Sarah Tuff Dunn in writing for ForbesTraveler.com described her first visit to Park City, Utah, by saying:

“I was struck by just how blue the sky was, and how dry the air, during a ski trip one March. I was used to soggy or icy conditions back East.

After I skied seemingly bottomless powder at nearby Deer Valley, the whole town of Park City (which looked like a candy village, thanks to all the different colors of the Victorian buildings) seemed like it was on some crazy high from the sun, the snow and the altitude.”

Check out the entire article on ForbesTraveler.com

Winter has made yet another foray into the mountains of Utah with a very strong wintry storm that passed through this past weekend.  Snow fell and accumulated in Park City and flurries of snow were seen in Salt Lake.  Ski season will be here sooner than later and deals on lodging properties are already showing up.

The sun is once again out today but it’s cold, very cold out there. Although some of this snow may melt, the added moisture to the mountains will help when additional snows come as they won’t be absorbed into the ground as quickly.

The forecast is calling for it to warm up a bit this week but autumn is definately here and winter is knocking at the door.

The Canyons Resort, which is near a number of our Utah Vacation Homes Park City based properties, posted a couple of shots showing the recent snow, including this one of their upper peak - 9990 where the snow was nearly 10″ deep.

First photo credit - The Canyons

Second photo credit - The Canyons/Summer Harbertson

Unlike most towns, aside from Main Street and lower Park Avenue, old town Park City is void of sidewalks.

Built in a canyon with the majority of Old Town spread up the mountain side to the west that is the flank of Park City Mountain Resort, the challenge is how to get from cross street to cross street to make your way to and from Main Street where all the action is.

The answer is a number of stairs that leave Main Street or Park Avenue and climb the mountainside, stopping off at each cross street.  Each stairway has it’s own character, some being covered by trees, others adjacent to homes and other buildings.

Often times vacationers don’t know that these stairs exist and become frustrated with driving the few blocks to main street from properties like Upper Norfolk or perhaps Top of Main.

So when you come to Park City this winter or perhaps next summer, be sure to walk to main street and check out a few of the stairs that give a unique experience of seeing Park City.

 This is part of our “Hot Tub with a View” series which features properties whose hot tub has a view worth talking about.

 Nestled in the hill side of old town, Upper Norfolk provides visitors with an unique view of Park City’s Historic Main Street and the rest of Park City beyond.  It’s a unique property in that its 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths are located on 3 separate floors.  The result - each floor offers a different view of Park City.

The hot tub is located on the bottom deck and during the winter when Christmas lights are strung across Main Street and most of the buildings have white lights on them, this hot tub view perched above it all is second to none.

Above is the view looking south down upon Historic Main Street and towards Park Meadows in the far distance.  The image below is looking to the north at the hills above Deer Valley’s Snowpark Lodge.  In the summer the trees provide additional privacy.

Aside from a one of a kind hot tub view, Upper Norfolk is just steps away from the Park City Mountain Resort ski run “Quittin’ Time” where you can ski down to the Town Lift . It’s also just steps from main street, accessed by outdoor stairs that are found in abundance in Park City’s Old Town.

If you want a bit of old town flavor with a ski vacation to Park City, Upper Norfolk would be near the top of my list.

This is part of our “Hot Tub with a View” series which features properties whose hot tub has a view worth talking about.

Staying in the Deer Valley area doesn’t always mean you’ll get a view of the ski runs or trails, but there’s a darn good chance of that being the case. With Deer Lake Village #1, the view of Deer Valley is fantastic if you’re on the second floor but if you’re in the hot tub the views are uniquely different.

Sheltered by a small stand of aspen trees, the hot tub is quite private in the summer months. That’s not to say it’s not the same in the winter, but in the summer it truly feels like you’re secluded in a forest of aspens.

As you look to the south you’ll see the small mountain that divides Deer Valley from the Deer Crest area. It retains it’s natural look as it is without roads or ski runs.

I’m not going to kid you - the view to the west isn’t worth writing home to mom about. While you’re able to catch glimpses of Deer Valley through the shimmer aspen leaves of the trees across the small street, the view is blocked in the summer by the trees in combination with another town home. In the winter though the mountain to the west is better seen and the adjacent town homes may frame it quite nicely.

