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We are still talking about how awesome our time in Dear Valley/Park City was and today I am sharing how to spend 72 hours in in the Park City area. Thanks again to Montage Deer Valley for hosting us on this wonderful adventure!
We have found that 72 hours to be a good amount of time to spend in each city we visit.
Of course we would love to spend more time, but with everyone’s schedule that seems to be a good compromise. We have a good amount of time to explore, but we aren’t away for too long. It also makes it possible to take more adventures each month since we can break up our 8+ days of travel into at least two trips.
Planning this trip was really easy.
We’ve heard amazing things about Deer Valley and more specifically the Montage Resort so we knew where we wanted to stay. The resort is about 45 very easy to drive miles from the Salt Lake City airport and there are direct flights from many different cities, including our home airport of San Diego. We could have stayed at the resort the whole time and filled our days with tons of fun… but because we were only 10 minutes from Park City we decided to venture down that way too.
This is just a sampling of what you can do and see in Park City over 72 hours:
After we checked in to the Montage Resort we headed down to historic Main Street.
There is shopping, dining, museums, art galleries and more. Start at one end of the street and walk all the way down, then switch sides. If you get tired there are buses that run up and down the street and they are free to ride. They are funded from the revenue from when the Olympics were in town.
Take a tour of Main Street while you are there. The Park City Museum has guided history tours and evening ghost tours. We took the guided ghost tour (don’t laugh) and we loved it. The girls all enjoyed it too. It wasn’t scary, more educational and spoke of different historical events that happened in the town. Our guide made it really fun. I’ve learned that the girls absorb more about history from these types of experiences than just reading about them so we try to include them whenever possible.
Go see the BANKSY artwork on Main Street.
It’s well preserved (after it was vandalized last year) and really fun to see.
See the Egyptian Theater.
This is the premier destination during the Sundance Film Festival and really fun to see during the off season. It hosts numerous live performances throughout the year too!
Spend an afternoon in the Park City Museum.
This was one of the best museums we’ve ever been to. From the perspective of a five year old to teens and then to us adults, we all really enjoyed it. Emmy loved the hands on activities and learning all about the mines and the miners that worked in them.
They had exhibits that showed what a general store would look like at the turn of the century and an interactive mine shaft that showed how it worked… and how dangerous it was.
Pete and I found the area about the great fire of June 1898 very interesting (and sad). Having experienced wild fires here in San Diego we couldn’t even imagine the destruction to the lives of these hard working people with this fire and it was a good history and humanity lesson for us.
The museum has been many things in the past including the fire station and the jail. You can tour the jail in the basement and it is still in it’s original condition after surviving the fires that brought down much of the original city.
It appears that the girls did not enjoy the jail… but Pete did?
The museum has a very robust gift shop and the girls all brought home rocks!
After a day spent on Main Street we were hungry.
Thankfully there are many fine dining options. We even found some vegan options! To pick our meals we just noted different restaurants (after checking out their menus because they change often and with the season) and then went back when it was time to eat.
Early morning hikes are a must!
Pete and the girls did a couple on their own and I joined them on some too. The beautiful trees and the smell of the forest were something I’ll never forget. We were advised to steer clear of any Moose we might run into… and thankfully we didn’t have any close encounters on our hikes.
However, on our first night I Was sitting out on this balcony and it was just about completely dark outside when I noticed something moving right below me… it was a HUGE Moose. There wasn’t enough light to take a picture of it but it was a magical moment. I whispered to Emmy and Ashley to come and onto the balcony and they too were able to see it before it meandered around the side and out of sight!
No trip to the mountains is complete without s’mores. Make sure you have one or two or three!
Bring your cameras!
Emmy wore one to record us going on slides and the chair lift for a scenic experience. Different activities are open at different times of the year. From skiing (of course) to sledding, roller coasters, slides, climbing, bike riding and more!
Back at the Montage resort we played ping-pong in the sports store and then did archery! They offered many other activities too so plan some time to enjoy the resort.
That sounds like a lovely little getaway. I have never been to Utah before 🙂
I can not believe how much you got packed into that 72 hour visit. That resort is stunning, I would love to go there even if just to relax!
It looks like you had a great time. I have not been, but I would love to go.
Oh wow. Looks like such a fun adventure. Your family looks like they had an amazing time.
I have never been there before (well I drove through it once). Look like a place that we need to stop and check out next time. You kids and hubby look like they had a really good time.
Oh wow what an amazing looking place – it looks like you had a wonderful adventure and saw so much in such a short time. x
I would love to check out that museum sometime. It looks like there is a ton of fun things to see and do in Park City.
