Exploring Midway: Park City's Charming Swiss Neighbor

A Hidden Gem Next Door

Most visitors fixate on Park City. The little town of Midway sits just over the mountain in the Heber Valley, and Park City families know it well - it is where we go when we want a quieter day. Swiss heritage, natural hot springs, gorgeous scenery. Worth a day or two of any family's time.

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Charming alpine village street — Midway in the late afternoon — the Heber Valley's gentle Swiss flex, 20 minutes from my driveway.

Homestead Crater

The crown jewel of Midway is the Homestead Crater. A 90-something-degree natural hot spring hidden inside a 55-foot limestone dome formed over 12,000 years from snowmelt heated 5,000 feet below the valley floor. You can swim, snorkel, or even scuba dive inside. Charlie was fascinated by the cave-like interior the first time we took him. The water stays a steady 90 to 96 degrees year-round and the opening at the top lets a column of light down to the swimming surface.

Geothermal water in stone cavern — The Crater on a winter Sunday — the spa-day cheat code locals use when the kids are at lessons.

Reserve a slot ahead - they cap the number of swimmers per session. Bring reef-safe sunscreen for any deck time before or after.

Swiss Days Festival

Every Labor Day weekend, Midway celebrates its Swiss roots with Swiss Days. Swiss food, crafts, live music, huge community gathering. The kids' activities are excellent and the bratwurst is the real deal. Friends from Weilenmann go every year and I always run into half the school there.

Festival booth with flowers — Swiss Days in early September — Bay Area visitors think I'm exaggerating, and then they buy three pretzels.

Soldier Hollow

The 2002 Olympic cross-country and biathlon venue, now a year-round family playground. In winter it offers tubing on a 1,200-foot run with a magic carpet lift back up - no hiking required. Summer brings golfing, mountain biking, and scenic chairlift rides. Pack a small backpack for snacks and water on active days.

Snowshoer in nordic terrain — Soldier Hollow's nordic loops — Olympic legacy, school-bus parking, full credit to the Heber locals for never marketing it harder.

The place is run tight. Lift-served tubing here is more fun than people expect.

Where to Eat

Cafe Galleria. Italian comfort food in a cozy setting. Excellent wood-fired pizza.

Bistro plate with bread — Tarahumara on the patio — Sean's "I'll drive" night, every time.

Heber Valley Artisan Cheese. Take a cheese-making tour and taste locally produced cheeses. Wyatt loved watching the process.

Tarahumara. Excellent Mexican that has been a Heber Valley favorite for decades. The locals' line is to get the carnitas plate.

The Diner at Homestead Resort. Classic American breakfast - kid-friendly. Eggs Benedict are the order. Pair it with a Crater swim.

Bring a reusable water bottle for everyone. Pack a compact first aid kit. Kids headphones for travel days. Packing cubes for overnights.

One Local Warning

The Heber Valley meadows have moose. So do the hills around Midway. Same rules as our Round Valley moose - 50 yards minimum, do not approach for a photo, turn around if mama and calf are blocking your path. Mosquitoes at Jordanelle and the Heber meadow ponds in July are aggressive. Pack repellent.

Mountain weather here is the same as Park City - if you do not like the sky, wait twenty minutes. Drives between Park City and Midway take about 25 minutes in good conditions. In a snowstorm, plan for 45.