A Million Reasons to Fall in Love with Park City

Park City has always been on my list of places to explore so when an opportunity to visit in the Autumn of 2021 presented itself, I jumped at the chance to finally vacation in this famed, ridge-lined oasis! Since I associated Park City with snow-packed slopes, Sundance, and of course the 2002 Winter Olympics – I was a bit unsure if I would fully enjoy northern Utah in October. However, within moments of arriving, I quickly found myself “fall”ing in love with this majestic mountain town.

This particular trip came about when my boyfriend decided that he would drive back home to LA from Montana in time for his October birthday. Motivated by my own desire to get out of town, I suggested that we meet up in Park City to celebrate. He was game so I did a quick search and was thrilled to find a one-way, non-stop flight from Burbank to Salt Lake City for under $100! With my flight squared away and a plan set for my boyfriend to pick me up from the airport on his drive down the 15 South before heading eastbound to Park City, I quickly coordinated the rest of our trip. See below for a list of useful travel tips and dining recommendations that I’ve put together since my excursion.

WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT PARK CITY IN THE FALL

Very few tourists
Discounted hotel rates
Cheaper flights in and out of SLC if you plan on flying
But most importantly – the breathtaking autumn foliage!!

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Park City is just a quick 38 mile, gorgeous drive away from the Salt Lake City airport.
You should pack for a variety of weather conditions as the fall climate can change on a dime. We experienced warm sunny skies, chilly winds, a steady drizzle, and an evening snowstorm all within three days. Fortunately, we came prepared with both warm & cold weather clothing.
Park City has a free transit system that circulates throughout town. There are a variety of routes that are a little confusing if you don’t have a transit map on hand, but the drivers are incredibly kind and will tell you if you’re on the correct bus or not based on where you want to go. We were able to catch a ride at various points of our trip when we weren’t walking or using our own vehicle. The busses themselves were all very clean and had minimal patrons if any at all whenever we jumped on for a quick ride. It’s definitely a great resource that everyone should use regardless of the season.
The two ski resorts in town are closed during the first half of autumn and do not open until mid-November / early-December based on snow conditions. So if you’re looking to hit the slopes, plan accordingly.

WHAT TO DO WHILE YOU’RE IN TOWN

Gallery Visits – There are so many art galleries in Old Town Park City that it can become a little repetitive. However, there are definitely a few gems among the masses. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed all of the western pieces at Mountain Trails Gallery, the fun modern pieces at Meyer Gallery, and the photography at McMillen Fine Art.

Shopping – Amongst the many galleries and restaurants that line the streets of Historic Old Town, are a plethora of independent bookstores, high end clothing boutiques, and home decor shops. So if you enjoy a bit of retail therapy, you won’t be disappointed with the variety of local establishments to peruse while you’re in Park City.

The Great Outdoors – Popular, early autumn activities include hiking, mountain biking, cycling, fly fishing, and horseback riding. There are also a slew of marked trails and scenic drives in and around Park City. Since my boyfriend and I were looking more or less to relax, we stuck to the easy paved trails and mountain drives during this first visit. Our long strolls were primarily on the the walking path that winds its way alongside the McLeod Creek. We also walked the paved path that travels along the west side of Park Avenue. Both of these paths have monuments dedicated to the Winter Olympics along them. In addition to these pleasant strolls, my boyfriend and I went on a drive through Guardsman Pass. During the scenic tour we stopped at the Empire Pass Overlook at the summit. After taking in the spectacular views, we kept driving until we stumbled upon a quaint trail entrance to Wasatch Mountain State Park on the other side of the pass. We parked our car in the empty lot, made our way into the forest of towering aspen trees, and walked amongst the bright yellow leaves. There wasn’t a single person around, and the experience of silently strolling under a canopy of fall colored foliage was a little piece of heaven here on earth. For me, it really doesn’t get much better than breathing in the crisp, clean air whilst emerged in the pristine beauty of nature.

WHERE TO STAY

Park City Peaks Hotel – This mid-size hotel had a great Autumn Special last year that couldn’t be beat: Book 2 Nights, Get The 3rd Night Free – so after tons of research, I chose this spot over one of the many AirBnBs in town. Fun fact – Park City Peaks currently has the same deal this year so take advantage while you can! Now to the good stuff – the hotel sits on a main drag just minutes away from restaurants and the bustling downtown area. Complimentary amenities include hot breakfast every morning and both above & below ground parking. The property features a cozy lobby to lounge in, outdoor fire pits, patio seating, a lovely restaurant, ski shop, gym, steam room, dry sauna, hot tubs, plus both an indoor and outdoor pool. The only noticeable downside were the paper thin walls. Other than this annoyance, the room was very comfortable, the location was great, and the staff was incredibly kind. For the price I paid, it worked out well for us!

