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See the View From the Top in Park City, Utah

A summertime view of Park City.

I'm going to be honest with you - I'm not much of a skier.

And if I'm going to be perfectly honest with you, I'll have to rephrase that statement to read: I'm not a skier. Period.

It's with shame I reveal the sad truth. I've been on a pair of skis once, at age 12, and simply wasn't a fan. Never mind that I'm a child of southeast Michigan, where the nearest ski slope is built from an old landfill. Or that although my ski instructor told me I was a 'natural', I was more content to sit in the lodge with a cup of hot cocoa and a book.

I know it goes against all kinds of coolness, but I don't ski. I don't snowboard. I don't anticipate snow with giddiness, but rather a deep sense of dread.

So when I was assigned to visit to Park City, one of Utah's top ski destinations, I breathed a sigh of relief that I'd be going in the summer. I wouldn't have to embarrass myself with my lack of ski acumen, and better yet, I wouldn't be worrying needlessly about falling off a chair lift.

Little did I know I'd end up doing both.

Hiking Uphill is Overrated

The view from the top of Bald Mountain.

It was cheating and we knew it.

Riding a chair lift to the top of Bald Mountain in order to hike down, well, it seemed like we were skipping out on a lot of hard work. Not that I minded, of course. I was too busy enjoying the view...and the ride, once I was assured that I wouldn't fall off the lift.

It was quiet as we ascended the Deer Valley Resort's 10,000-foot peak. The lifts moved smoothly above twisting dirt paths below - for hiking and mountain biking - and I craned my neck to get a view of resort behind us, trying to imagine it covered in snow during peak season.

Once we reached the mountaintop, it took only a few minutes before I could feel the distinct change in altitude. I was breathing harder, faster and was quickly (and silently) glad we hadn't climbed all the way up the mountain.

We spent a few minutes just admiring the panoramic view of Park City and the surrounding Wasatch Mountains, some capped in white. And then we started down the mountain - a leisurely hike through thick patches of evergreens, along twisting paths lined with colorful wildflowers and across wide plains of grassy ski runs.

Chair lifts at Deer Valley's Silver Lake

For the most part, we felt like we had the mountain all to ourselves, having passed only two other groups on our way down. The lack of crowds is one reason Park City is a great vacation spot for the summer months, especially for adventure-seeking women and families. There wasn't a single moment during my visit that I felt unsafe, unwelcome or claustrophobic. Plus (as I'll talk about later), the price, being in the off-season, was right.

We worked up a sweat, but weren't exhausted. In fact, the hike primed us for a hearty lunch at Royal Street Cafe, located at the base of the mountain.

Sitting outside on the restaurant's deck, enjoying an ice water and a tasty BBQ pulled pork sandwich, I glanced up with satisfaction at the mountain I had just climbed.

Well, climbed down. I can omit that one silly word, can't I? Sometimes cheating is good.

Moseying on Main Street

Park City's Main Street

I had seen Park City's Main Street numerous times on television - but always during Sundance Film Festival, when the road was clogged with wealthy Hollywood types in their pricey ski duds or extravagant furs.

So as we stood on a pedestrian bridge, studying the row of restaurants and shops, the scene seemed vaguely familiar. Except there were hues of green in the distance, no hoards of celeb-wannabes, and a soothing twilight breeze.

A trolley rolled by. A group of men sat on a bar patio, beer mugs clinking. A mother and her toddler took a closer look at the Town Chair Lift used to transport vacationers to and from the nearby Park City Mountain Resort. And as the sun started to duck below the mountains, we moseyed (being out West, I can safely use the term) to a late dinner at Café Terigo.

Food, Ballooning...and Champagne

Park City is most definitely on par with any other city in its restaurant offerings. You won't be getting the typical overpriced (and oftentimes mediocre) resort-area food while in town, that's for sure. From the laid-back atmosphere of Cafe Terigo - where you can dine on steak, seafood or even pizza - to the upscale Westgate Grill at the Canyons Resort, the food is simply superb.

Another superb offering in Park City that no visitor (regardless of the season) should miss is an early morning balloon ride. It wasn't exactly easy being ready to go at 6 a.m., but my excitement kept me wide-eyed and awake until we lifted off a little after 7.

And after that, well, adrenaline took over.

The most common question I've been asked about the hot air ballooning experience in Park City is: "Was it scary?"

Fueling up the balloon (top) and one of three balloons dotting the sky (below)

My answer: "Absolutely not." Then, I usually added a bit about a woman in our 10-person basket who was celebrating her 80th birthday. The employees of Park City Balloon Adventures helped her climb in and out of the basket - and she was grinning from ear-to-ear on each occasion. So, to my friends and relatives, I said, "If the 80-year-old can do it, so can you. No excuses."

For some strange reason, people tend to think that the hot air ballooning process is bumpy. In actuality, the 30-minute ride was extremely relaxing. I didn't even know we were off of the ground until someone mentioned it. We floated effortlessly in the early morning sunlight, the world around us so unbelievably quiet; we could even hear a dog's tags clinking against its collar on the golf course below.

It was simply one of the most fabulous experiences I've ever had. And according to the staff of Park City Balloon Adventures, it's even more stunning in the winter. I can't imagine how cold it's got to be up in that basket on a winter morning, but I would bet money that the view is easily worth the shivering.

