Just experienced my first visit to Park City, Utah and was duly impressed by many aspects of the town. There’s a charming Main Street, an array of top restaurants that is pretty amazing for a town of several thousand, and top-tier lodgings aplenty.

What really stood out from my perspective, though, was the selection of cool outdoor fun they have that goes well beyond the town’s heralded skiing scene. Where else can you bobsled down the same track used by Olympic athletes and ride a fast and furious zip-line—at Utah Olympic Park—zoom down the side of a peak in a one-man mountain rollercoaster, throw caution to the winds on an alpine luge down a precarious concrete slide...?

And if you’re into more sedentary outdoor enjoyment, there’s no shortage on that end either. As part of my visit—hosted by the awesome Park City CVB folks—one definite highlight was riding the tiny Flight of the Canyons gondola 3,000 feet up the side of a towering mountain to lunch at the Red Pine Lodge at the massive Canyons Resort.

I lodged at the Newpark Resort, a tasteful, brand-new condo-tel minutes outside of downtown that is part of a neighborhood development still in the works—with some restaurants and shops in place, but much more to come. A high-tech bowling alley, multi-screen theater and additional restaurants are on the way. Meeting planners can be excited as well about the development’s venue potential, including the Swaner EcoCenter, the headquarter building for the Swaner Nature Preserve. It will house exhibits, a contemporary theater, climbing wall and much more; and host lecture and film series, private parties, and a mix of other special events.

Also had a chance to visit several properties, including the casually inviting Yarrow Resort and regally rustic Hotel Park City. Oh, and I have to mention some of my favorite meals of course… Shabu is an amazing second-story Asian restaurant on Main Street (but moving soon, from my understanding) where the food is as inventive as it is delicious and the appetizers are particularly outstanding (try the firecracker shrimp!). More down-to-earth but nearly as tasty was the Red Rock Brewing Co, where the sweet potato manicotti was mouthwateringly good.