Park City, Utah

Park City is Utah's trendiest ski-resort. The town has its historical roots in the great silver mining rush of the 1870s, but today its fortunes rest on cold dry white powder. The town now has another profitable line: each January comes the organised chaos of the Sundance Film Festival. Perhaps avoid this altogether, unless of course you're mad on movies.

One ski lift connects downtown directly to the ski slopes - Town Lift runs from Main Street to the Bonanza lookout. Two other large lifts connect the Resort Base (about a mile north-west of downtown) to the slopes - the Payday Six Pac runs also to Bonanza lookout, and the Silver Start lift runs to King Con ridge. A free bus system (running about every 20 minutes), makes it easy to get around between the town and Resort Base area.

Beginners can start on gentle runs served by the 'First Timer' lift at the Resort Base, then improvers can move up the mountain onto several long, easy, cruising runs. Intermediates will love skiing the forgiving powder through the aspen glades on the trails served by the Bonanza lift. Experts will enjoy a wide variety of steep tree skiing.

After a busy day at the slopes, enjoy the town's thriving center. Despite the fact that alcohol is frowned upon by the Mormon faith, Park City's nightlife is a drink-fueled as any other ski-resort. Most bars are run as 'private clubs' which allows them to serve alcohol as long as they charge a small membership fee when you arrive.