tomorrow evening ac and i are hopping on a plane to salt lake city to attend the altitude design summit (come say hi at the 8am keynote breakfast panel if you’re in town!) so i’ve been taking notes from our salt lake city guide all week. after the events are over, i’m hoping that ac and i can rent a car and make a little side trip over to park city to check things out. so i was thrilled to hear from utah local veeda bybee who offered to write today’s park city guide! veeda is a writer who has frequently covered sundance and other park city events, so she’s going to walk us through great places to eat, shop, stay and site-see. if you’re in town for alt design be sure to take this one with you in case you’re up for a little road trip to park city. a big thanks to veeda for creating this great guide! [image above by jonathan canlas photography]

CLICK HERE for the full guide after the jump!

[photos above by brendan bybee]

When most people think of the Park City area, images of Parka-clad celebrities sipping hot lattes on Main Street come to mind. Graceful, athletic skiers zoom down glorious, white mountains, while indie filmmakers catch their big break. But there is more, much more than opulent ski resorts or the once-a-year-appearance of the Hollywood in-crowd. Yes, the Sundance Film Festival is a special entity of it’s own, but this isn’t just the birthplace for life-changing films. Park City, and the quaint surrounding towns of Heber and Midway, has some of the most amazing places to eat, greatest places to shop as well as the endless beauty of the outdoors to explore.

As a local journalist, I’ve written about some of the wonderful gems in the Wasatch Valley, and also the great people who live here (many of who are loyal Sundance Volunteers). Here’s my guide to the most talked about local favorites, up-and-coming stores and friendliest establishments. Feel free to add your own Park City likes in the comment section!

Park City

Home to the Sundance Film Festival, really, really great snow and some spectacular mountain views.

Main Street finds

To Shop:

Flight Boutique – A little city style comes to this ski resort town with the addition of this modern boutique. Diane Von Furstenberg classics hang with contemporary labels like Ryu and Dolce Vita. In the sales section on the 2^nd floor, many eye-catching items were marked to an attractive $35. {562
Main St. Park City, UT}

Mary Jane’s – Everything at this kitschy store is either handmade by local artists or supplied by creative independent labels. The shoe selection is as fun as the hot pink floors. {613 Main St., Park City, UT}

Upstairs at Muddy’s – Inspired by the rock and roll ethos, this new store specializes in premium denim and funky apparel for both men and women. Ben Sherman and Schott leather jackets for the guys, and funky cutting-edge hosiery by Look from London for the ladies. Located just one floor up from Mary Jane’s. {613 Main St., Park City, UT}

Olive & Tweed – This vibrant store is two levels of artist driven merchandise. The ground floor houses contemporary clothing (think a colorful, more dynamic Urban Outfitters) and the top floor is a more dainty Anthropologie-like section
– vintage-inspired accessories and all. With most items in the $50 range, Olive & Tweed has made fashion affordable. {608 Main St., Park City, UT}

*Note: Olive & Tweed will be closed for the first five days of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival for a private booking.

Dolly’s Bookstore – A Main Street staple since 1975, this local bookstore has literature for every age and passion. Many local writers, artists and chefs have books on the shelves and often come for readings. {510 Main St., Park City, UT}

Cole Sport– At the bottom of Main Street is Park City’s most distinctive sporting goods store. Along with a great selection in high-end sport fashion, there is a fine selection of ski and snowboard wear, equipment and accessories.
{1615 Park Ave., Park City, UT}

On the Outskirts of town:

Cake Boutique – With fashion forward brands like Rag & Bone and James Purse, this modern clothing boutique features edgy and classic apparel. {1635 Redstone Center Dr.,
Park City, UT}

Paisley Pomegranate – This eclectic boutique carries unique goods from local artists and fun independent labels. From shoes, to rugs, to jewelry, there is something for every home or wardrobe need. Whimsical stained glass art by local artist Nikki Jackson is a popular Park City gift. 1743 W. Redstone Center Dr. Suite 105, Park City, UT}