ADDRESS > 2346 Park Avenue • Park City, UT 84060

WHERE TO DINE

Nosh – This tiny eatery has rave reviews on Yelp so I made it our very first stop in Park City before checking into the hotel. It’s located in a very nondescript plaza, but don’t let the exterior fool you because the interior is darling. Since my boyfriend had lunch on his drive down from Montana and our dinner reservation was just two hours away, we decided to share a braised lamb pita despite how much we wanted to try everything on the menu. For a sandwich, it was a bit pricey – but after one bite, we were both very pleased with our purchase. The lamb was tender, the pita was thick, the flavors were bright, and the homemade hot sauces were spectacular! Please make it a point to visit this quaint, family run establishment if you ever find yourself in Park City. You won’t regret it!

ADDRESS > 1890 Bonanza Drive – Suite 112 • Park City, UT 84060

Blind Dog – My boyfriend hadn’t had Japanese cuisine for the 4+ months that he was in Montana so I wanted to surprise him with sushi for our first dinner in Park City. There were a variety of options to choose from, but Blind Dog seemed like the perfect spot since they had an extensive Happy Hour menu, a large bar area, and televisions to watch the playoff game that evening – Go Dodgers! We ordered a variety of rolls, hot appetizers, and oysters while enjoying some beer, sake, and the upbeat yet casual atmosphere of this local restaurant. Our server was incredibly kind, and all of the food we indulged in definitely hit the spot which in turn made Blind Dog the ideal dinner location after a long travel day.

ADDRESS > 1251 Kearns Blvd • Park City, UT 84060

Freshies Lobster Co. – Who in their right mind would consider eating lobster in the middle of landlocked Utah?? This girl plus the plethora of others who are fortunate enough to discover Freshies Lobster Co. While planning my trip to Utah, I read that Freshies was one of the best places to snag a meal in Park City so I made it our lunch destination for our first full day in town. After a lovely 1.5 mile stroll from our hotel, we arrived at this casual seafood eatery in Prospector Square. There were hardly any people out and about so we were lucky to have our freshly made (no pun intended) Maine Lobster Rolls in no time at all alongside a warm bowl of clam chowder. The sustainably caught crustacean was succulent, sweet, and seasoned to perfection. If you have a few extra bucks to spare (lobstah ain’t cheap) – I highly recommend checking out this New England style eatery during your visit.

ADDRESS > 1915 Prospector Avenue • Park City, UT 84060

High West Saloon – We had dinner at this popular bar and restaurant on our second night in town. Our bartender at Wasatch Brew Pub recommended the schnitzel earlier that day when I mentioned that we were planning on dining at High West later that night. I took her recommendation, and my boyfriend and I could not have been more pleased with the caper topped, parmesan crusted cutlet. For good measure, I also ordered a side of mac ‘n cheese. It was a good portion, very decadent, and paired nicely alongside the schnitzel. Scroll down to the “Where To Drink” section to read about their whiskey offerings.

ADDRESS > 703 Park Avenue • Park City, UT 84060

Five5eeds – We walked to Five5eeds for lunch on our last full day in Park City. It’s a casual yet cute eatery located in a plaza just 2 miles outside of Old Town. You order at the counter, get a buzzer, and wait for your food. It was pretty packed for a Monday afternoon so we waited outside until our lunch was ready. Once we sat down to eat, I was shocked by the gigantic portions. The entrees are so large, you can easily share a meal with somebody else if you’re not that hungry. More importantly, the food here is amazingly delicious! My boyfriend got the Fried Chicken Sando with House Side Salad, and I enjoyed the Ahi Poke Bowl. Both items were fresh, bright, and very tasty. For those reasons, I would definitely make Five5eeds a must-stop on any visit to Park City.

ADDRESS > 1600 Snow Creek Drive EF • Park City, UT 84060

Handle – I wanted to treat my boyfriend to a fancier dinner on his birthday and chose Handle prior to arriving in Park City based on the reviews I read and interesting menu options. The restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town and features an open kitchen on one end, a chic bar at the entrance plus a mixture of cozy booths and stand alone tables in between. We ordered the Hamachi as our starter, and I can honestly say that this was one of the tastiest crudo preparations I’ve ever had! The Japanese amberjack was incredibly fresh and the pineapple, red pepper gastrique was dynamite. The dish was not only full of bright, lively flavors but visually stunning as well. Our next course was the Parsnip “Bacon.” Like the raw fish course, the plating was gorgeous. The root veggies themselves tasted wonderful, but after a few bites I found that the dish was just too sweet for my taste. My boyfriend loved it, and ate the rest of the generously portioned veggie dish. Our main entree came out next – the New York Strip. Once again – the plate was visually stunning. The meat was also cooked to a perfect medium rare per our request. Unfortunately, this dish also ate incredibly sweet which was a major miss for me since I was expecting and craving something more savory. Last but not least we got the Basque Cheesecake with Spruce Tip Sorbet for dessert. The cheesecake itself was decadent and delicious, but the spruce tip sorbet was a bit too floral and did not pair well in my opinion with the cake. Although I was a bit disappointed with the latter half of our dinner, the overall ambiance and top-notch service made it a very enjoyable experience. NOTE: The current menu (October 2022) looks delicious and is probably worth trying!