Looks like there is a lot to do! I would love to see the Banksy art.
I think the museum is lovely! I would love to go there. It’s also nice that you hiked. The views must have beeb amazing.
I love taking the kids on mini vacations like this. It’s just long enough to see and do several things, but not long enough for the kids to really annoy each other, lol! It looks like you guys had a great time!
Looks like a great place to vacation with family. I have been to Moab camping with a friend but Park City is one area I have not been. Looks like we need to go and explore, and thanks for the suggestions.
Park city is one of my very favorite places! I love to get ice cream at Moos!
Looks like a great place to visit. I love your photos.
I haven’t been to Park City for years. The last time I think I was there to ski. I love ski towns in the off season. They have a certain charm about them and your trip shows that!
Deer Valley looks like a fantastic place to visit. There is so much you can do in 72 hours. the kids look like they were having fun.
i would love to go to Deer Valley. My kids would love it there. I love to go on short trips like this.
I’m so jealous – this looks like such an absolutely perfect family vacation! Utah is so pretty – and this looks like a really interesting place to visit, so many different cool things to do!
I’ve got to get on it and plan some fun adventures to take my daughter on this coming year – you’ve inspired me!
My husband loves Park City, Utah. I would love to go there for vacation and check it out. Lots of cool things to do.
This looks like a fun family trip! I would love to travel more with my kiddos. Glad you enjoyed your visit to Park City, Utah!
Never been to Utah now I want to visit =) thanks for the tips!
How beautiful and fun. I love that you were able to fit in so much, in such a short time, thanks to planning ahead. I’ve never thought about taking a short stint with a serious plan and going from there. I’ve been to Salt Lake City and it was beautiful. This too looks gorgeous. Thanks for sharing your journey!
Such a fun place to visit. The place is cool and relaxing. I’m going to check this out. Looking forward to be there. i’m so excited.
What a fun trip to Park City!! I love the beautiful mountain scenery of the city.
What a wonderful time you had there. I’ve never been to Utah. They say it’s really nice. I hope to get there someday.
I’d love to go to the Park City Museum. In fact, I’d love to visit Utah. 🙂
What a fun place to visit. There;s so much to do. Utah is on my bucket list.
Park City sounds like a great place to go on a family vacation. I would love to a moose live and in person. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!
Never been to Utah, but will add it to our list of places to see out west. I love how the buses are free along Main Street.
I’ve only ever been to Salt Lake City – but Park City looks like it would be a lot of fun for the family. I love exploring new places!
I love Park City and your post truly does it justice. It’s the perfect family getaway place especially if you enjoy the outdoors and small town atmosphere any season of the year like we do.
I adore family trips like these. You get to visit and see such interesting things and this looks like so much fun!
I have never been to Utah before–looks like you all had a fun adventure! I do love exploring new places, maybe we will get out there one day! 🙂
That looks like a great place to visit! It looks like you all had an awesome time!
What a great way to spend the 72 hours. Looks like a fantastic trip for all of you.
Park City looks amazing. I think I would love going there. I love your photos too! Never been to Utah or out west, must make some plans soon.
I’ve never been to Utah but I everything you guys did looks like it could be a great time! My husband would have enjoyed the jail too.
My parents have been to Park City and loved it! It’s on my travel list 🙂 Looks like you guys had a wonderful time! (I especially love that balcony!)
Park city looks like a lovely town. There seems to be a lot for families to do there, quite a surprise! We have some friends that live down in Utah when we visit next, I’m going to suggest a drive here.
it looks like you and your family had a great time in Utah (now as for that pasta 😀 )
I have never been to Utah before but would love to visit there some day. It looks gorgeous and I love the resort. By far you have a gorgeous view from the balcony. I have only been to a few museums but this one is one I would love to see. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I have a friend who lived in Park City for many years. It was just beautiful there.
Looks like a great place to enjoy! They look like they had a fun time, love the pictures!
The Egyptian theater looks really cool. I would love to visit there!
Never really thought of visiting Utah, but it actually looks nice… great photos! I can’t believe you managed to do so much in such a short time. Great post.
Love Utah/Park City area! I went to college in Idaho and had several friends in Utah, so I got to go down and travel/explore frequently! You hit some of my favorite places!
I never knew there was so much to do in Park City! I hope I get to visit soon!
Looks like a beautiful city to visit. I’d love to take the family here.
This post makes me want to hop on a plane and just travel! Absolutely stunning, I’m like jealous.
I have never been to Park City Utah but I have always wanted to go. I think it looks gorgeous. I heard the winters are spectacular.
The views are beautiful. I love a place with lots of fun activities.