Park City, Utah
800-453-1360
www.parkcityinfo.com

If you only have a few days to spare for a Rocky Mountain alpine escape, grab your gear and head for this quaint old silver mining town in the Wasatch Range of central Utah, where travelers can step off a plane in the morning and get to the slopes in time for a full afternoon of skiing or snowboarding.

Just half an hour of easy freeway driving from Salt Lake City International Airport, Park City offers a choice of three impeccable downhill resorts, Park City (800-222-7275, www.parkcitymountain.com), Deer Valley (800-424-3337, www.deervalley.com) and The Canyons (888-226-9667, www.thecanyons.com). While not the most affordable ski areas in the Rockies, all three are known for their excellent infrastructure, and with some trails set well above 9,000 feet, there’s a good chance of powder for much of the season. The town itself, a former silver mining boomtown, combines well-preserved Old West architecture with sophisticated dining, night life and cultural activities.

For package deals and last-minute bargains, check out the chamber of commerce website (www.parkcityinfo.com), where new promotional offers are posted every Monday. And if you book a morning flight into Salt Lake City International, hold on to your boarding pass and you can exchange it for a free same-day lift ticket at any Park City resort (see www.parkcityinfo.com/skiing/quickstart for details).