Park City/Sundance, UT

I tacked on another excursion to a work trip. This time, I spent a few days in Park City/Sundance, Utah prior to meeting in early June 2026.

I arrived in Salt Lake City around noon, got my rental car and drove to Park City. I stayed at Westgate Spa & Resort, which is closer to the ski resort than it is to downtown Park City. I was able to check into my room/condo earlier, so that was nice. The staff were exceptionally accommodating. The resort has a free shuttle that takes you to various locations around Park City.

Bougie Hippie Burger at Drafts Burger Bar at the Westgate Spa & Resort

I was hungry, so I decided to grab something to eat at the resort before heading into Park City. Drafts Burger Bar was around the corner from my room, so I figured I might find a vegetarian appetizer that I could eat. I was pleasantly surprised to find the “Bougie Hippie Burger” on the menu. It’s made with quinoa, sunflower seeds, black bean patty, hummus, tomato jam, Boursin cheese, and crispy kale chips, and served with seasoned French fries. It was excellent!

When I finished eating, I took the free shuttle to downtown Park City, where I wandered through art and photography galleries, had an “adult beverage” at the No Name Saloon, and listened to live music. I managed to get in 6 miles of walking. Main Street in Park City is sloped, so some of those steps were walking uphill at Park City’s elevation of 7,000 feet above sea level. I definitely drank a lot of water to stay hydrated.

I noticed there were several lodging options downtown, including Marriott’s Summit Watch (which I initially considered), The Caledonian, Parkite on Main, Lofts on Main, and Treasure Mountain Inn.

On day 2, I headed to Sundance Resort. I wasn’t going to get this close to Sundance without visiting it. I fell in love with Robert Redford as an actor when I was in junior high school. As an adult, I came to respect his concern for the environment and his ongoing pledge to protect it.

The beauty of Sundance didn’t disappoint. It was a 67 degree day, with a bright blue sky and puffy white clouds. Sundance Resort is small, so don’t go for the commercialism and shopping — you won’t find it there. Instead, you will find a focus on art and environmental sustainability. There’s no plastic or Styrofoam on the premises. I bought some exquisite wine glasses at the Sundance Art Studio and Gallery, which I had shipped to my house. No sense in trying to carry them in my luggage.

There were a few lifts operating, so I bought a “senior ticket” and went to the top. I had planned to hike to “Stewart’s Falls,” but when I got to the trail head and looked over the edge, I noticed a pretty steep, rocky decline. I suddenly remembered that I’m a 68 year-old woman who didn’t bring my hiking boots or poles, plus I have two friends with orthopedic issues that are limiting their mobility. So, I just went back to the lift and rode to the top of the mountain.

One thing that I noticed is that it is easier to disembark from the lift when you have on skis and there is snow on the ground, and you can just stand up and ski down. It’s a little trickier getting out of the way of the lift when there isn’t snow to propel you downward!

Another thing I noticed is that there are bike racks on the lift to enable cyclists to take their bikes up the mountain in the summer.

Getting to the top of the mountain and Bear Claw Tram Restaurant and Bar took about 45 minutes. The restaurant features typical bar food, but the view is stunning!

After I left Sundance, I was determined to actually do some hiking. So, I found Bridal Veil Falls nearby in Provo Canyon. You can actually see the falls from the highway, but what fun is that? I parked in the parking lot at the trail head and walked approximately .4 miles to get to the falls. The trail from the parking lot is very accessible for strollers and persons with mobility limitations. At the bottom of the falls is a shallow wading area that many families and children were enjoying.

When I left Bridal Veil Falls, I decided to try a more challenging hike that I had found on a Park City website. This was the Blood Lakes hike. It was 3 miles. It took almost an hour to go 20 miles to get to the trail head because the speed limit was 15-20 mph to drive the winding road to the top of the mountain. I think the views were probably amazing, but I was too busy concentrating on navigating the road!

At the trail head, there was a sign that said it was “extremely muddy,” but I ventured on in my tennis shoes and no hiking poles. Although the elevation was high, the first part of the hike was mostly flat surrounded by aspens.

The second part of the hike was much muddier due to having to walk across snow. It also got a little steeper and rocky. The hike actually took this 68 year-old woman without hiking boots or poles about 2 hours round trip. Honestly, I’m not sure I could have done it in less time if I did have my boots and poles!

It felt like more than 1.5 miles to finally reach Bloods Lake, but that view was also worth the effort!

After that hike, I headed back to Westgate Spa & Resort and took advantage of the large jacuzzi tub in my room.

If you have more time to spend in Utah, the state has numerous scenic outdoor options such as the many canyons in the southern part of the state. I’ve seen Bryce Canyon and the other canyons are on my bucket list for another time. You can find a 2-day canyon road trip itinerary here.

Breckenridge, CO

Nantucket