Deer Lake Village #1 features 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and can sleep up to 13. Finely furnished including washer/dryer and a gas barbecue on the desk adjacent to the hot tub, this is quickly becoming one of our more popular properties. It was new to the Utah Vacation Homes rental pool this past winter season. Other features include:

• 2 Master Suites with Jetted Tubs
• High Speed Wireless Internet
• 6 TV’s with Cable
• 37″ HD flat panel TV
• 3 VCRs, 1 DVD, and 1 VCR/DVD combo player
• 2 Car Garage and Outside Parking
• 2000 Square Feet

Secluded hot tub with mountain views - wouldn’t you love to soak in this hot tub and enjoy the view?

I was up in the hills adjacent to Park City the other night and captured this image of a rainbow as an evening mountain storm was pushing through. It made me stop and realize just how beautiful this area is.

Whether you’re lucky enough to live here or lucky enough to visit, one of the more vibrant and beautiful times of the year is from now through late October before the snow flies.

Since this rainbow ended at Deer Valley Resort, if you wanted to catch this glimpse you could do so by staying at a number of Utah Vacation Home properties like the Solamere Dream home, Deer Lake Village town home, or even from Lakeside condos where you can also catch glimpses of moose on the waters edge. Rates are some of the lowest during this time of the year so it won’t take a pot of gold to enjoy Deer Valley.

I hope you can make it to Park City and Deer Valley this fall where it truly is the end of the rainbow.

This is part of our “Hot Tub with a View” series which features properties whose hot tub has a view worth talking about.

We recognize that the property plays an important part of your stay while vacationing in Utah, but the real reason you come is the skiing, the biking, the dining, the activities, the mountain air…the escape from your day to day for a chance to relax and experience all that Park City and/or Salt Lake have to offer.

At the end of a vacation day nothing is quite as relaxing as slipping into a hot tub and enjoying a view. And while no 2 views are created equal, we here at Utah Vacation Homes feel like some of our properties have views worth bragging about to your friends and family once you get back home.

Deer Lake Village #2

Located within a short distance from the Snowpark Lodge of Deer Valley Resort’s lower village, Deer Lake Village #2 also sits adjacent to one of the many small ponds and lakes in the lower Deer Valley area. While things like 2 master suites, 2 car garage, wireless internet, beautiful kitchen and living room will have you smiling about this property, the view from the hot tub is stunning year round.

Views from Hot Tub

In the summer you will enjoy quiet unobstructed views with the calmness of the lake nearby as a cool mountain breeze flows through the aspens. If you’re lucky, you may even glimpse a moose wandering past the waters edge.

During the winter you’ll immediately be drawn towards the view of ski runs like Big Stick, Solid Muldoon and Success. During the winter you could even catch glimpses of the freestyle aerialists when the World Cup comes to town to compete on the same venue as the Olympians from the Winter Olympics of 2002.

–Check out Deer Lake Village #2 from Utah Vacation Homes for your next vacation to the Park City and Deer Valley area.

In case you missed the Utah Arts Festival which was held this past weekend in downtown Salt Lake City at Library Square, the Park City Kimball Arts Festival is right around the corner. This year the Park City Arts Festival will take place August 1-3. It’s a marvelous time to be in Park City to take in the arts.

When most people think of “arts” they often conjure up images of paintings.

No, this festival is much more broad than that. Artists in all types of expertise from sculpting, photography, painting, woodcarving, wood prints, potters, and more will gather in this the 39th year of the art festival. In addition there will be musical talent and street entertainers with a plethora of culinary artists there to satisfy any pallet.

If you’ve got children there will be an area for young artists where they can let their creative minds express themselves. It truly is a family affair. Aside from the festival there are still plenty of outdoor activities, restaurants, and sites to visit (including the amazing art at the Kimball Art Center) so whether you’re here for the weekend or the week, you won’t lack for variety in a mountain setting.

