Arrival/Check-In: My 35-minute ride from Salt Lake City International Airport to Park City seemed like a journey in a snow globe, with constant snowflakes falling and views of the majestic, powder-clad Wasatch Mountains. As an avid skier and first-timer to Utah with two days of skiing on my itinerary, I was excited to quickly check in to the ski-in/ski-out Grand Summit Hotel in the heart of Canyons Village and explore the most groomed terrain in North America. A $50 million transformation launched last year by Vail Resorts connected famed Park City and neighbor Canyons Resort to create the largest resort in the United States, boasting 7,300 acres of skiable terrain.

Guest Quarters: The 350-room hotel offers a variety of lodging options including guestrooms; studios; penthouses; and one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. The great outdoors stretched right outside the window of my guestroom, which featured residential-style furnishings and mountain touches. A decent-sized closet stood to the left of the door, while a bathroom opened to the right, with plenty of counter space and delicious-smelling toiletries. The bedroom included a comfortable couch; a kitchen area with several cabinets, large refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, sink and modern appliances; a table with three chairs by the window that I used as a desk; a king-sized bed flanked by nightstands with lights; and a flatscreen TV perched above a dresser.

Services/Amenities: After skiing miles of incredible powder with an uncomfortable case of shin bang from an earlier trip to Vermont, I valued the hotel’s many on-site amenities within walking distance. The property’s location next to the trails ending at the Orange Bubble Express and Red Pine Gondola requires only a few steps from the slopes to the entrance and on-site ski valet, where guests can leave their gear for the evening free of charge. After two cold days of intense skiing, I treated my sore muscles to a therapeutic massage in the hotel’s luxurious spa. The signature Ninety-Nine 90 Altitude Recovery, named after the resort’s famed Ninety-Nine 90 peak, is designed to undo what the mountain has done to skiers and snowboarders, using a cooling aromatic compress along with targeted compressions, stretching techniques and pressure-point massage. My tired muscles felt regenerated after the treatment, with less swelling and water retention.

Though I enjoyed a night on historic Main Street at High West Distillery & Saloon, leaving the hotel for fine dining was not necessary, as the resort offers excellent dining options. The on-site Red Tail Grill proves an ideal spot for après fun, with an extensive drink list and outdoor deck boasting views of the Ski Beach and scenic mountains, while The Farm is the best spot to taste seasonal, sustainable fare in Canyons Village, with unique menu items like a local charcuterie board and trout sourced nearby.

The Experience: Surrounded by the awe-inspiring Wasatch Mountains, this alpine mountain resort provides a perfect mix of comfortable accommodations and rustic adventure. Access to one of the country’s greatest wilderness playgrounds lies right outside the door, with Park City’s more than 300 trails, 38 lifts, 7 terrain parks, 14 bowls, 6 natural half pipes, a super pipe and a mini pipe ripe for exploring. I look forward to experiencing the results of the resort’s incredible mountain improvement projects again in the future.

Grand Summit Hotel

4000 Canyons Resort Drive
Park City, UT 84098
tel 435 615 8040
parkcitymountain.com