For most people, hitting the ski slopes is the main attraction when visiting Park City, Utah. But if you venture beyond the manicured snow, you will find some really neat activities for families. If you are looking for a break from skiing, or just want to try something different, check out these attractions for some family fun.
Utah Olympic Park
One of the most impressive stops during our trip was a visit to the 389-acre Utah Olympic Park. This was the venue for many of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. It continues to operate as a training facility, in addition to hosting several competitions throughout the year.
I highly recommend taking the guided tour while you are there. You board a shuttle bus that takes you up and down the mountain, with stops at various sites. One of the most impressive sights is the practice ski jumps and the 750,000 gallon pool that serves as a landing pad.
My favorite part of the tour was the view from the top of their highest ski jump. It is just mind boggling to look down that steep ski slope. It gave me a new appreciation for the Olympic athletes and the ridiculous amount of bravery they must have. And speaking of being brave, the Olympic Park is home to the Comet Bobsled if you feel like racing a bobsled to the bottom of the mountain at 80 mph.
The Olympic Museum is open year round. Parking and admission is free.
Park City Museum
I am glad that we made time to visit the Park City Museum, which is located on the historic Main Street. The museum recently had a multi-million dollar renovation and the new exhibits are great. Much of Park City’s past involves underground mining and naturally this means there will be plenty of mining equipment on display. But the neat thing is that most of the exhibits are interactive and child friendly. My son had a lot of fun pressing down on the dynamite plunger and setting off the explosion effects. The museum also has a pneumatic drill that children can operate (my son loved this).
You can find the original Park City jail in the museum’s basement. It is perfectly dark and creepy to explore. Elsewhere in the museum you can find some old mining cars, an antique fire truck and a Kimball stagecoach. We had a lot of fun exploring the museum and for only $10 admission ($5 for children ages 7-17), it is a great value. Children 6 and under can visit for free.
Gorgoza Park
Sometimes you just want to go sledding. Gorgoza Park is a great experience for families because everyone can have fun together. A magic belt system takes you and your inner tube up the hill and then gravity takes care of the rest. The hills are groomed to give you a smooth ride down and when you reach the bottom, you just take the belt back up to the top. It is a pain free way to have some fun out in the snow.
While we were there, I saw that Gorgoza Park had some child sized snowmobiles that you could take for a spin. We happened to catch this during a slow period, so my son had the circle shaped course to himself. I got such a kick out of seeing him drive that snowmobile like a pro.
Gorgoza Park operates seasonally (Nov-Apr) and a 2-hour lift ticket costs $23 for adults and $12 for children. It is $10 to take the mini snowmobiles for a spin. Gorgoza Park is located about 10 miles from the Park City Mountain Resort.
If your family wants to take a break from skiing, these family friendly activities can’t be beat. We had a lot of fun exploring Park City, Utah and are glad that we made time for these off the beaten path adventures.
