22 New (Non-Skiing) Things to Try in Park City this Winter
From curling and ice-climbing to gourmet tours and gin-making, there’s much to explore.
Park City- You don’t have to be a hardcore skier to enjoy winter in Park City. (And even if you are, sometimes a break from the slopes or a fresh challenge can spark a new winter interest.) From climbing a frozen waterfall to concocting your own gin, here are 22 new things to try this winter.
Be a kid again at Woodward Park City. This brand-new action sports facility is what dreams are made of for kids and kids at heart. There are skate ramps, trampolines, a spring floor, and pump tracks inside; outside, you’ll find progression parks, freestyle zones, tubing, BMX jumps, parkour, and more. Daily access passes and monthly memberships are available.
Create your own floral masterpiece. At the Flowers By You floral bar, you can whip up a bouquet or your very own succulent terrarium using in-store supplies. The staff will help guide you, if needed—and they’ll also handle the cleanup. For parties greater than four, call to book in advance.
Take a whiskey distillery tour. Yes, even in Utah there are incredible locally crafted spirits. Head to the High West Saloon in Old Town or venture to the stunning High West Distillery location in Wanship for a complimentary tour of the whiskey-making facilities. (See our Alpine Distillery shout-out below for more tour, tasting, and even crafting options). Of note: Utah laws require guests to pay for the whiskey flight.
Go on a “Wander” with (or without) the kiddos. Adventure retreat business Wild Women Tribe recently added family offerings to its roster, starting with the Wild Child Wander on Jan. 12, 2020. You and your child (of 8+ years) will pair up for a partner session at Rise Boxing followed by a snowshoe, outdoor games, and vision board building. If you still prefer a solo day of enrichment, check out the ongoing Wanders, which combine the outdoors and physical activity with mindfulness and creativity.
Expand your cooking repertoire. At Mindful Cuisine, choose from the tasty ongoing offerings or create your own menu for a private cooking experience. During its Next Course Food & Wine Pairing classes, Mountain Town Olive Oil utilizes its own oils and vinegars to add flavor to dishes—upcoming themes include paleo favorites, regional Italian, and cooking for two.
Paint a winter masterpiece. Regardless of your artistic capabilities, there’s something awesome you can create at The Paint Mixer. Sign up for one of the scheduled sessions to paint a snowy scene, try out the abstract acrylic pour painting (no actual painting required), or book your own studio time and create a custom ski sign. Check out the Wednesday winter series at Deer Valley Grocery Café, which features a new painting every week.
Sweat it out. The newly opened Peak 45 studio utilizes a Megaformer—a resistance contraption with springs and pulleys—in its Lagree Megaformer Method classes, which focus on high intensity, low-impact exercises for the whole body. Other surefire ways to break a sweat: team-sports-meets-functional-training sessions at F45 Park City, athlete-focused AR Fit classes at Athletic Republic, calorie-zapping drills at Rise Boxing, and high-energy HIIT workouts at Beau Collective.
Walk, eat, learn. Part history lesson, part eating fest, Gourmand Tours will take you to some of the best and most under-the-radar restaurants on Main Street while teaching you about the town’s rich mining history. The $79 tour, which leaves from Park City Museum, runs from 4–7 p.m. on most Thursdays. Or check out Park City Food Tours, a similarly tasty and fun, history-meets-culinary jaunt.
Make your own gin. You can go behind the scenes at Alpine Distilling for a complimentary 30-minute tour of its production facilities in Silver Creek (tastings require a fee of $15), or you can up the ante and book a private, gin-making experience at the Main Street Alpine Pie Bar location. You and your group will learn about the history of gin production as you concoct your own personalized spirit using dried and fresh fruit and botanicals. After a gin-pairing dinner with food from 350Main, you’ll walk away with your own 375 ml bottle. Call 435-649-8300 for reservations.
Snowshoe to a yurt yoga session. Even if you’re not staying at the spectacular Lodge at Blue Sky, you can still participate in the outdoor activities offered at the new Auberge property. Experiences range from winter sporting clays and fly fishing to canvas painting and creating antler artworks. Sign up for the snowshoe and yoga experience to explore the scenic vistas of the 3,500-acre property followed by a fireside yoga session in a cozy yurt. Bringing the kids? Send them on their own adventure with The Little Vaqueros. Programs include Cowboys and Cowgirls, where they’ll learn how to groom and feed horses, and Wilderness Explorer, where they’ll build a fire and identify local animal tracks.
