Last week I was in Utah for the Outdoor Retailer Show (OR) in Salt Lake City. I arrived a couple of days early so that I could spend some time in Park City to see what’s happening in this winter haven during the summertime. Though I’ve breezed through Park City on several occasions over the last 20 years, this was really the first time that I actually spent a couple of days in this little village and had time to explore.
(Full disclosure – I had been invited to join a press trip the week prior for the town’s art festival but because I was going to be in the ‘hood a week later for OR, I made arrangements with the Chamber for a tour and arrived a day earlier than I had initially planned.)
I first have to give a plug for Southwest Airlines. It’s been a long time since I’ve flown SWA, probably three years. Even though there’s a bit of stress (for me) in the fact that you don’t know where you’ll be sitting since no seats are assigned, I was pleasantly surprised when I got to the gate area for the airlines. Not only does Southwest have leather seats for you to sink your toosh into, they’ve got these great power outlets that are attached to the seats. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve walked up and down an airport looking for a seat (even on the floor would be OK) where I could plug in my laptop. This little perk made me cheery just before jumping on the two-hour flight. Thank you, Southwest!
Chairs and power outlets at Southwest Airlines at Sea-Tac
I arrived in Park City in the late morning on Wednesday and checked into the Washington School Inn just off of Park City’s main thoroughfare. I had wanted to stay in a B&B because there’s generally more of an opportunity to meet the locals compared to chain hotels which can be so sterile and isolating (which isn’t a bad thing sometimes!).
The very tall bed at Washington Inn – I had to use the step stool provided just to hop on and off.
Shortly after checking in I was met by Katie, my host for the day. Katie and I immediately hit it off and began sharing travel stories and travel dreams. We had lunch at Cafe Terigo, in the heart of downtown, and chatted about travel, our businesses and Park City. We drove down to the weekly Farmers Market, where musicians played, artists showed off their work and vendors sold some amazing looking baked goods, homemade honey and other goodies. If I hadn’t just eaten a yummy halibut sandwich for lunch, I could have munched my way through the food stalls and been sufficiently full for the next couple of days.
Park City Farmers Market
After the market, we drove up to the bobsled run at the Utah Olympic Park. Whoa Mama. 68 MPH and a bone jarring one-minute ride later and I was glad that I hadn’t just eaten at the market. Photos from the bobsled run and the downhill ski run (yes, in the summer) to follow…
Travel Well!
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