People typically think of Park City, UT for skiing and film festivals, but with gorgeous mountains, foliage, and lots of things to do, if you are considering making a trip there in the Fall, you absolutely should! Park City is a great choice for a fun and relaxing getaway in the off season and in this article I’ll detail all the things to do in Park City, where to shop, and dining options you won’t want to miss plus a secret cookie joint that still lives rent free in my mind.
Hi, I’m Cindy, your boots-on-the-ground travel scout. Along with my husband and 2 teenagers, we travel and report on what’s truly worth your money and most importantly, your precious vacation time.
Get ready for an amazing Park City Weekend!
Why Park City in Fall?
Even though the area is known for its world-class ski resorts and winter sports, Fall is the perfect time of year to visit. Park City (along with the surrounding area) has so many fun and unique year-round outdoor activities. In addition to enjoying the gorgeous fall colors, cooler temperatures and lighter crowds make for a very pleasant and easy getaway to spend some time in the great outdoors.
How to Spend a Weekend in Park City
1. Go For A Beautiful Hike
The Marriott hotel had maps to a few of the local hiking trails, but this one and others can be found at – https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/mcpolin-nature-trail.
If you are looking for a shorter, scenic walk for all walking levels, a great option is the McPolin Nature Trail starting back at McPolin Farm. The trail is about 1.5 miles and takes around 40 minutes to walk. It’s also dog-friendly! Take UT 244 heading north and keep your eyes peeled for the turn on the right because the parking lot for the farm is actually across the highway, not at the actual farm itself. Parking is free. Walk through the tunnel that takes you underneath the highway to the farm.
Before you begin your hike, take a minute to have a look around the farm. While no longer in operation, a few of the original buildings have signs posted inviting visitors to open the doors and peek inside to see what it used to look like when it was in operation.
After you’ve finished exploring, take the paved pathway that leads away from the farm. Turn right at the intersection, start walking and you’ll see the trailhead on your left at the .15 mile mark. We missed it the first time and ended up walking all the way to the end of the paved sidewalk. If you do too, you’ve gone too far.
The trail isn’t paved so it might be a little muddy if it’s rained, but it’s an easy walk and quite pretty. Soon you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous aspen trees with their signature heart shaped bright yellow leaves. When we were there, it looked like the leaves had just finished falling. The fall foliage must have been stunning at the end of October.
Definitely recommend this walk if you’re looking for a great way to get in some steps on a shorter walk with beautiful scenery. The property itself is so charming, as we walked back, we saw several families having their fall photos done!
2. Swim In a Thermal Crater
Bucket list alert! As an idealist, one of the best things about traveling is discovering experiences that are unique to the area. You might have seen all over Instagram, posts of cenotes, which are caves where you can swim in naturally heated springs. Some have the sun streaming in from a hole in the top of the cave. So cool, right? Well, not far from Park City there is one! It’s called the Utah Crater and Homestead Farm, a geothermal hot spring and it’s only about an hour drive from Park City.
At first, having only seen photos and not knowing anything about them, I was like, how do you actually get to the water? Down through the hole? A long stairway? I have questions. It turns out, you don’t go down but THROUGH. There’s a door built into the the side of this limestone rock formation where you walk down a short tunnel and there it is! Pretty low key.
Admission is by timed entry so the number of people swimming at the same time is limited. It’s not a big pool, so timed entries help it to be more relaxing. After checking in, you just pop on your required life jacket and you’re ready to get in!
This activity is fun for the whole family and even young kids will have a blast. The water consistently stays at 90-96 degrees and it feels amazing! We had the best time just floating around.
There are limited changing rooms so I recommend having your bathing suit on before you get there. In addition to swimming, they also offer scuba and SUP Yoga at scheduled times. Because of the limited number of participants allowed, I recommend reserving online in advance.
3. Visit Utah Olympic Park – Site of the XIX Olympic Winter Games
Just outside of town you can visit one of the main sites of the 19th Winter Olympic Games. There is a guided tour that takes you to the ski jumps and the sliding track where the bobsled, luge, and skeleton events take place ($20 Adults, $15 Youth/Senior). In fact, you can also go for an ACTUAL run on the bobsled track in a REAL bobsled with one of their professional pilots! ($225 per person).
For those less inclined, the visitor’s center has a model bobsled and luge sled you can get in? On? and play Olympian. I definitely had a new appreciation for those athletes because there is not much to that sled let me tell you (see photo proof).