J.W. Allen & Sons – Stepping into this specialty toy store, you might feel a twinge of nostalgiawhen you see the display of old-fashioned candies and retro toys. With contemporary toys of today (Melissa & Doug wooden toys, Automoblox, Iwako erasers) intermingled with favorites of yesteryear (Schylling robots, Star Wars collectables), this store will bring out the kid in you. {1675 N Redstone Center Dr., Park City, UT}

Dining

No Name Saloon– Famous for their buffalo burgers and colorful local crowd. {447 Main
Street, Park City, UT}

Eating Establishment – Holding the title of the oldest continually running restaurant in Park City, this casual place boasts large portions and a relaxed atmosphere for the whole family. {317 Main Street, Park City, UT}

Café Terigo – Inspired
by cuisine in northern Italy and southern France, this established restaurant is an excellent choice for those looking for refined food prepared right. The sweet corn risotto with scallops is a highly requested dish, and the bread pudding is not to be missed.{424 Main, Park City, UT}

Purple Sage– Located in the old 1895 Telephone Building, this restaurant serves upscale American Western food, like fried Utah rainbow trout with green beans and spicy jalapeno lime menuiere. {434 Main St., Park City, UT}

350 Main– French and Asian flavors take the stage here at this high-end Park City staple.
The “Tower of Ahi” is a delicate and delicious starter; black pepper-crusted venison medallions make a great main course. Healthy choices are abundant on the menu. {350 Main St., Park City, UT}

Back Door Delicatessen – Not really on Main Street, but merely one block away, this small, family-run deli offers over 50 different sandwich options (including vegetarian). {136 Heber Ave, Park City, UT}

Around Town:

El Chubasco– A hidden Park City treasure, this simple Mexican restaurant is budget
friendly and worth the effort to find. Seriously, the residents love this place. {1890 Bonanza Drive Park City, UT}

Teriyaki Grill – A great bang for your buck. This simple, fast food Asian joint is a great place
to pick up a quick, cheap meal. {1400 Snow Creek Dr., Park City, UT}

Fairweather Natural Foods – The one stop shop for organic food and products. With fresh juices,
smoothies, Vegan baked goods and sandwiches; this is a healthy choice for lunch. {1270 Iron Horse, Park City, UT}

Windy Ridge Café – A local favorite, this American café is a great for a quick bite to eat or a quality meal with friends. {1250 Iron Horse Drive, Park City, UT}

Fireside Dining at Empire Canyon Lodge – Three nights a week, a gourmet four-course meal is served fireside at this high-end Deer Valley Resort. {9200 Marsac Avenue, Park City, UT}

To Do:

Downstairs – With celebrity guest DJs and live band Karaoke every Thursday, this venue has a lot of partying after
hours. {625 Main St., Park City, UT}

Park City Mountain Resort – A favorite local place for skiing and snowboarding, you can also hop in one of the toboggan-style cars for some fast track sledding down nearly 4,000 feet of mountain curves. {1310 Lowell Ave | Park City, UT}

The Canyons – The largest ski and snowboard resort in Utah, there is more to do here than
just hitting the slopes. You can also take your pick of dog sledding or riding horse-drawn sleighs to explore the vast terrain. In the spring, you can choose from free concerts, fly-fishing, golf and hiking. {4000 The Canyons Resort Dr., Park City, UT}

Utah Olympic Park- Here’s your chance to try out bobsledding, or go headfirst on a skeleton sled. {3419 Olympic Parkway, Park City, UT}

Deer Valley– Named #1 ski resort in America by readers of SKI Magazine, this exclusive resort limits the amount of lift passes a day to allow ample room on the slopes. Mountain biking and horseback riding are great activities for the summer months. {1375 Deer Valley Dr. Park City, UT}

Heber

This small-town is just 20 minutes away from Park City, but holds some classic All-American charm. While not a high-end destination, Heber provides a friendly community atmosphere with it’s locally owned restaurants and businesses.

