We spent a few days in the little town of Park City, Utah, located in the Wasatch Mountain Range, and fell in love with this winter wonderland. Founded in 1869, Park City has a population of only about 8,500 people. Yet, this little town attracts thousands of tourists. Ironically, the number of tourists visiting yearly is actually bigger than the town’s population 😃.
Interestingly, only 20 years ago, Park City looked different and completely changed after the 2002 Winter Olympics Games, adding new properties to the valley. Park City’s ski resorts were the locations for skiing and snowboarding in the Winter Olympics Games!
Besides, each January, Park City hosts the Sundance Film Festival – one of the largest independent film festivals in the world. So you can imagine how busy it gets during that time.
If you are wondering if it is worth visiting a ski resort town when you are not skiing (or have little ones that aren’t ready yet to hit the slopes), the answer is yes, absolutely it is! You would be surprised at how many winter activities there are for the whole family. So let’s dive into family-friendly things to do in Park City in winter.
1. Go snow tubing
Nothing like a fast ride down the snowy hill on a super fast “donut.” We got the tickets for tubing at the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center (about a 35-minute drive from downtown Park City). We suggest you get them at least a few weeks before your desired day since they sell out quickly.
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The 1,200-foot sliding lanes are the longest tubing lanes in Utah! We actually timed how long it would take to go down, and it was 30 seconds! The ride was way faster than we imagined; those lanes are as smooth as butter! This is definitely a must-do winter family activity if you are not skiing. It’s so much fun!
You get a 2-hour session, with several time slots available throughout the day, and that is plenty of time to enjoy the rides. Sophia even took a 15-minute break before hitting the lanes again.
💡 Good to Know
Kids only 3 and older can go tubing. Luckily, we were there with our friends and could leave baby Zoe with them. The cost of a ride was:
Adults $32.00
Kids (6-12) $30.00
Kids (3-5) $21.00
2. Visit Ice Castles
Ice Castles is an attraction that features ice slides, ice sculptures, and frozen thrones! It is located only in 5 cities across America, and one of them is in Park City, Utah. Did you know the Ice Castles are built with 25,000 tons of ice?
Our girls loved going down the slides and walking through the long ice tunnels!
💡 Good to Know
When visiting the Ice Castles, remember a few things:
- Get your tickets in advance
- Try booking an after-sunset time slot to be able to see LED-lit sculptures (we had to get 3 pm tickets since we combined Ice Castles with tubing in the same area; we wish we had come later)
- Dress in layers and wear winter shoes
- Although the time slot says 30 minutes, they let us in earlier, and we spent 45 minutes exploring
- It gets pretty crowded, so plan on going on weekdays rather than weekends
3. Soak in an outdoor pool
When visiting Park City (or any other snowy town) in winter, you ought to try soaking in an outdoor hot tub and heated pool! While the temperature outside dropped to 20F, it was 103F in the hot tub and 83F in the pool! Top that with snow falling from the sky, and you’ve got yourself an unforgettable experience!
The girls could not get enough of the winter spa, so we had to go in every day during our stay!
Sophia managed to bring some snow to the edge of the hot tub and built a few snowmen (with a special dragon snowman) while sitting in hot water!
4. Take a sleigh ride
We took a 30-minute evening sleigh ride with Snowed Inn Sleigh Company. The sleigh had 3 rows and was pulled by two draft horses (how pretty are those!). We went to the top of the mountain, stopped to admire the city lights, and made our way back down.
This was our favorite winter activity, and it was just magical. The girls were really excited that they got to pet the horses!
💡Good to Know
We had a hard time finding the meeting spot for the sleigh ride. Be sure to arrive at the Park City resort parking lot early, at least 15-20 minutes before your sleigh ride departure time.
Try finding the Legends Bar & Grill, and the Payday Lift meeting area would be right around that restaurant’s corner!
5. Visit Main Street
You definitely need to take a stroll down Main Street Park City. Whether it’s during the day to see the colorful buildings or at night to enjoy the sparkling lights – Main Street is a perfect place to grab a bite, shop, or visit a museum!
6. Visit Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Games Museum
Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Museum is definitely a place to visit when you are in Park City, even if you are not a fan of the Olympic Games. It is dedicated to the Winter Olympics Games that took place in Park City inclusively. You can find the official Olympic medals, hold the Olympic torch, and try lifting the original 40-pound curling stone!
It is located in the same building as the Alf Engen Ski Museum, so you can explore both museums in one visit. There, you can learn about skiing outfits from different countries, trophies and see the evolution of skiing equipment throughout the years.
The museums are relatively small and are free of charge. The gift shop at the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Games Museum offers a wide variety of souvenirs that commemorate the event. They sell a range of items such as clothing, keychains, mugs, and other memorabilia. We decided to get the girls Olympic medals as souvenirs, which they were thrilled about.
7. Have hot cocoa
When you spend a few hours outdoors and want to warm up, a quick hot cocoa stop would do the trick! Luckily, Main Street had some excellent coffee shops.
We checked out a few local coffee places and enjoyed some hot cocoa and hot tea after a day of exploring. We loved Atticus Coffee & Teahouse and Java Cow Café & Bakery (just look at those snowflake sugar cookies!).
8. Go skating
Another exciting winter activity that you should try is ice skating! Park City has only one outdoor skating rink located at the Park City Mountain Resort. The rink is surrounded by beautiful mountain views, and the atmosphere is festive and lively. They open daily and provide guests with skates; all ages are welcome!
9. Have an Après Ski
Après Ski is a French phrase that means “after ski,” referring to a social event with dining and beverages right after the skiing session. Although we did not go skiing on this trip, we still had a lot of fun and got tired from spending hours tubing and going down the ice slides. So our friends and us decided to treat ourselves to some delicious food right after.
We went to a lobster place we’d heard so much about, Freshies Lobster!
What can we say? We loved this place, and the food was delicious! Even the girls finished their lobster grilled cheese without hesitation! The restaurant also served some local beer if you would want to pair your lobster roll with it.
That being said, we suggest you have an Après Ski and indulge yourself with delicious food and drinks after spending a day in the snow. Thankfully Park City has a bunch of fantastic dining options, so you don’t have to worry about finding a great spot.
10. Watch a ski competition
Watching a skiing competition at the Utah Olympic Park was really cool. Have to admit, we did not completely plan this and just happened to be there, but watching the backflips and rooting for your favorite contestants was a very exciting activity!
Bottom Line
If you’re searching for the perfect winter vacation spot that offers a diverse range of family-friendly activities, look no further than Park City, Utah.
From thrilling snow tubing at Woodward Park City and exploring the magical Midway Ice Castles to unwinding in a heated outdoor pool and enjoying scenic sleigh rides through the snow, Park City has something for everyone. Wander down the historic Main Street, where you’ll find charming boutiques, delicious restaurants, and vibrant art galleries. Don’t miss the chance to delve into the legacy of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games at the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Games Museum.
Whether you’re hitting the slopes at Park City Mountain Resort, exploring the winter wonderland of Deer Valley Resort, or enjoying a cozy evening by the fire, Park City promises an unforgettable winter getaway for the entire family.
