Imagine you could combine the abundant snowfall of Whistler, the dry powder of the Rockies, the sunshine of Tucson, the glamour of Los Angeles and the charm of a small mining town. Then situate that resort half an hour from one of North America’s largest airports. And give it the Olympics. A long weekend in Park City is a skier’s impossible dream.

Ski
Deer Valley (800-424-3337, deervalley.com) is the heavy hitter in these parts. It’s Ski Magazine’s No.1 resort for 2008-09 (Whistler checks in at No. 3), it pioneered North American white-glove service with staff-sorry, mountain hosts-at every turn willing to see to your every need save one: where to snowboard. The hill banned the nascent sport back in the day and hasn’t budged since. They make up for it with unquestionably the best-groomed ski runs in the world. For the boarder, your choice is Park City Mountain Resort (800-222-7275, parkcitymountain.com), itself in Ski’s top 10, which welcomes the outlaws and has the benefit of a lift that goes right into town. (Imagine if Sunshine or Lake Louise’s lifts started on Banff Avenue.) Both hills average about 30 feet of snow each year, as does the Canyons (435-649-5400, thecanyons.com), the area’s third resort.

Stay
The Stein Eriksen Lodge (7700 Stein Wy., 800-453-1302, steinlodge.com) has been the prototype for luxury ski accommodation for the last 25 years. It’s as if someone took Claridge’s in London, shook out all the stuffiness and plunked it down mid-mountain at Deer Valley. Here, they somehow managed to be both laid-back and incredibly attentive at the same time. Now if you took L.A.’s Mondrian Hotel and plunked it down in Park City you’d have the Sky Lodge (201 Heber Ave., 888-876-2525, theskylodge.com), which, with its slick accommodation and rocking open-deck bar, is ground zero during Sundance. The rest of the year its sleek, high-end residential-style accommodation is perfect for hipster families who want to be steps from Park City’s lifts.

Eat and Drink
The No Name Saloon (447 Main St., 435-649-6667, nonamesaloon.net) is as good a ski-town watering hole as you’ll find: cheap microbrews on tap, packed full of friendly locals and no Uggs in sight. Those seeking more refinement can cut across the street to 350 Main (350 Main St., 435-649-3140, 350main.com) an upscale bistro whose phenomenal wine list is about four pages longer than the Park City Yellow Pages. Finally, if you want to make like a paparazzo, head to Zoom (660 Main St., 435-649-9108, zoomparkcity.com). It’s the only place where the owner, Robert Redford, is more famous than the clientele.

Getting There
Delta Airlines (delta.com) offers twice-daily flights to Salt Lake City from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, all less than 2.5 hours away. And Park City is only 35 minutes from the Salt Lake City airport. Take advantage of the ski resorts’ Quick START (parkcityinfo.com/quickstart) program that gives you a free lift ticket when you produce a same-day boarding pass. Visit parkcityinfo.com for more information on visiting.

Live
Groomed
3000 Canyon Resort Dr.
List Price $319,000 SqFt 361
Located in the rapidly expanding Canyons ski area, this brand new studio is steps from the lifts and restaurants but a few minutes drive to Park City’s main drag. Bonus: rent away when not using with the help of an on-site management company.

Moguls
116 Park Ave.
List Price $750,000 SqFt 1,785
This updated four-bedroom A-frame is only a short stroll from both Main Street and the slopes of Park City, but far enough removed that you won’t have to ask Scarlett Johansson to get off your lawn during Sundance.

Drop-in Chute
9806 N. Summit View Dr.
List Price $18,950,000 SqFt 13,536
This is Ski Magazine’s "Dream House" and its six bedrooms and ten bathrooms sit atop Deer Valley. So do its golf simulator, DJ booth, native trout aquarium, elevator and waterfall. Plus 15 fireplaces to help save on the heating.