Go on a scenic train ride. Hop aboard the Heber Valley Railroad and enjoy the breathtaking views of the majestic Mt. Timpanogos and surrounding landscapes as you chug along the Deer Creek Reservoir on a 90-minute or two-hour ride. Keep an eye out for native wildlife such as bald eagles, elk, coyotes, and mule deer, and (spoiler alert!) be prepared to see a mock cowboy train robbery along the way.
Taste wine. Enjoy the mountain-themed wines at Old Town Cellars’ new location (408 Main Street) while you snack on meat, cheese, and treats from Park City’s own Ritual Chocolate. Or attend one of the Fox School of Wine’s Friday evening “educational happy hours” to explore different varietals—upcoming themes include Deep Reds for Deep Winter and Wines for the Silver Screen.
Give snowkiting a spin. BYO skis or snowboard to a lesson at the Utah Snowkite Center and seasoned pros will show you the ropes. You’ll start with kite basics in level one and progress to launching, wind techniques, and proper control on your skis or board in level two. No lift ticket is required for this flat-surface activity, and if you opt for a backcountry snowkite adventure, instructors will happily show you their favorite secret spots.
Dine mountainside. Naturally there’s more than one way to enjoy a meal in the middle of a mountain in this town. Take a horse-drawn carriage from the base of Park City Mountain up to a lively western-themed dinner ($100, including sleigh) with Snowed Inn Sleigh Company. Or opt for a snowcat-led sleigh ride up to 8,700 feet to reach PCMR’s Viking Yurt, where live piano music plays in the background of your six-course meal ($140 per person plus tax and tip). At Solitude, snowshoe through the forest to earn your four-course dinner at the Mongolian yurt ($145).
Go winter fly-fishing. If solitude and peaceful trout-catching sounds like a dream, a winter fly-fishing trip may just be your perfect activity. Sign up for a Park City Winter Fly Fishing half- or full-day outing with All Season Adventures. Guides, transportation, and equipment is provided ($160-$360).
Snowshoe with an expert. There’s a guided snowshoe tour offered every Saturday at the Swaner Nature Preserve and Eco Center, during which guests learn about the history of the Preserve and the plants and animals to look out for in the winter. Similarly at Wasatch Mountain State Park, you can go on a guided tour with a naturalist to learn about local trees in Midway. On the five-hour Backcountry Snowshoe Tour through White Pine Touring, guides will take you to untouched terrain in the Uinta Mountains. Want to go it alone? Cole Sport, JANS Mountain Outfitters, Silverstar Ski & Sport, and White Pine Touring all rent snowshoes and poles for around $20 per day. Find the best trails through Mountain Trails Foundation.
Get an adrenaline rush in the backcountry. For exhilaration paired with epic mountain views, jump on the seat of a snowmobile and speed through powdery, wide-open landscapes. There are plenty of outfitters to help you get on a sled: Check out the tour options at Destination Sports and Adventures, North Forty Escapes, Red Pine Adventures, Rocky Mountain Outfitters, Summit Meadows Adventures, Thousand Peaks, and Wasatch Adventure Guides.
Choose your own adventure at the Utah Olympic Park. The pair of free museums dedicated to skiing and the 2002 Winter Games would be enough to warrant a stop the UOP, but the facility’s extreme adventure options make it a must-visit. Spend an afternoon zooming down an extreme zipline at 50 mph ($30), test your balance and agility on the Winter Canyon Course ($22), free-fall from the 65-foot Drop Tower ($22), or jump in a bobsled for the ultimate white-knuckle ride ($195).
Climb up a frozen waterfall. No experience is necessary to learn how to climb Provo Canyon’s frozen Stairway to Heaven waterfall. Guides with Utah Mountain Adventures will teach you how to safely ascend ice pitches, using tools, crampons, and proper ice-climbing techniques. (starting at $219 per person plus tax).
Ride snowy trails on two wheels. Some of Park City’s world-class mountain bike trails turn into fat-tire-friendly spots in the winter, and even the Rail Trail is regularly groomed for winter activities. Rent a bike from Contender, Jans, White Pine Touring, or Storm Cycles. Check the Mountain Trails Foundation winter map to get an idea of where to go.
Go tubing under the stars. Soar down the 1,200-foot-long tubing lanes at Soldier Hollow, where nighttime sessions have the added fun-bonus of lights and music. Adult tickets for a two-hour session range from $20–$28.
Learn how to curl. If you’ve seen curling during the Olympics and thought, “I bet I could do that”—here’s your opportunity to try in person. The Park City Curling Club offers Learn to Curl Nights ($20) at the Park City Ice Arena, or you can take a two-hour on-ice class ($16) at the Utah Olympic Oval to learn the proper delivery, sweeping, and strategy of this non-traditional sport.
