Oh-so-many Great Excuses To Love Park City, Utah In The Summer

Most people think of Park City, Utah as a winter wonderland ski resort destination, but summer in this town is not to be overlooked. With tons of biking, hiking and walking trails, in addition to nearby lakes and other recreation areas, Park City can be even more fun in the summer, with fewer crowds and tons of accessible outdoor activities, festivals, markets and fun.

Located about 30 miles southeast of downtown Salt Lake City, Park City is easy to access, stunningly beautiful, and offers visitors a bevy of food, drink, shopping and entertainment options. Park City is famous for the largest independent film festival in the U.S., Sundance Film Festival, and is well-known for its two major ski resorts, Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort, which each offer a variety of warm-weather activities, too.

We booked our friend’s VRBO and spent the month of July in Park City, exploring and getting to know the town. Picturesque mountain views surround the historic downtown area and I loved beginning my mornings with walks along the parallel streets of downtown. Lower and higher streets are connected by long staircases, which can be a great workout, if that’s your goal. While on my walks, I enjoyed looking at the unique, historic homes–stacked side-by-side; they had great gardens, too, and each time I was on a walk I would see something new. 

Summer life in Park City is defined by outdoor activities like golf, hiking, yoga, and biking but downtown is also filled with numerous dining options, from casual to fine dining, as well as world-class art galleries, retail and boutique shops, tons of resort choices, and more. One of the greatest attractions in the summer are outdoor concerts. Be sure to add one of their summer concerts to your to-do list as they have a concerts almost every night.

By far, the best day of the week to be downtown during the summer is Sundays for the Park Silly Sunday Market, located along the Historic Main Street. The market features tons of creative and unique vendors–from artists, honey experts, bakers and chefs to florists and farmers, there’s so much good stuff–organic, authentic and handmade.

Whether you’re spending a long weekend, entire week or are lucky enough to spend an entire month, there’s no shortage of things to see, do, and experience while you’re in Park City.