25 Memorable Things to Do in Park City Utah
LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO IN PARK CITY UTAH?
We can help! We both grew up traveling to Utah and our family loves a mountain getaway to Park City, Utah! The resort town is popular in the winter for its world-famous ski resorts and Sundance Festival, but Park City can be just as much fun…dare I say it…in the summer! There are so many fun things to do in Park City Utah.
From historic Main Street, bursting with excellent cuisine and shopping, to Park City Mountain that even adults will have a hard time leaving, summer in Park City offers fresh air, mountain beauty, and long, adventure-filled days. Here are our favorite things to make your trip to Park City memorable!
Is Park City Utah worth visiting?
Park City is a beautiful mountain town. It has a small-town vibe and is a perfect base for outdoor adventures. Park City Utah is definitely worth visiting. There are a number of attractions as well as beautiful outdoor activities and trails to enjoy.
How to Get to Park City
Park City, UT is in the heart of the mountains just east of downtown Salt Lake City. The drive from Salt Lake City to Park City is about 40 minutes.
If you are flying, the closest major airport is the Salt Lake City International Airport. There is a shuttle from the Salt Lake Valley to Park City with Deer Valley Resort if you will not have a rental car. You can reserve a ride through Uber or Lyft.
How far is Park City from Salt Lake City
Things to do in Park City Utah in Summer
Summer is a beautiful time to visit Park City, UT. The mountains are home to cooler summer temperatures making it a perfect place for hiking, biking, and enjoying time around town. Here are the best things to do in Park City Utah.
Park City Summer Activities
1. Park City Mountain Resort
If your family is looking for a fun time in the mountains, look no further than the Adventure Pass at Park City Mountain. There are activities for all ages in your family.
Rowen and Raven loved the mini-golf and gem panning. They were so excited to find the pretty colored rocks and carried their bags around all day.
Don’t get your pass on a day with rain in the forecast if possible. While we were there, there was light rain throughout the day. Park City had to close the Alpine Slide multiple times to allow the slide to dry to make sure it was safe for riders.
2. Alpine coaster in Park city
The Alpine Coaster and Alpine Slide are great for kids and adults alike. The gravity-drive mountain coaster is built on tracks like a bobsled course and can reach speeds up to 30 mph.
Just be sure to check the height requirements for each ride to make sure your kids are tall enough to ride. Rowen and Raven weren’t tall enough for the coaster and I think it would have been a little too intense for them.
There can also be long lines for the slide and coaster. If you get there right at 10 when they are opening, the lines will be a lot shorter.
3. things to do in park city utah at the Utah Olympic Park
The Utah Olympic Park is a great place to spend some time and is one of our favorite things to do in Park City Utah. It is an active Olympic training site and has a bunch of different activities to help you get in on the action. You can ride in a bobsled, go ziplining and extreme tubing as well as navigate the adventure courses.
There is free admission to the park however the different activities and events do have charges.
4. Flying Ace All-Stars Show
This was a fantastic show! Aerial skiing is one of my favorite Olympic sports to watch so this was a real treat. The Flying Ace All-Stars are Olympians and world champions from around the country who love meeting and inspiring future Olympians.
The 30-minute show is not something you want to miss while you are in Park City, UT. It was one of our favorite things we did. Rowen and Raven kept asking for “more tricks.” Everyone in the family will love it!
5. Tour the Alf Engen Ski and Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic Games Museums
Both museums are found inside the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center at Utah Olympic Park. Admission to the museums is free. The Alf Engen Ski Museum has interactive displays telling the story about the history of skiing in the area and a virtual-reality ski theater.
The Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic Games Museum will take you back in time to experience all that happened during the 2002 Winter Games, held in Utah. There are a variety of displays showcasing visual highlights and memorabilia from the games.
We especially loved getting to see the costumes from the opening ceremonies and what the metals from the games looked like. You can also sit inside a bobsled and watch highlight reels from different winter Olympic sports.
6. Woodward Park City
Woodward Park City is a sports complex. In the summer, it is a great place for mountain biking. They also have indoor and outdoor buildings for skateboarding and BMX. Throughout the summer, they also have summer camps focusing on skateboarding, scooter, BMX, and cheer.
In the winter months, Woodward Park City offers snowboarding and skiing as well as snow tubing. The snow tubing is the longest run in Utah.
7. Park City Museum
We learned so much about the history of Park City here. I guess that is what a museum is for, right? The Park City Museum will take you back in time to understand the heritage and history of Park City in the United States.
Before heading to Park City, all we really knew about it was that the Winter Olympics were there. I had no idea about the rich mining history in the area. They have the original jail cell in the basement as well as lots of great interactive exhibits.
If you are visiting during the week, they offer great historic walking tours. The tour will take you to explore Historic Main Street to learn about the buildings and events from the city’s history. The tours are available from June 18th through August 31st.
