Property
Roomy and updated studio, one, and two-bedroom villas just steps from the slopes in Park City, Utah with fully equipped kitchens, laundry, split bathrooms, and dining tables (ours seated an astonishing 6 very comfortably).  The outdoor pool, 5 spas, and BBQ area look out over the slopes, and are a fun gathering place for families.  The hotel has a small convenience store, a kids club, a video arcade, a pool lounge, and workout facilities as well.  There are no restaurants in the hotel, but plenty in the plaza next door where you’ll find shops and gear rental too.

Location
Park City is just 30 minutes from Salt Lake City, and the public transportation here is so good that you won’t need a car.  Free buses and trolleys service Main Street, the resorts, the grocery store, and nearby outlets.  The Marriott is ideally located right next to Park City Mountain Resort, so you can ski in and out (or stroll in and out in the summer months, which is my preference).  Historic Main Street is just three easy blocks down the hill.

Sleeps
2-8.

Highlights
We were here in the August, and loved the base area activities.  The Legacy Launcher (four trampolines with safety harnesses and bungie propulsion), the Alpine Coaster, the Alpine Slide, and the ZipRider were probably the highlight of my kids’ summer vacation.

Good to know
Summer or winter, the sun is incredibly strong at 7,000 feet (and the air is thin).  Pace yourself for the first day or so, drink lots of water, and bathe in sunscreen.  The sleds for the Alpine slide weigh 40 lbs each, and must be dragged from the top of the lift to the top of the slide, a distance of about 100 yards—I’m still not sure how I managed three of them.

If you tire of cooking and are too beat to go out for dinner, ask the front desk for a Speedy Fernandez Restaurant Delivery Service menu.  They deliver everything from Greek and Sushi to burgers and Brazilian, and their fees range from $3-$7.

Contact
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/slcms-marriotts-mountainside/

August 28th, 2009 | by Jamie Pearson