Park City Arts Festival Lodging

Since the Arts Festival is held on Main Street it’s to your advantage to be close enough to stroll from your rented condo or home to the festival and back throughout the day. Taking in the festival is an unique experience that you’ll want to maximize. If you’re coming to town and need to find a place, Utah Vacation Homes has a number of properties close by which are still available:

The Park City Kimball Arts Festival encompasses much more than just a stroll up Main Street. We have partnered with the community to present the very best that Park City has to offer. We encourage you to spend the day, evening or weekend enjoying all of the possibilities for fun, fine dining and entertainment. Park City has something for everyone, from the stunning exhibition at the Kimball Art Center to theatres, restaurants, clubs and concerts at Deer Valley. Come for the weekend and enjoy!

Daly Avenue #2 - Located just above Main Street.
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Sleeps: 10
Unit Type: Townhouse

Top of Main-B Old Town - Located at the top of Main Street
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8
Unit Type: Townhouse

Motherlode #4
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8
Unit Type: Townhouse

Park Ave - Rebuilt Old Town Home
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 3
Sleeps: 8
Unit Type: House

Last week I posted about the Jordanelle Reservoir and a few of the activities that you can do when you’re there. With temperatures in the Salt Lake Valley sitting solidly in the 90’s this week, summer may be finally in full swing.

While the decision for ski resort lodging is an easy one when it’s winter, what about summer? Go for the resort town? Plenty to do that’s for sure, but what about variety? The Salt Lake Valley is nice where you’re close to the mountains, the city, and golf but if you live in a city you may be thinking mountain getaway.

Here’s something unique - what about a lake house on the Jordanelle Reservoir? Views, water, mountains, with plenty of activities or some needed peace and quite? Bingo!

Jordanelle Lake Front Lodging

Sitting on a bluff just above the Jordanelle Reservoir, the Slopes and Shores #1 town home is one of the newest additions to the Utah Vacation Homes options for lodging in the Park City area. If summer fun is your goal in a relaxing setting with golf, biking, restaurants 15 minutes away in either direction then this spot is going to make your summer!

With 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths this town home will sleep 10. The fact that it’s nearly brand new will make you feel pampered. Other amenities include:

• Private Hot Tub
• Gas Fireplace
• ‘Viking Professional’ Kitchen
• Direct TV Satellite Service
• Wireless Internet
• 47 Inch LCD TV in Surround Sound Theater Room
• 42 Inch LCD TV in Living Room
• 32 Inch LCD TV in Master Bedroom

Heber Valley Golf

If the lake gets windy or you’re looking for another way to enjoy the fresh mountain air, there are 3 golf courses down the hill in the Heber Valley with a combined total of 90 holes to play. Play them all and you’ll feel like you’ve played a major. Each course is unique but I have really enjoyed the links style course of Soilder Hollow Courses.

The Gold course starts out in the meadows but circles up into the foothills while the Silver course at a couple hundred yards shorter stays in the meadows. Watch the rough as it’s tall Scotland style grass that loves to eat golf balls.

Check out the Golf Wasatch website for more info on the various courses located near the Jordanelle Reservoir.

Known as a premier destination for skiers, annually ranking top 5 for service, ski slopes, on mountain food and more, Deer Valley Resort is not to be missed.

Over the past decade Deer Valley has steadily added summer attractions like mountain biking, running and bike race events, and the not to be missed Deer Valley Music Festival. Yes, Deer Valley in the summer is not to be missed as a summer get away.

The Deer Valley Music Festival is an ongoing summer music festival often recognized as one of the premier outdoor venues to take in a symphony or more. The highlight for many is the July 4 Patriotic Celebration when the Utah Symphony performs “all of your red, white and blue favorites.” Like all of the

But don’t wait until July to get your tickets. They went on sale April 16 and there are still tickets available.

Although the July 4 concert is one many look forward to I’m personally excited to see the Utah Symphony on August 1st as they perform one of my favorite classical pieces - Dvorak’s New World Symphony. They will be joined by “Time for Three” for what I imagine will be an unforgettable evening. It should look a little like this:

Coming in from out of town for the Deer Valley Music Festival? Here’s a lodging option, walking distance from the concert.

Fawn Grove #3 is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath condo that can sleep up to 9. This is the view off the back deck. Hard to beat that!