Park City

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Our Indelible Journey In Park City, Utah

A May 2004 trip to Park City by smileygirl Best of IgoUgo

GuardmanMore Photos

Have you ever been mesmerized by a place because of its sheer exquisiteness? Or surrounded by majestic mountains that leave you breathless? Come escape with me and see for yourself why Park City will leave you spellbound....

  • 7 reviews
  • 3 stories/tips
  • 20 photos

Our Indelible Journey In Park City, Utah Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Since we only stayed in Park City for four nights, we were limited on our activity choices. Some of the highlights we did take advantage of were:

  • Historical Main Street in Park City
  • Utah Olympic Park
  • Guardman Pass
  • Park City Bus Transit & Trolley Outing

    • If this is your first trip to Park City, Utah, then you really need to go to the Historical Main Street. There are so many little shops and restaurants located on this street alone. Luckily for us, the shops were open during Memorial Day Weekend. And… it wasn’t crowded at all. We truly had a wonderful time exploring the many things offered before us.

    Quick Tips:

    TIP: If you need to buy souvenirs, go to a place called Village Keepsake on Main Street. We have looked high and low (including Wal-Mart) for some decent souvenirs, and this is the only place that had an assortment of variety. Their prices were affordable, too.

    Best Way To Get Around:

    We’ve decided to give our rental car a break for a day and explore Park City by using their shuttle system. Park City’s Bus Transit System and the Main Street Trolley are FREE of charge. I must say, Park City’s transportation system took us by a complete surprise. I have NEVER encountered a system that was so prompt. If the bus (or trolley) schedule says it is going to be there 12 minutes after the hour, you had better believe they are there!! Not once were they late, which was unbelievable. How they got their schedule to a "T" is beyond me, but they did. Bravo!!!

    Grand Summit Resort HotelBest of IgoUgo

    Hotel | "Grand Summit Resort- The Canyons"

    The Canyons Entrance
    We stayed in Unit 515/17/9, which accompanied 8/6 people. This unit was actually three lockouts, which combined into a 2 Bedroom Parlor Deluxe suite. Unit 515 had the two double beds with a regular full sized bathroom. Unit 517 (main unit) had a full kitchen, dining room, living room with a queen sleeper sofa, gas fireplace and a regular full sized bathroom. Unit 519 had a king size bed, gas fireplace, balcony, 2 person whirlpool tub and a stand-alone shower.

    Grand Summit-The Canyons provided a woodsy theme décor, which was perfectly suitable because of their surroundings. All of their rooms were equipped with 27" color televisions, dual phone lines with fax/modem and voice mail. The living room had a VCR and each bedroom had a portable CD player. The kitchen was well equipped with GE appliances and Corian countertops were used throughout the units. Grand Summit units were elegant, yet comfortable. Did I forget to mention roomy?

    In each of these units came with two wonderful terry cloth robes (six total) that were put to good use. Would you believe in each of the bathrooms were a 4-cup coffee maker, with two packages of Starbucks coffee (one regular/one decaf), two coffee cups, sugar/cream/stir packets? You will also find shampoo, conditioner, vanilla soap, peach cleansing bar, and a blow dryer in each of the bathrooms.

    The most impressive part of our stay with the Grand Summit-The Canyons was the Housekeeping Staff. They have excelled in their services. They came each and every single day to make up the bed(s), put away the clean dishes stored in the dishwasher, filled up kitchen and bathroom supplies, take away the soiled towels (and robes) and replaced them with clean ones. On the third day of our visit, they changed out the sheets on the beds. Needless to say, we felt honored in leaving them a nice sized tip. They have spoiled us wonderfully and the tip was well deserved.

    If being pampered is what you are seeking, then look no further, because the Grand Summit Resort (especially the staff) will do just that.

    • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by smileygirl on September 5, 2004

    Grand Summit Resort Hotel
    4000 THE CANYONS RESORT DRIVE Park City, Utah 84098
    435-615-3360

    Main Street Pizza & NoodleBest of IgoUgo

    Restaurant | "Main Street Pizza & Noodle"

    Main Street Pizza & Noodle
    The main reason we chose Main Street Pizza & Noodle is because I was able to obtain two $10 gift certificates. I thought this would be sufficient enough funds for two people. I thought wrong....