ADDRESS > 136 Heber Avenue • Park City, UT 84060

WHERE TO DRINK

High West Saloon – I really wanted to visit their main distillery in Wanship, a town just 20 minutes north of Park City, during this trip to Utah. Unfortunately, we arrived on Saturday afternoon, they were fully booked for Sunday, and were closed on Monday. As a result I settled for the saloon that they have in Old Town. During the previously mentioned dinner in the section above, my boyfriend and I shared the Tasting Flight so we could try all of their whiskeys before ordering cocktails. If my memory serves me correct, I enjoyed the Bourbon and Double Rye the best from the four selections. At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with grain based liquor on a chilly autumn evening in Park City. And if you’re a fan of whiskey – you definitely can’t go wrong with a visit to High West Saloon!

ADDRESS > 703 Park Avenue • Park City, UT 84060

Wasatch Brew Pub – We enjoyed some tasty draft beers and great conversation with the bartenders at this local brewery. I usually prefer lagers and IPAs but decided to try their Blueberry Hefeweizen since it sounded so intriguing. I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this beer. The blueberry notes were so prevalent yet balanced. On top of being a tasting room offering up a variety of unique brews, this family friendly establishment operates like a restaurant with a large scale menu and full service bar for those who are interested in more than just beer. Overall, it’s a great place to grab a drink, and I highly recommend stopping in for a tasty libation.

ADDRESS > 250 Main Street • Park City, UT

No Name Saloon – After leaving Wasatch we headed to the roof of No Name Saloon. We passed by this popular establishment earlier that afternoon and figured it would be the perfect place for our last daytime beer. The multi-level bar was quite busy with sports fans when we walked into the Main Bar on the ground level. We ascended the stairs and passed by the Loft space where more sports fans imbibed as they watched the big game. At the top of the staircase we entered The Mezzanine. It was less crowded and provided a more relaxed atmosphere than below. Lastly, the adjacent Rooftop Patio where we quickly found a seat had a very lively yet casual energy. My boyfriend and I then proceed to enjoy two beers on draft, an appetizer, great conversation with the couple at our communal table, and the beautiful views of Old Town from this fun, historic saloon.

ADDRESS > 447 Main Street • Park City, UT

Mountain Terrace at the St. Regis – Speaking of views, if you want to enjoy sweeping vistas of Park City head to the St. Regis in Deer Valley. My main reason for wanting to come here was so my boyfriend and I could ride up the hotel’s modern, enclosed funicular during sunset before heading to dinner at High West 🙂 As expected, the short funicular ride was fun and the views were gorgeous! Unfortunately, the service on the Mountain Terrace was incredibly slow. My boyfriend’s Old Fashioned came out within five or so minutes of ordering, but my wine took forever. I actually had to track down our young server after waiting over ten minutes for my simple pour. I chalked it up to the worker shortage and was not that bothered by the wait until I took a bite of the steak tartare that finally arrived to our table. It was shockingly bland and in desperate need of salt. I was expecting much more from this 5-star hotel considering the price point of our appetizer and drinks. To top it off, we asked for 2 more slices of bread to finish off the tartare and were charged for a whole basket. Overall, I do still recommend visiting the St. Regis for a cocktail and its beautiful views from high up in the mountains. However, I would personally pass on ordering a meal. If you get hungry, just head back to Main Street on the free bus like we did.

ADDRESS > 2300 Deer Valley Drive East • Park City, UT

Ritual Chocolate – As a slight drizzle started to fall, we drove down the road to this cozy cafe to indulge in some hot chocolate on our last afternoon in Park City before our dinner reservation at Handle. In addition to our whipped cream topped hot cocoas, my boyfriend and I shared a cup of sipping chocolate which was an exciting, brand new experience for both of us well-traveled foodies. In addition to their decadent beverages, Ritual Chocolate has a full coffee, tea, and pastry menu along with a wide range of cute swag, artisan chocolate bars, and powdered cacao for sale. This place is a real gem and a must-visit during any trip to Park City.

ADDRESS > 1105 Iron Horse Drive • Park City, UT

Versante Hearth + Bar – This is the restaurant located inside Park City Peaks Hotel where we were staying. It was closed over the weekend for a private wedding event but reopened to the public on Monday. I was very happy by this since we were able to cap off our trip to Park City with a few final beers on our last night in town as the snow fell outside. The dining room was quiet, but the bar itself was busy with quite a few non-hotel guests. Our bartender was kind, and we enjoyed some local craft beer and complimentary popcorn while chatting with our fellow patrons. The atmosphere of Versante is inviting, and the energy of the well appointed space was great. I look forward to trying their pizza on my next trip into town.

ADDRESS > 2346 Park Avenue • Park City, UT

And there you have it friends – a brief travel guide to Park City. I really hope you enjoyed reading my list of recommendations as much I enjoyed writing about all of these fun places to visit & explore.

Last but not least, if you do visit Park City in the winter or early spring – you probably can’t go wrong with a day of skiing, snowboarding, or lounging fireside with a warm beverage at either Deer Valley Resort or Park City Mountain. I’ll be sure to write up a review of peak season tourism in this serene mountain town once I get a chance to visit again. ‘Til then…

Safe Travels & Happy Eating!