Dairy Keen – Called “the home of the train” this family friendly eatery is well known for it’s decadent shakes and homemade soups in the winter. Kids love watching the model train run on tracks overhead. In warmer weather, sit outside on the locomotive-inspired tables. {199 S. Main St. Heber,
UT}

Spin Café – A nice and casual place to eat, their homemade gelato (made fresh every morning) has received a lot of buzz around this part of town. Try “The Vermonter,” a warm cinnamon doughnut topped with caramel apples, maple-glazed walnuts and your pick of gelato. {220 N. Main St., Heber, UT}

Snake Creek Grill – This fine eatery is housed in the former Heber Creeper Railway Village, and is a favorite among locals and Heber visitors alike. Try the Poblano Pan Fritters with Chipotle cream for a starter, followed by the Maple Mustard BBQ baby back ribs. {650 W. 100 South, Heber, UT}

To Do:

Heber Valley Railroad – Take a ride on this historic railroad that dates back to 1899. The steam engine and 10 railroad cars have made appearances in over 20 movies and televisions shows, and have fun year-round events like haunted train rides and trips to the North Pole. {450 S. 600 West, Heber, UT}

Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Buckaroo Fair– Every Fall, almost 20,000 buckaroos gather together in Heber to celebrate the West through music, poetry and art.

Holiday Lanes Bowling Alley– The only bowling alley in Heber might just be the most charming
one in the state. Not much has changed since it’s opening in 1962, the original floors and lanes are the same, and the retro décor makes this family establishment cozy and inviting. The locals love the $2.50 hamburgers with the hand-formed patties. Sometimes the owner Phyllis Christensen, who has been here for more than 50 years, will even have some of her homemade pies to share. {565 N Main St. Heber, UT}

To Shop:

St. Lawrence Thrift Store – The little gem often receives donations from the well-to-do residents of Park City. Hermes ties have been spotted here, along with great mid-century modern finds. {84 South 100 West, Heber, UT}

Wild West Designs – Local artist Peter Fillerup has made his cowboy living known throughout the world. With commissions for the 2002 Olympic games, and unique home décor featured in publications like Architectural Digest, and Luxury Living, Fillerup’s western artwork stands alone. His fine art furnishings like rustic bronze sconces, chandeliers and cabinet hardware, make any home luxurious. {577 W. 910 S. Heber, UT}

Sycamore
Street Press – My good friend Eva and her husband Kirk are the dynamic duo behind this beautiful letterpress studio. Their eco-friendly designs and paper goods have received national recognition from the likes of Good Morning America, Time Out Chicago and the Real Simple and Sunset blogs (oh, and here on Design*Sponge too). To share their love of all things letterpress, Eva and Kirk teach basic printing classes in their Heber studio. {904 S. 300 West, Heber UT}

Midway

With tributes to the Swiss heritage, this quaint little town has Old World European charm.

To Do:

Soldier Hollow– Go tubing downhill with 1,200 foot sliding lanes (don’t worry, you can get towed back up) or take a hike cross-country skiing. Or come during Labor Day weekend for The Bank of the West Soldier Hollow Classic International Sheepdog Championship. With over 21,000 spectators, it is the largest sheepdog contest in the world.

Swiss Days– this festival goes back to the 1940s when the local farmers and ranchers gathered to together to celebrate that year’s harvest. Eat a traditional Kraut dinner, snack on Swiss bread and Braztzilies, homemade Swiss cookies, while you watch the parade and explore local crafts booths.

To Eat:

Tarahumara– One of best places to eat in this tiny town is a Mexican restaurant, named after the native people of Chihuahua, Mexico. The self-serve fresh salsa bar (made daily) has over 20 varieties with favorites like Cilantro con Jalapeño and Pineapple-Mango Salsa. {380 E Main St., Midway, UT}

Pizza Galleria – Wood fire pizzas with toppings like caramelized onions, basil and goat cheese
are on the menu at this delicious eatery. {101 West Main St., Midway, UT}

Tweet