Times have never been stranger for the Park City community, and just about everywhere else for that matter. As the COVID-19 pandemic has forced Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain, and many world-class hotels to close one month early, along with restaurants temporarily suspending dine-in service, our typically buzzing mountain town resembles shoulder seasons of 25 years ago. As it turns out, that is ideal for the social distancing we are being urged to practice.
Park City offers plenty of space and fresh mountain air in the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. Some of our homeowners who were visiting for spring break are prolonging their stays to take advantage of these uncertain times to reconnect with family members in their mountain sanctuaries while enjoying outdoor recreation with no crowds whatsoever.
If you are among the lucky few thousand people to be riding this out in Park City, we will continue to keep you updated about how to make the most of our mountain town paradise.
Recreation and Diversion in Park City
Resorts may be closed, but the great outdoors is always open. Park City has 400 miles of trails for biking, hiking, running, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. No matter the season, there is abundant variety. And this time of year, the weather can be spring-like or wintery – we call in sprinter! This means you can be hiking one day and snowshoeing the next. Our ski-in, ski-out homes are at high altitudes with plenty of snow remaining to enjoy from your front door. Or drive to lower elevations in town for dry land activities. If you haven’t tried the fat tire biking fad, there is no time like the present. The Round Valley trail network is a great place to do so.
It’s a great time for binge-watching series and movies you haven’t had the opportunity to view yet. See why everyone is roaring about “Tiger King” and check out the highly anticipated season 3 of “Ozark.”
Additional ideas to pass the time while bonding with your family members include:
- Try New Recipes — All Park City grocery stores are open. Some have special shopping hours for seniors, and most have reduced their hours while limiting the number of people who can shop at any given time. Our stores are remarkably well stocked compared to other parts of the country, so take this opportunity to cook with the family and try some new recipes. Without a doubt, comfort food is highly appealing these days!
- Fitness — Just because the gyms are closed doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your fitness regimen. Download some fitness apps to stick to your routine. Peloton is offering its app for free for 90 days – there are all types of workouts, and you don’t need their bike or treadmill to do them. Better yet, how about some local inspiration? Join the PC MARC Group Fitness Facebook group for workouts posted by their instructors. Tadasana yoga studio is offering live classes online. And Boom Cycle Room is posting HIIT workouts on their Facebook and Instagram accounts.
- Learn a New Language — this is fun and educational for the whole family! Try apps like Duolingo, and learn a language spoken in a country you’d most like to visit. Once normal travel resumes, plan a trip to that locale!
- Jigsaw Puzzles and Board Games — Seriously, when was the last time you had an opportunity to unwind for some old-fashioned entertainment?
Supporting the Local Community
If you love Park City, now is a great time to give back and provide support to businesses and staff who will be severely impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. Here are some ideas for the best ways to help:
The Park City Community Foundation’s Community Response Fund will support health and human services non-profits in greater Park City that are handling cases related to the impact of COVID-19. Targeted operating grants will fund organizations that have deep roots in the community and strong experience working with residents without health insurance and/or access to sick days, people with limited English language proficiency, healthcare and gig economy workers, and communities of color, among others.
Diversified Bars & Restaurants, the restaurant group that owns Butcher’s Chop House & Bar, No Name Saloon, and Boneyard Saloon/Wine Dive, is donating 100% of gift card sales to its service staff. Buy a gift card to enjoy it later while supporting workers now! Gift cards are available online at each business’s website.
Many restaurants from casual to fine dining are offering curbside pick-up service to break up the mundaneness of cooking and to keep themselves afloat. Click here for our guide to restaurants keeping our community well-fed.
