Anyone living in a destination spot knows the familiar conundrum: Why leave a place so many other people are desperate to visit? Even those living in Maui might agree escape can be good to recharge the batteries. But where, within a reasonable distance (by Hawaiian standards) to look for a prospective vacation home?
Many Maui residents opt to take their vacations in the mountains. Snow sports in the winter and beautiful summers make for an appealing get away. The mountains of Utah and the renowned resort community of Park City are an enticing and accessible option. US Airways flies Maui-Phoenix-Salt Lake City in under eight hours and from there it’s less than a 45 minute drive to Main Street Park City, hardly time to realize you’re at 7,000 feet.
Park City offers world-class attractions in both winter and summer. Famous for the “Greatest Snow on Earth,” Park City is home to three of Ski Magazine’s Top Ten Ski Resorts in North America: perennially No. 1 Deer Valley, Olympic venue Park City Mountain Resort and the vast Canyons Resort. With average snowfall of over 400”, snow cover is simply never an issue even into late spring. In addition to alpine skiing, Park City also hosts numerous Nordic venues while snowshoeing is also a local favorite. It is with good reason Park City is known as Ski Town, U.S.A.
Yet many locals would tell you that if why winter is why they came to Park City, summer is why they stay with its endless sunny days, temperatures rarely exceeding 80 degrees by day and cool nights, and crisp mountain air. Park City offers an extravaganza of outdoor activities. Almost every local’s favorite is the 400 mile plus trail system for hiking and biking. Golf enthusiasts rave about Park City’s five renowned golf courses while avid fly-fishermen scramble to the nearby Blue Ribbon Provo River for outstanding trout fishing. With so many outdoor activities beckoning in every season it is little wonder Outdoor Magazine recently named Park City 2013 Best Town Ever.
Indoor sports also abound. Historic Main Street is lined with chic bars and restaurants, boutique shops and galleries catering to every whim and taste. Park City also boasts a vibrant year-round arts and culture scene. In January Sundance Film Festival hosts world premieres while in summer the town is awash in outdoor concerts including Deer Valley’s star-studded series staged right on the mountain itself. Arts festivals also abound.
For prospective vacation home buyers, Park City offers a wide variety of real estate options at attractive value relative to other mountain resorts. Old Town, with new and renovated historic homes and some townhouses and condos, is a perennial favorite. Upper Deer Valley offers a range of extremely high end homes and condos while Lower Deer Valley offers a relatively more affordable selection of both. Another area to consider is the exciting Newpark residential development which offers excellent access to winter and summer attractions at a more affordable price. For the best advice in navigating the Park City Real Estate market contact Ben Fisher of Summit Sotheby’s, one of Park City’s most trusted and knowledgeable real estate agents.
