Park City with Kids: 3 Reasons to Visit This Utah Ski Resort

After skiing at 18 ski resorts in 4 countries as a family, I have a pretty good idea what makes or breaks a family ski vacation. So I was impressed when I tried out Park City with kids and the experience wowed us in every way. Ski Magazine included Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort on their top 20 list. After skiing at both of them, I get it. They are easily the best ski resorts in Utah for families. And this top rating extends to parents and children of all ages.

Why Your Family Should Ski Park City with Kids:

1. Access

I can’t think of a ski destination that is easier to access. Park City is a 45-minute drive from Salt Lake City Airport. This air terminal is brand new, having just opened in September 2020. The sad truth is that from the San Francisco Bay Area, it’s faster to fly to Park City – including airport waiting time – than to drive on Highway 80 to Lake Tahoe on a Friday night. This puts Park City in the weekend getaway category, not just the week-long ski vacation category. Very important when time for family vacations is so often limited.

Once you arrive, you can rent a car … or not. We used the Park City Transportation shuttle service into town. Although there may be a small wait in the airport for other riders, guests don’t need to think about directions or where to park; the shuttle drops guests right off at their accommodations. Cost for a shared van varies and is subject to change.

There’s free transportation in Park City to all the resorts, Historic Main Street, and the Utah Olympic Park so a private car is not a necessity.

2. Variety

The three Park City, Utah ski resorts — Woodward Park City, Deer Valley Resort, and Park City Mountain Resort — offer very different ski experiences. This is surprising given their close proximity to one another. One factor is that they are owned and operated by different companies and each resort has its own distinct flavor. It’s one of the appeals of visiting Park City–all that variety in one location. Fortunately, this also means there is incredible choice for kid-friendly hotels in Park City.

Park City Mountain Resort

After my visit and chatting with Park City Mountain Resort management, it’s clear that this resort lives and breathes families. They’ve actively thought through how to create the best possible ski experience for all ages, ability levels, and interests from groomed and un-groomed runs, to expert bowls and kid-friendly adventure alleys through the trees. With so much territory to explore, it is no wonder Park City Mountain is the largest ski resort in the United States.

Best of all, Park City Mountain Resort offers a best-in-class Kids Signature Ski Program. Signature 5 is for children aged 6 to 14 and guarantees the class size at this ski school is five students or less, enabling more granularity in skill matching and instruction. Meanwhile, Signature 3 is for children aged 3.5 to 6 and guarantees the class size is three students or less.

Add in the I Ride Park City Freestyle Camp for ages 10 to 15 with hands-on coaching and time in a digital video lab editing content taken during the camp session for a well-rounded, diverse program. Kids 6 and under ski and snowboard for free at Park City Mountain Resort. If finding the best ski school in Park City, Utah is important to you, this is where to be.

Deer Valley Resort

Deer Valley is known as the “posh” resort and caters to upscale skiers. Deer Valley Resort owns and operates nine of the accommodations (48% of their lodging is ski-in/ski out), as well as the three main mountain villages, Snow Park, Empire Canyon, and Silver Lake and their respective food and beverage outlets. This results in top quality, consistent guest experiences at every turn.

One of the big differentiators in Deer Valley is that they do not allow snowboarding. While this may not be good news for some families, skiing purists will rejoice as the different styles are not competing for space on the slopes. The resort also attracts and caters to multigenerational groups that want to be and ski together; many of the runs have multiple ways down so families can ride lifts together and then ski their own level to the bottom.

In addition to a wide array of ski-in/ski-out luxury homes and condos, Deer Valley is home to three world-class luxury hotels: St. Regis Deer Valley, Montage Deer Valley, and the Stein Eriksen Lodge. I can’t give a fair assessment here as I didn’t tour all three properties. I toured Montage Deer Valley and I’m very excited about their comprehensive amenities for families including Paintbox, an in-house bowling alley, a year-round heated outdoor pool, and the Compass Explorers program that transports kids to/from ski school.

3. User-Friendly Ski Experience

After skiing in Europe for two years, skiing in Park City is like skiing on another planet. Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort have dedicated staff from the parking lot to the mountain and these folks make the ski experience hassle-free and fun.

Mountain Hosts are available throughout each resort. Getting lost is not possible. Skiing with kids is a big responsibility; relaxation is directly related to feeling safe and secure at all times. This guest-centric ski environment ensures this is the case.

Ready to Go? Next Steps

Don’t spend hours comparing prices and accommodation options. Contact our family travel advisors, and we can put together a customized ski package at any of the Park City, Utah ski resorts. And if you love alpine coasters, zip lines, rope courses, and other outdoor adventure pursuits, consider booking a summer trip to Park City with kids. You can include it as part of a larger road trip through Utah or just plan a long weekend here. We love this destination year-round.

Editorial Note: Ciao Bambino received complimentary transportation, lodging, and ski experiences in order to review Park City. As always, our opinions are our own. Photo courtesy Park City Chamber/ Bureau Tourism.

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