Looking to escape the heat? Spend the day in Park City. City Cast Salt Lake lead producer Emily Means commuted there from Salt Lake City every day for a year for her job as a municipal reporter at KPCW Radio, so you can say she knows her way around town. Here's her guide to historic Park City.
Pro Tip
I love downtown Park City. Historic Main Street is magical any time of year. But you should know you're going to pay a premium to eat/drink there. If you get off Main Street, prices ease up a bit.
đ Transportation
If you're visiting Park City from Salt Lake, you should absolutely take the new High Valley Transit bus. I used to ride PC/SLC Connect, but it's being discontinued. Driving up and down Parley's Canyon can be so stressful, especially during the winter. Have a carefree, scenic ride up the canyon, then hop on the fare-free bus from Kimball Junction to downtown Park City. Enjoy the sights, like the historic McPolin Barn and the occasional elk herd that crosses SR-224.
- Related: Summit County has started paying for that bus, and some cool housing initiatives.
âïž Two Great Cafes
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This lovely cafe on Main Street roasts their own beans. It's the first place I ever had a lavender latte, and my world changed forever. They also have fresh juices, if you're into that. FYI if you like their roasts, you can buy their beans at Tulie in SLC.
Harvest. Another beautiful cafe in a stunning, sunlit building at the bottom of Main Street. This is the place to meet a friend for avocado toast before work.
![View from the Park City municipal building where Emily Means likes to lunch. [Emily Means/City Cast Salt Lake]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2F9zm36frz%2Fstaging%2Fba6fc2f528abae646d194d53f044826f17dfdb6f-1125x1109.jpg%3Fw%3D1200%26q%3D80%26auto%3Dformat&w=3840&q=75)
View from the Park City municipal building where Emily Means likes to lunch. [Emily Means/City Cast Salt Lake]
đ§ș A Great Place To Picnic
One of my favorite places to sit and eat my lunch when I worked at KPCW was at a picnic table outside the Park City Municipal building. You get a picturesque view of downtown, and during the winter, you can see skiers tearing up the slopes.
đ„Ÿ Stuff To Do
Hike Daly Canyon (up past the top of Main Street) to see historic structures from Park Cityâs silver mining days. Itâs a beautiful hike, and you can see an old explosives vault and an old office building. Nature is neat.
And if you want to learn more about Park City's mining and skiing history, head to the Park City Museum for some cool exhibits.

Mapping out a day in Park City. (Google Maps)
Bonus rec from City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta: Five5eeds
They do breakfast all day. Try the hotcake or shakshouka!
What neighborhood should we explore next?