    Main Street Pizza & Noodle is located in downtown Park City on Main Street. Its small and quaint building is easy to locate, but this is only because of the sign displayed out in front of their restaurant. (I'll enclose a picture of the sign so you'll know what it looks like.)

    Here is a place that is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their time varies depending on the season.

    WINTER HOURS

  • Breakfast-Served Everyday from 8am-11am
  • Lunch/Dinner-Served Everyday from 11am-Late


    • SUMMER HOURS

  • Breakfast - Served Only on Weekends from 8 to 11am
  • Lunch/Dinner - Served 11am to late

    • Since we were there during Memorial Day Weekend (which is off peak time in Park City), the crowds were scarce. Pizza & Noodle is a casual place with no need to make any reservations. At least, not during the time we were there.

    We ordered a Large Pepperoni pizza, two drinks with a side order of garlic bread with cheese. The pizza was flavorful with freshest meat and dough. The garlic bread with cheese, however, was another story. We couldn't taste the garlic on it! What's a garlic bread with cheese with no garlic!! Not good, in our opinion.

    OVERALL IMPRESSION

    Although Main Street Pizza & Noodle was good, it was a tad bit on the expensive side. We paid almost $35 for a party of two- not including tip. We felt the food could have been better for what our meal cost us. Out of a 10, we would rate Pizza & Noodle a 6.

    • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by smileygirl on September 5, 2004

    Main Street Pizza & Noodle
    738 Main Street Park City, Utah 84060
    (435) 645-8878

    BurgiesBest of IgoUgo

    Restaurant

    Burgies
    If you haven't noticed by now from reading my journals, we're the type who like down-to-earth restaurants/cafes. No fancy stuff for us!!

    We came across Burgies by happenstance while walking along the shops on Main Street. It seemed like a good place to eat at and we took the chance. I'm sooooo glad we did, because Burgies proved to be YUMMY for the TUMMY!

    As we entered, our host asked us if we wanted to sit upstairs or downstairs. We thought a few seconds and decided on upstairs. Climbed the stairs, sat down and noticed our surroundings: A few tables and chairs surrounding a bar. Because of its murkiness (darkness), we decided to go back downstairs. This is when we soaked up Burgies' atmosphere.

    Burgies is a wonderful casual place that has many different styles of hamburgers to choose from: An Old-Fashioned hamburger, Cajun burger, Teriyaki hamburger, or even a Jimmy Buffet burger and so much more. Whatever your heart desires, I'm sure Burgies has it all. Along with your burger, have their scrumptous waffle-fries. And... to make your oh-so-good meal complete, order their delicious malts or shakes. Getting hungry, yet?

    It was hard to decide on what we've wanted from the menu, but we've both decided on an "old-fashioned" hamburger. Wow!! What a burger!! Warm toasted bread, thick beef patty, with all of the toppings on the side to fulfill your heart's content and those delicious fries.

    Would we eat at Burgies again? You bet!! In a heartbeat. Out of a 10, we would rate Burgies a 9. Not too bad for a hamburger place, huh?

    • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by smileygirl on September 5, 2004

    Burgies
    570 Main Street Park City, Utah 84060
    (435) 649-0011

    Historical Main StreetBest of IgoUgo

    Attraction

    Historical Main Street in Park City, Utah is a must-see, especially if this is your first visit. There are so many little shops and restaurants located on this street alone. Luckily for us, the shops and restaurants were open - and it wasn’t crowded at all.

    When we visited Park City during Memorial Day, we had no idea things would be uneventful. Even at our resort, Grand Summit, none of The Canyons shops were open. We were so happy to see that THAT wasn't the case with Park City's Downtown Main Street. Granted, it wasn't busy and it had a "ghost town" feel to it; it was nevertheless a wonderful time to soak in all of the sights. No bumping into anyone. No shoulder to shoulder crowds. Just a nice walk along the side of the street, basking in over 100 shops and restaurants.

    If you are the type who's searching for an adventure, then this is NOT the time for you to come. You won't find any commotions or any flurry of activities. I believe this is Park City's time to recuperate in between seasons - right after winter and right before summer.

    However, if you are looking for some sequestered moments in Park City, you've come at the right place, at the right time. Park City won't disappoint you. You'll have the chance to breathe in all of its uninterrupted beauty - right before your eyes. Isn't that the true meaning of what life is all about? Savor those unbroken moments...

    • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by smileygirl on September 5, 2004

    Historical Main Street
    downtown Main St Park City, Utah

    Guardsman's PassBest of IgoUgo

    Attraction | "Guardman's Pass"

    Guardman's Pass
    Have you ever taken a road that led to something so breathtakingly beautiful?

    Well, we did and this is what happened... We were out driving around in Park City, Utah, exploring and not having a care in the world. We stumbled upon a sign that said "Guardman's Pass" with an arrow giving us directions in which way to go. We thought, "Okay, let's give it a whirl and see where it takes us." Boy, were we stunned.

    Our "mysterious" road led us into something I can only compare to the Trail Ridge Road located in Estes Park, Colorado. If you've been there, then you know exactly what portrait lies before us. If you haven't, then you're in luck, because I have some pictures!! I'll be happy to give you a glimpse of this ethereal loveliness.

    On to Our Adventure:

    This secretive road kept climbing steadfastly up while we were being surrounded by beautifully adorned Aspen trees and little specks of snow on the ground. We still kept going, yearning to know what lies ahead of us. The further we've progressed, the more snow we came upon. We've also noticed it was getting windy and colder.

    After about 45 to 50 minutes, we've finally arrived at our destination. This heavenly image encircling us was well worth the anticipation.

    This mystifying road is what led us to "Our Indelible Journey in Park City, Utah."

    • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by smileygirl on September 5, 2004

    Guardsman's Pass
    connecting Brighton and Park City Park City, Utah

    Utah Olympic ParkBest of IgoUgo

    Attraction

    While this wasn't our favorite activity to do, it was nevertheless interesting. It could be because we've chosen to do a self-guided tour on our own.

    Like other activities we've come across during our stay in Park City, the Utah Olympic Park was free of crowds and uneventful.

    We only wanted to see the Olympic Park and say, "Hey, we've been there." And we've accomplished just that. If we had chosen to do a Guided Tour or a Bobsled Ride, the prices are as follows:

    ADMISSION PRICES

  • Adults - $8
  • Youth/Seniors - $6
  • Children (3 to 12) - $4
  • Infants - Free
    • BOBSLED RIDES

  • Reservations ARE Required
  • 14 years of age and older ONLY - $65 pp

    • ACTIVITES

    DAILY GUIDED TOURS AT OLYMPIC COMPETITION SITES:

    Here's a chance where you can watch athletes participate in their Summer Training. Visit the Interactive Alf Engen Ski Museum and learn about Utah’s ski history. You'll also get an opportunity to see the 2002 Olympic exhibit with photos and memorabilia. (Heard this was real interesting).BOBSLED RIDES:

    Are you a thrill seeker? Want some excitement? Then how about a three passenger bobsled ride that goes up to 70 miles per hour, with a 40-story drop in less than a minute?? Sounds good? You can catch these rides Wednesday-Sunday from noon to 6pm. These rides are only available on the weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. OVERALL IMPRESSION

    I'm sure if we had taken a guided tour, this activity would have been more enjoyable. Since our time was limited, we could only participate on our own.

    On a more positive note, I've heard from several other people (at the resort) that these two activities I've mentioned above are well worth doing. Sure sounds entertaining.

    • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by smileygirl on September 5, 2004

    Utah Olympic Park
    3000 Bear Hollow Drive Park City, Utah 84060
    (435) 658-4200

    Grand Summit Resort- Minor Inconveniences....Best of IgoUgo

    Story/Tip

    Pitiful Patio Furniture
    In every situation, there are always two sides to every coin. The same thing applies to resorts, timeshares and hotels. Here is a brief summary of the "Minor Inconveniences" at the Grand Summit Resort- The Canyons. If this tidbit info benefits (at least) one person, then I know I have done something positive.

    THE NEGATIVES:

  • No washer/dryers in units. I’m not sure if this applies to all units or just some. On a more positive note, they do have coin a operated laundry facility onsite.


  • For a resort this elegant, their patio furniture is really pitiful. You get two little wrought iron chairs and a dinky table. Although the balcony isn’t very big, they could have updated their furniture to something a little nicer, not necessarily bigger.


  • They’re expensive!! Example: They have a 1 litre bottled water in the units at your convenience. The bad thing is… It costs $3 per bottle!! Another example is their vending machine. It costs $1.50 for a bottle of soda. Needless to say, we did not take advantage of this "convenience".


