Like a lot of other people ready to travel, we decided to make the best of a pandemic and visit places in the United States which were on our bucket list. Enter bucket list item: Deer Valley – Park City, Utah.
I was in awe of first my glimpse of the high desert when we landed in Salt Lake City. I found watching the mountain and desert come together in one landscape spellbinding.
Our first destination was Deer Valley in Park City, Utah. But we could not leave Salt Lake City without visiting the Mormon Temple. Because of COVID, it was closed but we were able to walk around and take pictures of the Temple Square. Definitely a must see if you have time.
After a short drive through the Wasatch Mountains, we arrived at Deer Valley. Talk about exceeding our expectations! We stayed at The St. Regis Deer Valley, a Virtuoso property, where our room was upgraded to a fabulous suite. We had an unbelievable view and a fireplace in both the living area and our bedroom. I encourage you to consider Virtuoso properties when planning your next trip, as our clients receive exclusive amenities like included breakfast, upgrades, resort credits, and more.
The St. Regis sits atop a mountain with a funicular which affords access from the valley to the hotel while providing a great view!
It was wonderful to wake up and walk out the back door to hike in your backyard. We began each morning with a delicious breakfast (complimentary as a Virtuoso amenity) before we headed out. There are trails of varying difficulty so you can choose what kind of hike suits your mood. One of our favorite hikes included the Last Chance Run where life size wood and bronze wild animals decorate the porches and roofs of trailside private homes. The wildflowers were in full bloom all over the mountains which was an added bonus to the backdrop of the astounding views.
It was so cool to be at the location of the 2002 Summer Olympics! Three of the runs were used during the games including Champion (site of freestyle moguls), Know You Don’t (site of alpine slalom), and White Owl (site of freestyle aerials).
Deer Valley is a mountain biking paradise. They had trails for serious bikers and trails for those new to mountain biking. We learned very quickly that the bikers have the right of way!
If you are not into hiking or biking, there are lots of other options. There are spas such as the Remede Spa which is a great place to relax and rejuvenate.
You can enjoy a leisurely chairlift ride up Silver Lake Express from the base and then board Sterling Express at mid-mountain to access Bald Mountain. At the top, stretch your legs and explore one of the many hiking trails that wander through Deer Valley.
Or simply enjoy the fresh, alpine air at the top before re-boarding the chairlift for your ride back down. The views from the top of Bald Mountain are just amazing!
Park City has a rich and diverse food scene with plenty of palate-pleasing options. There are a number of award-winning restaurants in Park City, along with high-end breweries, wineries, and distilleries. There’s also no shortage of casual and delicious breakfast and lunch spots, with bright and airy cafés and coffee shops dotting Main Street and beyond.
It is a great place to spend time visiting art galleries and people watching. We looked forward to each day. In the evenings. we enjoyed walking around the town, shopping in the galleries and of course, some of the award-winning food.
We loved our time in Park City and will definitely return. The friendly people, warm days, cool nights, beautiful mountains, great food and exceptional service is demanding that we return.