Plus, the cold might just make the celebratory champagne toast at the end of the ride all the more enjoyable. (Because, really, everyone knows you need one hell of a good excuse to be drinking before 8 in the morning.)

What's a 120?

Visitors can experience a bobsled ride, regardless of the season.

Remember how I thought earlier that I wouldn't need to worry about having any type of ski knowledge? Well, now I actually have a ski knowledge base after a visit to Utah's Olympic Park.

From the road, you can see the long, green ski jumps peeking out from the side of a mountain - nordic jumping being just one of the events held at the 389-acre Utah Olympic Park during the 2002 Winter Games. Bobsled, luge and skeleton competitions were also held on-site. Now, the state-of-the-art park is used for national and international competitions. And any day of the week, you'll find athletes training - the Australian ski team was apparently hard at work on premises while we were visiting.

Touring the facilities is a must, but if you're a hands-on person, you can actually experience a bobsled ride, regardless of the season. You'll experience up to four Gs of force as a professional driver navigates the course's twists and turns at up to 70 mph.

One of the coolest things the Olympic Park offers in the summer is a chance to try out your skills in the 750,000-gallon freestyle aerials summer training pool. Clad in wetsuits and skis, children (and adults) are taught the basics of aerial jumping. Athletes train alongside, using the longer jumps (or "kickers") to try out new flips and twists before splashing into the gigantic pool below. The largest kicker, by the way, can send an athlete up to 70 feet in the air, making for some jaw-dropping visuals.

I was mesmerized. I stood at the railing and watched for a solid 30 minutes as skiers attempted new techniques (or nailed down old ones). It never got boring; I would've been content to camp out at that spot all day, but there was still more to see.

The K120 at Utah Olympic Park.

We found more skiers tackling the steep Nordic jumps. The Nordic hills are the highest-altitude jumps in the world at an elevation of 7,310 feet above sea level. And perhaps it's needless to say, but the view is staggering.

We stood at the top of the K120 and gasped. Those skiers that attempt this jump, I thought, must be crazy. That's all there is to it. Just looking at the sharp drop gave me shivers; I couldn't imagine hurtling my body down it, strapped only to a pair of skis. And then...trying to land. I shuddered again and slowly backed away from the edge. Yikes - and I thought those skeleton sled drivers were crazy.

Can I Get a Clone with That?

Rental condo at Black Bear Lodge

After such a close encounter with death (or at least in my imagination), I decided to head back to my accommodations at Deer Valley's Black Bear Lodge for a soak in the hot tub.

Every time I walked in the door of the rental condominium, I instantly smiled. The place - all wood, stone, and leather - was bigger than my apartment. Not to mention cozier...with much better views. The decor was so spot-on, so completely Park City, that I was checking around corners to see if it came stocked with a Robert Redford clone.

It didn't. But it did have a large balcony with a hot tub, which more than made up for the lack of my own personal Sundance Kid. The condo also had a full kitchen, a perfect money-saving feature, and a long dining table that could seat two families. In fact, the condo can easily accommodate two couples - and the price tag is even more appealing.

The K120 at Utah Olympic Park.

We found more skiers tackling the steep Nordic jumps. The Nordic hills are the highest-altitude jumps in the world at an elevation of 7,310 feet above sea level. And perhaps it's needless to say, but the view is staggering.

We stood at the top of the K120 and gasped. Those skiers that attempt this jump, I thought, must be crazy. That's all there is to it. Just looking at the sharp drop gave me shivers; I couldn't imagine hurtling my body down it, strapped only to a pair of skis. And then...trying to land. I shuddered again and slowly backed away from the edge. Yikes - and I thought those skeleton sled drivers were crazy.

Can I Get a Clone with That?

Rental condo at Black Bear Lodge

After such a close encounter with death (or at least in my imagination), I decided to head back to my accommodations at Deer Valley's Black Bear Lodge for a soak in the hot tub.

Every time I walked in the door of the rental condominium, I instantly smiled. The place - all wood, stone, and leather - was bigger than my apartment. Not to mention cozier...with much better views. The decor was so spot-on, so completely Park City, that I was checking around corners to see if it came stocked with a Robert Redford clone.

It didn't. But it did have a large balcony with a hot tub, which more than made up for the lack of my own personal Sundance Kid. The condo also had a full kitchen, a perfect money-saving feature, and a long dining table that could seat two families. In fact, the condo can easily accommodate two couples - and the price tag is even more appealing.

A short walk away from the Deer Valley's Silver Lake area, the location is ideal for summer or winter, although winter prices are much more steep (my condo normally goes for a whopping $960 a night during the peak holiday season). Such a lovely rental property can be booked through RCI Holiday Network or High Mountain Properties (more information on both can be found below). Both companies will gladly work with you to find the perfect accommodations to suit your needs, whether you're traveling with two or ten people.

After being slowly initiated into the world of ski culture in Park City, I couldn't help but be intrigued. As I was driving out of the city, on my way to the nearby Salt Lake City airport, I realized that I was staring longingly at the green mountains, which would be covered in a thick white powder in just a few months. And this strange feeling washed over me while I thought about possibly hitting the slopes this winter. It wasn't dread...it was excitement.

Maybe I could ski after all. I could take lessons and stay in a cozy condo with a stone fireplace. And I could start it all in Park City. At least no one will ever have to worry about me trying to attempt a jump on the K120. I'll leave that to the truly insane - ahem - I mean, fearless. (...BACK)