Since the 13-day strike at Park City Mountain Resort is over, now is a great time to plan a winter weekend getaway to Park City. With Park City (via Salt Lake City International Airport) a quick 1.5-hour direct flight from Denver, it’s easy to access this world-class ski resort and the area’s chillest hotspot: Canyons Village. This quiet spot sits on the north end of Park City Mountain Resort but the feels are completely different from its famous sister city. Canyons Village is a place for recreation and relaxation, while still within a short distance of Park City if you’re craving a night on the town.
Where to Stay
Pendry Park City, a California-inspired hotel from the Montage City Collection, is moving into its third ski season and has become the place to stay in Canyons Village.
The slopeside property offers standard king rooms and residences of varying sizes. Smaller scale residences include kitchenette studios and larger accommodations max out at four-bedroom residences with fully stocked kitchens, Bertazzoni appliances and spacious bathrooms that feature marble and minx-lined robes. In the evening, curl up for a cozy evening with your private fireplace and sink into a snowy white feather bed by Pacific Dreams with Egyptian cotton sheets from Filidoro luxury linens.
Outside, Pendry Park City’s patio is also a great place to relax. Huddle around a warming gas fireplace with friends, or ask the front desk for a s’mores packet and roast your own sweet treats under the stars.
Transportation to the hotel is made easy with help from the concierge to set you up with Snow Country Limousine for a private ride from the airport.
Dining in Canyons Village
Aprés Pendry is the best place for quick and casual all-day dining. They offer chef-made omelets, winter fondue and American comfort foods like cast-iron seared New York Strip steak and house-made frites.
For a complete dining experience, try KITA, a Japanese sushi and steakhouse. Here, Executive Chef Kevin Lee serves up American and Japanese Wagu beef fired on a Josper charcoal grill for that perfect Maillard effect. Nightly offerings also include a traditional Korean ssam platter: charcoal-grilled beef seasoned with sesame, turmeric, horseradish, miso, and ssam’jang sauce. Wrap it yourself in leaves of butter lettuce. Pair your meal with a bottle of sake from one of the largest selections in the region. Finish off the evening with a Jack Frost cocktail made with Jefferson’s Bourbon, egg and cinnamon simple syrup or a yuzu-curd baked cheesecake.
If you’re in a party mood, try the Pool House, the only rooftop pool and restaurant in Park City. Some say it’s Canyons Village’s best slopeside aprés party with a 275-degree panoramic view of the mountains and a live DJ from 3-6 pm Friday- Sunday. Have a little shrimp or lobster tail with your champagne and watch the snowcats work their magic under the moonlight.
Stay and Play at Park City Mountain Resort
Park City Mountain Resort is the largest ski area in North America. It’s the perfect place to get a lot out of your Epic Pass with 40 chair lifts, 7,300 acres of powder and seven terrain parks for skiers and snowboarders alike.
It’s a short walk from any part of Canyons Village to the Red Pine Gondola. This is the access point to High Meadow Park and the base camp for ski and snowboard school. To access more challenging runs, take the Saddleback Express to the next drop-off point and the Super Condor Express, which serves several black-diamond and double-black-diamond runs. These all lead back to the Red Pine base area, where the skiers and snowboarders in your party can all meet up, whatever their level.
Pendry Park City’s concierge can connect you with a resort mountain guide who can help get you front-of-the-line access and personally lead you to the best powder and epic runs. For other services, consider Compass Sports, the hotel’s private recreation department. They’ll valet your gear at the beginning and end of each day and make sure your boots are always warm and dry. Here, you can rent Atomic skis or snowboards from Niche, the world’s only no-waste snowboard company, woman-owned and operated in Salt Lake City.
Compass Sports also offers a wide variety of winter adventures. Their newest program is a guided stargazing experience with private transportation to a designated Dark Sky park. You’ll be offered seating, blankets, warm drinks and snacks and access to star charts and a quality telescope. “A guide walks you through a celestial journey, through the mythology of the heavens, and then you’ll be able to view the stars and planets yourself,” says Brian Bevaqua, Compass Sports’ Recreation Manager.
This year, Compass Sports is also rolling out (pardon the pun) fat tire biking adventures through Park City’s Round Valley and continues to offer their popular snowshoe tours; all private, guided experiences.
No matter what you want from a winter weekend in Park City — from intense adventure to mellow fireside lounging — Canyons Village has it.