8. Find the Banksy Graffiti
Banksy is one of the most controversial street artists in the world and in 2010 during the Sundance Film Festival he left his mark in Park City. Originally, there were seven works in Park City, UT but only three remain today. The first is the Camera Man and Flower found at 402 Main Street. It depicts a camera main filming a flower he tore out by the roots.
The second is the Praying Boy. It is found at 537 Main Street. The original work was nearly entirely painted over by a frustrated artist. Fortunately, a skilled art restorer was able to save the image.
The last is the Dirty Rat found at 328 Main Street, painted on the stage door of the Egyptian Theater. The door housing the rat is now kept in storage due to the vandalism of the Banksy graffiti.
9. things to do in park city utah in the historic district
Main Street is not an area that can be missed while you are in Park City. During the mining period in Park City, Main Street was filled with saloons, brothels, and boarding houses.
Today, the historic buildings are filled with restaurants, galleries, and boutiques. Whether you’re looking for a Park City souvenir, gear for heading up the mountain, or delicious food, chances are you will find it on Main Street. This is the best way to get a feel for the downtown Park City area.
10. Jordanelle Reservoir
Jordanelle Reservoir is about 20 minutes south of Utah’s Park City. It is a fun place for camping, boating, and fishing. You can rent a boat or jet skis to enjoy the lake. It is also a fun place for stand-up paddleboarding in a large wake-free zone. Along with stand up paddle board rentals, the area has campsites, beach access, bathrooms, a marina store, and a boat launch.
There is a Nature Center at Jordanelle State Park where you can see lots of different birds, go on a nature walk and kids can complete a Junior Ranger Program.
11. Atticus Coffee, Teahouse and Books
Atticus Coffee, Books & Teahouse is found on Main Street in the downtown area and is a place you stop by. It is filled with new and used books. The store is also a book trader – bring in your old books and they will give you a store credit to purchase other books!
They have such a great variety of books there. Plus, they serve homemade scones and lemon curd. That sounds like a win-win to me!
12. Park Silly Sunday Market
One of the most popular weekend activities during the summer in Utah’s Park City is the Park Silly Sunday Market. The outdoor festival and market is full of live music, delicious food, and crafts and has something for every family member.
There was even a car dealership there letting anyone who wanted to draw on their car with a sharpie. The market is filled with tourists, locals, and their dogs. Rowen and Raven were in heaven with so many dogs to pet!
Parking near the event can be expensive so take the bus over to the market. The buses in Park City are free to use. You can also park at the high school and they will take you over to the market. The market is open from June to September.
13. Summer Gallery Stroll
This free community event highlights the work of local and international artists. It is held on the last Friday of each month year-round. There are about 20 art galleries around town that participate in the event.
14. Canyons Village Concert
During the summer, there is are free concerts every Saturday and select Thursday evenings at Canyons Village Stage. The concerts begin at 6 p.m. You can bring in low-sitting chairs or blankets as well as whatever food and drinks you would like.
While we were there, Whitney Morgan and the 78’s played. It was a great atmosphere and gave us a chance to explore Canyons Village after the concert. You can check the concert schedule online.
15. Savor the Summit
Savor the Summit is a big outdoor dinner party held each summer in Park City. Restaurants from around the city gather in the middle of Main Street to enjoy delicious food and live music. You don’t need a ticket but do need to make reservations with a restaurant participating.
The cost for the event depends on what you order and the restaurant you make reservations with.
16. Kimball Art Center
The Kimball Art Center is free to the public and displays work by local artists as well as national exhibits focused on history. It started in a garage but was moved in 2001. It is home to the Park City Kimball Arts Festival which is the first weekend in August.
You can check their exhibit schedule before making a stop.
17. Walk or Bike the McCleod Creek Trail
From Newpark to McPolin Farm, the trail is about 4.3 miles long and is paved for a good part of the way. You can ride there and back, or you can get on the free bus at McPolin Farm, the city’s famous white barn, and ride back to Newpark.
We were just walking and not quite up for the 4.3-mile trek. We ended up parking at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and walked on the path over to the McPolin Farm. The walk there and back was a little over two miles. The scenery is just beautiful and nice to take in at a slower pace. This is a great option if you want to bike but not mountain bike.
18. Mcpolin Farm
When exploring the McCleod Creek Trail, make sure to visit McPolin Farm. The farm is so beautiful and has a large American flag that makes a great photo opp.
There are some shady benches to enjoy the area as well as an interpretive trail about the plants and wildlife in the area. There are 11 different signs along a single track that ends at the barn.
