You cannot visit Park City, Utah without visiting the Utah Olympic Park which is one of the official training facilities where athletes train for the winter Olympics. Besides touring the facility and seeing the ski jump ramps, bobsled runs, and skeleton trails there are lots of activities that you can take part in. Want to feel what it's like to ride in a bobsled or zip line off the ski jump ramp-you can try it for a price of course. If you aren't that daring, there's tons of other stuff to keep everyone interested.
We lucked out when we found out the Olympic trials were being held for the ski jump on one of the days we were in town. It's a great idea to check the schedule to find out when events are being held as they are free and beyond thrilling to watch. Tons of people showed up and I can't tell you how cool it was to be there in person after watching these things on TV since I was a kid. We gathered around and watched those ski jumpers come flying down that steep hill to the sound of cheers and cowbells and then land ever so gracefully skiing all the way in up to the crowd.
The Alf Engen Museum at the park is a do not miss. Isaac and I ran in because we were totally freezing and thoroughly enjoyed roaming through this free museum which shows you all about the history of skiing in Park City (amazingly it's the way miners used to get around in the winter). We also learned about "The Lake Effect"-how the saltiness of the Great Salt Lake causes the snow in Park City to be so dry and fluffy-making it a skiers paradise. Amazing how mother nature does that....
The museum also has a section dedicated to the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics with uniforms, memorabilia, medals and even an Olympic torch that you can hold. It's incredible how these amazing athletes make it all look so easy, but it's a testament to their unbelievable skill and focus whether it's skiing. speed skating, bobsledding, the luge, hockey, or even curling (my new favorite sport). This museum and the park itself are a total DO NOT MISS. In fact, this was our favorite activity on the entire trip, so make sure to check it out winter, summer, spring or fall.
