Host of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Park City Utah is a top-drawer mountain resort town. It was founded by prospectors in the 19th century who began a silver mining industry. Nowadays, it’s better known for skiing and snowboarding, a favourite vacation spot with the likes of Michael Jordan and Will Smith. And while the culture here is quite conservative, there is a great apres scene including two breweries, two distilleries, a range of bars and saloons and a nightclub. Its winter runs from December to March, but come spring time you can hit the shops, check out the art centre, and go on some nature walks to spot local wildlife (including brown bears).
Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection
Perched beside the ski lift, this mid-mountain hotel in Silver Lake Village is handy for the slopes (you can ski in/ski out and there’s a ski valet). Guests can stay in bedrooms in the old house — a Bavarian-style inn — or in sleek multi-bedroom residences designed by the award-winning architect Tom Kundig. There’s a bar, a restaurant (do try the fondue), a pool, a terrace and a hot tub on the rooftop of the new wing, from which you can gaze at the neighbouring mountains through the ethereal rising steam.
The Chateaux Deer Valley
Located close to the Goldener Hirsch, The Chateaux Deer Valley takes its cue from the inns of Alpine France. Guests are met with a stone exterior and courtyard fountain, before entering the marble lobby. Leisure facilities include a heated pool and two hot tubs, Le Spa Chateaux, a sports rental shop and fitness centre. The family-friendly Cena Ristorante serves Italian dishes, while the Cena Lounge has a menu of lighter bites and regular live music. Choose from lodge-style studio, one, two, three and four-bedroom accommodation options, some with kitchens, jetted tubs, fireplaces and balconies, all with mountain or courtyard view.
The St. Regis Deer Valley
This large-scale AAA Five Diamond retreat in Park City will meet all your sports and wellness requirements. Built in a mountain lodge style, The St Regis encompasses a 14,000 square-foot Remède Spa, a 3,000 square-foot fitness centre overlooking a year-round, outdoor, split-level pool and hot tubs. Stay in one of 177 guest rooms, including 64 suites featuring the brand’s signature butler service. Replenish after an active day on the slopes, with seafood and steak at RIME, or classic French dishes at Brasserie 7452. The hotel’s impressive Wine Vault houses over 10,000 bottles of wine, and there’s a cocktail bar.
Waldorf Astoria Park City
Found at the base of the Canyons ski area, looking onto the Wasatch Mountains, the Waldorf Astoria Park City has 175 bedrooms decorated in a natural palette, with custom furnishings. Formerly the Dakota Mountain Lodge, the three-storey property now features sophisticated public spaces with chandeliers, rooms with gas fireplaces and a large spa. The building centres around a sheltered outdoor patio with fire pits, a heated pool and whirlpools, with a seasonal pool bar. Guests also have access to a fine dining restaurant, a private ski gondola and a golf course.