Overview

No matter the season, Park City is an outdoor lover's playground. It's a ski town, sure, but there's still plenty to do in summer. It was silver that drew the first explorers to Park City, arriving in droves during the 1800s to seek their fortunes. But  when the boom faded, another passion took its place, one that would live as long as there was clean air to breathe and paths to hike: the mountains of the Wasatch. Ask a local why they live in "PC" and they'll tell you: "I came for the winters, but stayed for the summers."

Summers beguile in this mining-town-turned-ski resort, recognized by the world after the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Daytime temperatures hover around 85 degrees, with nights a cool 40 to 50 degrees. Locals relish those regular afternoon rains for washing the dust off the deep green aspens and pines. Everyone who lives in Park City seems to glow with the healthy buzz of outdoor recreational enthusiasm.

You'll find the traditional resort pursuits of hiking, world-class mountain biking, road biking, golf, horseback riding, branching out from Old Town, with more amusement-type activities for families like the Alpine Slide and merry-go-round at Park City Mountain Resort to classical outdoor concerts at Deer Valley Resort. There's even a premier skateboard park located in City Park if you'd rather drop the kids off while you poked around town. It operates everyday from 9 a.m. until dusk and is the largest outdoor, manmade facility in Utah.

Count on fresh vegetables and local crafts at the weekly farmers markets every Wednesday and Sunday.  Then, there's the free outdoor screenings of Sundance Film Festival films at City Park. Not to be missed are the free locals concerts every Wednesday night in the summertime. There actually seems to be more going on in the summer than the winter.

Swing by the Utah Olympic Park for a whiz on one of the country's steepest zip ride, take a wheeled bobsled ride (not if you have a bad back though; it's wickedly rough), take freestyle jumping class into a splash pool or watch the pros do it every Saturday afternoon, learn to street luge or puruse the Ski Museum. The Utah Olympic Park, the site of 14 events during the 2002 Winter Games, serves as an athletic training ground that doubles as a fantasy camp for flatlanders and wannabe Olympians in the winter and summer.

Park City is an easy 30-minute drive east on I-80 from the Salt Lake International Airport. Take the Park City exit and follow the signs on Hwy 224 to Old Town (Main Street).  As you head into Old Town, don't let the outlet mall, fast food chains, PetCo, and urban housing developments belie the rustic ambiance of inner Park City. It's only a few miles ahead. As you approach Park City Mountain Resort, modern convenience gives way to narrow roads and multi-colored, renovated miners' shacks.

Be sure and visit each of the mountain resorts. Let's start with Deer Valley. Experience the thrill of mountain biking on more than 55 miles of panoramic trails at Deer Valley. Take the Silverlake Express lift, then enjoy riding downhill or exploring the mountain's arterial routes. "Hard-core" riders looking for a workout can take the "Summer Road" for that uphill pump. Hikers can ride to the top for mountain views via a cushy, padded chairlift, trek the many hiking trails, then download back to the base by chairlift to save their knees.

Deer Valley's lift-served mountain biking and hiking season begins mid-June and continues through Labor Day, Wednesdays through Sundays and holidays (conditions permitting). Mountain biking is offered weekends after Labor Day (weather conditions permitting).

Park City Mountain Resort converts into a playground of adventure for young and old with their popular Alpine Slide. The summertime toboggan-on-wheels tips the scales on the wahoo factor. All four lanes open Memorial Day weekend, after which the schedule is extended for daily operations. You can race friends on the four-line ZipRipder zipline or hug a buddy on the Alpine Coaster. The larger-than-life Human Maze adjacent to the Resort Plaza, the Legacy Launcher, a circus-style trampoline that has the added feature of bungee-assisted control, a climbing wall, and The Little Miner's Park make PCMR a great playtime source for kids of all ages.

Locals usually skip the high dollar attractions, however, and take a lift to the top of the mountain and bike or hike back down an extensive network of single- and double-tracked trails.

Ride the gondola at The Canyons to an alpine paradise at 8,000 feet. Lift-served mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding or dining from the top of the Flight of the Condor Gondola treats all ages and ability levels to the wilderness at The Canyons. Hiking trails summit the Ninety-Nine 90 peak, Tombstone peak, and the High Meadows area. Each hike affords spectacular views of The Canyons and surrounding Park City area.

Guided tours for hot air ballooning, fly-fishing, kayaking, and canoeing can be booked through the Adventure Desk at the Grand Summit Resort (435-649-9619). The Farmer's Market every Wednesday afternoon in The Canyons' main parking lot and live concerts in the forum every weekend, keep visitors flocking to this resort year round.