiskey bar and an extensive wine list. In the winter it is actually a "ski in, ski out" facility. The martinis were quite tasty - well chilled and extremely cold. I would give it a 9 out of 10 in the hunt to find the perfect martini - but the search continues.

There are several great accommodations for staying overnight. We stayed at The Peaks Hotel which was fairly priced and was only 1.7 miles from downtown. On our way back to the hotel, after dinner, our Uber driver stopped suddenly. Right in front of our eyes a large moose and her very large calf walked out in front of us. I couldn't believe the size of these animals! You could actually feel the ground tremble underneath us. I am reminded once again that we are just visitors here, and the land really belongs to Mother Nature.

Leaving Park City was bittersweet. We could have stayed longer, but the road ahead was calling our name. There were more places to visit, sights to see, and we would hopefully meet some more fun people along the way. As in the famous lyrics of Willie Nelson song - it was "Time to Get on the Road Again".

What is your next adventure? Is it time for you to "Get on The Road Again"?

*Last two photos are courtesy of Silver Lake Accommodations