If an actual bobsled run is not for you, during the summer months there is an alpine slide and mountain coaster that winds its way down the mountain. Looks fun for next time during a summer visit!
- Mountain Alpine Coaster (on rails)
- Alpine Slide (on a run)
- The museum inside the visitors center is also a great place to learn some of the history of the 2002 Winter Olympics (Free).
- Bobsled Experience
4. Park City’s Historic Main Street
Park City has a super cute Main Street with lots of shops selling ski gear, higher end boutique fashion, home goods, gifts, and local souvenirs. If you know me, you know one of my favorite things to do is to hit the the local Main Street. Spending an afternoon browsing the shops is a fun way to pick up unique gifts and support local business. So, grab yourself a fun drink and let the browsing begin!
Where to Shop on Main Street
Park City Mercantile – unique, design focused items for kitchen and home. DO NOT miss Chip, the hidden cookie window in the back selling some of the most delicious and warm-from-the oven salted chocolate chip cookies you’ve ever had. Thank me later.
We Norwegians – Higher end sweaters, outerwear with beautiful nordic accents.
The Collective – A thoughtfully curated shop featuring higher end fashion oriented apparel, jewelry, and gifts.
Olive and Tweed – A fantastic collection of designer jeans, tops, accessories and jewelry. Their jewelry in particular is gorgeous, many gold filled pieces as well as sterling silver and turquoise.
Pine Park City – Whimsical gift shop with everything from wall art, socks, wine glasses , etc.
Mountain Town Olive Oil Co. – Part olive oil and vinegar and part home decor and accessories shop. Stop here for adorable dish towels, unique home goods, candles.
Tanner Trading – Now this is a one stop western store. Here they have cases of turquoise jewelry, natural stone art pieces, cowhide rugs, and stunning Native American blankets in the most gorgeous colors.
Where to eat on Main Street
Coffee:
Pink Elephant Coffee Roasters
Tucked in the back of PROSPECT Clothiers is Pink Elephant Coffee Shop, featuring delicious espresso drinks and baked goods. They roast their own coffee made from single-origin and blended beans sourced from high-quality fair-trade farms. They also feature Pressed Juicery featuring bottles of fresh fruit and vegetable juices.
Atticus Coffee and Books
I love the vibe of coffee bookstores. Atticus serves up more than just your typical espresso drinks including smoothies and wellness blends in addition to heartier food like bowls and salads. Their space also features several shelves of books and gifts. It’s a nice cozy little place to duck into while shopping or to have some quiet reading time.
Breakfast/Lunch:
Salt Box
Another great find just outside of the Main Street area. They feature coffee, light bites, and a selection of delicious and healthy prepared takeaway items. There are a few tables inside as well as a back patio area with more seating outdoors.
Harvest
There’s something about a wood, barn shaped building that just says breakfast. The outdoor seating area with its bright yellow chairs welcomes you into its cheerful space. There are several comfortable seating areas as well as a counter against the windows which makes it feel so homey. Harvest offers local and healthy eats as well as coffee and baked items. The Buddha Bowl of Goodness was amazing – pickled onions for the win.
Snack Time:
Chip
I’ll say it again, do not miss hidden gem, Chip Cookies, which is tucked in the back of Mercantile. One might think all chocolate chip cookies are alike but these cookies will change your mind. When we visited, they featured three flavors – The Original Chocolate chip cookie (The OG) with milk chocolate chips, another one I can’t remember, and my personal favorite, the SW Chip cookie stuffed with semi-sweet chocolate wafers, sprinkled with maldon sea salt. Be prepared to have at least one bite right away, because they serve these guys up fresh-from-the-oven warm. The chip to dough ratio is perfect and chewy texture had me so sold.
Happy Hour and After Dinner Drinks
Alpine Distilling/Park City Social Aid and Pleasure Club
So, if the name has you raising eyebrows, let me clarify. The description simply expresses the intention of the owners to create a gathering space for friends over drinks in order to have great conversation. That’s all. I asked, lol. Definitely check it out as it’s a super cozy lounge with plenty of grouped seating for before or after dinner drinks. Owned locally by a husband and wife team, the husband makes the whiskey, the wife, the gin. Truly the perfect place to gather with friends or cozy up to your S.O. (in a social context), and the cocktails are delicious.
