Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Each year, the readers of Travel & Leisure Magazine are asked to share their thoughts on the best places to visit in the world and this year, the magazine voted Park City, Utah as the Best Mountain Town in America.
What makes this mountain town the best?
It's accessible
It all starts with access. Mountain towns share the qualities of clean air, fresh water and beautiful nature and wildlife, but most of them are very difficult to get to from major cities. But not so with Park City, Utah. When the kids ask, ‘Are we there yet?’ your answer will be YES!
Just 25 miles from Salt Lake City, the gradual climb from valley floor to mountain top is gentle and easy and when you reach the summit, temperatures are an average of 15 to 20 degrees cooler than they are in the city – a truly refreshing break from the summer heat.
Its the outdoorsman's paradise
And there’s nothing better to do than take in Park City’s recreation offerings – the town was one of the first gold-level mountain biking destinations, bestowed by the IMBA (International Mountain Biking Association), thanks to 400 miles of trails, great visitor amenities and state-of-the-art rental equipment from the world’s leading mountain bike brands. Even the area’s ski resorts are in on the action, running their ski lifts during the summer time for lift-assisted access to the trails. Visitors also love using summer lifts for scenic rides and for hiking to trails with breathtaking vistas all the way to the border of Wyoming.
Of course, Park City is also an ideal place to base a summer fly-fishing getaway, with the Provo, Green and Middle Weber rivers located within driving distance. Park City’s outfitters can get you everything you need for a great guided fly-fishing expedition that can be fun for the whole family or for a girlfriend’s or buddies getaway or even going solo. Park City also is a great place to base a golf outing, thanks to the town’s proximity to nearly a dozen courses. The area’s ski lodges transform into perfect golf and fishing lodges during the summer, welcoming guests at fraction of their winter rates.
Other attractions for summer thrill seekers include Park City’s alpine coasters, zip lines and the activities at Utah Olympic Park.
It's historic
And after all that action, nothing is more satisfying than Park City’s Main Street historic district, with refined dining, art galleries and one-of-a-kind shops that draw visitors from all over the world to experience a charming town that is consistently rated amongst the prettiest in America.
Enjoy Park City’s free bus and trolley system to help you get around and parking is plentiful with lots of complimentary options.
It's summers are incredible
Summer in Park City is a three-month-long celebration with live music festivals, the Food & Wine classic, parades and the annual Kimball Arts Festival in August – the most impressive art show in the Rocky Mountains. Park City is also the summer home of the Utah Symphony and concerts at the Snow Park outdoor ampitheatre welcome stars from the worlds of opera, Broadway, country music and even the music of Walt Disney and Harry Potter. Bands take to stages from Park City Mountain’s Canyons Village to Kimball Junction’s Swaner Eco-Preserve and the Dejoria Center in Kamas. And venues in Park City, from O.P. Rockwell to the Egyptian Theatre and the Silver Star Café feature musical acts from throughout the country, keeping toes tapping to the beat all summer long.
For a complete calendar of events and to plan your Park City getaway, head on over to VisitParkCity.com and join in the festivities this summer in America’s favorite mountain town.
