KidzTowns: Park City, Utah

This Rocky Mountain resort community has fantastic events and activities for guests of all ages - especially the littlest ones. During the winter months, Park City offers everything from ski school to ice skating, the Pillow Theater to crafts, sledding to snowmobiling and more! There's no doubt that you'll run out of vacation time before you run out of things to do.

Park City is best known for its world-class skiing and snowboarding, and the town’s three resorts offer more than 8,500 acres for every ability level and every age. Deer Valley Resort (800-424-3337) offers skiing only, while Park City Mountain Resort (800-222-7275) and The Canyons (866-604-4170) cater to both skiers and snowboarders. All three resorts offer extensive ski school and day care options with trained staff. A full listing of Day Care providers is located on the web site, www.parkcityinfo.com. Both Park City Mountain Resort and The Canyons have large terrain parks with rails, jumps and pipes galore. And for those who enjoy riding down the snow on an inner tube, that's covered too. Spend the day tubing at Gorgoza Park (435-658-2648.

Park City’s cultural arts community has programs designed specifically for children, from live theater to a more hands-on experience. Arts-Kids (435-615-7878) offers arts and crafts, allowing kids to experience many different art forms and express their own creativity. The Eccles Center for the Performing Arts (435-655-3114) and The Egyptian Theater (435-649-9371) both offer live theater, often featuring kid-specific acts.

The Utah Olympic Park (435-658-4200), one of Park City’s most treasured facilities, and the only one of its kind in the U.S., gives kids (and kids at heart) the chance to learn and/or try unique winter sports, including the bobsled, luge and, yes, even Nordic ski jumping. Once-in- a-lifetime rides are available on the Olympic bobsled and luge track, while coaches teach the finer points of Nordic ski jumping to skiers wanting to fly.

Off the slopes, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing gives kids the opportunity to experience the great outdoors, far away from the electronic toys at home. White Pine Touring (435-649-8710) has more than 30 kilometers of trails for every age and ability, while the Norwegian Outdoor Exploration Center (800-649-5322) offers guided day and overnight adventures into the Wasatch backcountry. In addition, Park City Mountain Resort (800-222-7275) and The Canyons (866-604-4170) offer ice-skating for children of all ages. Both resorts offer equipment rentals, so there's no need to lug your own equipment around.

For children with special needs, The National Ability Center offers training and equipment for many outdoor winter sports. They can be reached at 435-649-3991.

For the locomotive buff it's just a quick ride to Heber City and an afternoon of fun on the historical Heber Valley Railroad (435-654-5601). Take a step back in time and experience all the bells and whistles that this 100-year-old train has to offer. This train will take kids and their parents through the alpine countryside of the Heber Valley, along the shores of Deer Creek Lake, and through breathtaking Provo Canyon.

For an intriguing adventure off the snow and away from the hustle and bustle, balloon rides are available and offer a magical view of Park City and the surrounding areas. Children will be able to soar with the birds while experiencing a ride few ever have the chance to experience. Morning Star Balloons (435-608-RIDE) and Park City Balloon Adventures (800-396-8787) launch colorful hot air balloons daily.

If the thrills of the slopes aren’t enough, kids will love the adventurous snowmobile tours that many companies in the area offer. The excitement of driving a big machine through the snow packed wilderness is enough to get any body moving and grooving, not to mention guarantee a good nights rest for the best of them. Visit parkcityinfo.com for a full listing of guided tours as well as snowmobile rentals companies.

The Park City Library offers a Preschool Story Time. Children can sit and listen to stories of far away places and learn to appreciate what the library has to offer. Story Time can range from listening to stories to creating crafts to watching finger puppet plays. Be sure to call the Park City Library (435-615-5600) for details and times.

For the older kids Homestead Resort (800-327-7220) offers scuba diving and snorkeling year round. The water temperature is comfortable at around 90 degrees F and the fresh water pool is a natural spring formed in a crater. An amazing experience for certified and non-certified divers alike.

Children will revel in the chance to go a on a Sleigh Ride with the entire family. This majestic ride will transform a regular evening into one of discovery and family fun as the sleigh weaves through the forest. A list of companies can be found on parkcityinfo.com and you'll be all set for an enchanted ride.

Of course Park City offers swimming at the Silver Mountain Spa and Club (435-647-0500) or the Racquet Club (435-615-5400). These state of the art facilities are sure to bring a smile to a child’s face; there is nothing like time at the pool to bring out the fun in all of us.

For more information about Park City’s many kid-friendly activities and events, visit their website at www.parkcityinfo.com or call the Park City Chamber & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-453-1360 or 1-435-649-6100.

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