Visiting Park City during the Sundance Film Festival is a very exciting time. You can ski or snowboard during the day and take breaks to watch films. Even if winter sports don't interest you, there are plenty of enjoyable things to do in this mountain town during your stay. Whether you enjoy dining at top restaurants, shopping at gorgeous boutiques, or hitting a new brewery after a day on the slopes, there is something for everyone. Here are our favorite places to go in Park City that are convenient to Visiting Park City.
Image credit: Travis Wise/Flickr CC-BY 2.0
Check Out These Places In Park City During The Sundance Film Festival
Main Street
Image credit: Sarah Sampsel/Flickr CC-BY 2.0
Main Street is the central drag in town and feature much of the nightlife, shopping, art, and restaurants in Visiting Park City. Pieces by famous artists Picasso and Warhol can be found at New Prospect Art Gallery. If you still have the itch to shop once you’ve bought your fair share of art of photographs from one of the numerous galleries on the main strip, stop by one of around 70 shops to get some retail therapy. If self-education is more your thing, drop in to Dolly’s Bookstore to pick up some literature. Restaurants, breweries, cafes, and other popular locations are on Main Street, including some of the locations mentioned in other categories on this list.
Cafes, Lounges, and Restaurants
Image credit: Raffi Asdourian/Flickr CC-BY 2.0
Swing by for a healthy brunch at Harvest or Vessel Kitchen. Riverhorse on Main, a favorite of visitors and townies alike who are willing to pay top dollar for gourmet food. Their macadamia nut-crusted halibut and trout have very positive reviews. Sample the crab fritters or the other meat dishes slowly prepared “sous-vide” (“under vacuum” in French) at Tupelo Park City. Handle boasts excellent buffalo cauliflower and trout sausage. For a Spanish twist, Chimayo may be your best option, and they sport a truly popular fondue. For those interested in a food and bar experience, Firewood serves quality food and patrons can visit the closely located Nickel Bar just downstairs. For inventive fare, try the blue cheese fondue and butternut squash ravioli from Purple Sage. Coffee, ice cream, and crepes will top off the evening well and can be sought out at Java Cow on Main Street. Of course, during the festival there are many pop-up lounges that are available to those who are interested. Robert Redford’s restaurant Zoom occupies the place of the old train station on Main Street and serves top-of-the-line American cuisine for your consumption.
Breweries
Image credit: Wasatch Brew Pub Park City/Flickr CC-BY 2.0
Breweries are located throughout Visiting Park City, which might seem surprising based on the state’s strident attitude toward alcohol consumption. High West Distillery and Saloon is Utah’s first legal distillery since a ban on them was instituted in 1870. They serve Valley Tan whisky, which was a popular alcohol made from oats that was frequently served in pioneer-era Utah, and have a wide selection of food. You can also ‘ski-in’ and snag yourself a bison burger or a drink with one of the exciting names that evokes the Wild West spirit of the establishment, like the “Yippee Kai Yay.” There a several other breweries throughout the city that make tastings accessible.
Winter Sports
Image credit: fabulousfabs/Flickr CC-BY 2.0
Winter sports are one of the biggest attractions for the Sundance crowd. The 10-day festival always takes place at the end of January when snow covers the entire city, and hitting the slopes is the best way to take advantage of the icy weather. With the Rocky Mountains at your disposal, hitting up one of the three main ski resorts in the area is at the tip of your fingers. The most-frequented resorts are Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort, Canyons Resort, and Solitude Mountain Resort. If the festival is your main draw, stay a few days before or after it’s over to hit the slopes. If the festival isn’t factoring into your plans, the slopes will be less crowded and perfect for your downhill snow adventures. Boulder Mountain Ranch at Deer Valley also provides winter horse-drawn sleigh rides for families. Of course, snowmobile tours are offered as well, specifically through Thousand Peaks Ranch. Snowmobile Adventures offers a Sunset Tour worth taking advantage of, and includes a cabin stop to warm up before the descent back to the main lodge, where you can snag a hot toddy for the fortification of your soul. Utah Olympic Park is a great stop to view where the 2002 Winter Olympics took place.
Après ski lounges and events
Après ski (“after ski” in French) lounges are designed to entertain customers after a long day hitting the slopes. Montage Deer Valley’s Veuve Clicquot Après Lounge and Firestorm Lounge at Waldorf Astoria Park City are crowd favorites after the Sundance Film Festival. Waldorf Astoria Park City also plays host to Powder Champagne Ice Lounge that features a 14-foot bar made out of ice sculpture where patrons can swaddle themselves in fur blankets as they imbibe. Another local star is Park City’s J&G Grill overlooking Deer Hollow run. Their 7452 Bloody Mary, named after the altitude they serve it at (7452 feet), is a classic cocktail guaranteed to titillate even the most discerning of palates.
This article was written by Lindy Tolbert.