Park City...Film Fest & Skiing Resort

Visiting Park City Utah during the famous Sundance Film Festival (Jan. 21-29th) was not intentional, but it became a very enjoyable coincidence. It was a trip planned to visit a friend for the first time since he moved to Utah, and the film festival was both a positive and negative situation. The negative being that the traffic was horrific, finding places to park was impossible, and restaurant reservations was even more of a challenge. In spite of it all, it was a great time, in a beautiful area, and full of life and energy only a small town full of film enthusiasts and serious skiers could provide.

The setting of Park City Utah is a postcard perfect surrounding of the Rocky Mountains, valleys, and landscapes that are beyond description. It is a land of snow capped mountain peaks and clear blue skies. How unique to walk up and down the wonderful Main Street, and in between two store fronts, and catch a ski lift to one of the many slopes that is part of the city—how charming. Skiing down and then having lunch in a great cafe, makes it just perfect.

Besides the street being wall to wall people, cars, trucks, film equipment, tents, and displays featuring the Sundance Film Festival makes it even more exciting. You may walk into a famous actor or director, or even an unknown filmmaker full of excitement of showing his film for the first time. It is a week long event, and the films are being shown at different times and places, including Salt Lake City. The tickets have to be bought in advance, but a few tickets are put aside so the locals may catch a glimpse of a film also.

We did not see a film because it was so nice just to be located in a beautiful multi-level modern home, high on one of the hillsides, and overlooking both Park City valley and Deer Valley Resort. Three fireplaces and views through numerous glass walls and windows, made it an occasion of sheer relaxation and enjoyment. Walks, and eating in with supplies from the local "Wild Oats" health food stores, made a nice refuge from all the hecticness in town. We did, however get reservations two nights in a row at Adolfe's Restaurant, listed as the number two best restaurant in Park City. A very lucky break.

Quick Tips:

If you want to ski and attend the Film Festival, this is a perfect time to visit Park City, Utah. The skiing is some of the best packed powder you can find. And the environment is primarily is for skiers and snowboarders. Sporting goods shops, and ski repair, lodging, and restaurants geared for the outdoor person are all abundant. Yet, you can also have a luxurious time as a bystander also. Plush hotels and places to eat, and great places to shop. Sightseeing is at its best with many other locations around to see. Including the original Sundance Valley, Heber, Promo, etc.

Both summer and winter are good times to visit Park City. Summertime has the hot air balloon adventures, a great way to feel one with nature, and step out of the ordinary. Also you can enjoy a ride on the Town Lift from the bottom of Main Street to the top of the Mountain. If you drive outside of town a bit, you can ride the famous Alpine Slide in the summer. The museum on Main Street gives you the transformation of Park City changing from a mining town, to a world-class ski resort and destination.

It also has outdoor concerts of bluegrass, jazz, classical, and rock in the summer that are free.

Best Way To Get Around:

Rent a car (preferably SUV) at the airport and take advantage of touring Utah, a beautiful state with natural wonders surrounding the area from deserts, to mountains. Of course, I recommend Park City, a skiers Paradise and the location of the 2002 Winter Olympics for the skiing events.

Adolph's Restaurant in Park City, Utah, had been voted the 2nd best restaurant by many travel sites, and it has repeatedly scored high in most travel guides. I enjoyed the upscale feeling of this restaurant, yet it still has a casual feeling to it. Excellent food, with a German Austrian slant. Excellent lamb, duck, and fish. And the "chocolate fondue" was the perfect "skiing delight" dessert.

Situated in the heart of Park City at 1500 Kearns Blvd., Adolph's is convenient to both the ski crowd and the busy "film" industry during the well-known "Sundance Film Festival", which was during the week of January 23 to 30th in 2006.

A reservation is a must during the Film Festival, but free valet parking makes it relaxing and stress free once you get there. It has a huge, friendly bar area, and two areas of dining rooms. The walls and ceilings are decorated with signed posters of the gold medal winning skiers of the 2002 Winter Olympics that took place partly in Park City for the skiing events, and partly in Salt Lake City, Utah.

As we were walking up the right side of Main Street in Park City, we came across a ski lift right between two buildings of shops and restaurants, one of them being the "Eating Establishment." We decided to have lunch there, and it was a great experience.

We sat in a wonderful dining room (one of two) that had a complete glass ceiling, huge tiles on the floor, an adobe-type fire place with open fire, and a huge black board with all of the specials written on it for the day. Even though it was frigid outside during the peak of the high ski season, we were warm and toasty under the glass.

It was busy, for the Sundance Film Festival was going on at the same time. The clients were a mixture of snow-bunnies, dressed in fabulous fancy ski suits, to the bohemian-type film freak, and the everyday folks like ourselves. We had huge, great hamburgers and Reuben sandwiches with delicious home made fries. One could also have a more "healthy" type of meal, but we were up for the great American lunch.

Not only was the food excellent in this restaurant, but the atmosphere was comfortable and you felt like you were experiencing a real treat.

Through the past few years, with the addition of top rated art galleries, Park City has become more and more upscale. There are so many grand new homes being built in Park City, not only second homes for the ski crowd but also it is becoming more developed as a great place to live, and raise your children. The need for home furnishings is on the rise, as is the necessity of buying and collecting great contemporary art.

I was very happy to come upon the "Julie Nester Gallery", as we were shopping for a painting for the house we were visiting. Julie's gallery has recently been noted, by Salt Lake Magazine, "Best of the Beehive 05", "Best Gallery in Utah". And after perusing through it, I could see why. She has a wonderful eye for art that is just a bit more sophisticated, and seems to show pieces that have amazing depth to them. Not only does she have this gallery in Park City, but also another one in San Francisco.
Julie is a very attractive young woman who looks like someone who you would meet just coming off the slopes, or riding her mountain bike through the valley—very natural and down to earth.

Her gallery was spacious, and she seemed to know just what you were looking for by your description. She was very helpful in her picks, in spite of the fact that she was having an open house of a new artist in an hour or so. Musicians were setting up, and she graciously invited us to come back for wine later.

Park City has many faces; a winter face with skiing, snowboarding, touring, dining, shopping, Sundance Film Festival, and some of the most beautiful winter landscapes you will ever find.

A summer face of; enjoying the Historic Main St. Mining Town, shopping, dining, museums, ski lift rides, hot air balloon rides, Olympic park rides on the luge and bobsled runs, golfing, fishing, biking, mountain climbing, rock climbing, short day trips around the area, and it goes on and on.

I had the opportunity to visit in the winter and got some nice photos of the area. Park City was full of energy even in the winter. Lots going on and fun to take-in all the people. The restaurants are excellent, and the quaint shops are full of Western-themed gifts and clothing.

The daytime is a kaleidoscope of colors from sunny blue skies, to white snow and gray fog. And if the environment doesn't provide you with color than the people will... with their ski and snowboard outfits. Daytime is a bustle of activity with many skiers scurrying around to find the closest ski lift, finding a place to have lunch, or shopping in a specialty store to find just the right gift to bring home.

The evening is a festival of lights. There are lights all over the mountains from lighted ski runs, lit Christmas trees mostly in white that are on everyone's front lawn, and there are even random trees lit-up high on a lonely side hill. The buildings on Main Street are outlined in lights, as are most of the restaurants and hotels. It is a winter wonderland of snow and lights all season, and a cheerful and delightful place to be. I just loved it, and I am hard to please.