Winter in Park City Beyond Skiing: 12 Non-Ski Activities

There's More to Winter Than Skiing

Park City is famous for skiing. Not every family member hits the slopes. Non-skiing spouse, a toddler too young for lessons, or just a rest day after a hard powder morning - there is plenty of winter magic that has nothing to do with a chairlift.

Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, and may earn from Booking.com, Mavely, and CJ partner links at no extra cost to you.

Family tubing run — Gorgoza tubing on the night-light run — the parent-pleaser, the kid-thriller, the universal good idea.

Snow Activities

1. Snow Tubing at Woodward Park City (formerly Gorgoza). Multiple lanes, a magic carpet lift, a toddler area. No skill required, just pure fun. Wyatt's first winter activity ever and we still go back.

Snowshoers in spruce forest — Round Valley first thing — coffee in the thermos, Sean ahead by 200 yards as always.

2. Snowshoeing. Rent snowshoes and explore Round Valley or book a guide through White Pine Touring. Surprisingly easy and the winter scenery is stunning. One warning - moose. Round Valley has them year-round and they do not care that there is snow on the ground. Give them 50 yards minimum and turn around if mama and calf are blocking the trail. Charlie watched me back our snowshoes off Round Valley last February. Real.

3. Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides. Multiple outfitters offer sleigh rides through snowy meadows. Snowed Inn Sleigh Company does the dinner-in-a-yurt version. Worth it once.

Indoor Experiences

4. Woodward Park City. Indoor trampolines, foam pits, skateboarding, and scooter parks. Open year-round and a guaranteed hit with energetic kids. The locals' line is to go on a powder day when the lifts are slammed - Woodward is empty.

Stone-stack hot stone massage — A St. Regis spa morning, scheduled into the calendar like it's a meeting, because it is.

5. Park City Museum. Excellent. Exhibits on mining history and the town's colorful past. The recreated jail cell is Wyatt's favorite.

6. Alf Engen Ski Museum. At Utah Olympic Park. The history of skiing and the 2002 Olympics through interactive exhibits. Pair it with bobsled rides on a clear afternoon.

Relaxation

7. Homestead Crater. Soak in a natural hot spring inside a 55-foot limestone dome in Midway. 90-something degrees year-round. Reserve a slot ahead.

Snowy main street with lights — Main Street after dinner with the lights on — the version of Park City that books out the December calendar.

8. Spa Day. Stein Eriksen Lodge spa is Utah's only Forbes Five-Star. Montage Deer Valley and the Waldorf Astoria spa are also world-class. Book the morning slot for full-day pool and sauna access.

Culture and Shopping

9. January's independent film week. Late January. The world's most-watched indie film week takes over Main Street for ten days. The whole town doubles in population. Heads up - if you are not here for the festival, do not visit during it. Lodging triples in price and Main Street is a different animal.

Rustic log home interior — Our living room on a no-ski day — the kids on the rug, the cellar earning its commute.

10. Main Street Gallery Walk. Park City's galleries host monthly art walks with free refreshments.

11. Tanger Outlets at Kimball Junction. Major brand outlets for retail therapy. Bring a reusable bag to carry your finds.

12. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory on Main. Watch candy being made and treat the kids to caramel apples and fresh fudge.

The Coffee Stop That Anchors Every Winter Day

One bonus. The espresso at Vinto on Main is the only acceptable coffee in town. My opinion. I will defend it. After tubing, after gallery walking, after the cold sleigh ride - Vinto is the reset button. Other Park Meadows families swear by it too.

What to Pack

Toss a pack of hand warmers in your pockets. You will thank me when the temperature drops at 3:30 PM. Quality ski goggles are essential even for tubing - the sun reflection off snow at 7,000 feet is brutal. Good base layers make all the difference when spending a full day outside. Bring a reusable water bottle for everyone. Hydration is more important here than people realize - altitude sickness is REAL for sea-level visitors and the dryness will destroy you separately. Pack a compact first aid kit. With kids you never know when you will need it.

One last warning. Mountain weather. If you do not like the sky out the window, wait twenty minutes - it might be a different storm by then. Layer accordingly.