  • If you go during off season, hardly anything is open at the resort. All of The Canyon shops weren’t open. The Flight of the Canyons, Docs at the Gondola, First Tracks Café are only open seasonally. The only onsite restaurants that are open year around are: The Cabin and The Cabin Club. We even tried to go to their onsite general store and never found it to be opened. We ended up walking over to Westgate’s General Store, which by the way, is the biggest and nicest store we’ve ever been to thus far. Their prices weren’t too hard on the pocketbook, either.


  • Phone Charges: Local calls were 50 cents first 30 minutes and then 10 cents for each additional minute thereafter. Toll-free calls were the same prices as their local calls. Domestic long distance calls were $1.50 for the first minute and 30 cents for each additional minute. Word of advise: Bring your cell phones.


  • Limited internet access. As of right now, they are only on dial up service. Several times we had problems accessing the internet while we were in our room. So, we had to to go their business center for internet access, which comes w/ DSL. On the brighter side, they are going to upgrade with high speed broadband wireless service throughout the entire facility, including each of the rooms!!

    • OVERALL IMPRESSION

    Despite "the negatives" that has been brought to your attention, this resort is really an outstanding place to stay at. Why, you ask? Simply put.... The staff. They make up for all of the "minor inconveniences". They are truly outstanding and the best we've ever encountered on a timeshare vacation. If you want to be pampered and taken care of, then Grand Summit's staff will strive for that satisfaction. We highly commend them for their efforts.

    Grand Summit Resort- Onsite AmenitiesBest of IgoUgo

    Story/Tip

    Pool & Hot Tubs
    Grand Summit Resort - The Canyons has so many wonderful on-site amenities that it is positively refreshing. Here is a resort who truly believes in the words "relaxation" and "convenience". Some of their luxuries are:

  • Heated Outdoor Swimming Pool w/ three jacuzzi’s

  • Sauna

  • Daycare

  • High Tech Exercise Facility

  • Full Service Health Club (Spa, Massage & Body Treatments)

  • General Store (if opened more)

  • Owner’s Library (with pool table and internet access)

  • Business Center

  • 24-hour Reception and Front Desk

  • Bus Transit Pick Up


    • Can you imagine swimming outside in a pleasantly heated pool? Or soaking in a hot, HOT spa? Can you imagine doing all of this while it's a crisp 58˚ F? Believe it or not, we did this and it was exhilarating!!! And cold!!! Brrrrrrrr. :o)

      Two conveniences we were immensely grateful for:
    1. 24-hour Front Desk

    2. Bus Transit Onsite Transit Pickup
    With the Front Desk being open 24 hours, you can rest assure, their assistance is just a phone call away. It's comforting to know you can always count on them for whatever reason deemed necessary.

    Their onsite Bus Transit System is superb, dependable, and convenient!! If there is a day where you simply do not feel like driving, then leave the car behind and take Park City's FREE Bus Transit System. Park City's buses have a very strict schedule and follow it faithfully. We used Park City's bus system for a whole day and they were NEVER late - not even once. So, as a warning, make sure you aren't late, especially if it's their last run.

    As for their exercise facility, well, I'll be the first one to admit, we didn't participate. Shame on us, I know. But I will say this, our jaws dropped when we visited their facility. We're not talking about some cheap equipment, either. These were top of the line machines.

    OVERALL IMPRESSION:

    All in all, Grand Summit Resort has really outdone themselves with their amenities. Their Onsite Health Club is perfect for the health conscious who wants to stay in shape while on vacation. Their spa and sauna services is an excellent way to luxuriate and be pampered. What more could one ask for?

    Grand Summit Resort- Additional PicturesBest of IgoUgo

    Story/Tip

    Grand Summit Resort
    Where there's vacation, there's pictures. (Well, it is with us, anyway). I don't know about you, but when I come across a journal, I always look for ones that have photos enclosed first. Pictures help bring journals to life. It also helps the reader get a better grasp of what they are visualizing.

    I hope by submitting some more pictures of the Grand Summit Resort, I'll accomplish my goal in bringing our vacation to life.

    Please note: For more interior pictures of this resort, please take a look at my other journal titled, "Grand Summit Resort- The Canyons".

    May you enjoy them...

    About the Writer

    smileygirl
    smileygirl
    Cleburne, Texas

    Get the Word Out

    Share this travel journal beyond IgoUgo with your favorite sharing tools.