Park City, Utah in the Fall
Park City is the perfect mountain town. Combining its artistic vibe, culinary scene and a deep appreciation and quick access to the outdoors, Park City strikes a balance between luxury and comfort for any traveler. Whatever your daily activity may be, one can easily stroll Park City's Historic Main Street for great shopping and top-notch culinary spots. Offerings for outdoor recreation are accessible, ubiquitous and diverse. The winter slopes were once featured in the Olympics, and in summer the mountains (and nearby state parks and reservoirs) transform into a hiking, mountain biking, fishing and camping mecca.
There is no shortage of really beautiful dining experiences with top-notch service. Riverhorse on Main (Street) is among an elite list of top restaurants in the nation and is one of the oldest and most distinguished restaurants on park city’s historic main street. As a 16 year recipient of the Forbes Travel Guide Four Star Award, Riverhorse on Main is lauded by restaurant critics and the dining public alike as one of North America’s top culinary destinations and a Park City culinary gem. Located in the heart of Old Town on Main Street in Park City, UT, Yuki Yama offers the freshest seasonal fish flown in from around the world. Yuki Yama's menu consists of both traditional Japanese sushi and noodle dishes, as well as more creative, modern sashimi plates and hot dishes. Shabu’s eclectic menu features fun Asian-fusion eats like miso mustard lamb lollipops and Korean BBQ tacos. Prepare to be amazed by Shabu’s Hot Rock dish—a local favorite. Opt for the half Japanese wagyu and half American wagyu option to savor two distinct flavors in one dish. With its incredible ponzu butter sauce and interactive hot rock cooking, this dish sets the stage for delightful conversations and effortless enjoyment.
Riverhorse, Park City, Utah, Fall 2023
Days can be spent exploring Park City’s vibrant art community. The Kimball Art Center began in the 1970s in Old Town in a former horse stable turned-car garage. Bill Kimball, a Utah-born, San Francisco-based philanthropist, thought the emerging ski town needed some refinement and wanted a venue where regional artists could visit and display their works. Native Santa Fe-based oil painter R.C. Gorman displayed his work there in the late 1970’s. In later years, the popular space would host an exhibit of glass artist Dale Chihuly’s work, as well as an edgy Lego exhibit from New York City. Through the decades, the Kimball has offered art workshops and educational programming for youth and adults, anyone who wanted to learn how to paint and sculpt and weave. In time, The Kimball also became a cultural hub presenting intimate plays and dance companies in pop-up shows, and hosted beloved Navajo rug shows. In 2016, the center moved off Main Street, and is now housed in a hip industrial space in the Prospector Square area.
The Kimball Arts Festival, an arts nonprofit also organizes the annual Kimball Arts Festival, which has been in existence since sometime in the 1970s, depending upon who is counting. Artists from all over the country are juried into the show, exhibiting works ranging from carved wooden boxes and leather hand-tooled bags and saddles to bronze sculptures and fine jewelry. They display their art in the booths that line historic Main Street, which is closed to cars for three full days. Artists are happy to engage with viewers and buyers from their booths, while live music fills multiple stages during the day and evenings. This event traditionally is scheduled for the first weekend in August.
During the rest of the year, Gallery Strolls happen in Park City on the last Friday of the month. Galleries on Main Street – and throughout town – open and offer food, beverages and live music. The art at Gallery Stroll exhibitions is as varied as a winter sunset. Fine art bronzes, oils, watercolors and edgy pieces, many by artists attached to sister galleries in Santa Fe and Carmel, speak to the quality of the work. New rotating exhibitions are offered by the Park City Summit County Arts Council. Award-winning artists — who work in oils and watercolors and fine jewelry and clay and photography — are artfully displayed. The quality is impressive. Check the council’swebsitefor updated information.
Just outside of Park City ; photograph from my personal camera roll.
Fall’s temperatures, light and crisp air and clear blue skies offers an array for many day hikes. Also, don’t discount a quick ride up the ski lift then a walk down. Indoor movement at the local yoga studio Enlighten Wellness is a must-do. It’s a full-body mountain town wellness center offering classes (heated and non-heated) for every body, all levels of vinyasa, power, sculpt and gentle yin, as well as workshops, trainings, nutrition, massage and other healing modalities.
Experiencing this mountain town is full of exciting opportunities. Every trail leads to new experiences and the scenery is breathtaking and unforgettable. The natural beauty of the mountains is complemented by a wide variety of restaurants, theater performances, independent film screenings, art and live concerts. Located just 35 minutes from the Salt Lake City International Airport, getting to Park City is easy and experiencing the walkable town is even easier. The only bummer is that time does run out and I have come to firmly believe that only the lucky call Park City, Utah home.
