Until we started a magazine in Park City, I thought of Sundance as a film festival and a nice catalogue I get a couple of times a year. Little did I know that it is also an amazing resort with an array of summer and winter activities to experience.
I first visited for a photo shoot, and when I saw how lovely the area is, I knew I wanted to come back. The boutique resort is located on 5,000 acres of wilderness, about a 5-hour drive from Jackson Hole, or 45 minutes from Park City. Tucked away from any large crowds, the resort feels surprisingly mellow despite the many activities offered year-round.
If you are looking for a weekend getaway this summer to somewhere that feels like you are in the middle of nowhere but offers all the luxury and comforts of a high-end resort, consider Sundance. At the resort, you will find a place to stay (hotel suites, cottages and homes are available to rent), many activities and options for dining.
On a recent trip, my friend Jenn and I experienced the newest attraction: Sundance ZipTour. This was so much more fun than we were expecting. We had both done zip lines in the past. I have always thought they were fun, but nothing more than a quick rush of wind. Sundance’s version is way beyond anything either of us had experienced in the past.
First, you take an incredibly scenic lift ride to the top of the resort. This in and of itself is a treat. I ride a lot of chair lifts, but the top of this mountain offers panoramic views that are hard to beat.
The ZipTour then takes you (if you sign up to do the complete course) nearly two miles and more than 2,000 feet to the bottom on four different spans. At one point you are more than 500 feet off the ground, so it is not for those who are scared of heights. Riders can get going up to speeds over 60 miles per hour.
As soon as we finished, we were ready to go back again. It was really that fun, especially since they save the steepest, and fastest, leg of the experience for the end.
We then moved onto lunch. Had we not have had time constraints, we might have headed back to the top of the mountain to eat a plate of nachos at Bearclaw, which is open this summer for lunch and special dinner events, too. We opted to dine at Foundry Grill, where you can dine inside or out. Choices are seasonal, regional and offer lighter selections as well as more filling options.
When we noticed the dessert served to our neighbors we couldn’t resist. The ice cream sandwich offers raspberry ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate macaroons and a creme anglaise you add yourself. Yum.
If you choose to stay overnight, be sure not to miss the award-winning Tree Room for a fine dining experience, and you can also grab picnic items to go from the resort’s deli.
Also of interest are the art classes offered daily through the art studio. Take a lesson in jewelry-making, pottery, glass-blowing or photography with one of the artists in residence on site all summer.
Through Aug. 15, Sundance Theater is performing the Wizard of Oz several nights a week. So there is no shortage of activities to keep you busy. Or, simply relax and enjoy the resort’s spa. Either way, it’s an incredible place to experience for a day, night or weekend.