19. SUP at Deer Valley
If you are looking to try some stand-up paddleboarding, Deer Valley Resort is a great place to go. Pebble Beach does not allow boats (meaning no waves!) so it is a great place to paddleboard, especially if you are a beginner. Pebble Beach at Deer Valley rentals inflatable SUPs and they offer classes as well. Their season is usually from June through September.
20. the Tanger Outlets
If you’re in need of a little retail therapy, head to the Tanger Outlets. Everyone needs a little every once in a while, especially if it’s at a discount. The outlets are big enough to spend a couple of hours there and have a great variety of stores.
21. Guardsman Pass Scenic Byway
The Guardsman Pass Scenic Byway is a beauitufl scenic drive in Utah. This stretch of Byway connects Park City to Midway and Big Cottonwood Canyon. The scenic byway will take you to the summit of Guardsman Pass.
This drive is especially beautiful during the fall months due to the fall foliage. In the summer months, there are lots of opportunities to see wildlife, beautiful views, and wildflowers.
During the winter in Salt Lake and the surrounding area, this road is closed due to snow. It is typically open from May to November. The drive usually takes about an hour.
22. Scenic Gondola Ride
There are a number of ski resorts in the area that offer a ride to the top of a mountain summit in a gondola or ski chair. It reminds us of riding the gondola in Sun Valley and hiking down. You get amazing views and easy hiking without trekking up the mountain!
Here are the places you can ride a gondola in Utah’s Park City:
- Park City Mountain Resort
- Snowbasin Ski Resort
- Canyons Resort
- Deer Valley Resort
Where to Eat in Park City
23. Grub Steak Restaurant
We love a good dinner out and you will definitely find it at Grub Steak. Grub Steak has been around since 1976 and has perfected its menu. The staff is focused on helping you have an enjoyable dining experience.
Our waiter had worked at Grub Steak for over 20 years and had the best advice on what to order. Seriously – everything he recommended was spot on!
For an appetizer, we had the grilled artichoke with lemon caper aioli and drawn butter. The lemon flavor adds so much to the artichoke. If you’re looking for a unique and delicious taste, try the elk sirloin with poached peach and a side of lingonberry! It was so yummy.
24. El Chubasco
El Chubasco is consistently ranked as the top Mexican restaurant in Park City and for a good reason. First, the food is delicious. Second, they have a salsa bar that left us thinking we were in Mexico. There are about 20 different varieties of salsa the restaurant makes daily. You just can’t go wrong with fresh salsa!
We recommend the Mexican style asada tacos and the bistec a ala Mexicana. Rowen and Raven inhaled the taquitos and quesadillas as fast as we could give them to them! They also serve the choco tacos, a waffle cone taco filled with ice cream, fudge, and peanuts – who can resist those?!?
25. Hearth and Hill
If you are looking for an affordable but delicious restaurant, visit Hearth and Hill. It is a locally-owned restaurant specializing in comfort food like salads, bowls, tacos, and burgers.
The shrimp shumai and the avocado salad with salmon are fan favorites! End your meal with one of the seasonally flavored warm crisps.
Things to do in Park City utah with Kids
Park City is such a great place to visit with kids. There are so many fun things to do in Park City Utah that everyone in the family will enjoy. The city has lots of fun outdoor Park City activities making it easy to keep everyone busy. Here are our favorite things to do in Park City with our kids.
- Park City Mountain Adventure Pass
- Flying Ace All-Stars Show
- Jordanelle Reservoir
- Raft on the Weber River
- Get ice cream on Main Street
- Ride bikes on a mountain trail around town
- Explore the Swaner Eco Preserve
Things to do in Park City utah for free
Despite being an expensive vacation destination, there are lots of free and fun things to do in Park City Utah. With so many beautiful outdoor activities in Park City, it is easy to find free things to do.
Here are our favorite free things to do in Park City Utah:
- Stroll Main Street
- Visit the Olympic Park Ski Museums
- Attend a free summer concert at Canyons Village
- Hike at the ski resorts
- Visit the Kimball Arts Center
- Drive the Guardsman Pass Scenic Byway
Getting Around in Park City
The city buses in Park City are free to use. The buses go all the way to properties in lower Deer Valley and taking the bus is often easier than finding public parking in Park City. The bus also goes to the two major ski resorts.
The Main Street trolley runs down the historic street. Within the trolley’s route, you will find a majority of the shops, galleries, and dining options. The trolley runs from 10 am to 11 pm.
There are many rideshare services in town like Uber and Lyft. These services are pretty popular in Park City so you shouldn’t have too long of a wait.
More Utah Adventures
10 Things to Do with Toddlers in Salt Lake City
Things to Do in Provo With Kids – 13 Fun Ideas
10 Awesome Things to Do in Bear Lake
Best Activities and Hikes in Zion National Park
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I like the report
Oh good Marcella. I’m glad you liked the article. We really had so much fun there!