No Name Saloon
A traditional saloon and local favorite. No Name serves up tasty bar food everyone loves(try the chicken wings) as well as beer and standard cocktails. They also have a heated rooftop deck with views of Main Street. Cool, casual spot!
Dinner:
Pine Cone Ridge
Perfect for a special night out, this modern space gives plush, vintage vibes with its cushy velvet booths and upscale rustic decor. The service is so personable and the food inventive. Come a little early and have an expertly crafted drink at their beautiful bar before heading to your table. If you like blue cheese, you have to have the Blue Cheese Salad, just trust me. The Handmade Bread Basket alone is worth a visit.
Riverhorse on Main
Another special occasion dinner restaurant. The space is contemporary with high ceilings and large windows. We enjoyed the Thai Curry Cauliflower (might be the best cauliflower I’ve ever had) and the Trio of Wild Game which was pretty tasty. At the end of the meal, they brought us complimentary chocolates nestled in a bed of cotton candy – inventive! The night we were there, they had live music – a piano vocalist playing which was a really nice touch.
Nosh
Just outside of town is Nosh, a cheery, family owned Mediterranean fast casual eatery, also a staple among locals. Their bowls are perfect for a quick casual lunch or getting to go for a cozy movie night in. Deliciously authentic.
High West Distillery
Homey and casual restaurant with western whisky bar vibes. High West whiskey is a well known brand you might be familiar with. The drinks they offered were fantastic. They have a few delicious mocktail choices as well. Ski town comfort dishes like pork schnitzel and steak are featured on their menu. Do not miss the pretzel, this one had a distinct flavor and nice crisp outside, pillowy inside.
Where to stay in Park City
The Marriott Mountainside, a Park City mountain resort, is just a 4-minute drive from Main Street. A ski-in-ski-out resort in season, we loved it for its all-around lodgey feel, huge heated pool, two fire pits and FIVE hot tubs!!
The pool, hot tubs, and fire pits are all on the same level and within close proximity of each other. I spent an entire morning sitting by the fire pit and from there I could also see people mountain biking close by! Walking inside from the pool is a large lounge area with a pool table and comfy seating. A good sized gym is also on the same level.
This resort really seems to have everything you could want for a fun family experience.
How to get to Park City
SLC International Airport
The first thing that struck me is how easy it seems to get there. Based on our various airport experiences, Salt Lake City INT airport is not only a pleasure to fly into, it’s also one of the prettiest airports. Lots of light, neutral-toned architectural elements and artistic installations reflect the natural elements of the surrounding area. So many cute shops and restaurants, it honestly feels more like a high-end mall. Before our flight home, we ate at Squatters Pub and their Fish and Chips were no lie on par with the ones we had in London. From the moment we touched down It felt like a breeze with easy access to baggage claim and then straight out to the pickup zone. Our Turo rental was right on time and we were off – super easy!
Driving to Park City
The road to Park City is a very scenic drive which makes just getting there such a pleasant experience. Depending on the time of day, you might get to catch the light reflecting off the mountains and trees. So beautiful and really sets the scene for some cozy vibes. Keep your eyes open about 10 minutes before you get into town. On the right-hand side you’ll pass a super charming white barn with a huge gorgeous tree in the front. That’s McPolin Farm, a former working dairy farm which we’ll be visiting later in this post.
What to Wear/How to Pack
I was pleasantly surprised at how mild the temps were at the beginning of November. During the morning hours, I was sitting by the fire pit at our hotel and it was definitely chilly in the shade. Walking around town in the afternoon, however, I was fine in just a sweater.
I brought a heavy winter coat in addition to a puffer vest thinking I might be pretty chilly in the evening but honestly, unless you plan on spending a good deal of time outside at night, something like that or a lighter winter coat should be fine. During the day, a sweatshirt or sweater was plenty warm for walking around Main Street and popping in and out of the shops. For dinner, you’ll be great in smart casual outfits.
For a weekend trip in the Fall, I would bring:
- A Pair of Jeans
- T-shirts for layering
- Sweatshirts/Sweaters
- Leggings for hikes/walks
- Work out tops for hikes/walks
- 1-2 Dressier, Smart Casual outfits for dinner
- Boots for walking around town
- Sneakers for hikes/walks
- A down jacket
- Hat
Now I’d love to hear from you! Which of these seems the most exciting to try? Let me know In the comments!
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