Salt Lake City, Park City & Deer Valley holidays

Utah’s state capital and the spiritual home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City is rich with a fascinating history and majestic buildings. Take a stroll around Temple Square, whose 35 acres of beautiful gardens and grand architecture make up the Latter-day Saints equivalent to Rome’s Vatican City. You can see the famous Mormon Temple, hear the great organ in The Tabernacle, and rise to the rooftop restaurant of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for spectacular views across the square.

Uncover Utah’s past at the Natural History Museum of Utah, and learn the story of the Mormon pioneers when you visit This Is The Place Heritage Park. Take a walk through the marble rotunda to the Golden Room of the State Capitol building. And hit the shops at City Creek Centre – a mall which has a retractable roof, a dancing fountain, and a real natural creek running through it.

Most visitors are drawn here by the impressive ski slopes and the incredible city at the heart of the Mormon Church – but that’s just the tip of what Utah’s heartland has to offer.

You can visit the iconic former home of Mormon leader Brigham Young at The Beehive House. Wander Main Street in the former mining town of Park City, which is packed end-to-end with restaurants, boutiques, shops, and galleries to keep you entertained for days. Call into Park Silly Sunday Market in summer, and lose yourself among its sea of buskers, street performers, and colourful stalls.

You can walk in the footsteps of champions and try your hand at something new at Utah Olympic Park. Immerse yourself in family-friendly history at The Park City Museum and Territorial Jail. And catch a show at the famous Egyptian Theatre, the centre of the Sundance Film Festival.

Salt Lake City hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games – so it’s hardly surprising that the area is home to some of the USA’s most expansive leisure slopes and luxurious ski resorts.

You’ll find runs for every skill level across four mountains at the famous Deer Valley Resort. Exclusively for skiers, this was the site of the Olympic slalom, giant slalom and freestyle events. It has a reputation for first-class service and a strictly observed maximum capacity, but the relaxed atmosphere brings snow-lovers flocking to it year after year.

Rising to 10,026 feet, the neighbouring Park City Mountain Resort offers 330 runs over 17 peaks and something new to discover every day. Non-skiers and summer visitors can also enjoy summer concerts, gondola rides, hiking and biking in these peaceful mountains.

Ski season in Salt Lake City, Park City and Deer Valley runs from November to April. The winter hits its peak during the last 10 days of January, when the Sundance Film Festival brings Hollywood and its celebrities to Park City.

April and May offer a gap in the crowds, as temperatures climb towards 20°C and the spring blooms bring new colours to both the cities and mountains. Summer stretches from June to August, and is popular with city-lovers and outdoor adventurers alike, as 30°C sunshine bathes the grand buildings of Temple Square. And the conditions are perfect for bikers, hikers and sailors.

For flexible travellers, the autumn window from September to November brings serenity to the city. Temperatures stay pleasant and the days are dryer than in spring – so this is a great time to visit. You might grab a bargain, too.